July 2, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City public schools will reopen for the new school year in September, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. City schools have been closed since March and instruction was moved online given the coronavirus pandemic. School buildings will reopen for in-person classes on the first day of school…. Read more »
July 1, 2020 By Christian Murray A development team plans to rezone five city blocks on the border of Long Island City and Astoria in order to erect more than a dozen buildings that would consist of 2,700 apartments, a school, as well as retail and office space. The real estate team—comprised of Silverstein Properties,… Read more »
July 1, 2020 By Allie Griffin New Yorkers will have to wait a little longer to grab a bite to eat indoors. The reopening of indoor dining at New York City restaurants has been postponed indefinitely, both Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today. New York City was poised to reopen indoor… Read more »
July 1, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Council Member Costa Constantinides missed the city budget vote Tuesday after being hospitalized with COVID-19 complications again. Constantinides suffered breathing difficulties and chest pain at around 8 p.m. last night and checked into Mount Sinai Queens, according to his spokesperson Terence Cullen. Constantinides notified the city council that he… Read more »
July 1, 2020 By Allie Griffin The City Council passed the mayor’s executive budget that included deep cuts to the NYPD last night, as protesters cried to “defund the NYPD” outside City Hall. The council passed the $88.1 billion budget with a 32-to-17 vote around midnight, just before the July 1, 2021 fiscal year began…. Read more »
July 1, 2020 By Michael Dorgan The MTA has rolled out vending machines across select city subway stations that dispense COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE). The new machines offers face masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes. There are 10 machines in Manhattan and just one machine in both Queens and Brooklyn. The agency wants… Read more »
June 30, 2020 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a municipal budget deal that would cut NYPD funding by $1 billion and redistribute much of it to support youth services and public housing residents. The City Council will vote on the new $88.1 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2021 — which begins July… Read more »
June 30, 2020 By Allie Griffin A group of environmental activists took over a privately-owned site in Sunnyside Saturday to create a community garden. The Western Queens Guerrilla Gardeners — a group of local gardeners, environmental activists and community composters — transformed the vacant lot with new plantings, compost piles and a “Resistance is fertile”… Read more »
June 30, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Mayor Bill de Blasio is looking to reduce funding to the NYPD by up to $1.5 billion in the city’s 2021 fiscal budget. The mayor is calling for a $1 billion cut from the NYPD’s operating budget and another $500 million cut in capital funding. The lost capital funds… Read more »
June 30, 2020 By Christian Murray Macy’s set off its Fourth of July fireworks off two barges in the East River last night providing Long Island City residents with a close-up view. The fireworks illuminated the sky for a five-minute display, providing spectators on both sides of the East River with great views. “It was… Read more »