June 28, 2021 By Allie Griffin Nearly every Queens Public Library (QPL) branch across the borough will reopen in-person services beginning next month in a move to return to pre-pandemic service. All library branches were temporarily closed last year to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. QPL has gradually phased in in-person services since last summer… Read more »
Author: Allie Griffin
Target to Open Location in Long Island City’s One Court Square
June 24, 2021 By Allie Griffin The popular retail chain Target is planning to open its first store in Long Island City. The company will open a 31,000-square-foot store at 1 Court Square West, a four-story retail building connected to the former Citigroup Building known as One Court Square, a Target spokesperson confirmed. The opening… Read more »
Julie Won and Amit Bagga Lead Pack in 15-Person Race for the District 26 Council Seat
June 23, 2021 By Allie Griffin Julie Won and Amit Bagga are neck and neck in the city’s most crowded council race in western Queens, early election results show. Won and Bagga have broken out from the rest of the 15-candidate field in the District 26 race and are less than one percentage point apart…. Read more »
Candidates Who Win City Council Seats Will Serve Two-Year Terms–Not Four
June 22, 2021 By Allie Griffin Candidates on the ballot for City Council seats are competing for a two-year term—not the four-year term members normally serve. Council members elected this year will complete a two-year term for the first time in two decades due to a provision in the city charter related to the census…. Read more »
Federal Government Delays Decision on LaGuardia AirTrain Over Community Concerns
June 21, 2021 By Allie Griffin Federal officials have postponed making their final decision on the $2 billion LaGuardia AirTrain project after community groups and legislators expressed concerns over its environmental review. Early construction of the AirTrain — a proposed 1.5 mile rail line linking LaGuardia Airport to the 7 train and Long Island Rail… Read more »
Council Candidate Releases Explosive Medium Post Days Before Election Day
June 18, 2021 By Allie Griffin A candidate running to represent the 26th Council District released an explosive Medium post Wednesday just days ahead of Election Day. Jonathan Bailey, a former co-chair of the Queens Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and a candidate for District 26, argues that political opportunists are co-opting the progressive-left platform,… Read more »
City Begins Environmental Cleanup of Willets Point, Makes Way for Affordable Housing and School
June 17, 2021 By Allie Griffin City officials and local lawmakers celebrated the start of the environmental cleanup of Willets Point Wednesday — which paves the way for the redevelopment of the area. Six acres of land near Citi Field is being remediated to prepare for the construction of three buildings that will include 1,100… Read more »
534 Apartments at TF Cornerstone’s Newest Tower Now Available Through Housing Lottery
June 17, 2021 By Allie Griffin The affordable housing lottery has opened for the next group of apartments at TF Cornerstone’s two-tower development on the Long Island City waterfront. The developer announced Wednesday that applications are now being accepted for 534 affordable apartments at 52-03 Center Blvd. on the NYC Housing Connect website through Aug. 16…. Read more »
Two Shot Outside Woodside Strip Club Early Monday
June 15, 2021 By Allie Griffin Two men were shot outside a strip club in Woodside during the early hours Monday. The men were shot following a dispute that took place in front of Starlet’s of NY, located at 49-09 25th Ave., at around 2:45 a.m, police said. A 25-year-old man was shot in the… Read more »
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Allocates $5 Million for Variety Boys & Girls Club’s Planned Facility
June 15, 2021 By Allie Griffin Queens Borough President Donovan Richards has allocated $5 million toward a new facility in Astoria planned for the Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens. Richards announced the funding at the nonprofit’s “Junior Home Run Derby” event for kids in East Elmhurst Sunday. The money will help the Boys… Read more »