NYPD Police Commissioner Ray Kelly didn’t deserve too much praise and applause over the past year, as the Democrats running for citywide offices and progressive voices castigated him for the excessive overuse of Stop-and-Frisk and the surveillance of Muslim communities. But for the Jewish community in Brooklyn, Commissioner Kelly was always treated as a hero and hailed for his corporation with the Jewish community.
A few weeks ago, Mr. Kelly was honored to deliver the keynote speech at the annual Boro Park Jewish Community Council (BPJCC) Legislative and Community Tribute Breakfast.
As he steps down following Bill de Blasio’s election as Mayor, handing over the reins of power to incoming Commissioner Bill Bratton, Mr. Kelly is being honored by two prominent Jewish Orthodox elected officials – State Senator Simcha Felder (D-Brooklyn) and Councilman-Elect Chaim Deutsch (D-Flatbush) – at an appreciation breakfast Wednesday in Brooklyn, YWN has learned.
“For more than a decade, New York City Police Department Commissioner Raymond Kelly has served our City with distinction,” the invitation letter, obtained by YWN, reads.
“Commissioner Kelly knows what it means to be a true public servant. He has lived it by example, demonstrations both leadership and courage on a daily basis, even under the most trying of circumstances,” Mr. Felder and Mr. Deutsch, signed as hosts of the breakfast, note. “His visionary ideas, steady hand, and reassuring presence are well-known and respected throughout the world.”
Mr. Felder is a long friend of Commissioner Kelly and was one of the key figures to push for Mayor Bloomberg’s 3rd term. In 2007 at a breakfast in Borough Park, Kelly presented Mr. Felder with a plastic pigeon and a tongue-in-cheek certificate of appreciation applauding his fight against the messy birds.
Mr. Felder, who proposed a bill to levy a $1,000 fine on those who feed the birds, took the bird and certificate in stride. “I’ll get even,” he said. “Don’t worry.”
But Mr. Deutsch’s role in co-hosting the event for Kelly raised some eyebrows, as why Mr. Deutsch, who’s, reportedly, lobbying to become chairman of the Public Safety committee, would choose to break ranks with the incoming mayor and his progressive colleagues on City Council.
Invitation to Thank you Event For Ray Kelly by jacobYWN
(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)
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3 Responses
As one who received an invitation to the event and will be attending, I don’t find it odd at all that Chaim and Simcha are hosting this event to thank a man who has been a friend to our community. Chaim is not breaking ranks with anyone just expressing hacoros hatov.
Mr. Kornbluh, whose eyebrows were raised and who is reporting that Chaim is lobbying to be Chairman of the Public Safety Committee? Please be specific.
Election is over. Got it? Mr. Deutsch’s role in co-hosting the event for Kelly raised only your eyebrows. Mr. Deutsch is the one who has been working with NYPD and Kelly for years and hosting such event is a right think to do. Stop your nonsense already.