June 2, 2021 By Ryan Songalia A group of western Queens community leaders has come together to help Amit Bagga break away from a crowded field to win the 26th District council seat. The group, dubbed 26 for 26, is co-chaired by Matthew Wallace, the chief of staff for the term-limited council member Jimmy Van… Read more »
June 1, 2021 By Christina Santucci A 54-year-old real estate agent named Kelly Killian was struck and killed by an e-bike in Astoria Friday night – around the corner from where she lived. Police said they received a 911 call just after 8:30 p.m., and when emergency responders arrived at 31st Street and 21st Avenue,… Read more »
June 1, 2021 By Christina Santucci A new community-led organization plans to showcase the culinary offerings of Elmhurst with a takeout restaurant crawl around the neighborhood this weekend. Attendees will have the opportunity to sample Thai, Malaysian, Indonesian, Chinese and Taiwanese cuisine at Saturday’s event, which is being organized by the newly-formed group Homecoming. The… Read more »
June 1, 2021 By Christina Santucci New Yorkers who are behind on their rent and have suffered financial hardship due to COVID-19 can submit applications for rent relief starting Tuesday, the governor announced. Those eligible and approved by the program can receive funding to cover up to 12 months in past due rent – as… Read more »
May 31, 2021 By Christina Santucci Police said they have arrested a 57-year-old man and charged him with spray painting dozens of cars in Astoria over the past few months. Astoria resident Herberto Torres was hit with 46 counts of making graffiti, criminal mischief and possession of a graffiti instrument, the NYPD said. Cops had… Read more »
May 28, 2021 By Ryan Songalia A bill that aims to prevent green construction fences from becoming magnets for graffiti was passed by the city council Thursday. The legislation, sponsored by Council Member Bob Holden, requires construction companies to take down the green wooden fences on building sites where work has stopped for two consecutive… Read more »
May 28, 2021 By Ryan Songalia Police busted an Astoria man during the early hours Wednesday who was breaking into an apartment building on 46th Street between 43rd and Skillman avenues. John Petty, 53, was nabbed by police at around 2 a.m. while the burglary was in process. He was arrested by Officer Nakisha Pierre… Read more »
May 27, 2021 By Ryan Songalia A campaign mailer sent out by Elizabeth Crowley that reads “eviction notice” in large font has sparked outrage among her critics. The mailer, released by her campaign last week, was intended to attack Queens Borough President Donovan Richards for accepting real estate money—but was viewed by many as being… Read more »
May 27, 2021 By Christian Murray A new flag pole will go up in the Blissville section of Long Island City where a century-old pole was located before it was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The original flagpole, which was part of the Blissville Veterans Memorial that was established after WWI, was cut down… Read more »
May 25, 2021 By Christina Santucci A 32-year-old construction worker fell to his death while working on a building in Long Island City over the weekend. Diego Lliguicota, from Maspeth, fell while trying to remove a ladder from scaffolding on the sixth floor at 45-18 Court Square at about 9:30 a.m. Saturday, the Associated Press… Read more »