It’s time to go, Charlie!
Many Harlemites said disgraced Rep. Charles Rangel should resign after being convicted yesterday on 11 charges of violating congressional ethics rules — though some other residents stood by his side.
“This is what makes people cynical about politicians. It’s shameful. He definitely should resign — if he has any respect for the office,” said Karl Willingham, 40, who lives two blocks from the Lenox Terrace apartments where the congressman illegally converted a rent-stabilized unit into a campaign office.
“Public officials should be held to a higher standard, not a lower standard. We try to make sure no one is above the law.”
Many voters said the legendary Harlem politician — once one of the most powerful Democrats in Congress — had let them down.
“He’s a crook! It’s basic common sense. He cheated on his taxes. He stole from us. He should resign,” said 29-year-old cashier Michelle Ross.
Nurse’s aide Charmaine West, 40, said, “He should pay. He did a terrible thing. Congressmen are supposed to be above this.”
Eric Grace, 43, a customer-service representative, said Rangel should “throw in the towel” because he “doesn’t have the right values to be in office.”
But other Harlemites said they had the congressman’s back.
“Charlie delivers the bacon. He’s been instrumental in building Harlem. He’s a beloved institution,” said Ernest Johnson, 57, a workforce-development program director.
Michelle Lee, 50, a case manager for recovering drug addicts, said, “He’s been doing a great job . . . He’s been here to help the middle and lower class.”
Others believe Rangel was being railroaded for minor offenses.
Freddy Santiago, 62, a retired Marine, said Rangel got a “bum deal.”
“He may have done something illegal, but other politicians have done worse,” he said.
Marjorie Brown, 51, agreed, saying, “They were being extra hard on him. Regardless of what they say about him, he’s done right for his community. And that’s his job as a congressman.”