Meet Kenneth Paek: Veteran, Policeman, and Advocate
Vying for NY’s 25th Assembly
OAKLAND GARDENS, New York — As residents in New York gear up to vote for representatives in their Assembly Districts, Kenneth Paek emerges as a formidable candidate.
With a robust background in public service, commitment to public safety, and a clear vision for addressing issues plaguing the city, Paek’s campaign resonates with voters who seek effective leadership and advocacy for their communities.
Paek held a fundraiser at the Haknesiah Church in Oakland Gar-
dens, Queens, to connect with local community members, share his vision for the district, and raise support for his campaign. During the event, Paek sat down with Vi sion Times to share what sets him apart from other contenders vy ing for the position.
“I want to be an advocate for the community,” says Paek.
“I am committed to being accessi ble, listening to concerns, and ad dressing necessary changes with in our community. Together, we can resolve issues and ensure our community thrives.”
On May 5, 2024, Paek held a fundraising event at the Haknesiah Church in Oakland Gardens, Queens, to connect with local commu nity members, share his vision for the district, and raise support for
On the migrant crisis
As a resident of the 25th District for the past 14 years, Paek is embarking on a mission to safeguard the community he knows and loves.
Paek’s dedication to the safety and well-being of his community is evident in his campaign’s objectives. His top priorities encompass bolstering public safety, addressing migration concerns, and halting the proliferation of community jails and shelters. Paek’s campaign also hopes to prioritize thorough background checks for migrants to ensure taxpayer resources are not exploited.
“I’m also a migrant — I’m from Korea so I’m not against migrants,” Paek told Vision Times. “But at the same time, we also have to do something about the migrant crisis at hand. When these migrants arrive in New York City, they get a lot of benefits like hotel rooms and $500 a month in their version of food stamps.”
He added, “They’re getting 40 percent more than people in New York City who are applying for SNAP, also known as food stamps. And it’s not fair that their benefits are a lot better. That money should be going to our seniors and our kids, and into bettering our school programs.”
This image from video provided by the Office of the Manhattan District shows the brawl between New York City Police Department officers and migrants in Times Square, Jan. 27, 2024. (Manhattan District Attorney via AP)
On bolstering safety
Kenneth Paek has thousands of former and current NYPD friends. He frequently attends various police organizations like Asian American Police Association and Retired Sergeant Association, NYPD
As a retired New York City Police Department Sergeant and U.S. Navy veteran, Paek’s diverse service background makes him a strong candidate for turning the tide on public safety — a pressing issue as crime rates from petty theft to violent attacks have been soaring across the city.
“Public safety is a main concern because if people are fearful of walking down the street and get-
ting robbed or mugged, they’re going to stay home,” said Paek, adding, “Small businesses need that foot traffic. But it has to make sense and it has to benefit the people.” Paek’s focus on crisis management included responses to situations of national security significance. He later retired with honor as Public Safety Sergeant in the city’s 109th Precinct. Paek’s firsthand experiences have given
him a deep understanding of the challenges stemming from policies originating from Albany and New York City, motivating his return to public service.
During his time in the Navy, Paek provided invaluable support to fellow service members by offering guidance on career opportunities, education, and training.
His journey with the NYPD began in 2006, where he served in
elite training with the Emergency Service Unit, culminating in a promotion to Detective Specialist.
“I was a crime sergeant with the 109th Precinct and we looked for a lot of heavy crimes that happened throughout the area [during this time],” said Paek. “I also served four years in the U.S. army in Japan.”
Supporting small businesses
Another priority for Paek is supporting small businesses, especially since many Asian American immigrants depend on these mom-and-pop shops to get by.
“One thing that I noticed while I was a police officer and sergeant is how Flushing is heavily populated by Asian people,” said Paek. “But all this crime that is happening against these business owners is not being held accountable — and it seems that a lot of times — the victims are Asian.”
