St. Patrick's Day Annual Luncheon 2022

Celebrate Celtic traditions with great food and entertainment, corned-beef and cabbage, a live band, networking, and much more.

NYPD Police Commissioner Sewell, whose first home was Queensbridge Houses, will be the first woman to serve as Commissioner of the NYPD in its 176-year history. A 25-year veteran of the Nassau County Police Department, she has worked as an undercover officer, protected students in schools, led hostage negotiations, spearheaded initiatives to get guns and drugs off the streets, and been a member of the federal terrosism task force. She also led Nassau's Major Case Bureau and its Professional Standards Bureau. Sewell currently serves as Chief of Detectives, the first Black woman to serve in that position. 

"As someone who wore a bulletproof vest for 22 years protecting the children and families of this city, today is a very meaningful day. I believe in New York's Finest, because I have seen and been part of some of our proudest and most tragic moments – from 9/11 to the tragic assassinations of Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. And I also have been a clear and consistent voice for accountability throughout my law enforcement career, because I know that when an officer violates their oath to protect and serve, it undermines the nobility of public protection. 

"To lead this department into the next chapter of our shared history, I conducted a nationwide search of some of this country's brightest talents. I am thankful to every candidate who was interested in this important assignment, but am particularly proud of the historic choice we have made. Chief Keechant Sewell is the right woman to lead New York's Finest at this critical moment in our city's history. She not only has the experience to step into the role of Commissioner - she also has the emotional intelligence that is necessary for healing the divides between police and communities. I look forward to working with her to deliver the safety all New Yorkers need, and the justice they deserve," said Mayor-elect Adams.

"For the past 25 years, I have immersed myself in the work of policing. My wide breadth of experience has shown me what works in law enforcement, and what doesn't," said Chief Sewell. "We are at a pivotal moment for New York, as our city faces the twin challenges of public safety and police accountability. My job as Commissioner will be to carry out the vision Mayor-Elect Adams has articulated. To do that, we must engage with our entire ecosystem of public safety, including our Crisis Management System, clergy leaders, and other groups on the ground. The NYPD has an important role to play in making our communities safer, but we cannot do it alone. 

"I am deeply humbled by the historic nature of this announcement. As the first woman and only the third Black person to lead this department in its 176-year history, I will bring a different perspective to the NYPD. I am firmly committed to making sure the department looks more like the city it serves, and elevating women and Black and Brown officers into leadership roles. The NYPD is the best of the best—and it's about to get better. My shoes are laced up. I'm ready to get to work."

James Whelan is president of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), the City's leading real estate trade association which represents commercial, residential, and institutional property owners, builders, managers, investors, brokers, salespeople, and other corporations and individuals professionally interested in New York City real estate. In this role, Whelan oversees all REBNY activities which include advocating for effective public and industry policy, supporting the association's 17,000 members with technical resources and educational opportunities, and connecting industry leaders with other business and community leaders to foster constructive civic partnerships and impactful results.

A successful coalition builder and eternal pragmatist, Whelan helped secure renewals of several economic incentives in this year's New York State Budget, including the Industrial and Commercial Abatement Program (ICAP) and Relocation and Employment Assistance Program (REAP), as well as changes to spur new renewable energy development to build a more sustainable New York. From the outset of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis in New York, Whelan has steadfastly led REBNY to ensure the safety and economic well-being of New Yorkers, New York City and the real estate industry. During NYS on PAUSE, Whelan secured several executive orders to ensure real estate's economic engine could continue to operate safely and without interruption, including the statewide order allowing for electronic notarization, a critical step for virtual real estate closings and other business transactions. Whelan also worked with members and other groups to address issues to clarify the status of essential workers in the construction, building maintenance and real estate services industries. Recognizing the need for a centralized source of information and resources during this crisis, Whelan launched REBNY's Coronavirus Resource Hub to help the real estate industry navigate the quickly changing business climate. Through his leadership, REBNY also played a critical role in helping the City and State manage this public health crisis by connecting government officials to members of the real estate community who could fulfill calls for much-needed surge hospital space and personal protective equipment. REBNY also worked very closely with the MTA to secure $3.9 billion in the first federal stimulus package.

Prior to his appointment in 2019, Whelan served as executive vice president of REBNY, overseeing the organization's advocacy, policy, government relations, communications and brokerage services efforts. In this role, he successfully helped pave the way for more affordable housing with the passage of Affordable New York (421a), improved economic development initiatives, such as the Greater East Midtown Rezoning, and legislation to address critical issues ranging from sustainability and illegal short-term rentals to landmarking.

Prior to REBNY, Whelan served as senior vice president for public affairs at the Muss Development Company. Over the course of his career, he has served in various government roles including chief of staff for Deputy Mayor for Economic Development of New York City Daniel Doctoroff, where he initiated strategies to secure Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) approval for Willets Point and Coney Island, assisted with the early implementation of PlaNYC, focused on Lower Manhattan lease term changes for the World Trade Center site and assumed leadership responsibility for construction of the National 9-11 Memorial and Museum. As executive director of the Hudson Yards Coalition, he advocated for the implementation of the Hudson Yards plan on Manhattan's Far West Side and as the first executive director of the Downtown Brooklyn Council, he oversaw the creation of the Downtown Brooklyn redevelopment plan.

Whelan is a graduate of New York University and the Fordham University School of Law. Born and raised in Queens, James resides in Bellerose with his wife, Gail, and his two children. He serves on the Board of Directors of the New York City chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). He is the founding chair of the NYC JDRF Real Estate Games which have raised nearly $900,000 in its first four years to support research for the cure of Type One diabetes.