May 14, 2021 By Ryan Songalia Two city council candidates who are vying for seats in western Queens are hosting a community conversation on hate crimes and race relations in Woodside Saturday. The “raw conversation” will be co-hosted by Ebony Young, an African-American woman who is running to represent the 26th Council District that covers… Read more »
May 13, 2021 By Allie Griffin The Transit Workers Union has endorsed Elizabeth Crowley for Queens borough president. TWU Local 100, which represents 41,000 transportation workers throughout the city, announced today that it is backing her in the June 22 primary. “As the president of the largest transit union in the country, I know that we… Read more »
May 13, 2021 By Ryan Songalia City council member Jimmy Van Bramer and mayoral candidate Dianne Morales cross-endorsed one another today as they both seek office. Van Bramer, who is running to be Queens Borough President, joined Morales for the announcement this morning at Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights. Morales of Brooklyn says she is… Read more »
May 13, 2021 By Allie Griffin The final stretch of the Queens Boulevard redesign will be completed before the end of the year, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. The Department of Transportation (DOT) will finish the fourth and final phase of the redesign in November — about three years behind schedule. Construction, de Blasio… Read more »
May 13, 2021 By Ryan Songalia A bill that would require the Department of Education to develop and implement a food waste prevention plan was unanimously passed by the city council on Wednesday. The legislation, sponsored by Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer, aims to reduce the amount of food that is wasted at public schools—which serve… Read more »
May 13, 2021 By Allie Griffin Police have arrested the man caught on video beating and robbing two men after they hit his car in Jackson Heights over the weekend. Officers nabbed 27-year-old Jovani Padin of Woodside Wednesday and charged him with robbery, attempted grand larceny, assault and leaving the scene of an accident. The… Read more »
May 12, 2021 By Allie Griffin The city is expanding last year’s outdoor street dining initiative into a new program called “Open Boulevards” which will create multi-block restaurant street seating, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. The program will create extra space for diners on roadways along 10 restaurant-heavy corridors across the city, including two… Read more »
May 12, 2021 By Allie Griffin Mayoral candidate Andrew Yang got a cool reception in Astoria Tuesday after he sent out an apparent pro-Israel tweet Monday night. Yang visited the neighborhood for an endorsement announcement and was then scheduled to join a local nonprofit to distribute groceries to families ahead of Eid al-Fitr, a Muslim… Read more »
May 12, 2021 By Christian Murray A street in Elmhurst where many immigrants from Nepal live will be co-named after the famous Nepalese mountain climber Tenzing Norgay. Council Member Danny Dromm said that 75th Street, between Broadway and Woodside Avenue, will be co-named Tenzing Norgay Sherpa Way. Norgay is famous for being the first person,… Read more »
May 12, 2021 By Christina Santucci The Queens Borough Board voted to approve plans for the first phase of Willets Point’s redevelopment Monday evening – which would include construction of 1,100 affordable apartments, public open space and a new public elementary school on six acres of land. The board, which is headed by Queens Borough… Read more »