Feb. 19, 2020 By Kristen Torres The MTA said on-time performance rates for city subways in January approached a record high. Weekday subway on-time performance was around 83 percent last month—the highest of any January since 2013, the agency reported. There were just 29 major weekday incidents that caused delays throughout the month—a 44 percent… Read more »
Feb. 19, 2020 By Kristen Torres Lawmakers are split on whether or not to back the state’s six-week-old bail reform law, which has ignited fierce debate among elected officials, the police and criminal justice advocates since it went into effect on Jan. 1. The new law eliminated cash bail for most misdemeanor and non-violent offenses,… Read more »
Feb. 13, 2020 By Ryan Brady The 109th Precinct in Flushing has not escaped the citywide trend of increasing crime. Deputy Inspector Keith Shine, the commanding officer of the 109th Precinct, told the precinct’s Community Council on Wednesday night that major crime between Jan. 1 and Feb. 12 was up 12 percent compared to the… Read more »
Feb. 13, 2020 By Ryan Brady There have been no confirmed coronavirus cases in New York City. Still, that doesn’t mean the disease hasn’t taken an economic toll here. The Flushing Chinese Business Association estimates business in the neighborhood has decreased by 40 percent because of fears about the outbreak, which originated in China. Now,… Read more »
Feb. 13, 2020 By Ryan Brady The City Council’s Finance Committee on Tuesday unanimously voted for a bill that would significantly expand the Flushing Business Improvement District. The legislation — sponsored by committee Chairman Daniel Dromm, who represents Jackson Heights and Elmhurst — will advance to the full Council. The Flushing BID provides supplemental sanitation… Read more »
Feb. 11, 2020 By Ryan Brady At a tense Monday night meeting, Community Board 7 voted 30-8 to approve a development team’s plan to rezone a large section of land by Flushing Creek. Dozens of protesters showed up to criticize the land-use application filed by FWRA, a consortium of real estate firms behind the project…. Read more »
Feb. 11, 2020 By Allie Griffin A former CNBC anchor and Sunnyside resident will challenge Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for her Congressional seat in the Democratic primary election. Michelle Caruso-Cabrera today announced her run for the 14th District, which covers Astoria, College Point, Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Sunnyside, Woodside and parts of the Bronx. “I’m… Read more »
Feb. 6, 2020 By Ryan Brady Community Board 7 will vote Monday, Feb. 10, on a major Flushing Creek waterfront special district and rezoning proposal that has generated opposition from area residents. The land-use application from a landowner consortium called FWRA LLC seeks to turn 29 acres of mostly inactive property into the Special Flushing… Read more »
Feb. 6, 2020 By Allie Griffin Crime across the city and in the borough of Queens jumped significantly in the first month of 2020 — which top NYPD brass attributes to bail reform. Major crimes spiked 20 percent in the first 26 days of the year in Patrol Borough Queens North — which includes Long… Read more »
Jan. 31, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City’s Department of Health denied a report of coronavirus at Elmhurst Hospital after an internal NYPD memo warned officers in Queens that a patient with the deadly virus was being treated there. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said the report of the… Read more »