18 months for Baldeo

From Capital New York:

Albert Baldeo, a former City Council candidate and Queens district leader, was sentenced Monday to 18 months in federal prison for tampering with witnesses during investigations into his failed 2010 campaign for Council.

Baldeo allegedly provided a number of straw donors with funds to donate to his 2010 campaign. When he discovered the F.B.I. was investigating, he pushed the donors not to cooperate with the investigation and to provide false information.

He went so far as to make complaints to the city’s buildings department about properties owned by the family of one of the donors, according to Bharara's office.

Baldeo keeps evading sentencing

From The Forum:

Albert Baldeo, the Ozone Park attorney, activist and candidate for public office who was convicted in federal court in August of seven counts of obstructing justice in a campaign-related case, was supposed to have been sentenced on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Federal Courthouse in Manhattan.

However, as a Jan. 25 letter from Preet Bharara, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, to presiding Judge Paul Crotty detailed, the sentencing has been delayed numerous times for what Bharara has deemed suspicious health-related circumstances.

“The Government is concerned both that (a) the defendant is faking or exaggerating his alleged medical problems in order to delay sentencing and/or support an argument at sentencing for leniency, and (b) the defendant may be seeking to hide his location, so to as complicate or defeat the ability of Pretrial Services to supervise him, and the ability of law enforcement to ensure that he does not seek to flee prior to sentencing,” Bharara stated in the missive, which he indicated was sent to Crotty “to provide an update to the Court regarding the continued self-hospitalization of the defendant…and to ask the Court to order certain measures in light of recent developments.”

Baldeo convicted

From the Times Ledger:

A federal jury found Ozone Park Democrat Albert Baldeo guilty of obstruction of justice, but acquitted him of mail and wire fraud charges Monday, a spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.

Baldeo, a former Democratic district leader and candidate for office, turned himself into the FBI in November 2012, after he was charged with having fake donors contribute to his failed 2010 City Council campaign to receive matching funds from the city and obstructing the government’s investigation. He was running against City Councilman Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica).

Jurors handed down convictions on seven obstruction of justice charges, but did not find Baldeo guilty on three charges of mail and wire fraud, Bharara’s staff said.

The seven charges each carry sentences of up to 20 years behind bar, according to Bharara’s office.

You are who your friends are

From the NY Post:

A number of Congressman Gregory Meeks’ friends are now in jail or under indictment, as prosecutors ramp up a federal probe into the New York Democrat.

One old pal, Ponzi schemer Allen Stanford, is already in federal prison; another, Edul Ahmad, is facing sentencing in a $50 million mortgage scam; and Albert Baldeo was recently charged with campaign-finance fraud.

Baldeo, the latest of Meeks’ pals to be arrested, is a Queens immigration lawyer whom the congressman described as a “good friend.”

Baldeo was arrested by federal authorities in October, charged with using straw donors in his failed 2010 City Council bid. He was accused of giving friends and associates money to donate to his campaign in their own names in an attempt to boost contributions and gain city matching funds.

Meeks, 59, had a satellite district office in a building owned by Baldeo from 2002 to 2004.

Baldeo told The Post he gave Meeks a break on the rent because he wanted the congressman to have a presence in his Richmond Hill community. House rules prohibit representatives from receiving below-market rent.

Baldeo is negotiating a possible plea deal with the feds. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on each of the four charges.

Baldeo charged with corruption

From the NY Times:

A district leader and former City Council candidate in Queens, Albert J. Baldeo, surrendered to federal authorities Wednesday morning to face corruption charges, according to a person briefed on the matter.

Mr. Baldeo is accused of using phantom donors to funnel illegal campaign contributions to his unsuccessful 2010 campaign for City Council in order to fraudulently increase the amount of matching funds provided by the city, federal prosecutors said. He is being charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, attempted mail fraud, conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice and obstruction of justice, officials said.

Baldeo's campaign filings scrutinized

From the NY Post:

Investigators are probing whether City Council candidate Albert Baldeo listed phantom donors on his campaign filings, The Post has learned.

Baldeo, a lawyer and pal of Congressman Gregory Meeks, is the fund-raising front-runner in the nine-person race to fill the late Thomas White Jr.'s Queens City Council seat.

Baldeo's filings claim he's amassed $19,019 and loaned himself $27,000, giving him a total war chest of $46,019. He has spent $21,074.

But his donation records are rife with irregularities, including inaccurate occupations for donors, wrong addresses and outright bogus contributions.

Karlene Stewart, a disabled resident of Rochdale Village, is listed as donating $90.

"I absolutely did not give him money," Stewart told The Post, adding that Baldeo did ask her for a donation.

Most shocking is the $95 donation attributed to Christopher O'Hearn, the campaign treasurer for another candidate, Charles Bilal. Baldeo "did not ask me for a donation. I don't have a clue why I am on that list," O'Hearn told The Post. He added that he's been contacted by investigators.

