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Medical Drama

By Hunter Walker 4/05/12 1:15pm

Medical Drama

Charles Rangel (Photo: Getty)

Inez Dickens Describes Charlie Rangel’s Health Woes

For almost two months, Charlie Rangel has been dealing with what his staff describes as a back injury that has led to multiple hospitalizations and his longest absence from Congress in over a decade. Due to his health problems, he also hasn’t been seen in his district even as he’s facing several challengers in his latest re-election bid. At a candidates forum for that race hosted by the Barack Obama Democratic Club last night, Mr. Rangel’s longtime friend and ally, Councilwoman Inez Dickens, spoke on the congressman’s behalf and told The Politicker he’s back home and out of the hospital.

Mr. Rangel, who will turn 82-years-old next month, has a Midtown fundraiser planned for next Wednesday, but Ms. Dickens said, despite her advice to remain home and rest, we might see him out in public again sooner than that.  Read More

By Hunter Walker 3/29/12 7:40pm

Medical Drama

The hospital protesters in the gallery at the City Council chambers yesterday.

Hospital Protesters Hound Christine Quinn

St. Vincent’s hospital was closed in 2010, but a group of six demonstrators spent much of yesterday protesting Council Speaker Christine Quinn and the City Council for voting to approve Rudin Management’s plan for the site formerly occupied by the hospital. The protesters appeared at yesterday’s council meeting when the vote was taken and were thrown out after booing from the gallery. They also followed Ms. Quinn to her appearance at a 92nd Street Y panel where people in the audience heckled Ms. Quinn as she spoke and a small contingent stood outside holding signs that said carried signs showing off the low number of hospital beds on the West Side below 57th Street and mocking Ms. Quinn with the slogan “Quinn To City: Drop Dead.”

“You know, it was all basically a done deal and Christine has the entire City Council in her pocket and the mayor did not stand up for a full service emergency hospital. There’s no reason why there can’t be an emergency hospital,” Ms. Katz told The Politicker. “Christine Quinn, this is her district, she betrayed her district, she betrayed the entire downtown community.”

Ms. Quinn has been praised for extracting a series of concessions from Rudin Management in the plan approved by the Council. Under the deal Rudin agreed to reduce the number of condos that will be built on the site and to give up land that will be used for a park, 24-hour medical center and school. Read More