June 1, 2021 By Christina Santucci New Yorkers who are behind on their rent and have suffered financial hardship due to COVID-19 can submit applications for rent relief starting Tuesday, the governor announced. Those eligible and approved by the program can receive funding to cover up to 12 months in past due rent – as… Read more »
May 31, 2021 By Christina Santucci Police said they are looking for a man who punched a 65-year-old woman in Astoria last week in an apparent random assault. The woman was near the corner of 32nd Street and 30th Avenue on the evening of Friday, May 21 when she was attacked. The man allegedly approached… Read more »
May 31, 2021 By Christina Santucci Police said they have arrested a 57-year-old man and charged him with spray painting dozens of cars in Astoria over the past few months. Astoria resident Herberto Torres was hit with 46 counts of making graffiti, criminal mischief and possession of a graffiti instrument, the NYPD said. Cops had… Read more »
May 31, 2021 By Christina Santucci A 39-year-old woman walking with a shopping cart was struck and killed by an SUV in Elmhurst Friday afternoon. Police said the unidentified woman had been trying to cross 91st Place at 43rd Avenue at around 1:15 p.m. when she was hit by a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox driven by… Read more »
May 28, 2021 By Ryan Songalia A bill that aims to prevent green construction fences from becoming magnets for graffiti was passed by the city council Thursday. The legislation, sponsored by Council Member Bob Holden, requires construction companies to take down the green wooden fences on building sites where work has stopped for two consecutive… Read more »
May 28, 2021 By Ryan Songalia Police busted an Astoria man during the early hours Wednesday who was breaking into an apartment building on 46th Street between 43rd and Skillman avenues. John Petty, 53, was nabbed by police at around 2 a.m. while the burglary was in process. He was arrested by Officer Nakisha Pierre… Read more »
May 27, 2021 By Ryan Songalia A campaign mailer sent out by Elizabeth Crowley that reads “eviction notice” in large font has sparked outrage among her critics. The mailer, released by her campaign last week, was intended to attack Queens Borough President Donovan Richards for accepting real estate money—but was viewed by many as being… Read more »
May 26, 2021 By Christina Santucci Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas and the Jacob Riis Settlement House are holding a virtual workshop this week about free and low-cost health services for New Yorkers who do not qualify for and cannot afford health insurance. The event, which will be held via Zoom, is scheduled for Thursday between… Read more »
May 25, 2021 By Christina Santucci The Salvation Army Family Store on Steinway Street in Astoria has permanently closed. A spokesperson for the Salvation Army said the shop, at 34-02 Steinway St., shuttered when its lease expired close to the end of April. The location, which dates back to the 1980s, served as a thrift… Read more »
May 24, 2021 By Ryan Songalia Queens Tech Night, a free networking and community-building event for techies, will return for a meet-up at Culture Lab LIC next month. The event will run from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on June 9 at 5-25 46th Ave. in Long Island City. The two previous meet-ups were held… Read more »