Category: news

MTA’s Queens bus network redesign plan comes under fire by transportation advocates  

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MTA

Jan. 8, 2024 By Iryna Shkurhan Advocates standing up for elderly, disabled and low-income bus riders brought up several issues with the MTA’s proposed plan to redesign the entire Queens bus network during a virtual meeting held by a transit advocacy group on Thursday.  About a dozen participants who familiarized themselves with the MTA’s $30 million bus plan, which was unveiled in December, say that its proposed removal of over a thousand bus stops will hurt riders. While the MTA hopes to give riders faster and more consistent service, while also combatting low ridership, advocates argue that it has failed…
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Neighborhood meeting to address persistent sewer backup and flooding concerns in northwest Queens set for February

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Jan. 4, 2024 By Rachel Butler Residents of East Elmhurst, Astoria and Jackson Heights will be meeting with government officials on Feb. 1 to discuss the long-standing issue of sewer backups and flooding in their respective neighborhoods. The issue has been especially problematic in recent years, given the extreme weather. For instance, Hurricane Ida in…
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Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz sworn in for second term

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katz

Jan. 3, 2024 By Bill Parry Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz was sworn in for a second term Tuesday in the Helen Marshall Cultural Center at Queens Borough Hall. The ceremony was attended by 200 staff and justices, and her youngest son, Hunter, held the copy of the Old Testament used for the swearing in. She was sworn in by Supreme Court Administrative Judge Donna-Marie Golia. Katz made history when she first took office four years ago becoming the first woman ever to serve as head prosecutor in Queens and the first new Queens District Attorney in 28 years, following…
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Alternate side parking suspension calendar for 2024

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parking

Dec. 28, 2023 By Anthony Medina Alternate side parking rules, congestion pricing, toll hikes and other fees make car ownership costly and burdensome in the five boroughs.  Many New Yorkers, as a result, stick with using a Metro Card.  However, there’s something to look forward to for car owners in 2024, and that is the holidays and the Alternate Side Parking Rule Suspension Calendar. Afterall, the fine for failing to move a vehicle during designated alternate side parking hours is $65. Here’s a list of the dates when alternate side parking will be suspended in 2024:  Monday, Jan. 1: New…
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QNS’ top 10 stories in 2023

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Dec. 27, 2023 By Ethan Marshall As we prepare for 2024, QNS is looking back at some of our most widely read stories in 2023. Readers were active in 2023, with more than 7 million views. From crime, to local businesses and more, 2023 had a lot to offer in Queens. Brooklyn woman gets more…
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Food or politics? Palestinian and Israeli restaurants in Queens choose both 

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Palestinian

Dec. 22, 2023 By Iryna Shkurhan You can’t go inside King of Falafel and Shawarma on Broadway in Astoria without first stepping on the face of Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel.  Floor stickers with headshots of highly criticized world leaders who some have accused of crimes against humanity greet customers at the front…
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Lottery opens for ‘affordable apartments’ in Kew Gardens, 1-bedrooms to rent for $3,140

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Dec. 21, 2023 By Christian Murray It’s pitched as an affordable apartment in Queens, yet the rent for a one-bedroom is $3,140 a month. NYC Housing Connect has opened a lottery for 16 “affordable apartments” inside a new 8-story, 51-unit development in Kew Gardens. The building, located at 81-07 Kew Gardens Rd., has been developed by FBL Development, and includes a range of amenities, such as a gym and a rooftop terrace. The units are designated for residents whose income falls within 130% of the area median income (AMI). The range accommodates potential tenants with incomes spanning from $107,658 to…
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Queens’ population dropped 5.3% post pandemic, in line with rest of NYC: Study

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NYC Parks

Dec. 19, 2023 By Christian Murray The population of New York City has declined significantly since the pandemic, with Queens being no exception, according to a report released by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli on Monday At the beginning of 2020, New York City boasted a population of 8,804,190, marking a decade-long trend of a 7.7%…
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