Dec. 19 By Allie Griffin The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced today an additional 20 subway stations — including the 46th Street-Bliss Street station in Sunnyside — which will receive ADA upgrades under the authority’s $51.5 billion 2020-2024 capital plan. The 20 stations are part of 70 in total which will be made fully ADA… Read more »
Dec. 18, 2019 By Allie Griffin The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) Board approved the hiring of 500 additional transit police officers Wednesday, despite opposition from several local lawmakers. The board voted to approve the authority’s $17 billion budget for 2020, which included funding for the additional officers — an expected $249 million over the next… Read more »
Dec. 18, 2019 By Kristen Torres Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer has sponsored a commercial rent control bill that aims to protect small businesses from hefty rent hikes. Van Bramer held a press conference in support of the bill outside of the recently-closed Dave’s Bagels, located at 43-20 Queens Blvd. in Sunnyside, on Friday. “Saving… Read more »
Dec. 18, 2019 By Allie Griffin A bill sponsored by State Sen. Michael Gianaris to increase the amount in dispute that small claims court can address in New York City was signed into a law by the governor Monday. The law increases the previous jurisdictional limit from $5,000 to $10,000 and only applies to courts… Read more »
Dec. 18, 2019 By Kristen Torres A Queens lawmaker held a rally Monday outside the new Amazon distribution center in Woodside, arguing that the e-commerce giant has a history of subjecting its employees to poor work conditions. State Senator Jessica Ramos joined local labor groups on Dec. 16 outside the new facility, which opened in… Read more »
Dec. 18, 2019 By Allie Griffin A Woodside soccer coach has been charged with rape and other crimes for sexually abusing four teens — two as young as 13 — and recording some of the abuse on video. Harrison Torres, 23, allegedly raped and sexually abused a teenage girl and teenage boy on separate occasions… Read more »
Dec. 16, 2019 By Kristen Torres A Queens lawmaker has introduced legislation to ban “devocalization” surgeries on household pets — a procedure that leaves cats and dogs unable to communicate. State Sen. Michael Gianaris, who represents western Queens, announced the legislation on Dec. 14 while speaking at PetCon NYC — a nationwide conference for animal… Read more »
Dec. 16, 2019 By Allie Griffin A hit-and-run driver fatally struck a pedestrian in Woodside Wednesday after blowing through a red light while drunk, according to police. The driver, 50-year-old Jorge Samaniego of Maspeth, then fled the scene after hitting the pedestrian on Broadway at 60th Street at around 8 p.m. While fleeing, he collided… Read more »
Dec. 13, 2019 By Allie Griffin Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer and Queens transit advocates rallied for a safer Northern Boulevard on Wednesday morning. The advocates called for a dedicated bus lane, a protected bike lane and safer street designs along the road, where 1,200 people have been injured since 2014, according to Van Bramer’s… Read more »
Dec. 13, 2019 By Michael Dorgan A number of Queens-based groups will receive funding from a new $19 million community awards program that focuses on census-related education and organizing. NYC Complete Count Fund is designed to help over 150 community organizations across the five boroughs build awareness about the 2020 census. Chhaya CDC, the Boys… Read more »