Rangel backs Levine for Manhattan beep

“The Lion of Lenox Ave.,” also known as former Rep. Charles Rangel, is endorsing City Councilman Mark Levine for Manhattan borough president.

“Mark Levine has been a fighter for uptown throughout his time in the City Council — on issues of health, affordable housing, education, economic development and more,” Rangel said in a Monday statement. “I know that he will bring that passion to the role of borough president on behalf of all of Manhattan, and I am proud to endorse him.”

Rangel retired in 2017, but has remained prominent in local politics, recently endorsing Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams for mayor and praising Gov. Cuomo at a news conference in Harlem.

Levine said he’s worked with the pol long known as “the Lion of Lenox Ave.” on issues like protecting small businesses and getting resources to uptown communities during the pandemic.

“It’s hard to overstate what he means for uptown Manhattan and New Yorkers more broadly,” said Levine, a Democrat who has repped Manhattanville, Morningside Heights and Hamilton Heights on the Council for the past seven years. “I’m just incredibly proud of the multiracial coalition that we’re building among electeds, among labor, uptown and downtown.”

He recently got a coveted endorsement from the large DC 37 union of municipal workers.

“These are the people who have been on the front line protecting us, serving us, keeping the city going in the pandemic,” Levine, who is chairman of the Council’s Health Committee, said of the union.

Last week, the powerful United Federation of Teachers endorsed state Sen. Brad Hoylman for Manhattan beep. Also in the race are former state official Lindsey Boylan — who made headlines for shocking allegations of sexual harassment against Cuomo — and Councilman Ben Kallos.

The winner of the Democratic primary, scheduled for June 22, is expected to cruise to victory in the November general election in overwhelmingly Democratic New York City.