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Investigation into Rangel ethics violations to have public trial
A House of Representatives investigative committee announced Thu., July 22 that it would hold a public trial of Representative Charles Rangel to determine whether he violated several ethics rules based on misusing funds.
For the last couple of years the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct has been investigating Rangel, who has represented Inwood, Washington Heights and Harlem since 1970, for several possible ethics violations, such as paying below market rent on several apartments – which would constitute illegally accepting a gift – and failing to report income from a property in the Dominican Republic.
Rangel has steadfastly rejected any allegation of impropriety, but under political pressure was forced to relinquish his chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee earlier this year.
(Citing unnamed sources, The New York Times Web site reported Fri., July 23 that Rangel continues to be in negotiations with House investigators about settling the ethics cases without having to go to trial.)
Of consequence to the four candidates opposing him for his 21st term in Congress is whether the spectacle of a trial will diminish his ability to attract votes and if, at age 80, it will sap his energy to mount a campaign. He has continuously maintained that he is still up for the fight, amassing a campaign war chest that had $516,594 on hand, as of the June filing period.
Of his Democratic challengers, state Assembly Member Adam Clayton Powell IV has the greatest name recognition and most money in the bank, with $48,615. Community activist and one time Community Board 12 member Jonathan Tasini reported having the second most money, $18,015, edging out the $17,425 of Joyce Johnson, a long time community leader in Harlem. Vince Morgan, a banker, had $176.
Assembly candidate Linares picks up 1199 SEIU endorsement
Former City Council Member Guillermo Linares who is hoping to return to elected office as the new Assembly member replacing Adriano Espaillat, picked up the coveted endorsement from 1199 SEIU, the union that represents more than 350,000 state health care workers, on July 22.
“For more than two decades, Guillermo Linares has been a leader on the issues that matter most to the working men and women of New York City. As a member of the New York City Council he promoted laws in the areas of housing, education and health care that reflected the ideals we have at 1199 SEIU,” said Kevin Finnegan, 1199 SEIU political director. “We are pleased to see him continue building his legacy of public service and believe that his record of progressive leadership in the New York State Assembly will bring the change we need in Albany.”
The SEIU endorsement matches the nods Linares has received from a diverse range of organizations, including The Working Families Party, Concerned Democratic Coalition of Northern Manhattan, the Gay and Lesbian Independent Democrats as well as a “Seal of Approval” from NY Uprising, which is challenging candidates to reform Albany.
Also running for the 72nd Assembly District, which covers parts of Washington Heights, Inwood and Marble Hill, are: Nelson Denis, a former Assembly member from East Harlem, Miguel Estrella, Julissa Gomez, Wyatt Johnson and Gabriella Rosa.
Electronic politics
Over the weekend voters in the 31st Senate District got a message from candidate Adriano Espaillat. It boasted of his nearly unanimous support from elected officials, his credentials as a progressive Democrat and ends up alerting voters: “during the campaign you will hear false rumors spread about our work 'cause our opponents have no record of accomplishments. Let them talk.” The robocall, the first one of many neighbors will likely get this political season, is a pre-emptive attack to the many rumors opponents spread during an election.
In another electronic action over the weekend Cheryl Pahaham, on behalf of Julissa Gomez candidate for Assembly District 72, sent an e-mail to supporters saying that "Guillermo Linares, her leading opponent, is running scared. He's got his supporters pressuring her to quit the race. And now he is threatening to spend his campaign cash to try to run her off the ballot.”
Laura Acosta, Linares' campaign manager countered in a statement : "When opponents lie, they end up embarrassing themselves. Voters know Guillermo Linares' trajectory and history of accomplishments, and will elect him on September 14th.”
Updated and corrected financial reports from candidates
A story about the fundraising prowess of several candidates for state office (“Campaigns file petitions and financial reports,” July 21, 2010) had incomplete and inaccurate information for some candidates.
On Fri., July 16 the New York State Board of Elections online database listed two candidates for the 72nd Assembly District, Julissa A. Gomez and Gabriela Josefina Rosa, as not having disclosed any financial data during the last reporting period, which ended July 15.
However, separate entries for each candidate’s committees were overlooked that did report recent fundraising activity.
The committee called the People for Julissa A. Gomez reported total receipts of $17,260 and a closing balance of $8,314. The records for the Rosa Exploratory Committee show Gabriela Rosa raising $5,865 and having $4,481 in the bank.
The article also misreported the financial data for Francesca Castellanos, who has been listed among the candidates running for state Senate in the 31st District. The article reported that Castellanos had raised over $36,000, but that amount is actually for a committee called Friends of Francesca, backing state Senate hopeful Francesca Carlow in the 6th District on Long Island.
An email from Castellanos indicated that she has “not raised a single dime as of yet to my bid” for state Senate.
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