Keith J. Kelly

Keith J. Kelly

Media

Ex-commish’s tenure celebrated by Kelly Gang

Former Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said his book proposal is a wee bit down the road before being ready to go out to publishers.

The man handling the auction, high-profile Washington, DC, attorney Robert Barnett, is still keeping tight-lipped about the pending book and said he had nothing to report at the moment.

Publishing sources, eager to get a first look, said bidding could easily reach seven figures.

Kelly, a co-founder of the Kelly Gang, and his wife, Veronica, were being feted as Persons of the Year at the Gang’s annual charity fundraiser on Tuesday at Michael’s Restaurant for the work Ray had done as top cop for the past 12 years and the work Veronica has done in raising money for the Bowery Mission, where she has been director of special projects for the past 12 years.

Former NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg presents the Coat of Arms plaque to Veronica and Ray Kelly.Doug Goodman
It marked the first time that the Gang had honored one of its co-founders with the official Coat of Arms plaque. Former Mayor Mike Bloomberg handed out the award to his former top cop. (Full disclosure: I’m a co-founder and secretary of the Gang.)

Ed Kelly, president of the Kelly Gang and CEO of American Express Publishing, Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly and New York Post columnist Keith Kelly. Last year’s honoree, Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly, also flew back to town, as did Paul Browne, Ray Kelly’s former chief spokesman at the NYPD, who is now the public relations chief for Notre Dame, and Nancy Gibbs, the managing editor of Time, who shares Barnett as her book rep.

Ed Kelly, president of the Kelly Gang and CEO of American Express Publishing, Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly and New York Post columnist Keith Kelly.Doug Goodman
Last year, the Kelly Gang had contributed $65,000 to the charity Kelly Cares Foundation, founded by Brian Kelly and wife Paqui. Brian Kelly subsequently toured the devastation from Hurricane Sandy at Breezy Point and pledged to help rebuild the Catholic Club, a local community hub. To date, Tim Devlin at Newton Construction said that Brian Kelly’s foundation has contributed $225,000 and almost single-handedly saved the center, which was under 3 feet of water on Oct. 29, 2012.

The work is about 95 percent complete, said Devlin. To help it on its way, Ray Kelly on Tuesday agreed to have himself “auctioned off” to the highest bidder for a lunch for four at Michael’s. The proceeds were going to go to the Catholic Club.