Dec. 20, 2021 by Allie Griffin A 51-year-old woman was sexually assaulted by a man at knifepoint in the elevator of her own building in Forest Hills Friday. The suspect followed the victim onto an elevator inside an apartment building near 62nd Drive and 108th Street at about 12:10 p.m. He allegedly brandished a knife… Read more »
Author: Allie Griffin
Queens Council Member Adrienne Adams Set to be the City’s First Black Council Speaker
Dec. 17, 2021 By Allie Griffin Southeast Queens Council Member Adrienne Adams has — once again — declared victory in the council speaker race. Adams announced Friday that she expects to have a majority of votes when the new council casts its ballots for speaker early next month. She has secured at least 33 members’… Read more »
City to Distribute 500,000 At-Home Rapid Tests and One Million Masks as COVID Cases Rise
Dec. 17, 2021 By Allie Griffin The city will distribute 500,000 at-home rapid tests and one million masks to residents across the five boroughs as COVID-19 cases climb rapidly, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday. The announcement came at the same time that health officials released data showing that the seven-day average for new cases… Read more »
City Council Officially Recognizes ‘Common Sense’ Caucus of Moderate Council Members
Dec. 16, 2021 By Allie Griffin A number of so-called “moderate” City Council members have officially created their own caucus just weeks before a new set of members are to be sworn in. The City Council officially recognized the formation of the “Common Sense” caucus, which consists of a number of moderate Democrats and Republican… Read more »
MTA to Release Revised Plan for Queens Bus Network Early 2022
Dec. 16, 2021 By Allie Griffin The MTA is redesigning the entire bus network in Queens and will release its latest plan early next year, agency officials said Wednesday. The new plan will replace an initial bus redesign plan that the MTA put out two years ago. The agency has scrapped that original, pre-pandemic plan… Read more »
Mayor-Elect Eric Adams Names Queens Native as City’s Next, and First Female, NYPD Commissioner
Dec. 15, 2021 By Allie Griffin Mayor-elect Eric Adams has named a Queens native as the city’s first female NYPD Commissioner. Adams announced Wednesday that Keechant Sewell, the Nassau County chief of detectives, will become the top cop of the country’s largest police force next month. “I’m proud to tell you personally that the 45th… Read more »
Two Queens Council Members Declare Victory in Speaker Race in Confusing Kerfuffle
Dec. 15, 2021 By Allie Griffin The next City Council speaker will apparently be from Queens, but the question as to who it will be remains a mystery as two Queens members declared victory Tuesday in a confusing kerfuffle played out over social media. Both Council Member Francisco Moya and Council Member Adrienne Adams said… Read more »
Council Unanimously Passes Koo’s Bill Aimed at Protecting City Trees
Dec. 10, 2021 By Allie Griffin The City Council passed a bill Thursday aimed at protecting city trees across the five boroughs. The Council voted unanimously in favor of a bill sponsored by Flushing Council Member Peter Koo that requires the Parks Department to more regularly inspect trees and to publish its findings for the… Read more »
Queens-born Comedian Steve Hofstetter Returns to His Briarwood Elementary School to Film Comedy Special
Dec. 9, 2021 By Allie Griffin A comedian who was born and raised in Queens — and at one time owned a comedy club in Long Island City — is returning to the elementary school he attended as a kid to perform and film a comedy special. Comedian Steve Hofstetter will make a return to… Read more »
Queens Officials Call on Gov. Hochul to Replenish Excluded Workers Fund With $3 Billion
Dec. 9, 2021 By Allie Griffin Queens officials are calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to replenish and reopen the Excluded Workers Fund after the state closed applications in October upon running out of money. Officials such as State Sen. Jessica Ramos and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards are urging Hochul to inject $3 billion into… Read more »