June 4, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A tense standoff between a large group of demonstrators and the police almost boiled over in Sunnyside Thursday. More than 100 protesters blocked up traffic on Queens Boulevard by 47th Street at around 3:40 p.m. and refused to leave unless NYPD officers joined them in taking a knee or… Read more »
June 4, 2020, Letter to the Editor from Judy Zangwill, Executive Director of Sunnyside Community Services Letter to the Editor, We as a nation, community, organization, and individuals are deeply hurting and, once again, deeply enraged. Emotions are raw right now, and most of us are in pain. For some, that pain is very personal… Read more »
June 4, 2020 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled the city’s plan today to expand outdoor seating for restaurants, which are expected to reopen for dining in July after being shuttered for months. New York City will begin reopening parts on its economy Monday in what is known as phase one of reopening…. Read more »
June 4, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A knife-wielding man who tried to attack a crowd of peaceful demonstrators in Whitestone on Wednesday has been arrested. Frank Cavalluzzi, 54, faces a number of charges – including criminal possession of a weapon – following his attempt to attack protesters on Clintonville Street, according to police. About 10… Read more »
June 4, 2020 By Allie Griffin The New York City Comptroller is calling on Mayor Bill de Blasio to slash more than $1 billion from the NYPD budget over four years — as the city faces a looming fiscal crisis and many are calling for police reform. Comptroller Scott Stringer penned a letter to de… Read more »
June 3, 2020 By Allie Griffin Hundreds of people marched to Assembly Member Michael DenDekker’s office Wednesday demanding that he support police reform measures. The protesters demanded that DenDekker, who represents Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst and parts of Woodside, do more to support state efforts to hold police officers accountable. They claim that DenDekker’s recent… Read more »
June 3, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A memorial that has gone up in front of a Sunnyside woman’s home honoring George Floyd is gaining plenty of attention and many supporters. The memorial – which contains a picture of Floyd and several signs – was erected Monday outside the home of local singer Cathy Maguire at… Read more »
June 3, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A peaceful demonstration took place in Astoria Tuesday as protesters lamented the killing of George Floyd. Hundreds of people gathered at the intersection of Steinway Street and 30th Avenue at around 1 p.m. to protest Floyd’s death that occurred at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer more than… Read more »
June 3, 2020 By Allie Griffin All New Yorkers can now be tested for the novel coronavirus, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday. The mayor said that anyone can be tested for COVID-19 at any of the more than 150 sites across the five boroughs. COVID-19 testing, he noted, was previously prioritized for the elderly… Read more »
June 3, 2020 By Christian Murray Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz has established a new bureau tasked with investigating and prosecuting predatory lenders, housing scammers and contractors who fail to pay their employees prevailing wage. The new unit, called the Housing and Worker Protection Bureau, will work with other agencies to prosecute con artists and… Read more »