Oct. 15, 2020 By Allie Griffin A decision on how long the COVID-19 shutdown zones will remain in force could come as soon as Sunday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said today. De Blasio said the COVID-19 positivity rates have improved in the cluster zones from what they were a week ago when nonessential businesses and… Read more »
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 Christian Murray Council Member Barry Grodenchik announced this morning that he will not seek re-election and will step down when his current term ends Dec. 31, 2021. Grodenchik, who represents eastern Queens, is one of only four council members in Queens eligible to serve another term due to term limits. His… 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 Christian Murray The police are looking for a man who robbed a girl in broad daylight on a Rego Park street yesterday. The suspect allegedly approached two girls—one aged 13 and the other 4–in his car near the intersection of Alderton Street and 62nd Avenue at around 5:15 p.m. He exited… 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 »