From Haiti to Brooklyn: Kenny Altidor on Art, Community, Politics & Legacy

What happens when a paintbrush becomes a tool for healing, leadership, and community transformation?

On this episode of Corey’s Corner, host Corey Pegues retired NYPD executive sits down with Kenny Altidor, Haitian-American mural artist, community advocate, former Brooklyn Ambassador, and former New York City Council candidate for a powerful conversation about purpose, perseverance, and public service.

Kenny shares his remarkable journey from immigrating to New York at 16 years old to becoming one of Brooklyn’s most respected artists and community leaders. For more than two decades, he has transformed walls into powerful works of art that honor fallen NYPD officers, FDNY firefighters, correction officers, community icons, and cultural legends.

This is more than a conversation about art it’s about legacy, service, and the power of one person to inspire an entire community.

If you enjoy meaningful conversations about leadership, public service, community empowerment, and inspiring life stories, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your family and friends.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

What's the god, let it die. Yeah. I forgot that we're gonna celebrate death instead of condemning it. Corey the key duck. Talking to bruh.

SPEAKER_05 0:10

What the guy? Pull up a seat. You're now in Corey's Corner, where right conversations matter. I'm your host, Corey Pegiz, and I always keep it right, not real. Today's guest is a man who has transformed walls into stories, neighborhoods into canvases, and art into a powerful tool for healing and unity. Kenny Altator is a Haitian American mural artist, community advocate, former Brooklyn borough ambassador, and former New York City Council candidate. Born in Haiti and arriving in New York at the age of 16, Kenny has spent more than 25 years building his life, business, and legacy right here in Brooklyn. For over two decades, his artwork has become part of New York City landscape, honoring fallen heroes, celebrating cultural icons, and bringing communities together. Since 2006, he has gifted portraits and murals to the families of fallen members of the NYPD, FDNY, and Department of Corrections, creating lasting tributes to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. As the first Haitian American ambassador at Brooklyn Borough Hall, Kenny has also dedicated himself to public service, youth engagement, and strengthening relationships between law enforcement and the communities in which they serve. Today we're talking about immigration, entrepreneurship, public service, arts, politics, community healing, and what it means to leave a legacy that lasts far beyond a signature on a canvas. Please help me welcome my brother, Kenny Altator, to Corey's Corner. Thanks for coming on. Been waiting for you, man. You've been busy. It's been a while.

SPEAKER_03 1:59

I've been doing a lot of murals. That's the reason why.

SPEAKER_05 2:02

Nah, it's all good, man. Yeah, yeah. Before we start, this episode is brought to you by Vodkeela. Vaquila is the world's first premium blend of Vak and tequila into one smooth, unforgettable spirit. Whether you're celebrating success or unwinding after a long week, choose the spirit that's we find in the game. Visit Vodkeela.net for more. Shout out to CorruptMob MC, a brotherhood built on loyalty, respect, and community. More than the motorcycle club, respect them all. Let's get into it. Let's do it. Sapa say. Yes, yes, yes. That's my elimination, okay? Now listen, take us back. Speaking of Haiti, take us back to Haiti. What was your childhood like and what do you remember most about the day that you left for America?

SPEAKER_03 2:51

I was back home. I learned how to draw since I was 10. Back home, one thing I I missed, I had like almost like 60 students, adults and kids that I was training at the age of 15. So I had 60 students back home. So when I was getting ready to come up here to the United States, that was one of the things I missed the most. And adults.

SPEAKER_05 3:19

Right.

SPEAKER_03 3:20

My share my talent with others. So I kind of missed that. 60 students back home. Yeah. It was something, you know, it was something amazing. You know, at the age of 15, you had a 60 student, that was a big thing for me. Yeah. Yeah. That's beautiful. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 3:34

So you came at the age of 15, 16 years old. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced as a young immigrant trying to find your way in Brooklyn?

SPEAKER_03 3:44

Well, the language barriers was a big thing. That's right. Where you have to catch up to make sure you learn how to speak English. You know, back home, I, you know, I took some English class, but you know, now when you're up here is like people talking to you, you gotta understand all the slang and everything, you know, like we don't keep it right, we keep it real. I love it, I love it. Those are all the slang, so you have to get used to that. Right. And then on top of that, and um um, you know, you're getting bullied by others, right? They don't understand that you came up here to have a better life, uh-huh. But they judge you by, you know, do so if you don't speak their language. Right. And then then they kind of you know make fun out of you.

SPEAKER_05 4:23

Yeah. I remember so I grew up in in Queens, Jamaica, Queens, and coming through school, it was a lot of Jamaicans. Yeah. And they had, you know, it was a fact. They had that heavy accent, and we used to like, yo man, I really can't understand what they're saying. You was transported right to East Flatbush, Brooklyn where you came out.

SPEAKER_03 4:41

I went I went to Little Haiti? I went to um uh Prospect High High School. Prospect High School next to about you know, Brooklyn.

SPEAKER_05 4:47

I know we have the second biggest Haitian community. Yeah, Florida has the biggest in Miami and Dennis Brooklyn. Didn't this senator name Brooklyn Flatbush Little Haiti?

SPEAKER_03 5:00

Little Haiti, I mean it's a BS to be honest with you, man. Uh I like to keep it, I keep following you, man. I like to I like to keep it right. You know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_05 5:08

But I was wondering, why would she name that little Haiti when we already have Little Haiti in Miami?

SPEAKER_03 5:13

Well, this is the thing, man. To name something, uh they're not gonna like what I'm gonna say. If you're gonna call it Little Haiti, most of the Haitian has to own earn, you know, properties on that neighborhood. Right. And then talking about business, you gotta own business. It was like we don't own nothing. Just put a name out there. Uh that's the reason why, you know, I was running to make sure we keep it real.