He also notes that “bad reforms” may be impacting many small business owners in the 25th Dis-
fering from all these bad reforms that were enacted years ago,” said
Paek. “So, one thing I want to do is change these reforms.”
A worker cleans a compost garbage can at the Union Square Greenmarket on March 19, 2021, in New York City. After undergoing various shutdown orders for the past 12 months the city is currently in phase 4 of its reopening plan, allowing for the reopening of low-risk outdoor activities, movie and television productions, indoor dining as well as the opening of movie theaters, all with ca-
pacity restrictions. (Image: Noam Galai via Getty Images)
These misguided policies have created unnecessary burdens and obstacles for local entrepreneurs, making it harder for them to thrive, he notes.
“These small businesses face so much red tape and bureaucracy,” says Paek. “Sometimes it can take six, seven, or even 10 months [for approval] because you need to get
so many building and hygiene permits, etc.”
Parks hopes to “streamline this process” so that small businesses can be up and running in a much “faster and easier” way without being plagued by constant summons and fines from city officials.
“They need to also have some kind of educational period so that they don’t get penalized with summons or fines; they need help. It’s
not fair for government officials to come in and just try to squeeze them out of so much money.”
He adds, “We are all Asian Americans — not Chinese Americans, or Korean Americans. So whenever one group has a problem, it’s a problem for all of us. I think we should become one giant ethnic group so that we can work and become stronger together. We cannot sow division amongst ourselves.”
As Paek works diligently to secure a position on the Republican ballot, he emphasizes the importance of the upcoming primary election for registered Republican voters, as their participation is vital in this process.
“I’m not just doing this for my own title; I’m doing this for everybody here,” says Paek.
Alina Wang is a native of New York, Alina has a bachelor’s degree in Corporate Communications from Baruch College and writes about human rights, politics, tech, and society. / With reporting by Ryan Wu. (This article was published: May 6, 2024)
“I love children. I want to care for our children. Children are our future and providing good education is one of my top priorities”
Kenneth Paek Uses Police Background to Fight for A Safer New York
By Moshe Hill, Queens Jewish Link / September 04, 2024
With all eyes looking at the results of the Presidential election, voters can serve themselves far more by focusing on local candidates that can ease their day-to-day burdens. As the race for New York’s Assembly District 25 heats up into a strong race for a change in how Albany governs, Kenneth Paek emerges as a compelling candidate, drawing on his extensive background in law enforcement and his deep-rooted commitment to community safety.
Originally from South Korea, Paek moved to the United States at the age of 12, growing up in New Jersey with aspirations of becoming a police officer. “You couldn’t just google search back then,” Paek said, “so the best way to learn what you needed to become a police officer was by talking to police officers. Half of them said a degree in the field, the other half said military service. So, I did both.”
His journey into law enforcement led him to John Jay College, where he earned a degree in police science before serving four years in the Navy. After a decade as a detective in the NYPD’s Emergency Services Unit, he has firsthand experience with the challenges facing our city today.
Paek’s candidacy is fueled by his concerns over rising crime rates, particularly since the introduction of the bail reform laws in 2019. “It’s recidivism,” he argues, pointing to the revolving door of offenders who are arrested only to be released hours later. “As a former detective, I saw it happen every day. The same individuals are back on the streets, endangering innocent lives.”
He believes that a return to stricter bail policies is crucial. “Before the bail reform, criminals actually thought twice before committing crimes,” Paek states. He aims to rally support in the legislature to amend these laws,
emphasizing that public safety must take precedence over lenient regulations.
When asked about the claims that crime is down, Paek argues that it’s “smoke and mirrors.” Non-violent felonies are being categorized downward as misdemeanors, and misdemeanors are merely desk appearances now. “New York State Criminal penal law is softer than a cheesecake,” Paek quipped. “Criminals know how to deal with the law.”
