For a long time, Sharon Philip pulled the lever for Charles Rangel without hesitation, confident that the longtime legislator was the right man for her and for Harlem.
But after years of wondering whether the cloud of suspicion hovering over his reputation would eventually dissipate, she has now reached the grim conclusion that it is time to find someone new to advocate for the 15th District.
“I’m very disappointed,” said Philip, 58.
She can’t deny that he did a lot for the district. Unfortunately, that’s what makes it so painful.
“No matter what he has done for the community, it doesn’t give him carte blanche to do whatever he wants,” she added.
“He knew better. I think he should resign. It would be in everyone’s best interests.”
And so it was among voters yesterday in Harlem, who expressed sadness, anger and betrayal after learning that their envoy in Washington had been charged with multiple ethics violations.
“It’s long overdue,” said Andrea Williams-Wright, 62.
“I’m born and raised in Harlem. He has done a lot for the neighborhood. At this point, he should go in dignity. He knew that the community knew something was wrong.”
She summed it up: “Wrong is wrong no matter who it is.”
Aggie Williams said he couldn’t get over the fact that Rangel had multiple rent-stabilized apartments and was using one of them as a campaign office in violation of the law.
“I don’t think it’s fair,” said Williams, who lives in Lenox Terrace, the Harlem building where Rangel lives.
“I’m probably paying more for my one bedroom than he is for the three apartments that he has.”
Like many of the voters The Post spoke with, she wants him to step down from office.
Francis Stuart, 85, has lived at Lenox Terrace for some 25 years.
“I don’t appreciate that he has got these rent-controlled apartments. It’s an astronomical saving that he is making compared to me. And I’m on a pension,” he said.
“He should not be able to have rent-controlled apartments. Hell, no. If anyone should have rent-controlled apartments, it should be me.”
But after 40 years of Rangel’s service, many Harlem residents were willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
“I’ll continue to vote for him and support him,” said Warren Cook, 53.
“These charges don’t bother me. Justice is going to prevail. I don’t think he should resign. He is doing a good job.”
Also willing to cast a ballot for Rangel was James Simpson, 57.
“I feel this is just politics. I voted for Charlie Rangel three times. This doesn’t change what he has done for Harlem,” he said.
Simpson said he was impressed with Rangel’s work with neighborhood schools as well as his establishment of homes for seniors.
“There is no politician that doesn’t have something in their background unless their name is Jesus, Mohammed or Buddha,” Simpson said.