Another honest politician

Rep. Charlie Rangel latest little fiasco. 4 rent controlled apartments from a political contributor. I thought we were suppose to be getting a more ethical congress their Nancy??? And this idiot is on the ways and means committee (i.e. tax committee).

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25629176/

Rep. Charlie Rangel =

Anyone care to guess what would be said if this were a Republican?

I've heard this guy several times on TV, he's a pompous ass who knows very little of what he speaks for the most part. I hope this results in some sort of fine and him losing his seat in congress.

cardinal5150 wrote:
I've heard this guy several times on TV, he's a pompous ass who knows very little of what he speaks for the most part. I hope this results in some sort of fine and him losing his seat in congress.

No argument there... take out the trash.

I hope he does get voted out, he is pompous. Never have liked him, but obviously his constituency does. If he accrued these rent controlled apartments legally what is the beef? Now there might be a beef about him using one as a campaign office ... I would be curious in knowing how he came into having four rent controlled apartments.

Bman wrote:I hope he does get voted out, he is pompous. Never have liked him, but obviously his constituency does. If he accrued these rent controlled apartments legally what is the beef? Now there might be a beef about him using one as a campaign office ... I would be curious in knowing how he came into having four rent controlled apartments.

Because the law says you're only suppose to be able to have one primary residence

"despite state and city regulations that require rent-stabilized apartments to be used as a primary residence"

he combined 3 of the 4 into one PRIMARY residence, seems like the issue is the campaign office. He should either give it up or retroactively pay back rent up to market rates for that one.... at minimum.

paid a total rent of $3,894 monthly in 2007 for the four apartments

The current market-rate rent for similar apartments in the building would total $7,465 to $8,125 a month, according to the Web site of the owner, the Olnick Organization.

There is obviously something else going on besides just using one of the apartments for a campaign office. Someone's palm is getting greased here.

Bman wrote:he combined 3 of the 4 into one PRIMARY residence, seems like the issue is the campaign office. He should either give it up or retroactively pay back rent up to market rates for that one.... at minimum.

From what it looks like they are still 3 separate apartments, not one. Regardless, I believe the issue is that he has 3 apartments that are all under rent control. If they were turned into 1 large apartment I believe he should be charged rent at the controlled price for 1 unit and market rate for the other 2.

It'd be no different than buying 3 lots for your house, you still owe taxes on all 3 regardless of if your house sits on 1 or all 3.