June 11, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A popular children’s indoor play venue and event space on 48th Avenue will shutter its doors next month after nearly four years in business. Sunnyside Plays, located at 43-09 48th Ave., will close on July 15 due to the current economic climate, co-owner Ed Kim announced Wednesday. “In the wake… Read more »
June 10, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Homeless New Yorkers have been dying at a higher rate from COVID-19 than the general public, according to a new report. Homeless people “living in shelters” died at a 61 percent higher rate from COVID-19 than the city average from March 1 through May 31. For the three-month period,… Read more »
June 10, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Building permits have been filed for a seven-story residential building on 61st Street in Woodside. The plans call for a 68-foot-tall structure on a site at 40-22 61st Street, according to documents filed by the Department of Buildings on June 8. The building will include 78 residential units. There… Read more »
June 9, 2020 By Michael Dorgan State senator Jessica Ramos has introduced a bill this week that would prevent the police from using military-style weapons on civilians. Bill S.8516 bans law enforcement from using rubber bullets and tear gas on demonstrators. It also calls on law enforcement to destroy any chemical weapons in their possession. Ramos wants aggressive… Read more »
June 8, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A trendy and spacious cafe has opened on Queens Boulevard following three months of delays due to COVID-19. Mad Café, opened its doors at 43-10 Queens Blvd. last week and is now brewing fresh coffee and serving pastries delivered daily from SPOT dessert bar in Flushing. The 2,600 square-foot… Read more »
June 8, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Mayor Bill de Blasio has vowed to slash funding to the NYPD and implement a series of reforms within the department. The killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis cop last month coupled with a series of recent NYPD beatings at protests has led to calls to defund the… Read more »
June 6, 2020 Staff Report Large protests against racial injustice went off peacefully across Queens on Friday and Saturday. Thousands of protesters took to the streets at various locations throughout the World’s Borough – replicating the mass protests seen throughout the country since the killing of George Floyd on May 25. Hundreds of people marched… Read more »
June 6, 2020 By Michael Dorgan The Queens Pride virtual parade will take place online this Sunday, June 7. The physical parade, which was expected to go ahead in Jackson Heights tomorrow, is being replaced by a live-streamed event starting at noon to celebrate Pride Month and the LGBTQ community. The online event will feature… Read more »
June 6, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Council Member Robert Holden has called on the city to reopen parks and other public spaces as part of Phase 1. The lawmaker wrote to Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver Thursday demanding that public parks, beaches, tennis courts and golf courses be made available to the public from June 8…. Read more »
June 5, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A large truck packed with fruits and vegetables for the needy rolled into Sunnyside Thursday. The truck pulled up to an empty retail space on Skillman Avenue at around 2 p.m. and around 60 local volunteers unloaded as many as 1,400 boxes. The volunteers had set up a human… Read more »