The House of Representatives tabled a resolution to censure Representative Charles Rangel over his four rent-stabilized apartments in Harlem. Put forward by Republican minority leader Representative John A. Boehner (just after Republican Senator Ted Stevens pleaded not guilty to taking $250,000 in gifts), the House voted 254-138 to table the resolution, which said Rangel was a "discredit to the Congress." Rangel, who had asked the House Ethics Committee to investigate his living/renting situation, said it......

After breaking the story that Representative Charles Rangel had four rent-stabilized apartments at Lenox Terrace, the NY Times continues to look at the Congressman's relationship with real estate, finding that developers are some of his biggest donors. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks donations, Rangel "has collected more money from real estate interests than all but two other members of Congress this election cycle," with many coming from developers who are reshaping......

Yesterday, Representative Charles Rangel sent a letter to the House Ethics Committee, asking for an investigation into whether his four rent-stabilized apartments at Lenox Terrace constitute an improper gift. Thought he's emphasized he's paying the highest legal rent possible, the fact that the building has attempted to evict other rent-stabilized tenants without political clout and the city's overall lack of affordable housing has made the matter controversial enough for Rangel to give up an apartment......

Representative Charles Rangel discussed his decision to give up one of his 3-4 rent-stabilized apartments by saying his re-election campaign-- which used a one-bedroom apartment with a monthly rent of $630 at Lenox Terrace in Harlem--"had decided they were going to move anyway" since the lease is up in October. Last week, the NY Times revealed that Rangel rented four apartments at rent-stabilized rates (one apartment is made up of two units) raising questions about......

Representative Charles Rangel gave a press conference defending his four rent-stabilized apartment at Lenox Terrace. The NY Times had reported on Rangel's unusual rent-stabilized "riches" in an article today (which was online last night), and the paper has three reporters on the scene at the press conference. The Observer observer this exchange between the 78-year-old Congressman and a Times reporter:"Paying the legal rent is not a gift. Are you doing this deliberately or are you......

At last night's wild meeting in Cooper Union's Great Hall, the Rent Guidelines Board decided to raise rent stabilized rents 4.5% for one-year leases and 8% for two-year leases. These are the biggest rent hikes in recent years: Last year, rents hikes were approved for 3% on 1-year leases and 5.75% on 2-year leases (in 2006, the hikes were 4.25% and 7.25%). The last time there were higher hikes was in 1989. The meeting......

Governor David Paterson never ceases to surprise us. It turns out his two-bedroom apartment in Harlem is rent-stabilized, so he and his wife only pay $1,250/month for their home. Paterson and his wife Michelle, who made $270,000 last year, live in the Lenox Terrace apartment complex, where the market rate for a two-bedroom go for $2,600. When asked by the Sun, Paterson said the rent was appropriate, given the city's rent regulations. "It is within......