June 27, 2020 By Asha MacKay Chakra Cafe, a Turkish coffee and breakfast shop located on Queens Boulevard, has weathered the tough days of the crisis. Having opened one year ago, the operators soldiered on as COVID-19 hit the borough hard. Instead of closing, says owner Ahmet Albayrak, “we came together with employees, sacrificed more,… Read more »
June 26, 2020 By Michael Dorgan The campaign office of State Sen. Mike Gianaris was targeted with graffiti Wednesday night. The front of the Powhattan Democratic Club office, located at 41-05 Newtown Rd. in Astoria, was sprayed-painted with the “anarchy” symbol, a spokesperson for the senator has confirmed. The building was used as Gianaris’ campaign… Read more »
June 26, 2020 By William Smith A prominent strip in Hunters Point is about to get a makeover. The Newtown Creek Alliance, an organization that focuses on revitalizing the Newtown Creek, is partnering with the Hunters Point Parks Conservancy to beautify a stretch of 48th Avenue between 5th Street and Center Boulevard. The project will… Read more »
June 25, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A new bridge connecting Queens to Manhattan — that would only carry cyclists and pedestrians — has been proposed by a group of transport experts. The bridge, which is being called Queens Ribbon due to its slim design, would run from Long Island City through Roosevelt Island and into… Read more »
June 25, 2020 By Christian Murray The New York City Council passed legislation Thursday that legalizes the operation of most e-bicycles and e-scooters. The legislation is a long time coming but the council had to wait for Albany to pass legislation allowing municipalities to approve their use. That took place earlier this year after much… Read more »
June 25, 2020 By Christian Murray A developer plans to demolish at least eight stores on Roosevelt Avenue in Woodside and replace them with a 13-story, 213-unit apartment complex. Woodside 63 Management LLC., which is led by the Astoria-based real estate firm EJ Stevens Group, is looking to develop a 210,000 square foot building on… Read more »
June 25, 2020 By Michael Dorgan The Queens Public Library (QPL) has announced that it will reopen some of its local branches on July 13 with restrictions. Seven locations will be open to the public for pickups and returns while nine additional sites will accept returns, President and CEO of Queens Public Library Dennis Walcott… Read more »
June 25, By Christian Murray The police officer who was caught on video placing a man in a chokehold in Far Rockaway Sunday has been arrested and now faces up to 7 years in prison. Police Officer David Afanador, who was suspended by the NYPD hours after the video went viral, has been charged with… Read more »
Aug. 25, 2020 By Christian Murray Eleven council members in Queens will be forced to step down at the end of next year due to term limits. Many candidates have already come forward looking to replace them, and will be competing in next June’s Democratic primaries for those spots. In Queens, only four council members… Read more »
June 25, 2020 By Christian Murray New York City is on track to enter Phase 3 of the four-step reopening plan on Monday, July 6, Mayor Bill de Blasio said today at his daily briefing. The new phase would permit indoor dining at restaurants, as well as the reopening of nails salons, and other personal… Read more »