Rangel, Engel, Lowey loom as possible reps for Co-op

Engel’s back in Co-op City?

By Michael Horowitz

BRONX, NEW YORK, March 8- Representative Eliot Engel may, once again be representing Co-op City in Congress.

That's what would happen if the federal judge's redistricting plan for the state ultimately becomes law.

Co-op City will reportedly have one of three members of Congress in the community's district once the political dust over redistricting settles.

One plan, which the federal Magistrate Roanne C. Moss and the Republican-controlled State Senate have put forward, would have Rep. Eliot Engel running for reelection to Congress in Co-op City, where he would face strong opposition from his long-time foes in the local community.

A second plan, proposed by the Democratic-controlled Assembly, would have long-time Rep. Anita Lowey representing Co-op City if she were reelected.

Finally, a third plan, supported by both the NAACP and the good-government Common Cause group, would have Rep. Charles Rangel's district extend into Co-op City, largely African-American areas of the northeast Bronx, and Mount Vernon in Westchester County.

The proposals by the State Senate and the State Assembly, in contrast to plans that the NAACP and Common Cause support, would have Rangel's district extending into relatively small areas in the south Bronx and Yankee Stadium areas.

Assemblyman Michael Benedetto said, this week, that he is hopeful that both houses of the State Legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo will agree on Congressional district lines by March 12, a deadline that Federal Magistrate Roanne C. Mann, the court-appointed judicial master for New York's redistricting, has set for an agreement on a Congressional reapportionment plans for the state.

However, Gov. Como has said that he is inclined to reject partisan plans from legislators and let the courts draw redistricting lines for the state.

Magistrate Mann, for her part, has indicated that she supports the plan, advocated by the NAACP and Common Cause, that would have Rep. Rangel's district extend into Co-op City, largely African-American areas of the northeast Bronx, and Mount Vernon in Westchester County.