Feb. 19. 2020 By Kristen Torres The city is hiking the fine for alternate side parking violations starting tomorrow, according to the Department of Sanitation. Fines for violators–who fail to move their vehicle to make way for street cleaning–will increase to $65 starting on Feb. 20 in all five boroughs. Currently, drivers who receive tickets… Read more »
Feb. 19, 2020 By Kristen Torres Lawmakers are split on whether or not to back the state’s six-week-old bail reform law, which has ignited fierce debate among elected officials, the police and criminal justice advocates since it went into effect on Jan. 1. The new law eliminated cash bail for most misdemeanor and non-violent offenses,… Read more »
Feb. 11, 2020 By Ryan Brady At a tense Monday night meeting, Community Board 7 voted 30-8 to approve a development team’s plan to rezone a large section of land by Flushing Creek. Dozens of protesters showed up to criticize the land-use application filed by FWRA, a consortium of real estate firms behind the project…. Read more »
Feb. 6, 2020 By Ryan Brady Community Board 7 will vote Monday, Feb. 10, on a major Flushing Creek waterfront special district and rezoning proposal that has generated opposition from area residents. The land-use application from a landowner consortium called FWRA LLC seeks to turn 29 acres of mostly inactive property into the Special Flushing… Read more »
Jan. 29, 2020 By Kristen Torres The MTA announced yesterday that it is taking all appropriate precautions to prevent the potential spread of coronavirus in the city. The agency said that while there have been no confirmed cases of the virus in New York, it stands ready to make sure that its employees and its… Read more »
Jan. 27, 2020 By Allie Griffin The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) launched a new ad campaign today to combat an uptick in hate crimes on the New York City transit system. The “Hate Has No Place in Our Transportation System” public awareness campaign will promote kindness, respect and solidarity across digital screens in subways, buses… Read more »
Jan. 27, 2020 By Kristen Torres The Queens delegation is split over a city bill that would grant green card holders and many other legal immigrants the right to vote in city elections. The bill, introduced in the City Council on Jan. 23, would grant permanent residents and other legal immigrants with the right to… Read more »
Jan. 23, 2020 By Kristen Torres The Queens Delegation of the New York City Council penned a letter to MTA officials on Thursday voicing its opposition to the current draft of a plan that would overhaul the Queens bus network. The delegation, which is made up of 15 local representatives, cited “serious, identifiable concerns” with… Read more »
Jan. 21, 2020 By Christian Murray and Allie Griffin Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer announced Tuesday that he is dropping out of the race to be Queens Borough President. Van Bramer, in an email released by his campaign this morning, cited family reasons. “Prioritizing my responsibilities as a son and brother is where my attention… Read more »
Jan. 20, 2020 By Allie Griffin and Christian Murray Two candidates vying to be the next borough president traded barbs at a forum in Sunnyside last week when the topics of Amazon, real estate contributions and the Queens County Democratic machine were raised. Council Members Jimmy Van Bramer and Donovan Richards — two of the… Read more »