The city Campaign Finance Board said it could not comment on any potential investigations.

Candidates in the race are eligible for matching taxpayer funds if they raise at least $5,000 and have 75 donors or more from the district, which includes part of Jamaica, Richmond Hill and South Ozone Park. None of the candidates in the race have yet received matching funds because of concerns surrounding the race's finances.

Baldeo's filings show 205 donors as of Oct. 1, most of them giving cash.

But 54 of the donors were listed as unemployed. And the places of business for at least a dozen were wrong -- when The Post called the businesses, no one with the donor's name worked there.

This time he means it

Governor Paterson called a special election today for Anthony Seminerio's seat so that the Democratic Party can select their own candidate to put on the ballot.

This is likely in response to Albert Baldeo receiving the endorsement of the DC37 union.

God forbid we should choose who we want to represent us and not be told who will.

Rivera urges Paterson to stay out of assembly race

From the Daily News:

Assemblyman Peter Rivera (D-Bronx) circulated a letter to downstate Assembly members demanding that Seminerio's replacement in the 38th Assembly District be selected in the November general election.

The Queens Democratic Party wants a partisan special election because it would allow the party to choose its favored candidate. The other option - a primary - would likely lead to a messy, four-way battle.

A special election would rely heavily on the influence of four Democratic district leaders in Seminerio's district - including the disgraced Seminerio himself.

Rivera thinks Paterson should not interfere in the election.

"Let the Democratic process play itself out," Martinez said. "Let the candidates have debates and let the people decide."

Maspeth wants fewer trucks and more parks

This past Saturday, Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, Councilman Tony Avella, representatives of Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez and State Senator Joe Addabbo, 3 Assembly candidates, local residents and civic groups gathered at the Clinton Diner in Maspeth to protest Waste Management's plan to truck garbage to the neighborhood instead of loading it directly onto the rail next to their property for shipment out of state.

They also called on Mayor Bloomberg to acquire the former site of St. Saviour's Church as a public park. Interestingly, the site is listed on PlaNYC's website as an ideal potential site for a park as identified by respondents to surveys.

The Assembly candidates suggested using eminent domain to acquire the park and filing an environmental lawsuit to stop the WM plan.

Although WM has been stating publicly that 50 sanitation trucks a day would enter their transfer station on Review Avenue and 65 a day would truck garbage to the Maspeth Railyard, the EIS for the project mentions 81 and 144 respectively.



The cockamamie WM plan is no surprise as members of the Vallone family, including Peter Sr. and Paul, have thus far accepted $1M from Waste Management to lobby the city for the project. Here's a sample lobbying report from 2005; they have represented the company from 2002 until now.

Machine may make end run around Baldeo

From City Hall:

Even as they fight over who should take over Anthony Seminerio’s seat, most of those involved seemed to have reached consensus on who they do not want to see replace the Assemblyman who resigned before pleading guilty to fraud.

“I think one thing everyone can agree on is that nobody wants Al Baldeo,” said one Queens Democrat. “It’s hard to see a scenario where he would be the party’s choice.”

Currently, the seat is slated to go up for election along with the city races on Sept. 15 and Nov. 3. But things might get complicated: Gov. David Paterson has the power not to wait for those elections and act on the vacancy, calling a special election to take place sometime before the November elections. If that happens, there is speculation that Baldeo may not meet the State Constitution’s one-year residency requirement and be disqualified from running until the seat comes up again in next year’s election cycle.

A special election may occur if the party organizations, unhappy with the mix of candidates that survive petitioning, ask Paterson to call for one. TA special election might take place on the same day as the regular elections in November, but would operate under a different set of rules that tosses the petitions and gives each party's county committee the power to choose a candidate for the general election. The governor could make that decision at any time ahead of the elections.

Hey why have a fair contest when you can engineer the result to eliminate the competition?

Seminerio resigns, Bloomberg lapdog mentioned as replacement

From the Daily News:

Here's a copy of the resignation letter tendered late last night by indicted now-former Assemblyman Tony Seminerio, bringing to an abrupt end his more than three decade-long career in public office.

An anonymous law enforcement source told DN Capitol Bureau Chief Ken Lovett that Seminerio is indeed expected to plead guilty to a fraud charge.

A few names that have come up in conversation with people familiar with the district (there are both Democrats and Republicans in this list):

Former City Council and state Senate candidate Al Baldeo (I'm not sure if he meets the one-year residency requirement); Community Board 9's Nick Comaianni; Seminerio's son, who ran for City Council in 2001 and was briefly mentioned as a candidate for former Councilman Dennis Gallagher's seat (now held by Democratic Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley); Donna Marie Caltabiano, director of the Forest Park Senior Center; and - here's a wild card - Matt Gorton, an aide to Mayor Bloomberg.

