Baiganchoka interviews Albert Baldeo
July 24, 2008
Albert Baldeo, the Democratic nominee for the 15th State senate district in 2006, almost unseated the Republican incumbent Serphin Maltese, who was also the Republican County chairman. Albert intends to finish the job in 2008. Maltese’s near upset forced him to resign that position to focus on keeping his tenuous seat, and when this seat goes democratic, Albert and allies must be credited for his groundbreaking campaign. No one had the vision and commitment to run against Maltese since 1988, but Albert exposed his poor voting record, and advocated for reforms in state government, demonstrating that an independent minded democrat can reform the broken system of “politics as usual” with grass roots support, and without any institutional support from the Queens County Democratic Organization, special interests, rogue unions or elected officials.
He is doing what is to be expected of someone coming so close to delivering a seat to democrats-run again. He has been receiving more support this time around, as Democrats try to capture the State senate majority since 1965, thereby overcoming the last vestige of Republican power in New York State.
Albert earned the support and trust of the diverse voters in this district by fighting for changes and exposing the stranglehold special interests and cronyism exert on democracy. Albert secured 17,046 votes on the democratic line, against Maltese’s 14,235 Republican votes, but Maltese got another 1,621 and 2,084 votes respectively from the Independence and Conservative party lines, which made him “squeak past Baldeo” by 1% of the votes cast. Baldeo’s strong, independent showing has inspired many others to seek political leadership positions based on the right goals-to make government serve constituents better. If the Working Families Party or the Queens Democratic County organization had endorsed Albert, Democrats would have secured this seat. “They were so focused on the statewide races and they built up these huge margins, they squandered this huge opportunity for a Democrat to unseat a dinosaur,” said Doug Muzzio, a political science professor at Brooklyn College.
Albert, a former magistrate and prosecutor, is also an arbitrator, mediator, lecturer, columnist and a community leader and advocate for his district. He was also appointed a Special Prosecutor and tried homicides, violent crimes and fraud indictments, before serving as a magistrate. He dedicates his law practice in Queens to serve the public, senior citizens and small businesses in housing, real estate, public benefits, corporate & immigration law. He makes many proposals to implement changes in the law to better serve our citizens. Albert is a member of the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, the Queens Bar Association, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association. He has been practicing law for over 25 years, and is well known for his expertise in public benefits and immigration law, and even judicial temperament. Many of his cases have created legal precedents in the Caribbean, the Commonwealth and in the USA.
Over the years, Albert has been involved in the district in many different ways. Albert is the Founder & President of the Richmond Hill/Ozone Park Democratic Club, the Baldeo Community Outreach, Citizenship & Voter Registration Assistance Center, Richmond Hill, Chairman of the Community Empowerment Congress, Ozone Park, President of the Community Environmental and Crime Prevention Watch, The Coalition against Hate Crimes and the Alliance against Air Pollution. He dispenses free legal consultations, engages in pro bono cases, and sponsors and conducts free educational seminars to the public. He is a regular contributor and columnist in various media, relentlessly advocating for reforms.
Albert is also involved with many organizations, including the Queens County Progressive Democratic club, Kiwanis, Rotary Club, South East Queens Concerned Neighbors, Inc., Richmond Hill South Civic Associations, South Ozone Park Civic Associations West, Guy Brewer, Blackburne, New Concept, Queens Community and South Queens Democratic Clubs, Working Families Party, the Alliance for Change in Rochdale Co-op, the Tenants Association and National Low Income Housing Coalition.
He is an exemplary community activist and impassioned advocate. He and his brother, Dr. Philip Baldeo, provide food, clothing, medical supplies and cash to the Guyana Flood, Tsunami, Katrina and Pakistan victims and the poor and needy in our community. He opened the Community Assistance Center & Voter Registration Drive in his community. He secures compensation for crime victims & formed an organization to combat hate crimes. He is also an education, immigration, housing & health care reform advocate.
For his outstanding services, Albert has been honored by Rosa Parks, Civil Rights Leader at the National Campaign for Tolerance for taking a personal, public stand against hate, injustice, and intolerance in September, 2004, after receiving the Global Heritage Achievement Award in July, 2002. For his pro bono work, he has been honored by the Legal Services of Greater Miami Inc. on September 20th, 1993, and by President Cheddi Jagan of Guyana in 1992.
Some of the awards and citations earned by Albert include: Congressional Awards and Recognition from Congressman Gregory Meeks, Congressman Anthony Weiner and Congressman Joseph Crowley, City Council Citations for Outstanding Political Activism and tireless dedication to community service from Council members David Weprin and Hiram Monserrate, the Certificate of Merit from Senator Padavan-who crossed party lines to endorse him- for his exemplary and distinguished record of service to his community, the Nassau County Citation for his selfless Commitment to His Fellowman that warrants attention and gratitude, Hillary Clinton’s campaign for his generous contributions and support, the Polish American Congress for his leadership achievements, the New Americans Democratic Organization of NY for his civic, social and business leadership, the Community Leadership Award which was presented to him by the Hon. Eliot Spitzer on behalf of SAAPAC, and the Political Activist Award from the Queens County Progressive Democratic Club.
Visit Albert Baldeo’s website to learn more about him and the issues he supports.
The Baiganchoka Team
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Comments
8 Responses to “Baiganchoka interviews Albert Baldeo”
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Thanks for the inspiration, Baldeo, and the legacy you have brought us. Everyone will respect immigrants in NYC more. Thanks for standing up and fighting for us! Your parents would have been proud of you. Those of us who did not come out and vote, and give you that 1%-we ask your forgiveness-myself included. God bless!
Albert,
We support you in this process. We will get out there and vote for you.
Baldeo has taken a giant leap for Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Howard Beach, Ridgewood, Maspeth and Glendale. We want a breath of fresh air, and Baldeo is that person. Addabbo and Maltese do not care about minorities and immigrants. They have been too long in office. Stop the musical chairs. We need new blood-and new faces.
Al is the Obama of Hope and Change. Keep up the good work.
We need to remove the Buick good old guys and that is addabo and Maltese.
We can only do that by becoming citizens, and voting.
You are correct. Baldeo is a big hope for the community. Everyone should rally around him.
Every group must be represented. America was built on “no taxation without representation.”
Albert,
My family and my self supports you. we will be out there to vote for you
Baigan Choka site is doing its part. This is a community effort. Baldeo made it possible. I complement those who have stepped up with Baldeo in this historic cause. It is analogous to the fight for independence from the British. I was ashamed to see Baldeo using his own money to fund an effort that benefits us all, our children, our parents, our neighbors and our great, great grandchildren. We can’t burden one man. It’s a shame. Empowerment does not come cheaply.