SPEAKER_06 5:35

Right. To keep it right. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_03 5:37

So it's just a name, it's just pulled out there just for political reasons. But I didn't like the fact that it's just a name, but at the same token, financially speaking, you know, it's no sense.

SPEAKER_05 5:50

It didn't make no sense. So after 25 years, what does the American dream mean to you today? And have you achieved the version you imagined as a teenager?

SPEAKER_03 6:01

Yes, I did. I I accomplished, I went to um graduate, you know, high school, you know, graduate college, uh college uh as a business administration and you know earn a business. Now I have my own business. So, you know, married, you know, earned properties. I think I was to the level of it, but we still That's definitely an American dream. Dream, that's it. That was two kids white picking fence. That's it. You got it. That's a fact.

SPEAKER_05 6:30

You know. When did you first realize that art wasn't just a hobby, but something that you could do for your life's work?

SPEAKER_03 6:38

It's when I got fired at Bloomberg. I was just telling my friend about it. I work at Bloomberg as uh customer support and then switches to global tech support. I spent nine years working over there.

SPEAKER_05 6:51

Bloomberg Enterprise. Bloomberg LP. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 6:54

Bloomberg.

SPEAKER_05 6:55

So he just got, you know, he just got knocked over last night at the Nick. Yeah, they almost played. You saw that, right? Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 7:01

When it was like, it's okay. When I stood out, I was like, oh my God. Why do you have to sit in the front, by the way?

SPEAKER_05 7:06

That's what's happening.

SPEAKER_03 7:06

I mean, you have so much sit in the second row, man.

SPEAKER_05 7:09

Nah, they want to be on front street, man. I know I know. Me and you, we just gotta sweep over that. We can't, those are $250,000 seats. It's a lot of money.

SPEAKER_03 7:18

Yeah, yeah. So just uh to continue what I was saying, you know, when I got fired, that's when I was like, you know what? You know, I got talent, I got care from God, so let me use that.

SPEAKER_05 7:29

Right.

SPEAKER_03 7:29

And then, you know, open up my own business since then. That's what I've been doing.

SPEAKER_05 7:33

Nice. Yeah. And you definitely have talent.

SPEAKER_03 7:37

Thank you, sir.

SPEAKER_05 7:38

You've created murals all over New York City. Which piece, this is the question I wanted to ask, which piece is the most meaningful to you personally and why? Is it the first piece you ever did? Is I mean, for the audience, so let me just tell you so he does uh murals for like fallen heroes, people that's getting killed in the line of duty. Um very tragic, tragic incidents. And he's doing these murals to uplift the spirits of the family. So you've done so many. Which which one stands out the most?

SPEAKER_03 8:14

The one that stands out the most is when um the cops killed Joy Floyd. That one was one of the biggest things, because you know, I've been doing murals for NYPD over 25 years.

SPEAKER_07 8:23

Right.

SPEAKER_03 8:24

NYPD, Firefighter, FDNY. You know, without those, we don't have a community. So you know the community, NYPD. I was like being the middle create the bridge between those two. Right. So when cops killed Joy Floyd, it was a big thing. And they was trying to paint all cops are bad. It was like crazy. And then I was like, oh my god, I've been doing 40 officers. Now uh, you know, we know we do have bad apples, of course. But not all cops are bad, right? And I do have a lot of cop friends. I was like, damn, I gotta do something. Right. I was in the middle where I was like, Kenny, now how the other department, other people gonna see it. So I have to find a way to fade what's going on. It was a big cast, you know about Joy Floyd. So what I did, I was like, damn, what the cop this was wrong. And you was on top of it too. I was watching you, you don't play that. And that's the reason why people think you don't like cops, but you like to keep it right, not real.

SPEAKER_05 9:20

That's it. And it's it's funny you say I wouldn't I like cops when I was a cop. My daughter's a cop, my nephew's a copy.

SPEAKER_03 9:30

Like, I don't understand, but so inspector, what I did, I was like, okay, now I gotta do something. I gotta do something where I only pay tribute to Joy Floyd, but to actually bridge the gap and and show but you know, showing the community that, you know, not all cops are bad. So what I did, I asked it's this this, you know, I I you know, I get a mirror, and um, you know, what I did, I reach out to 69 Precinct. I call all the elected officials, kids, community leaders, and then what I'm painting, I get everybody involved doing a mirror for Joy Floyd because he was wrong what the guy did. Right. So at the same token, we create some kind of even cops are painting Joy Floyd. Community leaders are create painting Joy Floyd. Wow. Elected officials, everybody get involved. So I create some kind of uh uh it's like a platform for everybody to jump in and then to create peace. Because the reason why I did that, you know, I'm a Cornarsi resident. The the there was a lot of rioting going on, you know, people coming, breaking his business, all that. And that that wave was coming to Cornarsi.

SPEAKER_04 10:42

Right.

SPEAKER_03 10:42

And I was like, damn, I have property over there, my kids live there, and I'm a resident. As an artist, I have to give back. So I quick create a mirror for Joy Floyd, get everybody involved. Now I get the news involved. Now they see cops painting Joy Floyd. Right. There was like, hey, hold on a minute. Now all cops are bad.

SPEAKER_07 11:03

Right.

SPEAKER_03 11:03

So now you create a movement now, and that's when I made it all over the news, and then it was a movement, and then the wave went down. This cops painting, kids painting. It's like a there's like a union going on. And then I think this was one of the most you know, significant pieces of my murals.

SPEAKER_05 11:24

I love it. Yeah, this one was a great one. Yeah. Your artwork often tells the stories of people who can no longer tell their own. What responsibility do you feel when you're painting someone's legacy?

SPEAKER_03 11:38

All right, that's a good question. Um I remember I was painting um Peter Fig Fogoski.

