Jan. 27, 2020 By Allie Griffin The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) launched a new ad campaign today to combat an uptick in hate crimes on the New York City transit system. The “Hate Has No Place in Our Transportation System” public awareness campaign will promote kindness, respect and solidarity across digital screens in subways, buses… Read more »
Jan. 27, 2020 By Kristen Torres The Queens delegation is split over a city bill that would grant green card holders and many other legal immigrants the right to vote in city elections. The bill, introduced in the City Council on Jan. 23, would grant permanent residents and other legal immigrants with the right to… Read more »
Jan. 27, 2020 By Allie Griffin Rep. Grace Meng introduced a resolution to recognize Lunar New Year in the House of Representatives Friday, a day before the start of the celebration on Saturday. The resolution aims to recognize the cultural and historical significance of the holiday in 2020, the year of the rat. “Lunar New… Read more »
Jan. 24, 2020 By Kristen Torres A beloved Queens librarian passed away unexpectedly earlier this month, the Queens Public Library announced Thursday. Susan Scatena, also known as Miss Susan, worked as a children’s librarian at the Whitestone Library—located at 151-10 14th Road—for nearly two decades before she passed away on Jan. 10. “During the 18… Read more »
Jan. 24, 2020 By Allie Griffin Flushing will bring in the Year of the Rat in its annual Lunar New Year parade tomorrow. Thousands of spectators are expected to both watch and march in the parade, which begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25. at Union Street and 37th Avenue. The parade stretches to… Read more »
Jan. 22, 2020 By Allie Griffin Governor Andrew Cuomo has proposed legislation to legalize most e-bikes and e-scooters as part of his executive budget plan for Fiscal Year 2021. Cuomo wrote the legislation into his budget that was released Tuesday less than a month after he vetoed two Queens lawmakers’ bill to legalize the electric… Read more »
Jan. 22, 2020 By Kristen Torres A Lyft driver was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Tuesday for sexually assaulting a passenger who had fallen asleep in his car in Queens. Welinton Fernandez, 31, of Corona was convicted in November of first degree criminal sexual act and first degree sexual abuse for sexually assaulting… Read more »
Jan. 21, 2020 By Christian Murray and Allie Griffin Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer announced Tuesday that he is dropping out of the race to be Queens Borough President. Van Bramer, in an email released by his campaign this morning, cited family reasons. “Prioritizing my responsibilities as a son and brother is where my attention… Read more »
Jan. 20, 2020 By Allie Griffin and Christian Murray Two candidates vying to be the next borough president traded barbs at a forum in Sunnyside last week when the topics of Amazon, real estate contributions and the Queens County Democratic machine were raised. Council Members Jimmy Van Bramer and Donovan Richards — two of the… Read more »
Jan. 16, 2020 By Allie Griffin A 67-year-old woman was struck and killed by a sheet of plywood that fell from a Flushing building this morning. Xiang Ji, of Westbury, NY, was walking eastbound on Main Street near 41st Road at around 9:44 a.m. when a piece of plywood flew off a building at 41-28… Read more »