Baldeo vs. overdevelopment

OVERDEVELOPMENT IS RUINING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
by Albert Baldeo

Overdevelopment has radically altered the traditional appearance and character of our neighborhoods. Illegal construction, non-compliance with zoning rules, and poor quality construction-this scourge is compounded with our failure to landmark historic buildings.

The results are increased population density, overloading community resources, congestion, pollution, parking and mass transit service problems. Schools are overcrowded and public utilities and services are overburdened, including sewer systems and garbage removal. The beauty of our tranquil neighborhoods is being destroyed. This epidemic has reached such proportions that there are few issues that cry out for governmental action more than overdevelopment in Queens.

The issues are encapsulated in this larger question: “How can we enforce and promulgate laws relating to zoning infractions, illegal conversions, McMansions, lack of land marking of historic districts, concreting over lawns, out-of-character structures, permanent fencing, teardowns and self-certification by engineers and architects?”

Abuse after abuse, eye sore after eye sore, buildings of this nature crop up block after block, like a cancer destroying our communities. Some have been completed, and others have been absolutely abandoned, presenting additional security and sanitation problems of their own.

Down zoning, the solution to the problem, curbs overdevelopment and stops out-of-character development in Queens' residential neighborhoods. Changes in zoning regulations will align new construction with the character of the borough's neighborhoods and will ensure that communities can gracefully accommodate new development.

City Planning, in consultation with the Queens Borough President's Zoning Task Force, is supposedly conducting neighborhood zoning studies throughout the borough of Queens with the goal of preventing further overdevelopment in each neighborhood. But why, after four years, we are still waiting for City action? Do we have to wait until the monstrosities completely overwhelm our neighborhoods? Why has it been stalled by the Department of City Planning over the last several years?

We must get the rezoning process moving again, as real estate investors continue to break ground on large-scale construction projects, putting up condominiums and four and five-story buildings with increasing frequency.

Clearly, City Planning and the Department of Buildings have dropped the ball. The City needs to complete the Down zoning Phase II process, and add personnel who are better trained, properly inspect violation complaints and respond quickly and efficiently.

Historic landmarks must also be preserved. The City must carry out the mandate of its residents. Enough is enough!

Albert Baldeo, Esq.
Community Advocate and Attorney at Law

Prayers for a brighter, better new year

As we resolve to meet the opportunities and challenges of a new year, we renew our resolution to learn from past failures and commit to the improvement of our neighborhoods, cities and State. Many of you have set goals for the coming year and we, as community advocates and leaders, will join you in ensuring that we succeed in getting what we have always fought for-a better quality of life and solutions to our community's problems.

We must continue to fight for our collective interests, protect our kids, working families and seniors, fight for better education, public safety, wages, jobs and health care, be more responsive to our friends in need, and be better stewards of our environment and neighborhoods.

With the many lows, such as the plummeting of the real estate markets, increased costs of living and prescription drugs, the high foreclosure rate due to mortgage failures, the highest unemployment rate in recent years, huge and painful financial bailouts for mismanaged industries and the collapse of our financial institutions due to predatory lending, it is hard not to acknowledge that 2008 was perhaps the most dreadful year for most of us. Families and small businesses in our local communities are hurting big time.

Added to that, we must now endure the pangs of despair in the face of a state budget crisis, and, despite our personal sacrifices, indecision as to which party will lead the State Senate after decades of dysfunction. When I stepped aside and endorsed and supported Councilman Joe Addabbo for the State Senate, now State Senator Addabbo, to avoid a divisive and expensive primary, I did so because I wanted our families to get the better life we are owed on account of our delivery of this linch pin seat to secure the majority to Democrats after decades in the wilderness. We hope that mandate is fulfilled.

With the pending increases in property taxes, MTA fares, tuition costs, utility costs, and the introduction of new taxes, such as music and obesity taxes, and budget cuts in health care, schools, police and the fire department, New Yorkers are urged to keep the faith and fight and pray for a brighter and better 2009.

We deserve better from our government, and demand more! Enough is enough!

Albert Baldeo
Community Advocate

Thanks to Baldy

Baldeo's leadership and team play led to Democrats avoiding a divisive and costly primary, and saved them over a million dollars, which proved to be a significant factor in them taking control of the State Senate for the first time since 1965. Apart from his endorsement, Baldeo put his resources behind Addabbo in a way never seen before in Queens politics, and gave the Addabbo campaign significant resources in office space, volunteers, visibility, getting out the vote, holding rallies, fundraising and registering new voters. "When Albert threw his support behind me," Addabbo said, "my chances surged, and we knew that, together, we would defeat him soundly."

Press Release from Albert Baldeo & Friends: Albert Baldeo Mobilizes Big Community Turnout in Obama, Addabbo & Crowley Victories!