SPEAKER_05 11:46

Pete Figoski, 75 Precinct, East New York. Went to a domestic call or even emotionally disturbed mental health call one night early in the morning on the midnight, and he ended up being murdered. Pete Fagoski. I was a captain in the 75 Precinct.

SPEAKER_03 12:03

Wow.

SPEAKER_05 12:04

And I'll never forget uh he was one of the nicest cops. So I would come in in the morning, he'd be coming off to midnight, and he was such a nice, pleasant man. Uh that that really hurt. Well, you know, every cop murder hurt, but to personally know, you know, I didn't know him intimately, but he would always see me and say, hey boss, good morning. Good morning, all that. He was really nice. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 12:26

So that one, this guy was um, I don't know if you know um Richard Green from Richard Green from Youth Collective. Youth Of course I know. Yeah, Richard Green. That's my guy. He was the one that hired me to do the mural on Bedford Avenue and Empire, where you see all the cops on top. All the cops. I was that was me doing it. I've been doing all it for a long time. And and I was doing Peter Fogaski up there, and um the sad moment.

SPEAKER_05 12:50

Oh, you put you put Fogaski up there. Up there, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 12:52

Bedford Empire.

SPEAKER_05 12:53

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 12:54

What I was doing a portrait, and I saw white Mercedes bands park in front of the scaffold because it was like very tall. And I looked down there, and there was a white lady who was crying. And then she was paying attention to me. I was like, what's going on? Why is this lady crying? So I was like, okay, Kenny, something going on. That lady, you need to know what's going on. Right. And she got out the car and she looking at me and she was crying. When I got down and I was like, hi, how are you? Everything okay? She said, You don't know what you're doing. You're painting my son. Since then, I was like, it's like uh you feel like there's a she gave me a hug. I feel very emotional. I was like, oh my god. And then the lady like gave me a hug, give me a number, yeah, and it was something, it was something moving. It's I feel like I'm doing something different now. You are I'm doing something different. And she was like, she feel like her son died, but it's still alive. He's still living, and then it's funny, inspector. The moment she left, I went back up there with you know energy. It was like, wow, now I'm gonna do it this like in the next level.

SPEAKER_07 14:04

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_03 14:04

And this guy passing by, like, yo, what the fuck? Why you bring why you bring a fucking white guy over there? Why don't you draw a black guy?

SPEAKER_04 14:12

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_03 14:13

See, the it was so funny. Yeah. Wait, the guy don't understand what's going on. Right. The mother, you could, you know, it's too different. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And the guy was like, why don't you bring a fucking black guy out there? You fucking this fuck. That guy was cursing me out. Yeah. I look at him, I be like, yo, listen, man, you just don't know what you just said because this guy was out there serve and protect us.

SPEAKER_05 14:36

Exactly.

SPEAKER_03 14:37

And I was like, if anything happened to you, number one thing you're gonna do, you're gonna call 911.

SPEAKER_05 14:41

That's right. And then he shut his mouth. That's uh that's the way you shut somebody up that shut his mouth.

SPEAKER_03 14:48

And since then I've realized that I was doing something very valuable for the community, and I keep doing it. And I always see in you, man. Whenever you never miss no funeral. Nope. Always there. Always and you always see me, you even offer me right one day. Yeah, I don't miss no funerals or cops.

SPEAKER_05 15:05

I try to make them more because it could be me. Yeah, you're always there. It could be my daughter, my nephew. You've honored figures ranging from fallen police officers, Chadwick Bozeman, Pop Smoke. The Pop Smoke one is crazy. I love it.

SPEAKER_06 15:20

Yeah, big story behind that.

SPEAKER_05 15:22

How do you decide whose stories deserve to be memorialized? It's funny.

SPEAKER_03 15:28

It's funny.

SPEAKER_05 15:29

Because you could like paint every day.

SPEAKER_03 15:30

Every day, every day. So that this is how I do murals. Like, I always inspire on the moment, on the news. Let's say a cop's got shot.

SPEAKER_05 15:39

Right.

SPEAKER_03 15:39

It became top story, and I was like, Kenny, you've been doing this. You cannot, you gotta do something. So now I was like, when I'm doing it, I do it in two different ways. Not just to give back to the community, and also to bridge the gap between community and cops, and then give back to the officers family. Now, the the other question was it's pop smoke. When I was doing pop smoke, that one was was something crazy.

SPEAKER_07 16:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 16:09

Because I remember I was doing Joy Floyd, and then when I was doing Joy Floyd, it was a the top of the moment, and then Pop Smoke's friends pull up. Hey, big artist, can you do pop smoke? I didn't know it was pop smoke. I was like, I didn't know it was pop smoke. When I found out, I heard it was a game member. I was like, oh shit. Now you asked me to put a game member next to Joy Floyd. I was like, shit, how's that gonna you know match? When I found out he got shot, I was like, now it's gun violence.

SPEAKER_04 16:38

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 16:39

So I was like, okay, now let me flick the flick the token as an artist.

SPEAKER_04 16:42

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 16:43

So what I did, I did a similar thing with Joy Floyd. Call the cops, called kids from the community, elected official, people from the community come and join and pink pop smoke.

SPEAKER_04 16:54

Wow.

SPEAKER_03 16:54

So I didn't put myself out there doing this. Yeah, I create a movement. Okay. When I was doing it, I was like, shit, I'm looking around, I want to get like shit. And I was like, you know, this cripping blood is a part of Crip. Yeah. I was like, oh my god, I gotta do something. So I was like, you know what? Let me create something. You know, you know, I always have a great relationship with NYPD. Yeah, yeah. So I call 65%, let them know I'm doing this. Right. They pull up cars for me, yeah, and then they bring cops over, uh-huh and I get kids community, I create a movement, you know, I put people, put people in the front. Yeah. And then after that, I do a big press conference to stop the gun violence. That's it. So that's ingenuous. That was that was the message. That's crazy. I like that idea.

