March 28, 2018 By Tara Law A former police officer who helped a gangster extort money from two Astoria business owners has been sentenced to 14 years in prison, U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue announced yesterday. Besnik Llakatura, who was an officer at the 120th precinct in Staten Island, helped to extort two small business owners… Read more »
March 27, 2018 By Tara Law Legislators from across Queens condemned the Commerce Department’s decision to include a question in the 2020 Census about citizenship status for the first time since 1950. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, who was nominated by President Donald Trump, announced Monday that the upcoming census will ask respondents to identify… Read more »
March 26, 2018 By Tara Law A 7-year-old Astoria girl died two days after she accidentally choked herself while playing with a bathrobe tie, police say. Precise Tucker, who was performing a prank on her mom, tied a belt around her neck and roped the other end around a refrigerator handle while eating a bag… Read more »
March 26, 2018 By Tara Law A man was shot and killed outside Queensbridge Houses on Saturday, police say. Cops found Sharef Graham, 25, lying unconscious on a walkway near 40-06 Vernon Boulevard with gunshot wounds to his chest and thigh just before 8 p.m., police say. An ambulance rushed Graham, who was a resident… Read more »
March 23, 2018 By Tara Law (Updated March 23) A new Paris Baguette will open near the Ditmars Boulevard subway station in late April or early May. A location of the South Korean-owned French café chain will open at 22-20 31st St, the former location of a Foot Locker. The restaurants serve sandwiches, coffee and… Read more »
March 22, 2018 By Tara Law Egg hunts and musical performances in East Elmhurst and Astoria will welcome Easter starting this Saturday. East Elmhurst Community School PS 329 at 26-25 97th St. will start the celebrations early with an Egg Hunt and Craft Fair on March 24. Local vendors will also set up tables to… Read more »
March 22, 2018 By Tara Law The historic Astor Room restaurant has reopened with a new name— George’s at Kaufman Astoria Studios— in honor of the late studio runner. The classic restaurant, which has been controlled by the owners of the film studio for nearly a century, reopened today with a new look, name and… Read more »
March 21, 2018 By Tara Law (Updated March 21) Astoria Councilmember Costa Constantinides endorsed Jessica Ramos to replace Jose Peralta in the New York State Senate yesterday, describing her as a “real Democrat.” Peralta has represented Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Corona, East Elmhurst, Woodside and part of Astoria in the State Senate since he was elected… Read more »
March 20, 2018 By Tara Law Permits have been filed for a 5-story, 26 unit apartment building in Astoria. The building will likely be constructed at 32-72 41st St. The property is currently used as a parking lot. The building will be 50 feet tall and 18,427 square feet. The structure will feature an 18… Read more »
March 19, 2018 By Tara Law Jared Kushner’s real estate company turned big profits on three Astoria apartment buildings after falsifying construction records to hide that tenants were living in rent stabilized apartments, the Housing Rights Initiative has found. Kushner Cos. filed paperwork to the Department of Buildings that stated that the company did not… Read more »