Dec. 16, 2021 By Allie Griffin A number of so-called “moderate” City Council members have officially created their own caucus just weeks before a new set of members are to be sworn in. The City Council officially recognized the formation of the “Common Sense” caucus, which consists of a number of moderate Democrats and Republican… Read more »
Dec. 16, 2021 By Allie Griffin The MTA is redesigning the entire bus network in Queens and will release its latest plan early next year, agency officials said Wednesday. The new plan will replace an initial bus redesign plan that the MTA put out two years ago. The agency has scrapped that original, pre-pandemic plan… Read more »
Dec. 15, 2021 By Allie Griffin Mayor-elect Eric Adams has named a Queens native as the city’s first female NYPD Commissioner. Adams announced Wednesday that Keechant Sewell, the Nassau County chief of detectives, will become the top cop of the country’s largest police force next month. “I’m proud to tell you personally that the 45th… Read more »
Dec. 15, 2021 By Allie Griffin The next City Council speaker will apparently be from Queens, but the question as to who it will be remains a mystery as two Queens members declared victory Tuesday in a confusing kerfuffle played out over social media. Both Council Member Francisco Moya and Council Member Adrienne Adams said… Read more »
Dec. 14, 2021 By Allie Griffin The Bay Terrace Library in Bayside will undergo a $5.7 million overhaul, Queens Public Library officials announced today. The revamp involves renovating the full interior with updated technology and furniture, creating a designated teen area and constructing a new state-of-the-art multipurpose community room with audiovisual equipment. The work also… Read more »
Dec. 14, 2021 By Allie Griffin and Christian Murray A street corner in Woodside is going to be co-named “Little Manila Avenue” as an ode to the Filipino community in the neighborhood. The NYC Council Parks and Recreation committee voted 15-0 Tuesday in favor of co-naming the southwest corner of Roosevelt Avenue and 70th Street… Read more »
Dec. 13, 2021 By Allie Griffin A former NYPD officer who once served as a bodyguard for El Chapo’s wife was indicted Friday for allegedly transporting cocaine throughout Queens in 2019. Ishmael Bailey, of Staten Island, was arraigned in Queens Supreme Court on charges of selling and possessing a controlled substance, receiving bribes, conspiracy and… Read more »
Dec. 13, 2021 By Allie Griffin A Flushing-based pediatrician was indicted on attempted murder and other charges Thursday for allegedly stabbing a pregnant employee at his medical office over the summer. Jianqiang An, 58, who runs a pediatric clinic in Flushing, allegedly slashed his 30-year-old pregnant employee repeatedly with a knife on June 21 in… Read more »
Dec. 13, 2021 By Allie Griffin A 34-year-old New Jersey man is dead after crashing his car on the Whitestone Expressway early Saturday. Omkar Shivnauth, of Rockaway, NJ, died after losing control of his Toyota Highlander and smashing into a cement median at 4:20 a.m., police said. Shivnauth, according to police, was driving northbound on… Read more »
Dec. 10, 2021 By Allie Griffin The City Council passed a bill Thursday aimed at protecting city trees across the five boroughs. The Council voted unanimously in favor of a bill sponsored by Flushing Council Member Peter Koo that requires the Parks Department to more regularly inspect trees and to publish its findings for the… Read more »