June 19, 2020 By Allie Griffin A street safety advocacy group is calling on the mayor to redistribute a portion of the NYPD budget to the Department of Transportation (DOT) and shift traffic enforcement away from police officers. Transportation Alternatives released a report Friday in which its members argue that police enforcement of traffic laws… Read more »
June 18, 2020 By Christian Murray Two resolutions were introduced before the city council Thursday calling for the governor to remove Mayor Bill de Blasio from office. Council Member Eric Ulrich, a Queens Republican, introduced a resolution seeking the mayor’s ouster for allegedly not keeping the city safe during recent protests. Meanwhile, Carlos Menchaca, a… Read more »
June 18, 2020 By Allie Griffin Queens leaders celebrated the Supreme Court’s decision today blocking President Donald Trump from ending the DACA program. The Court ruled, 5-4, that Trump cannot terminate the “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals” or DACA program that protects people unlawfully brought into the country as young children from deportation. The news… Read more »
June 18, 2020 By Christian Murray New York State faces a $14 billion deficit and more than 100 state legislators—including 18 from Queens—have pledged that they will not approve spending cuts unless taxes are raised on the wealthy. The legislators are upset that Governor Andrew Cuomo does not want to raise taxes on the wealthy… Read more »
June 18, 2020 By Allie Griffin New Yorkers will be able to dine out at their local restaurants Monday, as New York City begins the next phase of reopening. Mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed today that the five boroughs will enter Phase Two of the state’s reopening plan Monday, noting that restaurants will be able… Read more »
June 17, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Council Member Donovan Richards, a borough president candidate, has called on the city to remove NYPD officers from school security duties. Richards wants the Department of Education to take back the role of school safety following widespread demands for police reform. Donovan, in a joint statement released with Brooklyn… Read more »
June 18, 2020 By Christian Murray Dao Yin, a Bayside businessman and community activist, is running to be the next Queens Borough President. We spoke to Yin earlier this week. The focus of our discussion dealt with police reform, Rikers Island, COVID-19, community boards and jobs. Yin is one of several candidates in the race…. Read more »
June 18, 2020 By Christian Murray The New York City Rent Guidelines Board voted last night for a rent freeze on the nearly one million rent stabilized apartments. The 6-3 vote will see a rent freeze on one-year leases that go into effect after Sept. 30. The board ruled that on two-year leases, the rent… Read more »
June 17, 2020 By Christian Murray A man was found dead inside a parked vehicle by the Horace Harding Expressway in Flushing this morning. Police received a 911 call at around 7:30 a.m. that there was an unconscious man inside a parked car in the vicinity of the west bound Horace Harding Expressway service road… Read more »
June 17, 2020 By Allie Griffin Queens Public Library will reopen some of its branches next month as New York City begins to return to pre-coronavirus normalcy. Six to eight branches in the borough will open for pick up and drop off services in mid-July, with more to follow, President and CEO of Queens Public… Read more »