April 28, 2022 By Allie Griffin Suraj Patel who is running to represent the 12th Congressional District will remain on the ballot despite an attempt by an opposing candidate to kick him out of the race. Rana Abdelhamid, who is also running for the seat, called for him to be tossed out of the race… Read more »
April 26, 2022 by Allie Griffin A group of Astoria residents and transportation advocates are hosting a candlelight vigil Friday on the one-year anniversary of the death of Elmhurst delivery worker Xing Long Lin. Lin, a 37-year-old Chinese immigrant, husband and father of two, was killed by a driver who plowed into him as well… Read more »
April 26, 2022 By Allie Griffin A group of young residents of the Astoria Houses NYCHA development held a ceremonial ribbon cutting Monday to celebrate the opening of an indoor greenhouse inside the housing complex’s community center. The state-of-the-art greenhouse will double as a food source and science lab for children and their families. The… Read more »
April 19, 2022 By Allie Griffin The president of the Long Island City Partnership, the economic development organization that promotes business in the area, is leaving the nonprofit to take on a new role at a state agency. Elizabeth Lusskin, who has led the LIC Partnership since October 2013, will depart to become the executive… Read more »
April 14, 2022 By Allie Griffin Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas announced this week that she helped secure funding for several key initiatives in the new state budget. State lawmakers passed the final $220 billion state budget for fiscal year 2023 over the weekend. The budget, González-Rojas said, included funding for renters and small landlords, hospitals,… Read more »
April 14, 2022 By Allie Griffin The Department of Education will expand the Gifted and Talented program to all school districts, Mayor Eric Adams and Schools Chancellor David Banks announced Thursday. “Expanding our Gifted and Talented program to all New York City districts is about giving every child, in every zip code, a fair chance… Read more »
April 12, 2022 By Allie Griffin Assembly Member Brian Barnwell announced via social media Tuesday morning that he will not be seeking re-election. “It is with sadness that I announce that I will not be seeking re-election to the NYS Assembly for a 4th term,” he announced via Twitter. “… It has been a true… Read more »
April 7, 2022 By Allie Griffin Council Member Tiffany Cabán, a leading progressive within the City Council, announced Thursday that she has endorsed Juan Ardila for the 37th Assembly seat. Cabán, who represents Astoria and East Elmhurst in the council, is backing the 28-year-old progressive for the seat, which represents Long Island City, Maspeth, Ridgewood,… Read more »
April 6, 2022 By Allie Griffin The Halal Guys, a popular New York City-based halal food chain, is opening a location in the Queens Center Mall this spring. The eatery, which was started by three Egyptian immigrants as a lone Manhattan food cart in 1990 and morphed into a brick-and-mortar restaurant business, will open a franchise… Read more »
April 5, 2022 By Allie Griffin Queens native LL Cool J has announced that he is launching a new hip-hop music festival in his home borough this summer. The Grammy award winner who grew up in St. Albans will be one of several big-name performers at the inaugural “Rock The Bells Festival” at Forest Hills… Read more »