Rangel Will Give Up One Rent-Stabilized Apartment

After the revelation that he rents at least three rent-stabilized apartments (one unit is made up of two previously combined units) and ensuing uproar, Representative Charles Rangel will give up a 10th floor one-bedroom unit at Harlem's Lenox Terrace that he used as an office.

The NY Times first reported Rangel's real estate riches last Thurday, and Rangel defended his actions as being legal. However, rent regulations require that, per the Times, "rent-stabilized apartments to be used solely as a primary residence." What's more, the owner of Rangel's building, the Olnick organization, typically ousts rent-stabilized tenants in favor of market-rate ones, making Rangel's ability to keep a number of rent-stabilized units all the more incredible.

The apartment Rangel is giving up is a one-bedroom that would usually rent for at least $1,700, and Rangel was splitting the rent-stabilized $630 cost between himself and his re-election campaign. His spokesman only said, "Mr. Rangel has indicated that he is not willing to say any more."

There are calls for inquiries into Rangel's rental situation, after different groups have questioned whether the difference between rent-stabilized and market-rate rents would constitute a gift.

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By Jen Chung in News on July 15, 2008 10:11 AM

Comments [rss]

Politburo

Yeah I'm sure ignorant people like yourself aren't at all part of the problem, UnrepentantFenian. Jesse Jackson is from South Carolina, and is most closely associated with Chicago. He also was Shadow Senator for Washington, D.C. during the 90s.

UnrepentantFenian

Chuck is a scumbag cut from the same cloth as those other 2 Harlem fraudsters - Jackson & Sharpton. The three of them should die in a fire. These characters do more to hurt race relations than anyone in history ever has. Sharpton & Jackson more so of course, but Rangel actually has a real title and so he has more to answer for.

chameleonz

Holding more than ONE rent stabilized lease is illegal.Also it not being a primary residence is illegal.

Many ,many tenants have been evicted because they lived in suburbs and kept their rent stabilized leases either subletting illegally to make money or keeping them hoping to get a inside price on a coop/condo conversion.

He really should be prosecuted for this.

Hawk

# 7's statement "Luxury decontrol doesn't apply to Congressman Rangel. He's over 65 years old (by 13 years!), and is therefore grandfathered into the system." is complete nonsense. It has absolutely no basis on the law. There is no such thing as anyone being exempt from luxury decontrol. Period.

# 9 hit the nail on the head. I agree completely.

Tgirl

"primary residence" constitutes ONE apartment per eligible tenant, no matter how you parse it

kissel

#7, something is obviously wrong even with the other 3 units. First, the two combined units we're kept as separate leases, why? to keep them below the 2k cutoff - this is definitely intentional, one would have to be naive to think otherwise. Second, the 3rd unit was not part of the original two he moved into the 80s - so again, it is in violation of the letter and spirit of the law. One has to wonder why one of the largest and most litigious real estate groups is providing Rangel with such a large 'gift' by looking the other way -- again illegal.

Steven

More corrupt politicians. Never fails.

cool

Luxury decontrol doesn't apply to Congressman Rangel. He's over 65 years old (by 13 years!), and is therefore grandfathered into the system. Apart from the campaign office, the other apts appear to be above board. Certainly, an envious deal, but not an illegal one.

In terms of compliance with Federal gift laws, that's a separate issue. However, I could see how he would not know that he had a deal. Many people of his generation have such sweetheart deals. It's the 35 & under crowd that does not.

jibbly

He was doing splitsies with his re-election campaign? Really? On a rent stabilized residential apartment? And he didn't know that it was improper and possibly illegal to do so? Really? Really Really???

Is he REALLY that dumb or just slimy and unethical?

Survey says all of the above.