Paek’s commitment to the community extends beyond crime prevention. He expresses concern for local businesses, stating that they are “squeezed at every turn for taxes” and lack adequate protections. His vision includes ensuring that small business owners feel safe in their neighborhoods, where “one store can mean many lives depending on it.”
His platform also addresses the need for a more stringent approach to hate
crimes, advocating for harsher pen alties. With his Korean American heritage, Paek sees the importance of fostering unity within diverse communities. “Koreans look up to the Jewish community. We have similar family-oriented values,” he explains, highlighting his efforts to bridge cultural divides.
Furthermore, he is critical of the city’s handling of public resources. Paek points to a local library that has been closed for two years while “hundreds of millions of dollars go to migrants.”
He questions how community priorities are set and insists that local needs should not be sidelined.
As Paek prepares for the upcoming
tance of communication with constituents, promising regular meetings to address their concerns. “Even if they didn’t vote for me, they will know who I am,” he asserts, showcasing his dedication to serving all residents. In a city grappling with rising crime and social unrest, Kenneth Paek offers a perspective grounded in experience and a proactive approach to governance. He believes in the potential for change and the power of community engagement to restore safety and order. With a vision for a more secure and unified district, Paek is ready to take on the challenges ahead in Assembly District 25.
The Jewish community in District 25 is essential for Kenneth Paek and for the whole community. Many Orthodox Jewish, Bukharin Jewish and all other Jewish people consist of one of the largest Jewish community in the United States.
Kenneth Paek loves to devote time and energy to his community. He constructed Sukkah for Jewish community with his friends during mid-October.
Kenneth Paek is always trying to reach out to all the religious organizations and churches. Chinese Americans, Jewish Americans, Korean Americans, Korean Chinese, Greek, Islam community and so on.
From NYPD to NY Assemblyman Candidate, Meet Kenneth Paek
Mohamed Farghaly of Queens Ledger / June 20, 2024
Kenneth Paek, a seasoned NYPD veteran with a distinguished career spanning precinct duty to special ized units, is now vying for the posi tion of Assemblyman in District 25. His candidacy is defined by a com mitment to public safety, economic reform, and educational improve ment, rooted in his deep-seated pas sion for community service and his extensive experience in law enforce ment. Paek is one of the candidates seeking to challenge the current As semblywoman Nily Rozic.
Kenneth and his wife, Eun Paek, have been married for 20 years and reside in Oakland Gardens, with their children, Katelyn and Brenden. Their personal experiences navigating the challenges of raising a family in New York City inform Paek’s policies aimed at improving community life and securing a brighter future for all residents.
Kenneth Paek, an experienced NYPD veteran, seeks to become Assemblyman in District 25, fo cusing on public safety, econom ic reform, and education.
Paek’s journey in law enforcement began in the 5th Precinct and evolved through roles in high-stakes units like the Emergency Services Unit, where he handled complex cases including incidents involving weapons of mass destruction. Paek’s career spans over two decades in the New York City Police Department, where he went on to serve as a Public Safety Sergeant at the 109th Precinct.
Motivated by a lifelong aspiration to serve and protect, Paek entered law enforcement to make a tangible difference in people’s lives. His decision to run for Assemblyman stems from a desire to continue his public service in a broader capacity, advocating for policies that prioritize safety and empower local law enforcement agencies.
Central to Paek’s campaign is his critique of recent bail reforms, which he believes jeopardize public safety by swiftly releasing potentially dangerous offenders back into communities. This stance resonates deeply with constituents concerned about crime rates and community security, despite the challenges of engaging residents wary of recent legislative changes.
“I started feeling like this bail reform, like while I’m putting my life
on the line, I’m putting my police officer’s life on the line to catch that person and they are on the street again,” Paek said. “You know, peo ple do make mistakes, but the same time you don’t make mistakes by us ing a weapon to rob somebody, that’s not a mistake.”
