Dec. 22, 2020 By Allie Griffin Members of the Whitestone Republican Club ditched masks and social distancing rules at an indoor holiday party earlier this month, video shows. Party-goers — including Northeast Queens City Council candidate Vickie Palladino — flouted COVID-19 rules when they formed a 15-person conga line at the holiday party on Dec…. Read more »
Dec. 21, 2020 By Allie Griffin Construction has begun on a $14.3 million project to rehabilitate the Astoria Boulevard Bridge, the NYS Department of Transportation announced today. Crews are upgrading the bridge — above the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway ramp — putting in place a new roadway deck, LED lighting and a new drainage system. The existing… Read more »
Dec. 21, 2020 By Allie Griffin Nursing home residents and staff across New York state began receiving the COVID-19 vaccination today. Other essential workers also began receiving the shot — including workers at federally-qualified health centers, EMTs, medical examiners and other congregate care workers, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced. The groups are among the first to… Read more »
Dec. 21, 2020 By Allie Griffin A man broke into an Astoria apartment building last month and snatched several packages from the lobby that were worth hundreds of dollars. The man allegedly used a screwdriver to disable the front door lock of a building near 36th Avenue and 31st Street at 4 a.m. on Nov…. Read more »
Dec. 18, 2020 By Allie Griffin Governor Andrew Cuomo believes New York will be able to avoid a second COVID-related shutdown, he announced today. “I believe we can avoid a shutdown and I believe we will avoid a shutdown — I’ll go that far,” Cuomo said during a press briefing Friday. He said that a… Read more »
Dec. 18, 2020 By Allie Griffin The names of three well known Queens men who recently passed away will be appearing on street corners in Astoria and Long Island City next year. The streets are among 92 citywide — including several in Queens — approved by the City Council Thursday to be co-named. One of… Read more »
Dec. 17, 2020 By Allie Griffin A coalition of community-based groups from across the city held a rally at City Hall Wednesday demanding that the de Blasio administration block all rezonings that would bring luxury apartment buildings. The organizations called on Mayor Bill de Blasio to end all future rezonings that permit luxury rental and… Read more »
Dec. 17, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City was blanketed by the largest snowstorm in years overnight Wednesday and into Thursday morning. The city was covered with five to eight inches of snow across the five boroughs — with some neighborhoods getting around 11 inches, according to meteorologists and city officials. “It’s really been… Read more »
Dec. 16, 2020 By Allie Griffin With high-risk health care workers now being vaccinated for COVID-19, Governor Andrew Cuomo is putting plans in place to bring the vaccine to the public by the end of next month. Cuomo said New Yorkers with underlying health conditions could be vaccinated by the end of January along with… Read more »
Dec. 16, 2020 By Allie Griffin The City Council passed a bill last week that will allow performers to host ticketed events on city streets. The bill — sponsored by Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer — will establish an “Open Culture” program, modeled after the city’s “Open Restaurants” outdoor dining program. The program aims to… Read more »