March 23, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday that the city is considering releasing “hundreds” more inmates to slow the spread of coronavirus at its prison facilities. The move comes after the mayor announced last week that 40 inmates from Rikers Island were set to be released on Friday. On Sunday… Read more »
March 23, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Finally some good news for New York straphangers – MTA bus trips will now be free while New York fights the coronavirus pandemic. The MTA has announced that it has suspended fare collection on all of its local and select bus routes in order to keep its drivers safe… Read more »
March 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin Transportation advocates are asking the City to close off specific streets across the city to traffic, so that pedestrians have more space to practice safe distancing from one amid the coronavirus outbreak. The calls follow a suggestion by Governor Andrew Cuomo to open New York City streets to pedestrians…. Read more »
March 21, 2020 By Michael Dorgan An employee at the Trader Joe’s store in Forest Hills says that the company is failing to keep its workers safe in the face of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The worker, who is a crewmember at the 90-30 Metropolitan Ave. store and didn’t want his name disclosed for publication,… Read more »
March 21, 2020 By Christian Murray New York State has conducted more coronavirus tests than any other state, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced this morning. He said the state has performed 45,000 tests to date, much higher than the states of California and Washington–each having performed 23,000 tests. He said on a per capita basis the… Read more »
March 19, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A local community Facebook group is mobilizing some of its 16,500-plus members to help those in need during the coronavirus pandemic. The Forest Hills, Rego Park, Kew Gardens–Our Communities began forming a new volunteer sub-group last weekend as the coronavirus spread across the city and forcing people indoors. The… Read more »
March 20, 2020 By Christian Murray Foodies are going have to wait as a number of food tasting events are being put on hold. The Queens Taste 2020, the popular annual food-and-networking event, is being postponed from May 5 to Oct. 6. Meanwhile, the Taste of Sunnyside that was also scheduled for May will take… Read more »
March 20, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York will essentially shut down on Sunday in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, following an order Governor Andrew Cuomo announced in Albany today. All non-essential businesses must close or have all employees work from home and New Yorkers should stay home as much as possible…. Read more »
March 20, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that hair and nail salons, tattoo parlors and other personal care providers will shutter across New York state from 8 p.m. Saturday. It comes as almost 4,000 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the city with 26 fatalities, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on MSNBC… Read more »
March 20, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City will release 40 inmates on Rikers Island who are vulnerable of complications associated with the novel coronavirus, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday. The individuals have been chosen based on specific health vulnerabilities and their low-risk status, as non-threatening and unlikely to reoffend. The NYPD and… Read more »