His campaign emphasizes his com mitment to ensuring safety in lo cal neighborhoods, drawing on his firsthand experience addressing community concerns and maintain ing law and order. Paek believes that with this breadth of experience, it equips him with a unique perspec tive on community safety and crisis management, crucial skills he in tends to leverage in Albany.
“I’m going to start advocating, I’m going to be the loudest voice amplifier in Albany or the city hall trying to educate these people,” Paek said. “At the same time, it kind of boils down to safety, right? Like I want to go to work without getting slashed. I want to go to work without getting shot, whether you’re Democrats or whether Republican. I’m going to educate them. I’m going to persuade them we need to change these rules and regulations.”
In addition to an emphasis on law enforcement, Paek understands the challenges faced by small business-
vocates for a balanced approach that combines tough penalties for repeat and violent offenders with rehabilitative programs aimed at younger individuals to prevent recidivism. His stance reflects his belief in strengthening law enforcement capabilities while fostering initiatives that address root causes of crime.
In navigating political challenges, Paek emphasizes amplifying district concerns in Albany, promising to advocate for regulatory changes based on community feedback and his extensive law enforcement background. His candidacy gains traction through grassroots support and a well-organized campaign bol-
Meaning that, coming from a cop background, people don’t call 911 when they’re having a birthday party or a good time. People always call like in emergencies. If you have any worries, concerns and ideas that could make my district and my city better, contact me and I’m all in for it.”
District 25 encompasses a diverse array of neighborhoods in Queens, including areas that have seen rapid demographic changes in recent years. Paek’s candidacy is positioned to resonate with voters seeking a leader who understands local issues and is committed to implementing practical solutions.
