Political arena

Rangel vs. Espaillat enters another round

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Rep. Charles Rangel handily beat state Sen. Adriano Espaillat in the Democratic primary earlier this year. But that does not mean the longtime Harlem power broker is leaving his twice-failed challenger alone.

Last week, Mr. Rangel said he is endorsing Espaillat challenger Robert Jackson in the upcoming state Senate Democratic primary. Since the congressional primary took place well before the state ballot, Mr. Espaillat is able to seek reelection to the senate.

Councilwoman Inez Dickens joined Mr. Rangel in endorsing Mr. Jackson at a birthday fundraiser for Ms. Dickens on July 31.

Speaking to donors who gave Ms. Dickens between $125 and $4,100 each, Mr. Rangel sought to cast Mr. Jackson’s candidacy in the wider context of Upper Manhattan’s future.

“The campaign may be over in terms of the campaign,” Mr. Rangel said of his own race, in which the final November vote is practically a formality. “But we’ve got to fight just as hard to make certain that this solidarity exists for the community politically, spiritually and for the pride that all of you have put into this.”

Mr. Jackson struck a humble note after receiving the endorsement, saying he had no prior confirmation it would come that night. He also took the opportunity to make several digs at Mr. Espaillat.

“I pledge to you and I raise my hand… that I will be a full-time senator working 100 percent of the time, and not be absent 60 percent of the time,” he said. “I pledge to you that in my first term of office, I will not be running for office in that time.”

Mr. Jackson was alluding to a June report from the New York Public Interest Group (NYPIRG) finding that Mr. Espaillat missed 60 percent of all votes in the past legislative session — more than any other senator. 

Mr. Espaillat’s campaign seemed to bristle at the annual NYPIRG analysis.

“Senator Adriano Espaillat successfully passed more bills in the 2014 session than the average Democratic Conference member, and he was instrumental in ensuring the Dream Act received a historic floor vote after years of advocacy,” the campaign said in a statement.

The NYPIRG report listed Mr. Espaillat as passing two bills in the previous session, in which a coalition between breakaway Democrats and Senate Republicans determined what legislation moved forward. The Dream Act to make tuition assistance available for undocumented immigrants came up for an unsuccessful vote earlier this year.

Schumer: reign in drones

Whether at home or work, New Yorkers throughout the city are now at risk of invasive eavesdropping by unmanned drones, once associated almost solely with battlefields in far-flung places.

That, at least, is according to Sen. Chuck Schumer, who wants the federal government to regulate the devices.

The senator called on the Federal Aviation Administration and the Commerce Department to quickly develop rules for drones. He also wants to ban drug dealers and private investigators from using the flying machines, which are often used for surveillance.

 

Mr. Schumer “took particular concern with the use of drones among private investigators spying on unaware parties, use by drug dealers to deliver illegal drugs and serious public safety concerns, like the recent incident when a drone interfered with an NYPD helicopter,” his office said in a statement.

Charles Rangel, Adriano Espaillat, Robert Jackson, Inez Dickens, Chuck Schumer, Shant Shahrigian

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