Oct. 15, 2020 By Allie Griffin The City Council passed a bill today to extend New York City’s outdoor dining program through next September — and at that point make a variation of it permanent. The legislation extends the current outdoor dining program called “Open Restaurants” until Sept. 30, 2021. The current program allows eateries… Read more »
Oct. 15, 2020 By Allie Griffin A new rapid COVID-19 testing site has opened at the Kew Gardens Hills library branch. The library has been temporarily converted to a testing site and COVID resource center to help residents within the Central Queens red zone get through the crisis. The facility offers free tests to patients… Read more »
Oct. 14, 2020 By Allie Griffin New Yorkers — and all Americans — have just one more day to fill out their Census survey after the Supreme Court approved its early termination in a ruling yesterday. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of President Donald Trump Tuesday and allowed the administration to cut the count… Read more »
Oct. 14, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City tested more than 1,500 public school students and educators for COVID-19 last week and found just one positive case — a student. The Department of Education (DOE) began its random testing program in schools on Friday at 56 schools — including seven in Queens — and… Read more »
Oct. 13, 2020 By Allie Griffin The Queens Public Library (QPL) is launching a free online book club so bookworms can connect safely to discuss their latest reads. Members of the book club will read one book every two to three months — with the first being “Hotel Angeline: A Novel in 36 Voices.” QPL… Read more »
Oct. 9, 2020 By Allie Griffin U.S. Congresswoman Grace Meng is concerned that the Jewish community will be targeted by bigots following the outbreak of COVID-19 in a number of ultra-orthodox neighborhoods across the city. Meng — who has herself been subject to anti-Asian vitriol related to the coronavirus outbreak — said leaders must prevent… Read more »
Oct. 9, 2020 By Allie Griffin The Diocese of Brooklyn — which also covers Queens — has slapped Governor Andrew Cuomo and the State of New York with a lawsuit for allegedly violating its First Amendment right to practice religion. The Diocese filed the lawsuit Thursday in Brooklyn federal court in response to Cuomo’s order… Read more »
Oct. 8, 2020 By Allie Griffin City Hall has launched a searchable map where New Yorkers can plug in the address of their home, school, job or favorite local business and find out whether they are located within a COVID shutdown zone. The city created the “COVID-19 Zone Finder” after Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled a… Read more »
Oct. 8, 2020 By Allie Griffin An additional 33 New York City public schools in parts of Queens and Brooklyn were shut down Thursday for at least two weeks in an eleventh hour move by the city and state. The schools are located within COVID-19 hotpots and were ordered to close by Governor Andrew Cuomo… Read more »
Oct. 8, 2020 By Allie Griffin Forest Hills residents and community leaders are condemning the mixed messages from the city and state on the COVID-19 outbreak in the area. The local community board, Queens Community Board 6, which covers Forest Hills and Rego Park, criticized the lack of clarity — and often conflicting messages —… Read more »