Nov. 25, 2020 By Allie Griffin The special election for the Central Queens council seat vacated by Rory Lancman is starting to take shape with at least 10 candidates announcing their bids. The candidates have filed to run in the Feb. 2 election to fill the 24th Council District seat representing Kew Gardens Hills, Fresh… Read more »
Nov. 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City’s Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg announced today that she is stepping down from the de Blasio administration. Trottenberg, who has served as the Department of Transportation (DOT) head since 2014, will leave her post in early December. During her seven-year tenure, the commissioner led the way on… Read more »
Nov. 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin Two state lawmakers are hosting a seminar to explain ranked choice voting next week as central Queens voters prepare to be the first in New York City to participate in the process. Queens Assembly Members Nily Rozic and Daniel Rosenthal are presenting a virtual seminar on ranked choice voting… Read more »
Nov. 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin A Queens council member introduced a bill Thursday that would allow restaurants to add a 15 percent surcharge to the tab if they pay all their employees a base wage of at least $15 per hour. Council Member Antonio Reynoso, who represents parts of Ridgewood, Bushwick and Williamsburg, introduced… Read more »
Nov. 19, 2020 By Allie Griffin Indoor dining will likely end and gyms will likely close in the next week or two as New York City looks to combat a second wave of the coronavirus, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday morning. The closures will come if New York City enters a state-mandated “orange zone,”… Read more »
Nov. 18, 2020 By Allie Griffin Opposition to a sprawling 13-tower, mixed-use development proposed for the Flushing waterfront is growing among city lawmakers tasked with approving the plans. A dozen city council members said approving the project known as the “Special Flushing Waterfront District” in its current form would be “a grave mistake,” in a… Read more »
Nov. 18, 2020 By Allie Griffin The Queens COVID-19 yellow zone has been expanded northward to cover parts of Astoria, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday. Cuomo said the COVID-19 positivity rate of Astoria reached 2.5 percent, putting it into a yellow zone — one of three zones where state-imposed restrictions apply to bring down the… Read more »
Nov. 18, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City public schools will close in-person classes starting Thursday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. Public schools will switch to fully remote classes beginning tomorrow — until further notice. The move comes as New York City’s COVID-19 positivity rate reached 3 percent over a seven-day rolling average,… Read more »
Nov. 17, 2020 By Allie Griffin The operators of a Bayside car dealership who targeted and conned Chinese-speakers into shelling out thousands in bogus costs have been ordered to repay their victims, according to authorities. Star Toyota of Bayside, located at 205-11 Northern Blvd., must pay more than $180,000 to the Chinese-speaking customers it duped… Read more »
Nov. 17, 2020 By Allie Griffin Two Democratic incumbents in Queens who were behind their Republican challengers on election night have surged ahead with absentee ballots now being counted. Northeast Queens Assembly Member Edward Braunstein has declared victory in the 26th Assembly race thanks to a bump from absentee votes, while Rep. Tom Suozzi now… Read more »