Dec. 14, 2020 by Allie Griffin Jackson Heights Council Member Daniel Dromm introduced a bill last week that would end the use of solitary confinement in all New York City jails. Under the bill, individuals would only be allowed to be isolated for the sole purpose of de-escalating violent conflicts and could only be isolated… Read more »
Dec. 14, 2020 By Allie Griffin A Bayside police officer who allegedly moonlighted as a spy for the Chinese government will remain in jail ahead of his trial after a judge tossed out his appeal last week. Baimadajie Angwang, who worked as a community affairs officer for the NYPD’s 111th Precinct, had appealed an earlier… Read more »
Dec. 11, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City restaurants will have to close their indoor dining areas come Monday, in response to the growing number of city residents in hospitals with COVID-19. Indoor dining will be shuttered across the five boroughs for at least two weeks, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Friday. Cuomo had warned… Read more »
Dec. 10, 2020 By Allie Griffin The City Council voted Thursday to approve a land use application for a sprawling 13-tower mixed-use development that will transform the Flushing waterfront for years to come. The Council voted 39-to-5 — with one abstention — to approve a proposal to create a “Special Flushing Waterfront District” on 29-acres… Read more »
Dec. 10, 2020 By Allie Griffin A fundraiser launched last month with the goal to raise $3 million to purchase the childhood home of President Donald Trump appears at this point to be a flop. The GoFundMe — launched by the real estate company representing the anonymous seller —urges Trump supporters to donate to the… Read more »
Dec. 9, 2020 By Allie Griffin The proposed 13-tower, mixed-use development on the Flushing waterfront is a step closer toward becoming a reality. The City Council’s Land Use Committee overwhelmingly voted to approve a zoning change that is needed for the ambitious project to move ahead. The committee voted 14-to-1 to approve the land use… Read more »
Dec. 9, 2020 By Allie Griffin The cost to rent an apartment in Queens has dropped more than 4 percent in the past year, according to a new report. The average amount paid to rent a studio, one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartment was down across the board, compared to the same time last year, according to… Read more »
Dec. 9, 2020 By Allie Griffin A passenger in a stolen vehicle is dead after the driver smashed into a tree in East Elmhurst on Tuesday, police said. Christian Carrion-Rivera, 26, was behind the wheel of a stolen SUV when he lost control at around 9:15 a.m. while speeding along Ditmars Boulevard. The car then… Read more »
Dec. 7, 2020 By Allie Griffin Two Queens lawmakers introduced legislation Thursday that would require New York State to cover the cost of COVID-19 testing at private, religious and other non-public schools. State Sen. Joe Addabbo and Assembly Member Andrew Hevesi sponsored a bill that would require the state to reimburse non-public schools for the cost… Read more »
Dec. 7, 2020 By Allie Griffin and Christian Murray Long Island City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer is contemplating a run for Queens Borough President once again, campaign filings show. Van Bramer has recently filed to run for borough president with the Campaign Finance Board and told Politico last month that he is “seriously considering”… Read more »