Bronx native and veteran Al Quattlebaum outlines assembly run, pushes trades and transparency

Al Quattlebaum, a Bronx native, U.S. Army and National Guard veteran and longtime community advocate, told BronxNet’s "Open" he is running for the New York State Assembly in the 82nd District and outlined a platform focused on veterans, trade education, safer streets and transparency.

Quattlebaum described growing up in the South Bronx (Paterson Houses), dropping out of high school, earning a GED, attending trade school for culinary arts and building a catering business that supported his family. He said that background informs his platform, which emphasizes returning trade programs to schools so students gain marketable skills.

"Let's give a kid a hammer instead of putting pressure on them to go to college," Quattlebaum said, arguing that vocational training and entrepreneurship should be actionable and measurable priorities for Albany.

He called for more transparent representation, saying voters should have a clearer line to their assembly member on how to vote and why. Quattlebaum said he will prioritize veterans and their families and described homelessness among veterans as "too high." He also described regular community work, including a weekly food pantry in Co-op City.

Quattlebaum said he will be campaigning actively through the spring, cited specific upcoming events tied to Black History Month and the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus, and listed his campaign website (al4ny.com) as the place for social links and schedules.

The candidate highlighted local ties to faith and community institutions, saying he serves as an associate minister at Co-op City Baptist Church and pointing to a grass-roots, door-to-door strategy for outreach.

Quattlebaum characterized his run as part of broader efforts to hold elected officials accountable and to return representation that is "on the ground" with measurable results.