June 30, 2021 By Allie Griffin Several candidates running for City Council seats in Queens filed preemptive lawsuits last week against the NYC Board of Elections (BOE) and their opponents ahead of the Board’s blunder yesterday. At least six Queens Council candidates and two Queens borough president candidates have filed the lawsuits over the past… Read more »
Author: Allie Griffin
Watch: 69-Year-Old Doorman Sucker Punched by Stranger in Forest Hills Apartment Building
June 30, 2021 By Allie Griffin Police released video of a man who sucker punched a 69-year-old doorman in a Forest Hills apartment building on Saturday. The perpetrator, who was not a resident, was spotted by the doorman at around 9:20 p.m. in the basement of the building at 104-21 68th Dr. and asked him… Read more »
Remaining Queens Public Library Branches to Reopen In-Person Services Next Month
June 28, 2021 By Allie Griffin Nearly every Queens Public Library (QPL) branch across the borough will reopen in-person services beginning next month in a move to return to pre-pandemic service. All library branches were temporarily closed last year to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. QPL has gradually phased in in-person services since last summer… Read more »
Construction Has Begun on Parking Garage and Community Space as Part of Kew Gardens Jail Project
June 28, 2021 By Allie Griffin Workers have broken ground on a community space and parking garage near Queens Borough Hall — the first major step in the construction of a borough-based jail in Kew Gardens, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Friday. The new facility, which will be 105 feet tall, will include a 25,000-square-foot… Read more »
Tony Avella Leads Democratic Primary in Quest to Reclaim His Former Bayside City Council Seat
June 23, 2021 By Allie Griffin Tony Avella, a former state senator and city council member, is in a strong position to reclaim his old city council seat representing the 19th Council District, early election results show. Avella — who served in the City Council from 2002 to 2009 — has earned 37.1 percent of… Read more »
Selvena Brooks-Powers and James Gennaro–Who Both Recently Won Special Elections–Secure Victories Tuesday
June 23, 2021 By Allie Griffin Two Queens council members — who recently won special elections to represent their respective districts until the end of the year — have secured their seats for a full term. Council Members Selvena Brooks-Powers and James Gennaro are expected to serve on the City Council for a full term… Read more »
Lynn Schulman and Aleda Gagarin in Tight Race for Forest Hills Seat
June 23, 2021 By Allie Griffin Lynn Schulman and Aleda Gagarin are in a tight race for the Council District 29 seat, early election results show. Schulman and Gagarin are leading the seven other candidates in the race to represent Rego Park, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens and Richmond Hill, but the race is too close… Read more »
Candidates Who Win City Council Seats Will Serve Two-Year Terms–Not Four
June 22, 2021 By Allie Griffin Candidates on the ballot for City Council seats are competing for a two-year term—not the four-year term members normally serve. Council members elected this year will complete a two-year term for the first time in two decades due to a provision in the city charter related to the census…. Read more »
Federal Government Delays Decision on LaGuardia AirTrain Over Community Concerns
June 21, 2021 By Allie Griffin Federal officials have postponed making their final decision on the $2 billion LaGuardia AirTrain project after community groups and legislators expressed concerns over its environmental review. Early construction of the AirTrain — a proposed 1.5 mile rail line linking LaGuardia Airport to the 7 train and Long Island Rail… Read more »
City Begins Environmental Cleanup of Willets Point, Makes Way for Affordable Housing and School
June 17, 2021 By Allie Griffin City officials and local lawmakers celebrated the start of the environmental cleanup of Willets Point Wednesday — which paves the way for the redevelopment of the area. Six acres of land near Citi Field is being remediated to prepare for the construction of three buildings that will include 1,100… Read more »