May 5, 2021 By Allie Griffin The total number of Queens residents killed by COVID-19 is approaching 10,000, although the daily death count is now in the single digits. The borough has had a daily death toll in the single digits for nearly a week — a far cry from the height of the pandemic… Read more »
May 4, 2021 By Allie Griffin The popular New York City music festival Governors Ball has found a new home in Queens this year after it was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19. The three-day event also known as Gov Ball will be hosted at Citi Field in September for the first time in its… Read more »
May 3, 2021 By Allie Griffin New York State will reopen to near pre-pandemic levels and 24/7 subway service will resume later this month. Capacity restrictions on most businesses will be lifted altogether on May 19 and overnight subway service will return on May 17, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Monday. Businesses such as restaurants, museums,… Read more »
May 3, 2021 By Allie Griffin A number of undocumented workers who were unemployed during the pandemic face obstacles in tapping into a $2.1 billion state fund that was recently established to help them. Many lack a tax identification number that is issued by the IRS — which is one way they can prove eligibility… Read more »
April 30, 2021 By Allie Griffin The City Council passed a bill Thursday to ensure that the Open Streets program is a permanent fixture in New York City for years to come. The bill, sponsored by Manhattan Council Member Carlina Rivera, codifies and expands upon the initial program that closes streets to through traffic for… Read more »
April 29, 2021 By Allie Griffin New York City plans to “fully reopen” on July 1, more than a year after the pandemic halted life in the city that never sleeps. “It’s time to set a goal for a full reopening in New York City and that goal is July 1,” Mayor Bill de Blasio… Read more »
April 27, 2021 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio released the city’s executive budget for Fiscal Year 2022 Monday and included millions of dollars in funding for speed cameras, open streets and bike lanes among other items. The $98.6 billion “Recovery Budget” has been padded with federal stimulus money to help New York City… Read more »
April 28, 2021 By Allie Griffin A slew of state-imposed COVID-19 restrictions on bars and restaurants will be lifted next month. Previous executive orders that Governor Andrew Cuomo imposed on the businesses at the height of the pandemic — such as curfews, the required food with alcohol purchase rule, and the suspension of bar service… Read more »
April 28, 2021 By Allie Griffin Students attending St. John’s University in the fall will need to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before class begins. The university announced last Wednesday that all students who plan to attend in-person classes next semester will be required to be fully vaccinated. COVID-19 shots are now available to all… Read more »
April 27, 2021 By Allie Griffin A bill that would ban the sale of cats and dogs at pet stores in New York is making headway in the state legislature. The legislation — sponsored by Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal and State Sen. Michael Gianaris — is set to move for a full vote on the… Read more »