SPEAKER_05 17:41

So since 2006, you've gifted portraits and murals to families of fallen, you know, heroes. Can you share a moment with one of those families that stayed with you forever? So let me just be clear on this. The families don't know that you're gonna present this to them the day of the funeral. No. You presented the day of the funeral, right? Because I'm there. I forgot what funeral we've been at, so many funerals, and you you're walking in with it. And I know it must be very emotional because so if you don't know Kenny Outdoors here on Corey's Corner, he's not only a mirror artist, but when he paints the picture, it looks exactly like the person. Sort of like this picture right here. This mirror of me that he did. You see this? You see this mirror right here? And I'm gonna tell you why I did it. He did this mirror. I'm gonna tell you what I did.

SPEAKER_03 18:37

I'm gonna tell you why I did that mirror.

SPEAKER_05 18:39

Portrait.

SPEAKER_03 18:40

I remember I came to your um command, 67%, and I saw you. You were you didn't have no clothes on, it was plain plain clothes. And you gave me a great hospitality. I would never forget this. Uh-huh. And when I went to the detective SWAT, Sir Guito and all these people there, there was like, I'm gonna go ahead and introduce you to the with to the inspector.

SPEAKER_07 19:01

Right.

SPEAKER_03 19:01

And then there was like, okay, when they go down, they said you were the inspector, uh-huh. I was like, what the huck? This guy gave me platinum service already. And and the way you did it, you didn't show that you was the commander. Right. You like you you make it very regular, uh-huh, platinum service, customer service. Yeah. You make me feel comfortable. And then not only that, you you you are a people person, man. You you you make me feel great. I was like, I gotta give back to this guy because somebody like that deserve, you know, a gift for me, though. You know, I gotta share my gift.

SPEAKER_05 19:36

You surprised me with that mural. Yeah. And it was it was amazing. But um, the portrait, not the mirror, the producer screaming at me. Portrait, portrait, the portrait. The portrait. The portrait. Okay. So let's get back to can you remember a moment or share a moment with one of the families that stayed with you forever? And you've had a lot of emotions.

SPEAKER_03 19:58

I have a lot of emotions, a lot of them. Um, I could tell you three of them. One was Peter Fergaski. Second one, it was those two guys who got shot.

SPEAKER_05 20:08

Um, right?

SPEAKER_03 20:11

The two guys who got shot. When I present the portrait to the family, she passed out. Wow. She was crying, she got shot, and then she passed out. I have to cover the painting back. Wow. Yeah, and then um the third one where I went over a hundred percent and collect hundred signatures. Not 100%, collect a hundred signatures from different precincts. I went to one point's plaza. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 20:32

I went all the precincts in the sign the back of the paint and then donated to the family. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 20:38

That was one of the things that I did, and I stayed in contact with a few, you know, family members and wife.

SPEAKER_05 20:43

That was Lou and Ramos. Lou and Ramos, yeah. Lou and Ramos. See, y'all thought I didn't remember the names of the cops that got murdered. Lou and Ramos.

SPEAKER_03 20:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 20:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 20:52

And and those things, Inspector, man, when you do those things, you feel like you're doing something positive. And then by giving back, because without people, you know, a lot of people don't like cops, but they fake like they fake not to that cops.

SPEAKER_05 21:07

They don't listen to these people. They fake that.

SPEAKER_03 21:10

I love that.

SPEAKER_05 21:11

I'm telling you. Because you just said as soon as if somebody robbed them, the first thing they call is the mama. So even because if I ain't messing with you, I ain't messing with you. I know. I ain't calling the cops. If I don't like the cops, I ain't calling them. So don't be they be fake hating the cops. It's a fact.

SPEAKER_03 21:24

It's a fact, it's a fact. And without either one, we don't have a community. So if anything happened, the core number one, cop pull up, fire fighter pull up, FDNY pull up. So, you know, those guys are out there, serve the community, and give back. So it's a it's a good thing, though, to um share my talent with them.

SPEAKER_08 21:42

He is making a difference and leaving an impression one stroke at a time. In this month's Bravo Brooklyn, Newsfeld Brooklyn reporter Katie Lusso introduces us to Kenny Altador.

SPEAKER_09 21:54

With each stroke of his paintbrush, the bigger picture gets clearer.

SPEAKER_02 21:59

It's not a mirror. Painting. That's there's just a story being in it.

SPEAKER_09 22:03

This particular story fallen NYPD officer Miyasota's familia. The mural unveiled at a special ceremony earlier this month outside the 46th precinct where she worked in the Bronx. But the man behind the paintbrush is Kenny Altador.

SPEAKER_03 22:18

I've been doing art since I was 10.

SPEAKER_09 22:20

It was back in Haiti where he was first inspired.

SPEAKER_03 22:23

I will never forget. His name is Serge Toussaint. I stopped behind him for a while while he was doing a painting. He was like, What are you doing behind me? Go do your homework. Go! Go home, what are you doing? I tell him how he did my homework. And he was like, Okay, you you like drawing? I tell him, Yes, I love drawing. Since then, he takes me under his wing and then teach me how to draw.

SPEAKER_09 22:40

Creating art here on the streets of Brooklyn became his passion. After being laid off from Bloomberg, it became his career as well.

SPEAKER_03 22:47

Do mirrors, do portrait, and use my talent to make a living.

SPEAKER_09 22:52

In 2006, he took on a new venture, painting fallen heroes for their families and communities as a gift.

SPEAKER_03 22:58

It's not just like this is just a painting. No, there's uh a story behind it. I want people to see that those guys are a hero.

SPEAKER_09 23:05

Among the first NYPD officers, Jeff Herman and Russell Timoshenko, over the years painting dozens more, always asking those who knew them to join in.

