MILL BASIN — All the stars aligned on Tuesday, as all five New York City boroughs united, at least where commerce is concerned.
The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce (BCC) held its annual winter gala and trade expo at El Caribe in Mill Basin, celebrating the theme of economic development, and in the process honored Chamber of Commerce leaders from The Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.
Photo: Arthur DeGaeta
More than 600 people — including a number of elected leaders — packed El Caribe to acknowledge those that comprise the five-borough Chamber of Commerce: Linda Baran, president and CEO, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce; Thomas Grech, president and CEO, Queens Chamber of Commerce; Lisa Sorin, president, Bronx Chamber of Commerce; and Jessica Walker, president and CEO, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce.
The keynote speaker at the event was Maria Torres-Springer, NYC deputy mayor for housing, economic development and workforce. She told the capacity crowd that she is “proud to be a Brooklynite” and that the collective achievements of tonight’s honorees “represent the beauty, strength, and resilience of our great city.”
Elected officials in attendance included Councilmember Mercedes Narcisse; Assemblymember Alec Brook-Krasny; State Sen. Iwen Chu; Assembleymember Monique Chandler-Waterman; State Sen. Roxanne Persaud; Assembleymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, chair of the Kings County Democratic Party; former Councilmembers Ken Fisher and Robert Cornegy; incoming Councilmember Chris Banks; Jeff Garcia, executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife; and Assembleymember Stefani Zimmerman.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso also made an appearance, addressing the crowd. He pointed out that “while it was a trying time during COVID for businesses all over the city of New York — and Brooklyn, being the largest and greatest borough, suffered…
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