The Chinese community is the largest ethnic populations in District 25. Kenneth Paek has been working with diverse Chinese community people and Chinese media has covered Kenneth Paek’s campaign.
前109分局警察白正熩参选州众议员 挑战李罗莎
【大纪元2024年05月08日讯】（大纪元记者林丹纽约报导）
刚从纽约市警察局退休的前109分 局韩裔沙展（sergeant）白正熩 （Kenneth Paek），目前正参选 第25选区州众议员，挑战现任州 众议员李罗莎（Nily Rozic）。5 月5日，支持者在王后区奥克兰花 园（Oakland Gardens）举办了声 势浩大的造势大会，呼吁选民投 票给他。前纽约市警察局华裔三 星警司陈文业及多名纽约市警华 裔旧同事出席相挺。
白正熩去年刚从纽约市警察局退 休，之前在109分局担任沙展，在 纽约市警察局工作了17年，曾在 部队服役4年，驻扎在日本。
共和党初选在6月25日举行，挑战 李罗莎、参选第25选区州众议员 的共和党参选人有三个，除了白 正熩之外，还有赵靖桉（Kenneth Chiu）和Steven Wang。王后区共 和党党部已背书白正熩。
造势大会有韩裔、华裔200多人出 席。白正熩畅谈了他要改善公共 安全、打击犯罪的观点和决心。
白正熩说，他原打算在纽约市警 察局再多干30年，干到62岁才退 休，但当前的社会乱象、治安恶 化，偷窃成风，让他感到“实在 干不下去了”。他接受本报采访 表示：“我从小梦想当警察，但
造势大会。（Lucy Lee/大纪元）
现在做不下去了，因为做了坏事 的人被抓了以后，三个小时就放 人了。这样的法律，我无法做下 去了。”
他说：“罪犯有更多的权利，他 们比纽约市的警察和普通市民享 有更多特权；这就意味着他们可 以走出去，做任何他们想做的 事，而且没有后果。这些惯犯， 意味着那些屡犯不改的人，是他 们造成了所有的这些问题，同时 他们知道自己不会受到惩罚。所 以，他们下一次的犯罪就更大 了，这些事情必须得到改变，我 们必须呼吁保释改革。这是第一 位的。”
前来支持他的前市警华裔三星警 司陈文业说：窃贼抓了就放，没 有惩罚，惯犯一再到商家偷盗，
華裔韓裔支持白正熩參選第25選區州眾議員
【大紀元2024年06月01日訊】（大紀 元記者林丹紐約報導）華裔、韓裔支 持者在5月28日晚舉行造勢宴會，支持 競選第25選區州眾議員的韓裔共和黨 參選人白正熩（Kenneth Paek）。挑戰 第25選區現任州眾議員李羅莎（Niny Rozic）的參選者有兩人，分別是韓裔 白正熩和華裔趙靖桉（Kenneth Chiu） ，他們兩人都是共和黨參選人。原宣 布參選第25選區州眾議員的華人參選 人王禮進（Steven Wang）在28日晚正 式宣布退選，並宣布他轉而支持白正 熩。 共和黨的初選將在6月25日進行，
提前投票從6月15日起一連9天，在白 正熩和趙靖桉之間展開。王禮進說： 「曾在美國海軍服役和擔任紐約市警 察的Kenneth Paek，是真正的共和黨 參選人，他能解決紐約面臨的許多問 題。」他又說：「我相信，許多華裔 共和黨選民會支持白先生，因為他是 最能實現共和黨理念的參選人。」白 正熩曾在海軍服役4年，退役後，在紐 約市警察局做警察。他說，他從基層 警察做起，真的是用生命來當警察， 只要有人有困難，就全力以赴去做； 當前的社會亂象、治安狀況惡化，
前纽约市华裔三星警司陈文业支持白正熩。（Lucy Lee/大纪元）
商家被盗严
重，承受不了损失，多少商家 都要倒闭了，你们问问Kenneth Paek就知道了，所以要在州议会 做出改变。
白正熩也指出，民主党把钱过多 地投入到无证移民身上，他要改 变这种状况，“这些钱是应该给 我们的老人、孩子的，给我们的 孩子上学的，但是纽约的民选官 员对这些却置若罔闻，好像什么 问题都没有一样。这些事情100% 是可以纠正的，给我一个机会。
我要为我们做出改变，让我们都 能从中受益。”
王后区共和党主席Anthony Nunziato对白正熩表示支持，“他 已经在选票上了，让我们投票给 他，确保他成为下一任的州众议
员。”
韩裔各联盟会长郭镐洙（Kwak Ho-Soo）说，白正熩人品正直， 从警10多年，对社区治安奉献良 多，这次华人前最高阶警官也来 支持他。
韩国社区食品协会、韩美商会联 合会、韩美水产协会、纽约韩裔 侨团、韩裔警察协会、朝鲜族同 胞协会以及华裔警察、华裔律师 等200多人前来支持。
第25选区包括王后区的新鲜草原 （Fresh Meadows）、奥克兰花园 （Oakland Gardens）、部分法拉 盛（Flushing）、南贝赛（South Bayside）、王后小丘（Queens Borough Hill）、Hillcrest和 Utopia。