SPEAKER_03 23:14

I give them some kind of opportunity to express themselves.

SPEAKER_09 23:17

While his efforts aren't always met with a positive reaction.

SPEAKER_03 23:20

People driving by honking, yo, why you join why you join a white guy out there? Why don't you pull a black guy out there?

SPEAKER_09 23:26

But that reaction has only caused him to work harder in building what he calls a bridge.

SPEAKER_05 23:32

So in a time when relationships with law enforcement and communities can be strained, you've used art as a bridge. How did the mission begin? What's your first portrait that you had?

SPEAKER_03 23:45

First portrait I did it was Jeff Jeff Herman.

SPEAKER_05 23:47

Officer Herman got murdered.

SPEAKER_03 23:51

What made you think of to do it? Well, honestly speaking, it was like um Richard Green, I gotta give him credit. Oh, Richie. Shout out big brother. Big brother Richard Green.

SPEAKER_05 24:00

Love you, Mr. Green.

SPEAKER_03 24:02

He called me and said, Kenny, we gotta do something. And um um he used to teach at Prospect High in school at Prosperic High High School. And I told him I know how to draw, and the first thing he gave me to do a portrait of Jeff Ferman. Right all the top of the building. So that was one of the things I did, and uh that's pretty much it.

SPEAKER_05 24:19

What have you learned from working side by side with young people, community groups, and police officers on neighborhood projects?

SPEAKER_03 24:27

Community advocacy is a good thing where you get people involved, get people interact with each other, understand each other. So the reason why there's a miscommunication is because we now communicate with each other. Same thing with family, same thing with friends.

SPEAKER_05 24:44

So communication is so you bring them all together, everybody's in harmony. You know, everybody has the ultimate goal of making sure this mural is done correctly, there's no issues, there's no problem, they get to talk to one another, get to know cops, get to know the community, and to find out there's no issue between them.

SPEAKER_03 25:02

Exactly. They fake, they've been fake hate, fake hate. I remember they was toying water out the cops. That's one of the big things I did too. There was toy and ward-out cops.

SPEAKER_05 25:11

Yeah, I remember that. And I was like, damn, I wish I was a cop again. My partner, Bob Mary. I promise you, we would have been on the news.

SPEAKER_03 25:22

It's a fact.

SPEAKER_05 25:23

Throw some water on.

SPEAKER_03 25:24

And I'm glad you said that, Inspector, because the reason why I did it's pumped cops today. And then you know what I did, and people think we uh, you know, try to, you know, kiss people's uh, you know, cops' ass, but we're not doing that. Right, we did it for the community. Because imagine a cop is not in a good mood and they throw water at that person, you're gonna get shot. I don't think it's you're gonna you're gonna you're gonna get something. So what I did instead of throwing water at the cops, so what I did, I did a car wash in the community, get kids, elected official. Uh-huh. Same thing with Joy Floyd. I use everything, everybody out there uh watch cops cars. We don't throw water at the cops now. We watch the car to call it. Oh, that's dope. And then now they're still using that video at Police Academy.

SPEAKER_05 26:07

Yeah. It's a big thing. Some people see murals as decorations. You see them as transformation. Correct. How can public art actually help make communities safer and stronger?

SPEAKER_03 26:19

Number one, it's it's it's bring beautification. Second, you know, uh gang members they communicate to graphic and graffiti. Um sometimes I I cover those things, you know, with positivity, positivity or even paint that. Um yeah, that kind of you know change the whole community, you know what I'm saying? Somebody, my a gang member might put something in there and then it becomes a chaos, people get shot in the neighborhood.

SPEAKER_05 26:47

Right.

SPEAKER_03 26:47

You know, innocent people.

SPEAKER_05 26:48

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 26:49

You know what I'm saying? So by me doing artwork, it's like I'm I'm I'm like I'm kind of bringing some kind of peace to the community by advocating, get people involved, doing some positive stuff. Beautiful mirror, not only doing the mirror, but do it with a message.

SPEAKER_05 27:07

Right.

SPEAKER_03 27:07

You know what I mean? Okay. We don't just paint, but the art speaks for itself.

SPEAKER_05 27:11

Right. I love all the stuff you've done. Thank you, Greg. You ready for the Spitfire segment? You know about the Spitfire segment? Hit it, hit it, hit it, hit it. Yeah. Before we get into the heaviest stuff, we're gonna do the Spitfire. Let's keep it right.

SPEAKER_03 27:31

Let's keep it right now real.

SPEAKER_05 27:32

Keep it right now real. Okay. That's right. Ten quick questions. No overthinking. Whatever comes to your mind, spit it out. Ready? Ready. Haitian food or Brooklyn pizza? Haitian food. I already knew that. One word that describes Brooklyn to you. Favorite mural you've ever created? Joy Florida. Place you admire the most?

SPEAKER_03 27:57

Kenny Altador.

SPEAKER_05 27:59

I knew he was gonna say that. Give me another one.

SPEAKER_03 28:02

Well, uh, sir, it's too say my art mentor.

SPEAKER_05 28:05

Okay. Yeah. Biggest lesson your parents taught you.

SPEAKER_03 28:10

Be kind to people, always give it back.

SPEAKER_05 28:12

If you weren't an artist, where would you be?

SPEAKER_03 28:14

A martial artist. And I'm a first-degree black bro in full contact.

SPEAKER_05 28:18

Man, another martial artist. I gotta know this.

SPEAKER_04 28:21

I ain't know all your people ain't kicking this. I know.

SPEAKER_03 28:24

So I've been I I've been doing joodles and and and full contact. Yeah. Yeah. I'm a black bear first degree and full contact. I love it.

SPEAKER_05 28:31

It's crazy. That's why you have that nice personality because you are taught not to bring the fire to nobody. So you gotta be nice. But if they mess with this, it's the right, they're gonna be one person living or deceased you would love to paint right now.

