Dec. 8, 2021 By Allie Griffin Queens elected officials are calling on the Metropolitan Transportation Agency to revamp the Forest Hills LIRR train station — and clean up the surrounding area on Burns Street — which they say has not been properly maintained. Seven legislators, alongside local residents who formed the Burns Street Alliance, penned… Read more »
Dec. 7, 2021 By Allie Griffin Queens Republicans are pushing back against a City Council bill that would provide legal noncitizens with the right vote in city elections. Republicans and other critics have held press conferences, launched ‘call to action’ campaigns and have publicly condemned the legislation, known as “Our City, Our Vote”, ahead of… Read more »
Dec. 6, 2021 By Allie Griffin Council Member Robert Holden is looking to form a bloc of like-minded moderate colleagues in the City Council to provide a counter to members on the “far left”. Holden submitted paperwork to the Council Speaker’s Office to form the “Common Sense” caucus about two weeks ago and is confident… Read more »
Dec. 6, 2021 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday a major expansion of the city’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Children will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to go to a restaurant or movie starting later this month. All private-sector employees will also be mandated to get the shot. The city… Read more »
Dec. 3, 2021 By Allie Griffin Two cases of the COVID-19 variant known as Omicron have been detected in Queens, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday. Two Queens residents are among five New York state residents who have confirmed cases of the Omicron variant, which was first identified in South Africa last month. Health officials are… Read more »
Dec. 1, 2021 By Allie Griffin A 61-year-old Asian American woman was brutally assaulted in North Corona last week in what local leaders are saying was a racist attack. Queens officials and Asian American organizations gathered outside the Flushing branch of the Queens Public Library Tuesday to denounce recent attacks against Asian Americans, including the… Read more »
Dec. 1, 2021 By Allie Griffin Local leaders gathered together Tuesday to denounce the suspected vandalism of a menorah in Hollis Hills. A large menorah that was erected on a traffic island at the intersection of Union Turnpike and 220th Street was knocked down on Saturday evening, according to Assembly Member David Weprin’s office. Most… Read more »
Nov. 24, 2021 By Allie Griffin New York City is on track to allow noncitizens the right to vote in local elections. City lawmakers will likely pass legislation next month that will give the city’s more than 800,000 green card holders and authorized workers the right to partake in municipal elections. The bill’s prime sponsor… Read more »
Nov. 24, 2021 By Allie Griffin The owner of “Queens’ oldest gay bar” has purchased the Jackson Heights building that the bar is housed in. Eddie Valentine, who owns Friend’s Tavern, recently acquired the building — located at 78-11 Roosevelt Ave. — effectively ensuring the 32-year-old bar’s future for years to come. Vallentine said he… Read more »
Nov. 23, 2021 By Allie Griffin Queens elected officials gathered outside a bagel shop Monday to denounce anti-Semitism—two weeks after the store came under attack for flying the Israeli flag Assembly Member David Weprin organized the rally after a man threatened to burn down Bagels & Co. on Union Turnpike unless its employees took down… Read more »