Sorry, I just had to post this for the photos alone...

Crappy told you so

Mr. Baldeo was asked whether he might have an interesting in running for office again. “Certainly,” he said. “Would I appreciate their support? Certainly. Do I expect good will from helping the party? Well, it stands to reason that someone loyal to the party would be rewarded. But for now, I’m focused on the success of the party.”

Ex-Rivals in Queens Speak of Party Unity

In the interview, Mr. Baldeo said he lives in the district represented by Assemblyman Anthony S. Seminerio, who is now the target of a federal corruption case. But he did not specify the position he might wish to seek.

Brian sang to the Feds

- Disgraced former assemblyman Brian McLaughlin supplied the feds with their info.
- The announcement being made the day after the primaries is no coincidence.
- The Democrats knew Anthony Seminerio's indictment was looming and promised his assembly seat to Albert Baldeo in return for him dropping out of the Senate race.

The only question is how many more heads will roll.

Understanding how the Queens Machine works

Excellent post over at Room Eight:

Completive elections throughout the city are the exception. There are 32 legislative seats open in this week’s Primary in Queens (6 Congressional, 7 Senate, 18 Assembly and 1 Council). But there are only three Primaries – the rest are uncontested — due largely to the Queens Democratic Organization’s legal firm and political power. If they can’t talk you out of running, they can challenge your petitions from the Board of Elections through the Court system, exhausting you and your campaign war chest. Their candidates need not spend a cent or a moment, while Democratic challengers are tied up in court going through tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees. Two incumbents and one challenger in Queens were talked out of running to avoid competitive elections in Queens, State Senator Sabini, Assemblyman Lafayette, and Albert Baldeo who got 49% of the vote against a republican incumbent without the help of his own democratic party.

This conspiracy by insiders to shut down New York’s election system is creating a new type of England’s Hanover dynasties, where only family members or extended family members (chief of staff, campaign workers) replace incumbent elected officials. This insider caste system now works more for the special interests than for the people who make up the neighborhoods of this city. How else can you explain why the City Council votes for tax breaks for developers who are doing more harm to New York’s neighborhoods that Robert Moses ever dreamed?

The Parkside Group as campaign consultants helped elected Gifford Miller to Council Speaker and several Queens City Council members in 2001. Between 2002 - 2005 they made over 7 million in fees, mostly in non profits who needed their help to lobby Miller and the Queens councilmember’s for member item funding from the city budget for their groups. With all the scandals coming out in the past year it surprising why the system that elected the speaker of the council has not been examined more closely by the media.

While the Tammany Hall system of government was corrupt and kept much of the money they took from the City’s budget, they were forced to give some of it to the poor, working class, who votes they needed at election time. The new lobbyists/ consultants are answerable to nobody; they keep all their money for themselves and for their summer homes in the Hamptons.

Baldeo exits senate race; endorses Addabbo

Democratic sources confirm Albert Baldeo, who came within some 800 votes of ousting veteran Republican Sen. Serphin Maltese in 2006, will throw his support to the Democratic establishment candidate, Councilman Joe Addabbo, this afternoon and stop campaigning.

Baldeo To End Campaign, Endorse Addabbbo

Technically speaking, Baldeo can't officially drop out of the race since it's too late to remove his name from the primary ballot.

The formal announcement will be made at 3 p.m. at Baldeo's law offices on Liberty Avenue. Also expected to attend are Addabbo, Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, Rep. Greg Meeks and Queens Democratic Chairman Joe Crowley.

A tough nut to crack

Enjoyed reading about Albert's strong-arm tactic:

Baldeo tried to make peace with the Democratic party leaders earlier this year - even asking for a judgeship in return for not running in the Senate election - but his overtures weren't welcomed.

"He asked if we would support him [for a judge's position] and we said 'no,'" said Michael Reich, executive secretary of the Queens Democratic Party. "[Baldeo] made a call and said, 'Listen, I want to support Joe [Addabbo]. I think that a primary would be divisive and would hurt the chances of the party and I hope you would consider me for a judgeship.'"

The South Ozone Park candidate was turned down because the deadline for the judicial screening panel had already passed, Reich said.

Albert Baldeo hints at third-party run for Serphin Maltese's state Senate seat

Charges dropped in Howard Beach case

A Queens grand jury has dropped all charges against a white Howard Beach man who allegedly threatened to torch a black neighbor's property in August 2007.

Guyanese family fears for life after jury KOs bias charges vs. white neighbor

A grand jury returned a "no true bill" this month, meaning charges against [Michael] Hussey will be dropped, said Kevin Ryan, a spokesman for Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.

"The case against him has been dismissed," Ryan said.

This development throws a bit of a monkeywrench into the Albert Baldeo campaign...