Photo: Cardinal Egan in Harlem, NY1 News
Turkeys on the House
It was a beautiful day in Harlem yesterday as charitable and community organizations all over the neighborhood were giving out turkeys to needy families. Edward Cardinal Egan and Mets legend Rusty Staub were giving away 350 turkeys along with all the trimmings. One grateful recipient said, “I appreciate it and listen, I couldn’t do without Catholic Charities. They are my family”. In another section of Harlem Mathias Kiwanuka, Justin Tuck, and Jeremy Clark, players for the New York Giants, were delivering Thanksgiving food to the Community Kitchen in West Harlem which operates a daily, 4-6 PM, dinner program at no cost to the 450 recipients. [NY1, Urban Mecca]
What have you gotten yourself into now, Charlie?
It seems Ol’ Charlie Rangel just can’t get keep his name out of the news long enough for any of the scandalous dust to settle. First there was the issue about using one of his rent-stabilized apartments for campaign purposes. Then there was that little debacle about the Villa in Dominican Republic that he hadn’t paid any federal taxes on. Now a report comes out about a possible quid-pro-quo between the Congressman and a wealthy oil man seeking tax protection. What did the alleged exchange consist of? Protecting a lucrative tax loophole in exchange for a $1 million contribution towards the Congressman’s legacy project, a school of public service at City College that will bare his name. [NY Times]
In 2007, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) launched a pilot program aimed at reducing the health impact caused by harmful smoke emissions from trucks, buses, and boilers in communites that are disproportionately affected by the pollution . The pilot program began in East Harlem which has historically suffered from elevated asthma levels and heavy truck traffic. Since then the agency’s law enforcement component has pulled over and inspected 361 diesel trucks and issued 163 tickets for various violations of state air and safety regulations. The program was deemed such a success in East Harlem that it will be expanded statewide. [EP Online]
Posted on November 26, 2008 by illoquentgent