Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Local Dems Take Aim At "Judas" Perkins
By
Ben Yakas
Published Apr 5, 2010
Modified Apr 5, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Apr 5, 2010
Modified Apr 5, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Who needs enemies when you have political allies! Several allies of Gov. Paterson and Sen. Charlie Rangel are gearing up to challenge and oust Sen. Bill Perkins, another fellow Democrat. Perkins, who currently holds Paterson's former senate seat, drew the ire of local party bosses because he turned on Paterson during the Sherr-una Booker domestic violence scandal, saying he didn't think Paterson should run for re-election (Perkins also spoke of "scandal fatigue," and questioned the fairness of the reporting on Paterson).
But some Harlem Democrats now view Perkins with biblical fury: "It's on the level of Judas. He's for himself and not for the team...We would love to get him out of there because he's driving us crazy," one anonymous pol told Elizabeth Benjamin of the Daily News (This isn't the only Judas that's been thrown out by Dems recently, either). Perkins angered the embattled Rangel by refusing to rule out a run for his seat in congress.
Three young party members—Rodney Capel, Larry Scott Blackmon and Basil Smikle—are all being floated as possible candidates to run for Perkins central Harlem seat, although Perkins "is popular with constituents, well-known in the district and had a campaign war chest of $77,224 as of mid-January." But the fury of the anonymous source will not be abated: "We were under attack...When the media's after a black leader, we sort of close ranks. ..It's an unwritten rule."
Tagged
gov paterson
harlem democrats
rep charlie rangel
sen. bill perkins
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NY Archdiocese will soon settle $800M clergy sexual abuse claims
The deal would compensate over 1,300 alleged victims and help the church avoid bankruptcy.
By
Arya Sundaram
Published Oct 24, 2026 at 6:31 p.m. ET
Chinatown residents file lawsuit against after-hours construction on new 'mega jail'
Residents cite sleep disruption and dust-induced illness from nearly ‘round the clock’ construction.
By
Arya Sundaram
News
Chinatown residents file lawsuit against after-hours construction on new 'mega jail'
Residents cite sleep disruption and dust-induced illness from nearly ‘round the clock’ construction.
By
Arya Sundaram
Peepapalooza: NYC is heading to the Hudson Valley to watch the leaves
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
Sean Carlson
NYPD: Officer shot, injured knife-wielding woman during ‘chaotic’ night at Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
3 slates vying to run Jersey City school board as city stares down major tax hikes
By
Michael Sol Warren
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .