Author: schnepsrestagent

Queens political palate: Discover where your local leaders love to dine

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Mar. 14, 2024 By Iryna Shkurhan The NYC Hospitality Alliance, a nonprofit that represents restaurants, released a first of its kind report this week with insights into where the city’s elected officials dine.  The “District Dining Guide” highlights the go to restaurants, and favorite dish to order, of elected officials from the mayor to the city council. Since the Alliance’s founding in 2012, they’ve worked to bridge the gap between the government, press and the 20,000 eating and drinking establishments across the five boroughs.  “Our City offers the best restaurants and flavors in the world, and we’re thrilled to release…
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New York legislators and transparency advocates call for stronger Freedom of Information Laws

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Mar. 14, 2024 By Athena Dawson and Czarinna Andres New York State Senators John Liu and Brad Hoylman-Sigal, along with State Assembly Member Steven Raga, joined forces with a broad coalition of journalists, civic organizations, and transparency advocates in Albany on Tuesday to call for crucial enhancements to New York’s Freedom of Information Laws (FOIL). Liu, represents Northeast Queens while Hoylman-Sigal, covers much of the west side of Manhattan. Raga represents several neighborhoods in Queens which include Woodside, Elmhurst, Maspeth, Jackson Heights, Astoria, and Middle Village. The legislators, in collaboration with the New York Coalition for Open Government and several…
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Average rental price in Queens rose over 3% year-over-year in February 2024: report

average rental

Mar. 13, 2024 Ethan Marshall The average rental price of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units in Queens all increased from February 2023 to February 2024, according to a report by the real estate firm M.N.S. Real Estate. The overall average cost of rent for these types of units increased 3.1% over this span, from $2,715 in 2023 to $2,800 in 2024. The Ridgewood neighborhood saw the largest month-over-month rental price increase at 5.32% . Studios experienced the most significant increase in rental price. The average rental price for these units in Queens rose 6.11% year-over-year, from $2,169 last year to…
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Crunching the Queens crime numbers: rapes rising across the borough, grand larceny decreasing in northern Queens

Queens

Mar. 13, 2024 By Ethan Marshall The number of rapes across Queens increased during the 28-day period from Feb. 9 to Mar. 10, compared to the same period of time last year, according to the latest crime stats released by the NYPD Monday. However, northern Queens has experienced a significant decline in grand larcenies over this same period of time. Over the course of the 28-day period, reported rapes in northern Queens increased 41.7%, from 12 in 2023 to 17 in 2024. Meanwhile, grand larcenies decreased 10%, from 518 to 466. Five precincts in northern Queens, the 104th, 110th, 111th,…
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From community centers to DNA testing, Congresswoman Meng secures $13M for Queens initiatives

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Mar. 13, 2024 By Iryna Shkurhan Queens Congresswoman Grace Meng secured over $13 million in federal funds for Queens projects through a recently passed government spending package.  As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, Meng is one of the 61 members that determines which agencies, programs and initiatives across the country receive federal…
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Flushing man scams nearly $630K from seniors living across the U.S.: DA

scam

Mar. 12, 2024 By Bill Parry

A Flushing man is accused of scamming more than $600,000 from seniors across the United States opening bogus corporate bank accounts in Queens to collect stolen money that he used to gamble in an out-of-state casino.

Affordable housing lottery opens in Hollis, rent set at $2,300

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Mar. 12, 2024 By Ethan Marshall A total of 15 affordable units are up for grabs at a development in southeast Queens, with a monthly rent of $2,300. The affordable units are part of a 7-story building spread across a block in Hollis at 188 Hillside Ave. The development, known as Q-188, has a total…
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