Feb. 23, 2021 By Allie Griffin New York City has launched an online toolkit to address the spate of attacks against Asian Americans in recent months. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday the creation of an online toolkit that aims to provide support to New Yorkers of Asian heritage who are subjected to hate crimes…. Read more »
Author: Allie Griffin
Astoria Native Lorraine Grillo Appointed as ‘Recovery Czar’
Feb. 23, 2021 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio has created a new position, “Recovery Czar,” to lead the city’s recovery from the pandemic and accompanying economic crisis. De Blasio appointed Astoria native and CEO of the City’s School Construction Authority (SCA) Lorraine Grillo to fill the position as the senior advisor of the… Read more »
Queens Lawmakers Gather on Steps of Borough Hall to Denounce Spike in Hate Crimes
Feb. 22, 2021 By Allie Griffin Queens lawmakers and community leaders joined together on the steps of Borough Hall Monday to denounce a recent string of hate crimes against the Asian American and Jewish communities in the borough. The press conference was organized by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards following three bias incidents in the… Read more »
York College Vaccination Site Opens Wednesday, Preference for Residents From Hard-Hit Communities
Feb. 19, 2021 By Allie Griffin A mass COVID-19 vaccination site set to open in Jamaica next week will reserve its first appointments to residents of surrounding communities that have been devastated by the pandemic. Eligible residents who live in one of 19 ZIP codes can begin booking appointments for the York College site beginning… Read more »
New York City Restaurants Can Increase Indoor Dining Capacity to 35 Percent Next Friday
Feb. 19, 2021 By Allie Griffin New York City eateries will be able to serve more customers indoors starting next week. City restaurants will be able to increase their indoor dining capacity to 35 percent next Friday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today. The establishments were permitted to reopen indoor dining rooms at 25 percent capacity… Read more »
James Gennaro Sworn in as District 24 Council Member After BOE Certifies Special Election Results
Feb. 19, 2021 By Allie Griffin Former Council Member James Gennaro has officially taken his District 24 seat back— at least until the end of the year. Gennaro was sworn in yesterday after the NYC Board of Elections certified the Feb. 2 special election results earlier the same day. He takes back the seat that… Read more »
New York City’s Vaccine Supply Delayed Due to Snow Storms
Feb. 18, 2021 By Allie Griffin New York City is scheduling fewer COVID-19 vaccination appointments this week since a shipment of the life-saving shots has been delayed due to winter storms. Snow storms across the country have delayed the arrival of a vaccine shipment that will replenish the city’s supply, Mayor Bill de Blasio said… Read more »
Queens Candidates Bring in $3.7 Million in Matching Public Funds: CFB
Feb. 18, 2021 By Allie Griffin More than $3.7 million in public campaign funds was distributed among 40 candidates in Queens who are running to represent various districts in the borough. The candidates, who each received varying amounts, were awarded the money by the NYC Campaign Finance Board (CFB) through the city’s matching funds program…. Read more »
More Than 90 Percent of NYC Restaurants Couldn’t Afford December Rent: Report
Feb. 17, 2021 By Allie Griffin Restaurant owners are struggling to keep their businesses afloat after relying on outdoor dining alone during the cold winter months. Indoor dining just reopened in the city at 25 percent capacity last Friday, but a new report shows the toll its absence has had on city eateries. More than… Read more »
COVID-19 Vaccination Rate is Higher in Parts of Northeast Queens Than Most of NYC: Map
Feb. 16, 2021 By Allie Griffin Parts of Northeast Queens have higher COVID-19 vaccination rates than most of New York City, despite lacking a single permanent vaccination site, new data shows. Many ZIP codes in Northeast Queens have a relatively high percentage of their adult residents at least partially vaccinated for the virus — meaning… Read more »