Congressman Charles Rangel Speaks at the CATS Roundtable Radio Show

Interview Highlights

“The problem isn’t the people in the street, it’s not the community, the community supports the police. The problem is weak politicians, weak policies where leadership is failing to get involved.”

“We have our own police commissioner takes marijuana cigarette out of someone’s mouth, a misdemeanor arrest, throws it in the sewer and then brags about it. What do you think is being told to the members of the NYPD when you see those types of actions? That it’s OK to avoid those types of misdemeanor arrests?”

“For the life of me I can’t figure out how he’s coming up with these (criminal justice) policies that can only be described as lunacy and political pandering. He’s (Bratton) jeopardizing the lives of police officers…If that’s coming from political pandering then you have a decision to make. If you make a decision based on that what is good for you rather than the people you lead then it’s time for you to not be there.”

About Congressman Charles Rangel

Congressman Charles Rangel is the U.S. Representative for New York’s 13th congressional district in Harlem. He earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his service in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He is the third-longest currently serving member of the House of Representatives, serving continuously since 1971. As its most senior member, he is also the Dean of New York’s congressional delegation. Rangel was the first African-American Chair of the influential House Ways and Means Committee. He is also a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus. As one of Harlem’s “Gang of Four”, he also became a leader in New York City and State politics. Rangel is known both for his genial manner, with an ability to win over fellow legislators, and for his blunt speaking. Congressman Rangel is retiring in 2016. His retirement has sparked a long list of would be replacements, but Congressman Rangel will be next to impossible to replace.