Author: Allie Griffin

City Invests $26 Million to Finish Queens Museum Expansion Project

Sept. 23, 2021 By Allie Griffin The city has allocated $26.4 million for the Queens Museum to complete its expansion project which includes a children’s museum space, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Wednesday. The investment enables the Queens Museum to create a dedicated children’s museum space, secure artwork storage and additional classrooms — all features… Read more »

Final Phase of Queens Boulevard Redesign to be Completed Next Month

Sept. 22, 2021 By Allie Griffin The final phase of the Queens Boulevard redesign project will be completed next month, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced at a press conference on Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills Wednesday. The fourth and final phase — from Yellowstone Boulevard to Union Turnpike — will be finished by Oct. 29,… Read more »

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez Calls on Governor and Mayor to Immediately Shut Down Rikers and Release Inmates

Sept. 22, 2021 By Allie Griffin Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other New York Congress members are calling on both the governor and mayor to immediately shut down the Rikers Island jail complex. Ocasio-Cortez and Reps. Jamaal Bowman, Jerry Nadler and Nydia Velázquez penned a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Bill de Blasio Tuesday… Read more »

Eric Adams Outlines Plan to Convert Hotels Located in The Outer Boroughs Into Affordable Housing

Sept. 21, 2021 By Allie Griffin Democratic mayoral nominee Eric Adams wants to convert 25,000 outer-borough hotel rooms into permanent affordable housing. Adams outlined a plan — during a press conference in Sunset Park Monday — for the city to acquire economically distressed hotels in the outer boroughs and convert them into supportive housing. The… Read more »

City to Require Weekly COVID Testing at Public Schools Beginning Next Week

Sept. 21, 2021 By Allie Griffin The city will require weekly COVID-19 testing of students and staff at public schools beginning next week, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday. The Department of Education will increase testing from biweekly to weekly at all public schools beginning Sept. 27. As such, 10 percent of unvaccinated students will… Read more »

City Bans Revel Scooters From Queensboro Bridge: DOT

Sept. 20, 2021 By Allie Griffin The New York City Department of Transportation has banned Revel scooters from the Queensboro Bridge, the agency confirmed Monday. The DOT informed the scooter-sharing app that it must end its users’ short-lived access to the bridge following safety concerns. In July, Revel permitted its riders with more than 25… Read more »

Astoria Street Co-Named After Legendary Yankee “Whitey” Ford

Sept. 20, 201 By Allie Griffin A block in Astoria now bears the name of legendary, Astoria-raised Yankees player Whitey Ford. A stretch of 43rd Street between 34th and 35th Avenues was co-named “Edward Charles ‘Whitey’ Ford Way” at a ceremony hosted by Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer Saturday. The Yankees pitcher, who died nearly… Read more »

Queens World Film Festival to Donate $8,000 to Elmhurst Hospital Monday

Sept. 17, 2021 By Allie Griffin The organizers of a Queens-based film festival will present an $8,000 check to Elmhurst Hospital Monday. The organizers of the annual Queens World Film Festival will donate the money — proceeds from the sale of “hero tickets” to its 11th annual festival held in June — during a ceremony… Read more »

Queens-Based Artist Paints Mural Celebrating Astoria on Steinway Street

Sept. 16, 2021 By Allie Griffin An acclaimed Queens-based artist has begun painting a mural on Steinway Street that celebrates Astoria. Zeehan Wazed, painter, graffiti artist and performer, is creating a 175-foot mural reading “Welcome to Astoria” on the east side of the P.C. Richard and Son building, located at 35-18 Steinway St. Wazed, a… Read more »

Queens Night Market to Open for Fall Season Saturday With Ida Relief Fundraiser

Sept 16, 2021 By Allie Griffin The Queens Night Market will open for the fall season in Flushing Meadows Corona Park Saturday with a Hurricane Ida relief fundraiser. The organizer of the popular nighttime food festival will collect donations at the door during the season opener to support Queens flood survivors who are unable to… Read more »