Results tagged “congressmancharlesrangel”

Mayor David Dinkins, who preceded Mayor Giuliani in office from 1990 to 1993, had his appendix removed in an emergency surgery Friday when it was determined that he was suffering from appendicitis. Dinkins was actually visiting his doctor for a routine flu shot, when he complained that he had a sharp pain in his side. A CAT scan revealed the inflamed and infected appendix--a condition that can be lethal if the vestigial organ bursts.

The conflicting interests of Columbia University and the West Harlem community continue to spawn new polemics from both sides, as the university inches ahead with its proposed 17-acre, $7 billion expansion. As the land-use contest heats up, so has the quest to find the perfect metaphor. The high-stakes name game begins with the conflicting designations of the territory in question. While Columbia has used the term "Manhattanville" to describe the area, which lies between 125th and 133rd Streets, many community advocates resolutely refer to it as "West Harlem," emphasizing its connection to nearby residential and commercial districts. The Times recently called on Columbia to drop the archaic name and face up to the neighborhood's true character.

Congressman Charles Rangel is in the news again, but this time he's not upsetting Southern states - he's scaring the bejesus out of young Americans! He told CBS's Face the Nation that he will will propose legislation to bring back the draft. Why? Because it might act as a war-deterrent, as well as fulfill the need for more troops.

There's no question in my mind that this president and this administration would never have invaded Iraq, especially on the flimsy evidence that was presented to the Congress, if indeed we had a draft and members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm's way. If we're going to challenge Iran and challenge North Korea and then, as some people have asked, to send more troops to Iraq, we can't do that without a draft.

Additionally, when speaking to Baruch College, Congressman Rangel said, "If the country's in danger, everyone should share in the sacrifice."

After his dis of Mississippi last week (he wondered why anyone would want to live there) and fallout from Mississippi politicians, Congressman Charles Rangel officially apologized.

There is no excuse for my having said that. I am fully aware that every American loves their respective state and city and I'm afraid that my love and affection for New York got in the way of my common sense and judgment, and for that I sincerely apologize.

U.S. Representative Chip Pickering of Mississippi accepts the apology, saying, "Mississippians are forgiving folks." Well, it's one state down and forty-eight more for Rangel to potentially offend.

In no time flat has Congressman Charles Rangel upset people. Actually, the new head of the House's Ways and Means Committee may have upset a whole state. In Thursday's NY Times story about how New York politicians will head very influential committees in Congress, Rangel said while discussing how New York State gives up a lot in federal taxes but doesn't get much in return (whereas Mississippi gets much more in federal money than what it pays in taxes), "Mississippi gets more than their fair share back in federal money, but who the hell wants to live in Mississippi?"

Thanks to the Democrats' victories and their new control of the House of Representatives, Congressman Charles Rangel of Harlem will be the next chairman of the Ways & Means Committee in January. And he's already eying the real estate:

"Mr. Cheney enjoys an office on the second floor of the House of Representatives that [has] historically been designated for the Ways & Means Committee chairman. I talked with Nancy Pelosi this morning and I¹m trying to find some way, kind and gentle, to restore the dignity of that office to the chair."

Last week, Rangel ruffled some feathers when he called Vice President Cheney a son of a bitch. The Post devotes an editorial to that, saying "For shame," but Rangel said, "I take back saying that publicly. I should have reserved that for him when we were together privately. Believe me, he would have understood." Yeah, it's not like Rangel shot someone in the face or anything. Cheney did say that if Rangel became head of Ways & Means, the economy could tank.

It's the last days of the Mayoral race campaigning, and the poor tree pulp is thankful, as there has never been so much paper devoted to telling voters how awesome Mayor Michael Bloomberg is. However, the local media outlets are not so happy, as the Mayor is close to spending $100 million for his reelection campaign. The translates into an approximate $100+ cost per vote, if he were to win 60% of the vote (based on the NY Post's projections for a low-to-moderate turnout). Hilarious! If only the bananaphone could be incorporated into the Al Sharpton salsaing commercial! The Mayor cashed in the perks of being the city's top guy, as he was afforded a lot of free media coverage with yesterday's marathon, besides campaign stops in Queens, whose middle class population is skeptical of him. Fernando Ferrer spent his time campaigning in Harlem with Senator Hillary Clinton, Congressman Charles Rangel, and Manhattan BEEP and one-time mayoral contender C. Virginia Fields. But, to break it down into the nuts and bolts, the Mayor shook the hand of a lion dancer (inside the costume!) and Ferrer pretended to make a call with a banana.

- Authorities are searching landfills in Pennsylvania in hopes of finding Monica Lozado-Rivaineiria's body

Fernando Ferrer might indeed have more than 40% of the primary vote, which means there won't be (most likely) a runoff next Tuesday. The Daily News cites sources "with direct knowledge of the count" as saying the revised primary count is now 40.15%, an increase of 0.20% over last week's count. This news not only gives the Ferrer campaign a moment of peace, but it also make primary runner-up Anthony Weiner's concession seem like a great idea. Yesterday, Ferrer welcomed an endorsement from Congressman Charles Rangel (Gothamist lives for TV coverage of Rangel because he has the coolest voice) at the African-American Day Parade in Harlem. However, an inquiring person put a damper on things asking why he made those remarks about Amadou Diallo's police shooters being possibly "overindicted." Ferrer tried to explain, but it was a messy clarification, as he had to admit he was wrong and thereby seems like someone who's not thinking when he speaks. Rangel accused the Mayor of trying to appeal to both Democratic and Republican votes. Rangel used "half-pregnant" as his theme: You can no longer raise money and support those people [the Republicans] in Washington and say you're not one of them. It's like being half-pregnant. Either you're in or you're out.Mayor Bloomberg, in the meantime, mentioned that he has worked well with Rangel in the past.

A poll from the Siena College Research Institute says that it looks like Govenor Pataki won't be reelected. Given various matchups, Pataki would be defeated by either Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, who has announced he's running for Governor next year, and Senator Hillary Clinton who is actually being urged by many, including Congressman Charles Rangel, to run for President in 2008. Which means that Pataki seems like a terrible candidate to represent the Republican party. If Rudy Giuliani were to emerge as an alternative Republican candidate, he would be able to beat Spitzer, but not Clinton. Like Clinton, Giuliani is more interested in the Presidency, which makes the Clinton-Giuliani matchup numbers kind of fascinating. But they can hardly be called a national bellwhether, since outside of NY, Clinton is extremely polarizing and Giuliani may still be riding some of the September 11 sentiment in the heartland; oddly enough, Pataki's blandness is more suited for the national stage than either Clinton and Giuliani. Anyway, Gothamist is sort of relieved that the poll numbers bear out that Pataki won't be governor next year, because we've had more than enough.

See the Mayor's speech at IHOP from his own site. The Harlem IHOP is at 135th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard. And for other service industry perspectives, check out Waiter Rant.