Nov. 30, 2020 By Allie Griffin Rockaway Council Member Donovan Richards, who won the Queens Borough President race, has put together a team of diverse leaders and experts to advise him as he prepares to take office. Richards will look to the team members — who total more than 100 people — to shape new… Read more »
Author: Allie Griffin
NYC Elementary School Students to Return to In-Person Classes Next Monday
Nov. 30, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City public schools will reopen in-person learning to elementary school students next Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Sunday. Students in 3-K and Pre-K programs as well as those in grades K through 5 will return to school buildings on Monday, Dec. 7. Students with disabilities will… Read more »
Troublesome Kew Gardens Hotel Served With More Than a Dozen Summonses
Nov. 25, 2020 By Allie Griffin A troublesome hotel in Kew Gardens, which has been a hotbed for crime and illegal activity since the summer, was served with more than a dozen summonses from city agencies last week. The Umbrella Hotel was hit with 15 summonses – including two criminal summonses — following a multi-agency… Read more »
10 Queens Restaurants Receive Grants to Help Cover the Cost of Winterizing Their Outdoor Dining Setups
Nov. 25, 2020 By Allie Griffin Ten Queens restaurants have received grants to help cover the cost of setting up their outdoor dining areas for winter weather. The eateries each won $5,000 to winterize their outdoor seating areas from the food delivery service DoorDash in partnership with the non-profit NYC Hospitality Alliance. The money can… Read more »
Multiple Candidates to Run in Special Election for Central Queens Council Seat
Nov. 25, 2020 By Allie Griffin The special election for the Central Queens council seat vacated by Rory Lancman is starting to take shape with at least 10 candidates announcing their bids. The candidates have filed to run in the Feb. 2 election to fill the 24th Council District seat representing Kew Gardens Hills, Fresh… Read more »
NYC Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg Resigns from De Blasio Administration
Nov. 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City’s Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg announced today that she is stepping down from the de Blasio administration. Trottenberg, who has served as the Department of Transportation (DOT) head since 2014, will leave her post in early December. During her seven-year tenure, the commissioner led the way on… Read more »
Queens Lawmakers to Host Seminar on Ranked Choice Voting Next Week
Nov. 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin Two state lawmakers are hosting a seminar to explain ranked choice voting next week as central Queens voters prepare to be the first in New York City to participate in the process. Queens Assembly Members Nily Rozic and Daniel Rosenthal are presenting a virtual seminar on ranked choice voting… Read more »
Restaurants That Pay $15 Base Wage Would Be Able to Add 15 Percent Surcharge: New Bill
Nov. 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin A council member who represents parts of Brooklyn and Queens introduced a bill Thursday that would allow restaurants to add a 15 percent surcharge to the tab if they pay all their employees a base wage of at least $15 per hour. Council Member Antonio Reynoso, who represents parts… Read more »
Man Fatally Struck by Train at Woodhaven Boulevard Subway Station: Police
Nov. 20, 2020 By Allie Griffin A man was fatally struck by a subway train in Elmhurst early Friday morning. The man, who has yet to be identified, was hit by a train near the Woodhaven Boulevard M/R station at around 3:30 a.m., police said. First responders pronounced him dead at the scene and removed… Read more »
Indoor Dining and Gyms Likely to be Shuttered In Next Week or Two: De Blasio
Nov. 19, 2020 By Allie Griffin Indoor dining will likely end and gyms will likely close in the next week or two as New York City looks to combat a second wave of the coronavirus, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday morning. The closures will come if New York City enters a state-mandated “orange zone,”… Read more »