Rangel's Caribbean rental … and more

1. Rep. Charles Rangel insists he was not breaking the law by not claiming rental income for two years from a Caribbean property [Post]
2. More on the sale of the four-story Federal-style brownstone at
Cranberry and Willow Streets in Brooklyn Heights, known as the
“Moonstruck” house [NYT]
3. Residents of a Victorian house in College Point love its old-world charm, despite its problems [NYT]
4. Should Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac merge? [NYT]
5. A Queens landlord allegedly stole a tenant’s identity and bought a BMW and spent $20,000 on a credit card [Post]
6. Coney Island’s Astroland amusement park says it is closing for good this week unless it gets a new lease [NYDN]
7. Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza could finally be redesigned for the auto-age [NYT]
8. Africa Israel Investments Ltd., the real-estate company controlled by
diamond billionaire Lev Leviev, is selling about half its holdings in
two New York City towers [Bloomberg]
9. Wall Street layoffs have led to lawyers getting the ax [Crain’s]
10. Sales of private property in Willets Point could speed up [Crain’s]
11. Roosevelt Island is growing fast [NYO]
12. A look at Front Street, between Jay and Bridge Streets in Dumbo [Metro]
13. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac want higher returns from lenders in exchange for buying loans backing rental-apartment buildings. [WSJ]

Rangel’s Caribbean rental … and more