July 16, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City will offer free childcare services to the parents of more than 100,000 kids when school reopens in September, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. The city will provide daycare for the children on days that they attend class remotely — which will be two to three… Read more »
July 15, 2020 By Allie Griffin An Astoria teen has launched a gofundme campaign to raise money for his college education after losing both his parents to the coronavirus. Roberto Tobias Jr., a rising senior at Frank McCourt High School in Manhattan, launched the fundraiser two days ago and has already received more than $37,000… Read more »
July 15, 2020 By Allie Griffin New Yorkers who are struggling to pay their rent as a result of coronavirus-related layoffs or pay cuts can apply for a rental relief grant starting tomorrow. The state has launched a “COVID Rent Relief Program” that provides a one-time payment of rental assistance directly to people’s landlord. The… Read more »
July 15, 2020 by Allie Griffin The city planning process that determines whether a piece of land can be rezoned will restart in August, after months of inaction due to the coronavirus. The Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) is a months-long city review process that determines whether a building is allowed to be constructed… Read more »
July 14, 2020 By Allie Griffin The MTA’s congestion pricing plan that will toll cars in busy areas in Manhattan will be delayed “roughly a year” due to a federal hold-up, an agency official announced Monday. MTA Chief Development Officer Janno Lieber said congestion pricing — which will charge drivers a fee to enter Manhattan… Read more »
July 13, 2020 By Allie Griffin Corona and Jackson Heights — neighborhoods hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic — may fare better if a second wave of the deadly virus hits New York City, according to a published report. A large number of residents from these neighborhoods have the antibodies that may protect them from… Read more »
July 14, 2020 By Allie Griffin Six apartments in two newly-constructed buildings in Astoria are up for grabs through the city’s affordable housing lottery. All six units are available to households that make 130 percent of the area median income. Three one-bedroom units are open in a building at 23-71 31st St. through the lottery… Read more »
July 13, 2020 By Allie Griffin COVID-19 cases are on the rise among young adults in New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio said today. The rate of coronavirus cases among New Yorkers aged 20 to 29 spiked from less than 30 cases per 100,000 people on June 13 to a number nearing 40 per… Read more »
June 13, 2020 By Allie Griffin Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled the requirements that each county must meet before their schools are permitted reopen in the fall. Cuomo said that schools would be allowed to reopen in regions that are in Phase IV of the state’s reopening plan and where the daily infection rate remains below… Read more »
July 10, 2020 By Allie Griffin A statue of the Virgin Mary in front of a Catholic high school in Elmhurst has been vandalized and the NYPD is investigating the incident as a possible hate crime. The word “IDOL” was spray painted down the front of the statue at Cathedral Prep School and Seminary, located… Read more »