Pols make their case to succeed Rangel

Affordable housing and job creation were hot topics for congressional candidates during a Jan. 14 debate held by the Uptown Democratic Club in Washington Heights. Five of the eight hopefuls vying to succeed outgoing Rep. Charles Rangel in District 13 answered policy questions from the recently formed club as well as inquiries from some of the nearly 100 audience members. 

Suzan Johnson Cook, Michael Gallagher, Assemblyman Guillermo Linares, Adam Clayton Powell IV and Clyde Williams touted their credentials and commitment to remedying the ills of the district. Candidates absent from the event at the Fort Washington Collegiate Church were state Senators Adriano Espaillat and Bill Perkins as well as Assemblyman Keith Wright. Mr. Rangel and his wife took front row seats at the forum, where the congressman received a standing ovation while he reflected on his many years in office.

“It’s an exciting district. And the person that’s going to go to Washington is going to have 100 percent of my support that we don’t engage in political fights after and I will make sure that the experience I’ve had will be transferred to them,” Mr. Rangel told the audience. He is yet to endorse one of the candidates.

When asked by moderator Juan Manuel Benitez, of NY1, which concerns took precedence during the campaign, housing was a no-brainer almost across the board.

“In the last 15 years, we have not seen a significant increase in housing funding coming to the city or this district,” said Mr. Linares. “We need to see an injection of funding coming from the federal level to help address this crisis that we have.”

“I think that the advantage that the government gives to people who own their homes should be addressed by some sort of renters’ tax credit. I don’t see what would make it impossible for allowing people who rent to write off or take a deduction,” Mr. Gallagher, a stay-at-home father, concurred.

The threat of increased density in the district was the larger issue for other candidates, who discussed ways to keep low-income residents in their homes.