April 24, 2020 By Allie Griffin Queens Assembly Member Ron Kim and Brooklyn Senator Kevin Parker are calling on the mayor and schools chancellor to add anti-bullying lessons to the curriculum for New York City public school students. The lawmakers said the lessons are needed as hate crimes and violence against Asian Americans have risen… Read more »
April 24, 2020 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio is pushing for a rent freeze for New York City’s one million rent-stabilized tenants. The mayor is calling for a range of measures to assist New Yorkers unable to afford their rent amid the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting shutdown. He is also urging the state… Read more »
April 24, 2020 By Allie Griffin Dozens of poets have put together an illustration of the beauty and resilience of Queens with an interactive recorded poetry project. Queensbound, founded in 2018 by writer KC Trommer, collects poems about the borough — from Long Island City to Jamaica — and embeds audio recordings of each at… Read more »
April 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin Hospital admissions for coronavirus patients in New York City are continuing to go down, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. On Wednesday, the number of people admitted to New York City hospitals with coronavirus symptoms was 227, a marked decline from figures of two or three weeks ago. For… Read more »
April 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin The city is about to provide nursing homes with more staff and protective equipment. The city is sending an additional 210 clinical workers to 40 nursing homes this week, doubling the number of clinical workers it has already sent to nursing home facilities across the city. In addition, the… Read more »
April 22, 2020 By Allie Griffin The number of Queens residents killed by the coronavirus is inching towards 4,000, according to city data released today. In total, 3,915 people have died from the virus in the World’s Borough as of yesterday evening, according to the city’s Department of Health. The figures consist of 3,002 people… Read more »
April 21, 2020 By Allie Griffin The inmate population in New York City jails has dropped below 4,000 for the first time since 1946, following the release of approximately 2,000 prisoners as a result of COVID-19. Mayor Bill de Blasio and City officials have released inmates who are the most vulnerable to COVID-19 complications —… Read more »
April 21, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City will honor the healthcare workers and first responders fighting the coronavirus with a ticker-tape parade once the pandemic is defeated, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. “When that day comes that we can restart the vibrant, beautiful life of this city again, the first thing we… Read more »
April 20, 2020 By Allie Griffin Two Queens lawmakers are demanding that essential workers receive hazard pay for their work during the coronavirus pandemic. Assembly Member Aravella Simotas and State Sen. Jessica Ramos sent a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo and other state leaders on April 14 urging them to use a portion of the… Read more »
April 20, 2020 By Allie Griffin Three Queens Council Members have called on the governor to close New York City’s mass transit system for at least a week, only to have the suggestion quickly shot down by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA). Council Member Robert Holden penned a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo and MTA… Read more »