March 3, 2020 By Allie Griffin Queens Representative Grace Meng introduced legislation Friday that would assist small businesses harmed by fears of the coronavirus outbreak. The bill, also sponsored by New York Rep. Nydia Velázquez and California Rep. Judy Chu, would allow small businesses economically burdened by the outbreak and resulting hysteria to access Economic… Read more »
March 2, 2020 By Allie Griffin Two major publications, the New York Times and the New York Post, featured images of Asian American residents in Flushing in their articles on the first confirmed Coronavirus case in the city — which a Manhattan woman contracted from Iran. The use of the images of the largely-Asian community… Read more »
March 2, 2020 By Christian Murray The platinum-selling country music artist Blake Shelton will be performing at Forest Hills Stadium this summer. Shelton has been added to the venue’s summer 2020 lineup and will perform on June 18. His concert with include hits from his most recent No. 1 album, Fully Loaded: God’s Country. Shelton’s… Read more »
Feb. 28, 2020 By Allie Griffin Transit advocates and bike safety supporters are hosting a rally Saturday in Forest Hills to demand the city to keep its promise to complete the final stage of the Queens Boulevard Redesign plan. Last week, the Department of Transportation (DOT) said that it plans to begin the fourth and… Read more »
Feb. 28, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A Rego Park pharmacy owner has been convicted for his role in a health care fraud and money laundering scheme. Yuriy Barayev, 45, was found guilty by a federal jury in Brooklyn Wednesday of defrauding Medicare by submitting claims for hundreds of medications that were never dispensed through his… Read more »
Feb. 27, 2020 By Allie Griffin Two lifelong friends who grew up together in Forest Hills are opening up a smoothie and acai bowl location in the neighborhood. Tom Aronov and Ben Gil are opening a SoBol franchise on Queens Boulevard, with a planned opening for Memorial Day Weekend. The Forest Hills SoBol, at 110-48… Read more »
Feb. 27, 2020 By Allie Griffin Queens drivers have an easier time finding parking than most drivers in the city, according to a new study. While looking for a legal place to park on Queens streets can be a headache-inducing activity, drivers in the World’s Borough spend less time searching for parking than drivers in… Read more »
Feb. 25, 2020 By Kristen Torres The federal government has already spent $700 million toward the development of a vaccine to combat coronavirus, and lawmakers are calling on the President to ensure that any cures that are developed are affordable to the public. Representative Grace Meng sent a letter to President Donald Trump alongside 45… Read more »
Feb. 25, 2020 By Kristen Torres Commuters on the Long Island Rail Road traveling from the outer parts of Queens will see savings come this summer, with discounted fares set to take effect on May 1. LIRR riders will get a 20 percent discount on monthly passes and a 10 percent discount on all trips… Read more »
Feb. 25, 2020 By Allie Griffin The world’s borough is not just diverse in its ethnic makeup — it has great diversity in politics as well, a new study shows. Out of the 3,155 Queens residents who contributed money to a presidential candidate’s campaign last year, nearly a third — 31 percent — gave money… Read more »