Espaillat for Congress
After a humiliating censure by Congress four years ago for failing to pay taxes and other ethical lapses, Representative Charles Rangel has steadily lost power in Washington. After nearly 44 years in office, it is now time for him to yield to the next generation. In Tuesday’s Democratic primary for New York’s 13th Congressional District, we recommend Adriano Espaillat, a New York State senator, who will be a better representative of this districtstretching from Upper Manhattan into parts of the Bronx.
Mr. Espaillat has been spent his 18 years in the States Legislature, mostly fighting for tenants, day-care staff and farmworkers. He has pushed for in-state tuition at public universities for undocumented children, called for a repeal of exorbitant tax breaks for expensive apartment buildings and has strongly supported immigrants’ rights.
He fought Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s ill-considered property tax cap that has hobbled poorer school districts in the state. And he was one of the Democrats who marched out of the Senate chamber rather than vote for a scandalous redistricting proposal in 2012 that created district maps designed to keep legislators from losing their seats.
Another candidate, Rev. Michael Walrond Jr., a Harlem pastor and community activist, is a passionate speaker, but Mr. Espaillat, who nearly won this seat two years ago, has the best chance of replacing Mr. Rangel.
It’s time for a change, and Democratic voters in the 13th Congressional District should cast their ballot for Adriano Espaillat.