SPEAKER_03 28:48

Oh, I think myself. Yeah, because I never picked I never picked a picture of myself. I was gonna say, like, you didn't even do you.

SPEAKER_05 28:57

I'll do you. That's it. That's it. Favorite neighborhood in Brooklyn? Knarty. What's harder? Politics or painting? Politics. Finish this sentence. Art has the power to change the world. Thank you for participating in the Spitfire, bro. Corey's corner is powered by Story to Tell Productions. If you're serious about starting a podcast or taking your production to the next level, this is the team you need. Reach out to Story to Tell Productions and get it done the right way. Before we move forward, let me take you somewhere for a second. Everything we talk about on this show, power, accountability, loyalty, redemption, it's not just a conversation for me. I've lived it, I earned it, I survived it. I've seen both sides of the system. I walked the street, I've worn the badge. I've carried the weight of decision that changed people's lives. That's why I wrote Once a Cop. It's not just a book. It's the raw, unfiltered truth about the journey from the corners of the streets in Queens, New York, to the high glass hallways of one police plaza, which is NYPD headquarters. But the pressure, the politics, the purpose, and the cause. And the documentary, a cops and robbers story, pulls the curtain back even further. No headlines, no sound bites. Just a human story behind a uniform. Because behind every badge is a man, behind every rank is a story, and behind every story is a choice.

SPEAKER_00 30:29

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SPEAKER_05 31:04

Kenny Altator. Yes, sir. You made history as the first Haitian American ambassador at Brooklyn Borough Hall. What did that role teach you about leadership and serving people?

SPEAKER_03 31:16

Well to be honest with you, it was uh uh a great thing under my belt. I kind of, you know, uh shaped my personality, shape my leadership.

SPEAKER_05 31:26

Uh and also I learned You was appointed there by former Brooklyn Borough president, former New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Correct. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 31:34

And that position was granted to me because I earned it. I think I was more than an ambassador in my community because the work that I've been doing. I helped a lot of a lot of elected officials in my community. A lot of people get elected to become elected officials. And I had a community behind my back, and I have the Haitian community on my on my hand, the clergies, the the the the the media. I had I had all these people. Now only the Haitian media, and I have the American media on my hand. So I was the guy for the job. Right. But I think the guy used me for his own purpose. And later on I expanded to it. Yes.

SPEAKER_05 32:14

You also stepped into the political as a New York City Council candidate. What made it motivated you to run and what did that experience teach you about the realities of politics? Good question.

SPEAKER_03 32:26

You always shoot me with some great questions. I held I had to help a lot of people get elected in my you know, in my community. You can name it, you know, from the Blasio, Eric Adams, you know, Jamaica Williams, all the Asian elected officials. I help everybody.

SPEAKER_04 32:43

Right.

SPEAKER_03 32:44

So while helping everybody, and I was like, okay, I've been helping these people. Some of them you help them to change the community. And for some reason I don't see it. And what I was fighting for for them to get elected when they get elected, it's the opposite. And not only that, while you were helping them, they drop you. And I figured, why I give it a shot? Because you help people getting elected, you advocate for something is not happening. Why don't I take the will? So that's one of the reasons why I run. But by running, it's a great experience too. You know who's with you. It was a great experience. I wish everybody could start, you know, give it a shot to run. Because the reason why I run, because my community was, you know, where I was living, I didn't like the way it was. I remember the 46th district used to be, you know, it's to live there is like Long Island, you know, Khanasi, you know, mid basin. It's like Lionel, it was a lot of white people there.

SPEAKER_07 33:43

Right.

SPEAKER_03 33:43

So the community changed, and there's a lot of shootings. You know, quality of life was like, you know, was not right. I was like, hey, Kenny, you've been doing a lot of changing advocating for the community. Why not give it a shot?

SPEAKER_05 33:57

Right. So as someone who has worked in art, community, advocacy, and public service, where do you think Brooklyn is both thriving and where do you think Brooklyn is failing right now?

SPEAKER_03 34:10

It's failing due to the fact that the elected officials, when they're running and tell you they're gonna do this, they're gonna do that. When they get into power, it's the whole opposite.

SPEAKER_05 34:20

Yeah, they always flip.

SPEAKER_03 34:22

Why is that though? What I don't know if it's because they don't keep it right now, real. That's the question you gotta ask me. They're gonna keep it right. They gotta keep it real now. They're gonna keep it real. Keep it right. I think that's the reason why.

SPEAKER_05 34:37

So politics is pretty much about loyalty. We both know that, right? Yes, yes, yes. So when Eric Adams was borough president and later running for mayor, you use your influence and connections all around the Haitian community, took him all over the Haitian community to churches, everywhere. After he became mayor, I, you know, I know you're a long time.

SPEAKER_03 35:04

You might have for a long time, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 35:06

I just knew that you was going to be a part of his administration like that Haitian advocate. Okay. And after you became mayor, do you feel that support was remembered, or do you feel forgotten by someone you helped champion?

SPEAKER_03 35:22

It was forgotten. And what I was hoping for him, even though he didn't do nothing for me, it was forgotten. But I was hoping for him as a black mayor to do more. Yeah. We always hoping for to do more, but instead of that, he he went the opposite way. Yeah. And then not only that, he left all his people behind, people who was with him.

SPEAKER_01 35:42

Corey's corner.

SPEAKER_03 35:43

I've been into probably four of your events. Advocate for him. But you know what, Kitty? It's it's crazy.

SPEAKER_05 35:50

I threw about six fundraisers for him, but I didn't throw the fundraises for a position, but it wasn't about that. It's like you it's a sense of loyalty.

SPEAKER_03 36:00

Loyalty too. It's a fact. Funny story, people when they get in power, they forget who helped them. And that's bad. That's bad. People that help you.