與法律、政策有關，以致警察難以執 法，所以他要推動改變目前實行的免 現金保釋法。今年100歲的紐約韓美忠 孝會主席任炯彬、紐約韓裔家長協會 鄭聖國、「守護天使」等前來支持白 正熩。 初選來臨，華裔、韓裔舉辦支持白正熩（Kenneth Paek）參選第25選區紐 約州眾議員造勢會。（Lucy Lee／大紀元）
韓裔白正熩贏州議會 第25選區 共和黨 初選
【大紀元2024年06月26日訊】（大紀元 記者林丹紐約報導）紐約州議會第25 選區共和黨初選，韓裔共和黨參選人 白正熩（Kenneth Paek）在6月25日初 選日擊敗對手趙靖桉（Kenneth Chiu） ，宣布勝選。
根據紐約市選舉局的開票情況，白正 熩得票686票，得票率69.57%；趙靖桉 得票297票，得票率30.12%，白正熩比 對手多出389票，高出40個百分點。 在北方大道的韓國餐廳，白正熩與包 括前市長候選人斯利瓦（Curtis Sliwa）在內的支持者一起，看開票情 況。當看到勝選後，支持者們熱烈地 向他表達祝賀。
韓裔白正熩（右四）宣布勝選，包括前紐約市長候選人斯利瓦（戴紅帽者） 在內的支持者向他祝賀。（Lucy Lee／大紀元）
白正熩向支持者們表達感謝，表示接 下來的時間要爭取普選的勝利。他 說：「感謝你們的汗水和時間，感謝 你們強大的支持和給予的建議，這只 是贏得了一半的路程，我們還需要走 下去，直到11月5日，我需要你們每一 個人的幫助，讓我們把紐約變得更安 全，讓我們把常識帶回紐約！」
守護天使創辦人、前市長後選人斯利 瓦說，白正熩已經證明了自己，他是 法律和秩序的候選人， 「我們要把 Kenneth送進州議會，這是我們作為 好公民的職責，尤其是你們韓裔、華
人，這是你們的時間。」
第25選區州議會共和黨初選是州議會 唯一的共和黨初選。白正熩2023年從 紐約市警察局退休，之前在109分局擔 任沙展（sergeant），在紐約市警察局 工作了17年，他曾在海軍服役4年，駐 紮在日本。
白正熩說，他原打算在紐約市警察 局再多幹30年，幹到62歲才退休，但 當前的社會亂象、治安惡化，偷竊成 風，讓他感到「實在幹不下去了」， 所以他要參選州議員作出改變。
白正熩將在今年11月普選時，與第 25選區現任州眾議員李羅莎（Nily Rozi）對決。李羅莎出生於耶路撒 冷，在美國長大，她從2013年開始擔 任該區州眾議員。
韩裔社区为 第25选区 共和党 候选人白正熩造势
韩裔社区为竞选第25选区州众议员的韩裔白正熩（Kenneth Peak，后排） 造势。（Lucy Lee／大纪元）
【大纪元2024年10月17日讯】（大纪元 记者林丹纽约报导）韩裔社区10月13 日在奥克兰花园为第25选区州众议员 韩裔共和党候选人、前纽约市警察白 正熩（Kenneth Paek）筹款并造势，有 超过100人出席。
白正熩挑战第25选区 现任犹太裔州众议员李罗莎（Nily Rozic）。支持白正熩竞选的韩国城32街 协会会长李英熙表示，白正熩作为前
纽约市警局警察，是代表韩裔社区和 韩裔商界的合适人选，祝愿他在11月5 日赢得选举。
白正熩2023年从纽约市警察局退休， 之前在109分局担任沙展（sergeant） 。他在纽约市警察局工作了17年，之 前他曾在海军服役4年，驻扎在日本。
白正熩说，纽约州的一些政策、法律 需要做出改变。他当纽约市警局警察
造势大会。（Lucy Lee/大纪元）
的时候，是拼了命、冒着生命危险去 工作，但是后来法律改变，对犯罪分 子纵容、处罚宽松，例如偷东西1,000 美元以下不算重大盗窃（Grand Larceny），无法起诉，只能抓了就放。这 样的法律造成了商家辛苦做生意却因 小偷肆无忌惮而遭受损失，警察也无 能为力，而且这样的法律令警察本身 也容易受到伤害。
这些诸多的社会问题，促使他参选州 议员，以改变现状。
选举日：11月5日，提前投票：10月26 日至11月3日。第25选区州众议会选区 范围包括：部分法拉盛、王后区小丘 （Queensboro Hill）、Hillcrest、新 鲜草原、奥克兰花园（Oakland Gardens）、贝赛。
Kenneth Paek has been trying to meet as many constituents as possible. His eagerness to meet every person with a smile is his natural Character.
THOMAS CHAN GIN YEE Tommy Choi Candidate for New York Governor Former NYPD Chief Former NYPD borough commander President of Korean American Officer Association.
