UPTOWNflavor

I held off on posting a dedicated post to the Charlie Rangel fiasco because I knew all sorts of new developments would be cropping up. It’s all over the web — from Harlem to D.C. — that good old’ Charlie is in hot water –again. Lenox Terrace, one of the predecessors to “luxury living” in Harlem is again the setting for a prominent Pol being looked upon taking from the poor while living rich.

The story broke when the Times divulged that Rangel was hoarding not two or three, but four apartments in the suddenly desirable Lenox Terrace. How can this be? They are rent stabilized apartments, right? I think a lot of folks are still unclear about what rent stabilization is. As a matter of fact, a Wall Street Journal article uses the terms interchangeably. Here is what rent stabilization is not…it is not a hand out, section 8, or welfare. It certainly is not rent control in the legal sense. It gives renters rights that they should already have. One of those rights is to be protected from sharp rent increases. You don’t have to be living from pay check to pay check to want or need that right.

I also find that the timing of this exposé is nothing short of brilliant – right when Harlem is in the midst of a real estate renaissance. A time when people have finally stopped asking you why you live in Harlem and have started asking themselves why they don’t. Let’s do a little deconstruction of the situation. Keep in mind that prior to, say 2005, there were no other similarly luxury accommodations in Harlem and you are a high profile public official who wants to live among your constituents and other high profile elected officials.

No question that Charlie has been living in the Lenox Terrace for a very long time — well over the 20 years stated by some sources. Obviously one of the reasons why the rent is less than that of his recent neighbors. It has also been acknowledged that although having three apartments was unusual, it is not illegal. As a matter of fact, let’s consider the fact that Lenox Terrace was one of the first luxury living buildings in Harlem — was he really keeping out the most needy by sitting on those units? Where he misstepped was when he made the last unit into a campaign office. Not the smartest move on his part, but then again this is Charlie. There is also some question as to whether this was a deal with a long term tenant or a special gift to a top Pol who lives in the building. The answer to that question will have to be hashed out by Congress, but in true Rangel form his off the cuff defense is, ““Paying the legal rent is not a gift. Are you doing this deliberately, or are you just stupid?”

Rangel’s neighbors acknowledge that they knew of the “sweet” deal that the Chairman had. Former blogger, Lance Smith of the now defunct Harlem 26.2 blog is quoted by several news sources on the “deal” that Rangel had.

“He has an incredible deal, a phenomenal deal, a deal that he deprives hard-working Harlemites from having,” said Lance Smith, who lives in the building.

Then we discover the root of Smith’s own back story at Lenox Terrace:

Smith said he still lives in a two-bedroom apartment there, but he lost a second rent-stabilized apartment after a protracted battle with the landlord.

SMITH: And I sat with the landlord and looked him in the face and said I want the Charles Rangel deal, and the landlord just said I can’t touch that – I can’t go there.

Although it is being made to seem that people weren’t aware of the rent stabilization deal, it is no big secret that Lenox Terrace was a rent stabilized development — just another amenity that makes it attractive to potential renters that include celebrities and regular folks alike. It was also not a secret that the Rangel’s were living in multiple units. As a matter of fact, they allowed their apartment to be featured in Michael Henry Adams’ book, Style and Grace.

So, was this story newsworthy? If so, what should be the next step? Is this a good case for pushing for term limits? Let ‘em rip, folks!

Watch accompanying video: NYT :: What do Charlie’s neighbors have to say? NYT

Related: WSJ :: NYT :: Reuters :: WNYC :: Rent Guidelines Board :: NY1 :: Brooklyn Ron ::