SPEAKER_05 36:08

You said we wanted to see him succeed. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 36:11

Even as a black.

SPEAKER_05 36:13

Yeah, I wanted, I mean, probably the first year and 18 months, I was just ruining for him. Even he was doing all this crazy stuff. And I'm telling people, yo, calm down. Calm down, right? But it just got it just got worse and worse.

SPEAKER_03 36:27

I don't think I I don't know if it's a politic thing, but um, but one thing he um he needs to learn is never forget people that shut for you and create create enemies. You know, when you support somebody, people that run against that person, you become enemy with that person automatically. Right. They don't like you. Let's say you support every guy, and it's like, uh-huh.

SPEAKER_05 36:47

Yeah, people say, hey, start anyway.

SPEAKER_03 36:49

Like, so it's it's it's a dirty game.

SPEAKER_05 36:52

And um let me ask you, what did that experience teach you about politics, power, and the difference between friendship and political alliances? Well, because man, you was you was taking that guy all over the teaching community.

SPEAKER_03 37:09

And I'm about to told you this guy, um, not only that, I think now I realize why he gave me that position. It was using me for that position. Yeah, of course. I'm gonna say he was using me. You was Mr. Haiti. Yeah, I was the guy taking, you know, every Sunday to two different churches. And he turned his back on me. Took him my man Robert Nichols?

SPEAKER_05 37:29

Uh, everywhere.

SPEAKER_03 37:31

I took him everywhere in the Haitian community, all the news media, all the big outlets. Now you become the man, you turn your back on me. I mean, that's no good. You don't leave your people behind. No matter what.

SPEAKER_05 37:41

Well, you know, karma is a mother.

SPEAKER_03 37:45

Well, you don't do that. But and I don't know if it's a positive thing, but this has to do with character and people as well. Yeah. This let's teach me that right now. Those things can um, you know, when those things happen, you know now next time somebody coming.

SPEAKER_07 38:00

Right.

SPEAKER_03 38:00

So you learn and you know how to deal with certain people. Right. For instance, you was doing this, this, and that for any any candy that come now, they're gonna deal with a different guy. That's right. Different growth bringing it. He damn. 100%. They have to sign up, you know, put some blood on. They have to sign themselves. It's a reaction. It's okay.

SPEAKER_05 38:22

20 years from now, when people look back on the name Kenny Altador, what do you hope they'll say your greatest contribution to Brooklyn was?

SPEAKER_03 38:32

Kenny Altidor was a professional artist, but he changed the community by bridging the gap between law enforcement and community. Because we know there's been a lot of shooting. There's been a lot of people.

SPEAKER_05 38:46

You've definitely been instrumental in bridging the gap between the community through art. Through art. Which is in your butt you know that you're the only one. I don't know what's going on around America, but I know what's going on in New York City. There's no other artist has a relationship with the police department like you. It's, I mean, you know, I mean, I know you so, but I'm the host, but I have to let people know. I remember being at funerals and watching you walking down the block with the portrait. Portrait on my hand. And how cops are clapping, saluting you. Yeah. You're walking into the church to do the presentation. Or it's maybe like right after the funeral, but but you're going into the church, and I could remember standing there, we were somewhere in Long Island at the funeral. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 39:36

And I'm like, damn, look at Kenny. Kenny is doing this. This is crazy. Yeah, it's a good thing.

SPEAKER_05 39:41

But I was watching more of the reaction to the cops. You know, cops are crying. Yeah. You know, being in the if you've ever been to a funeral, it's very sad. It's sad. It's one of the saddest things. Moment. Yeah, it's sad as a moment. And you was bringing all this people clapping.

SPEAKER_03 39:56

You know what's funny it is? It's crazy. And when a cop's die, and I did a mirror of them, you know, usually when you go into the funeral to go in front of the church is not easy.

SPEAKER_05 40:06

No, it's not. Nah.

SPEAKER_03 40:07

You gotta have certain credentials.

SPEAKER_05 40:09

You got the governor, you gotta have a funeral.

SPEAKER_03 40:11

You gotta have certain credentials.

SPEAKER_05 40:12

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 40:12

You know what? When they stop me, the portrait is like uh That's your credential.

SPEAKER_05 40:17

Credential.

SPEAKER_03 40:18

Yes. I walk anywhere. I pass all those barriers. Barriers, you know, you know the deal. Yeah, because you have to be an inspector to go certain things.

SPEAKER_07 40:27

Right.

SPEAKER_03 40:27

You know, but I I pass all those barriers and then go to the church.

SPEAKER_07 40:32

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 40:32

It's it's crazy. And then when I open the put the portrait there, and then one thing about it, it's not about me.

SPEAKER_05 40:39

Right.

SPEAKER_03 40:40

So when I did the portrait, it's about the the fallen hero. I always always present the artwork, leave it in front of the church, and then walk away.

SPEAKER_04 40:48

Right.

SPEAKER_03 40:49

And my friend be calling me, yo, yo, yo, yo, you gotta stay in front of it. I see your news. You I was like, no, it's not about me, man. It's okay. Right, right. So I always put the mirror invalid. Yes. And then they always have all the media at the end.

SPEAKER_05 41:02

Uh-huh. Yeah. Listen, man, it's such a honorable thing that you do. No one else is doing it. Thank you. Can't even have a copycat. You can't come behind it unless he dies. Then you can come. But he has that unlocked. Yeah. And it's a corner. Police commissioner. It's a corner. That in the last since 2006. Like you're reverend in the police world. Yeah. And nobody asks for these murals. Like, we have to understand the portraits. So I want y'all to understand, they're not hiring him to do these. Someone gets killed.

SPEAKER_03 41:36

I didn't get compensated for nothing.

