History Was Made and A New Day Begins

What an historic week it was.
The overwhelming excitement that reverberated through our QPTV studio spread nationwide.
As I was interviewing the Greater Allen Dev. Corp. President Edwin Reed on our “Queens Vote 2008” TV show Tuesday night, we had just gotten word that Ohio and Pennsylvania had gone to Senator Barack Obama.
Ed said with a huge smile on his face, “We won!”
Not being under “network” politics and the need to be “careful,” I quickly turned to the camera and announced, “We are declaring Senator Obama the winner and next President of the U.S.”
I think it was 9:30 p.m. What a moment!
My accountant taught me “numbers don’t lie” and to win those electoral votes tipped the scale and assured the win.
We got our ace reporter Noah Rosenberg on the phone from location on Farmers Boulevard in southeast Queens at the grassroots Obama headquarters.
I heard the excitement in his voice and the joy of the people celebrating in the streets, and it was live on our TV show.
He brought to the phone one of the Obama supporters, Larry Love, who added his personal poignant feelings on the historic victory. He was so proud, so elated.
“I don’t know how I lived to witness this day,” he said. “I thank God. People in my community are dancing in the streets, yelling ‘Obama, Obama, Obama!’”
I think that feeling was felt by all of us. What an opportunity we have to bring to life the now classic phrase “Change is good.”
May the racial barriers fall forever.
On another historic front, the NY State Senate has turned Democratic. It only took 43 years!
It means that the folks governing us in Albany will be led by Democrats in the Assembly, and now Democrats in the State Senate, and led by a Democratic governor.
Assemblyman Mark Weprin came on our live TV show at 8:45 p.m., just as we were beginning our two-hour coverage. He reminded us that if the State Senate went into the control of the Democrats, Queens would be the biggest winner!
And we are!
The talented and energetic State Senator Malcolm Smith will become the majority leader. Our beloved friends State Senator George Onorato, and State Senator Toby Stavisky will now have the power and purse to “bring home the bacon.”
It was bittersweet that our dear friend Senator Serphin Maltese was a victim of the democratic landslide in Queens.
He will be sorely missed. But I know City Councilmember Joe Addabbo will competently and personally carry on the family tradition of service to the State Senate, replacing the respected Serf Maltese.
Interestingly, it was too close to call the race between State Senator Frank Padavan and City Councilmember James Gennaro.
Wow - what excitement!
I was thrilled to be part of it, through the new TV show, my fabulous reporters on the air, in the newsroom and keeping our web presence updated throughout the day.
I want to thank Pouran & Co. Salon for doing my hair and make-up. Pouran made me look good; Director/Producer John Collins and Executive Director of QPTV Dan Leone made me sound good!
They expertly coordinated my guests: Claire Shulman; Assemblymember Mark Weprin; CEO, Greater Allen Development Corp., Edwin Reed; Activist Renee Lobo; CB 2 Manager Debbie Markell; and Independent Party Leader Mike Niebauer; and on-street and call-in interviews from Valerie Vasquez of the NYC Board of Elections and my Queens Courier staff.
Adding to the evening’s success was QPTV Deputy Executive Director Cliff Jacobs, who brought updates on election results.