March 10, 2021 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled a plan Tuesday to provide $65 million in relief funds for taxi drivers plagued by the city’s taxi medallion crisis. The plan, however, was quickly criticized by cab drivers and progressive lawmakers–such as State Sen. Jessica Ramos–who say it doesn’t begin to address the… Read more »
March 9, 2021 By Christian Murray New York City is opening a new vaccination site in Flushing in partnership with the Queens Public Library. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that the city is opening a site at the Flushing Library, located at 41-17 Main St., and plans to open additional sites in the borough… Read more »
March 9, 2021 By Allie Griffin New Yorkers as young as 60 will be eligible to be vaccinated for COVID-19 starting Wednesday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today. Cuomo lowered the current vaccine-eligibility age — which is 65 in the state — by five years. He also expanded eligibility to additional categories of essential workers, who… Read more »
March 9, 2021 By Michael Dorgan U.S. Senator Charles Schumer announced Monday that more than 1 million households in Queens will receive economic stimulus checks within the next two weeks. The Senate majority leader said that the checks will be sent out as part of the latest COVID-19 relief bill. The massive $1.9 trillion American… Read more »
March 8, 2021 By Allie Griffin New York City launched an effort last week to vaccinate thousands of homebound seniors for COVID-19. The city is utilizing its supply of the newly-approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine to bring the shot directly to seniors inside their homes. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is easier to transport because… Read more »
March 8, 2021 By Allie Griffin The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has added COVID-19 vaccination sites to its live subway map to help eligible New Yorkers plan their route to get the shot. The new feature allows straphangers to easily find the vaccination sites closest to subway stops and plan their trips accordingly. Each vaccination… Read more »
March 8, 2021 By Allie Griffin New York City high schoolers will be welcomed back to the classroom at the city’s public schools later this month, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. Roughly 55,000 high school students who signed up for in-person learning in the fall will return to school buildings, starting on March 22… Read more »
March 5, 2021 By Allie Griffin Three Queens men who were wrongfully convicted in a 1996 double homicide returned home to their families today after nearly a quarter century behind bars. A Queens Supreme Court judge vacated the convictions of George Bell, Gary Johnson and Rohan Bolt Friday in the murders of an Astoria business… Read more »
March 2, 2021 By Allie Griffin An 11-year-old girl from Jackson Heights formed an organization last year to help feed her neighbors in need. Bella Solomon launched Little by Little with the help of her twin sister, with the aim of fighting food insecurity by supporting local food pantries in Queens and beyond. The name… Read more »
March 4, 2021 By Michael Dorgan Police are searching for a man who committed an act of public lewdness on a subway train in Rego Park Sunday. The suspect was riding a Brooklyn–bound R train at around 9:30 p.m. when he sat down opposite a 39-year-old female and displayed his genitals, according to police. The… Read more »