Tributes to Former Congressman Charles Rangel: A Political Titan Remembered

Remembering Charles Rangel

• 💔 The death of former Congressman Charles Rangel, a political titan, at the age of 94 has been announced.
• 🕊️ His family released a statement thanking everyone for their support and announced a private service followed by a public celebration of life.

Tributes from New York Leaders

• 🦁 Governor Kathy Hochul described Rangel as "the Lion of Harlem" for his decades of public service and commitment to his community.
• 🤝 Hochul recalled how Rangel welcomed her to the New York delegation when she was first elected to Congress.

Rangel's Legacy in Harlem and Congress

• 🗳️ Elected 23 times to represent Harlem, Rangel served from 1971 to 2017, a testament to his deep connection with the community.
• 🌟 He was a trailblazer, a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and the first African-American to lead the House Ways and Means Committee.
• 📜 Considered one of the most effective lawmakers, Rangel was the primary sponsor of Obamacare.

The Gang of Four and Community Impact

• 🤝 Rangel was the last surviving member of the Gang of Four, a Harlem political coalition that included Basil Patterson, David Dinkens, and Percy Sutton.
• 🎭 Sutton's granddaughter highlighted Rangel's role in revitalizing the Apollo Theater and his generous support for her family.
• 💡 Jennifer Jones Austin, who worked with Rangel on the empowerment zone initiative with President Clinton, remembered him as a giant and a hero who married community with country.
• 🏙️ Even after retirement, Rangel remained active, launching the infrastructure workforce initiative at the City College of New York to create jobs.
• 🗓️ He passed away just two weeks before his 95th birthday, having been in hospice care.