While the powerful Ways and Means chairman previously disclosed income at or slightly above the $175,000-a-year stabilization ceiling on previous congressional documents, new revelations could put his earnings at more than $200,000 a year.It's been previously alleged that Rangel has a cozy relationship with the building owner/developers, who have looked the other way as Rangel accumulated units within the building. Other people, when faced with similar circumstances (going over the income guidelines) will often find themselves facing major increases in rent as the units go market. That hasn't happened in Rangel's case.
The disclosure could put pressure on Rangel to give up his New York housing perks, critics say.
Rangel has so far kept his chairmanship but faces increasing criticism from Republicans and even had to tow his vintage Mercedes-Benz from a House parking garage after The Post revealed that it had been parked there against congressional rules.
According to his congressional disclosure reports, Rangel paid $3,894 a month in 2007 for four apartments in Lenox Terrace, a 1,700-unit luxury complex often described as Harlem's most prestigious address.
The market rent for such units is between $7,465 to $8,125, according to the Web site of the building's owner, the Olnick Organization.
Although Rangel gave up the unit he used as an office, the other three are used as a sprawling residence by him and his wife, Alma.
Under the city's rent guidelines, owners of rent-stabilized apartments are permitted - but not required - to deregulate apartments if they can prove tenants earned more than $175,000 in two consecutive years.
The rent stabilized apartments may be a reason why Rangel engaged in such rampant tax evasion to avoid disclosing just how much income he had and how far over the income threshold he was. If so, that means that we're talking a willful failure to pay tax on income. That's fraud.
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