SPEAKER_05 41:37

You get killed in the line of duty, he takes it upon himself to make sure he has a nice portrait for the family. Now, Kenny, if there's a young immigrant, artist, or aspiring community leader watching this interview right now, today, what advice would you give them about turning that passion into purpose and making a lasting impact on their community?

SPEAKER_03 42:02

Always focus on yourself and your talent and always give back and always don't stop. Keep moving. Be um inspired and focus and learning. And don't worry about your language, you know, barriers. You know, when I came here, I didn't know how to say hi am. Now I could speak with my inspector. I don't keep it real, I keep it right. You understand? And I speak three languages. Can you understand this? So that means you could become whoever you want to become.

SPEAKER_05 42:32

I love it. There's no way I can end this interview without talking about your yearly birthday badge. You have like the biggest birthday badge of anybody that I know. And you've been having these birthday badges forever. And they last for like five hours.

SPEAKER_04 42:50

Five, six hours.

SPEAKER_05 42:52

Listen, anybody looking to have a birthday badge? Reach out to Corby's Corner on Corby's Corner and Gmail.com. And we're gonna have Kenny promoted. I mean, birthday badges are big, man.

SPEAKER_03 43:04

You know, so when somebody dies, it's a big thing. When somebody, you know, each time you it's your birthday, you always have to celebrate it because, you know, wake up in the morning and you're breathing. That's a blessing. So when your birthday comes, you better enjoy it and have fun. And that's the reason why you're always there on my birthday. Salute to you. I love it. But thank you though. But uh, it's a great thing. You gotta you know, celebrate your birthday. It's a beautiful thing and enjoy it to the fullest.

SPEAKER_05 43:32

Recently, I just saw all over social media you presented world-renowned rapper Buster Ron from East Flatbush, Brooklyn, a portrait at his old school that he went to. How did that come about?

SPEAKER_03 43:45

Um, it was a calling from uh um Assembly Woman, uh, Monique Waterman.

SPEAKER_05 43:50

Shout out, Monique. You scared to come on the show? I think you're scared to come on the show.

SPEAKER_03 43:56

Better come. Assembly woman. So she called me and she was like, hey. Hey, listen, we haven't Buster Rhymes coming and we'd like to give him a gift. And um she was like, okay, we have a picture, but we don't know what to do with it. Um so what I did when she sent me a regular picture show, I create some kind of um an environment, a movement. So what I did, I pull him on the top and I create different ethnic background kits on the bottom and then look at looking at this guy who went to that school who became a top celebrity robber. So what I did next, I put all I call all the kids from the school to be a part of the project. And all the kids was involved painting a piece of part of Buster Rhymes.

SPEAKER_07 44:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 44:45

And all the kids from the school put the brush, paint, everybody was involved. Even the the principal was involved, Assembly Women, Morning, Monique Waterman was involved. Everybody was painting. At the end of the day, you know, Kenny gotta put this piece onto it. I gotta do all the touch, magic touch. Right, right. And when I presented to Buster Rhymes, and it's funny, art couldn't make people cry.

SPEAKER_05 45:08

Yeah, man. That guy was crying. He was crying.

SPEAKER_03 45:10

That guy was crying.

SPEAKER_05 45:11

He made one of the biggest, the supposed to be the toughest rappers in history. Buster Rhymes cry.

SPEAKER_03 45:17

He was crying, and then I had to hold him like a baby, and he was like, I was like, yo, Buster. I was like, yo, it's okay, man. Because we explained to him how this the whole thing came out. Right. And then he was like his heart, man. All those kids was involved in this. And then now when I unveiled it, he was shocked, and then he was crying, hugging me. Yeah. And it's funny, man. I just did the poetry. I don't, I don't want nothing from him.

SPEAKER_07 45:43

Right.

SPEAKER_03 45:43

It's it's it's I don't know. It's a calling. Usually when you do stuff, yeah, people always expecting certain things. So I just did it, and then I was like, okay, you cry, that's a good thing. At least you will always remember me.

SPEAKER_05 45:54

Always. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 45:55

The art would speak for itself.

SPEAKER_05 45:57

Of course.

SPEAKER_03 45:58

And the guy, and you have the greatest superstar crying in your arm. Yeah. Like a little baby. That was a big thing for me. I love it. That was a big thing for me.

SPEAKER_05 46:06

From your journey as a young Haitian immigrant from Haiti to becoming one of Brooklyn's most recognizable artists and community advocates. You've shown that art can do more than beautify a neighborhood. It can heal, inspire, connect, honor, and bring people together. Thank you for joining us on Corey's Corner. Your work honoring fallen heroes, uplifting communities, and creating bridges between people who may not always see eye to eye. It's a power example of service and action. And I just want to personally say that I appreciate your friendship for many years. And as this interview, we laid out all the stuff that you do because you're just like an honorable person. And shout out to your son and your daughter. Yeah, they love you. They see this. Me shouting them out. Yeah, man, Kenny. It's an honor. I love you. Inspector, you know, I love you too. It's an honor.

SPEAKER_03 47:22

First time I met you, man. Usually when you met a top inspector from the NYPD, they always have certain things. But when I met with you, man, it was like, it was like it was natural. It was a connection. It was like you were a people person. Because I kept it right now. You don't keep it real. You keep it right. Thanks for coming on. Thank you, Ms.

SPEAKER_05 47:41

I appreciate you. Yeah, definitely. For our listeners, if you found value in today's episode, make sure you subscribe, follow, and support. This has been another episode of Corey's Corner. Until the next time, keep pushing, keep grinding, and always remember, it's not about where you start, it's always about where you finish. I'm Corey Pegiz, and I always keep it right, not real. Not real. Peace.

SPEAKER_01 48:10

I for one thing we just celebrate redemption instead of condemning it. Corey Pegheese, stop talking to bruh. Jagging ass. Wants a cop.