Jul 11 2008
Why should I help you embarrass me?
Rent-stabilized apartments in New York City is a thing that’s much debated and fought, hard to find. Representative Charles B. Rangel has four of them, paying below the market with one real estate developer, the Olnick Organization. It has been accused of overzealous tactics as they move to evict tenants from their rent-stabilized apartments and convert the units into market-rate housing.
When the reporter asked Rangel to explain, he snapped, “Why should I help you embarrass me?” So, he’s being embarrassed. It’s always unfortunate that your elected official is in some one’s pocket. To avoid it, no do bad thing, people. It always foolish to brag about your booty/spoil/bribe. Not sure if his wife works, but for a congressman who’s salary is only $169,300 a year (btw, what does base pay in government mean? Do they get bonus at year end, or perks?), they shouldn’t have showed off their residence. It wasn’t much to look at anyway.
Many years ago, I had dinner with a group of friends. One man at the table was bragging his good luck in living in a rent-control apartment near NYU. His law suits and being sued bored me to tears. I was wondering, why didn’t he just pay the market rent and be done with it, or move to smaller unit? Can you image your own home is a tangled web of conflicts?