June 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin Incumbent Michael Gianaris is cruising to victory in the primary race for his current state senate seat representing Western Queens. Gianaris has a significant lead over competitor and retired sanitation worker Ignazio “Iggy” Terranova. He had garnered nearly 74 percent of votes for the 12th Senate District, according to… Read more »
June 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin Council Member Donovan Richards has clinched an early lead in the race to be the next Queens Borough President — though the official winner won’t be announced for at least a week. Richards, the Queens Democratic party pick, had nearly 38 percent of the votes in the Democratic primary… Read more »
June 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin Macy’s famous Fourth of July fireworks show will be spread over multiple days this year with quick surprise displays across the five boroughs. Fireworks will illuminate the sky for short five-minute displays from June 29 through July 1 and again in a televised July 4 finale, Mayor Bill de… Read more »
June 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin Alternate side parking rules will be cut to once per week across the entire city for a one-week pilot beginning Monday — in what could well become a permanent change. The city will cut street cleaning and alternate side parking rules to once a week on streets where they… Read more »
June 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Monday that her office has formed a violent crimes bureau to prosecute street gangs, drug traffickers and firearms dealers. The newly-created Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau combines the former Narcotics Investigations and Gang Violence bureaus. The unit focuses on identifying organized criminal activity in… Read more »
June 22, 2020 By Allie Griffin Playgrounds opened for New York City children today, but Big Apple pups will have to wait longer to play inside public dog runs. Playgrounds reopened today as the city entered Phase Two of the reopening plan, while other defined spaces inside city parks remain closed — including dog runs… Read more »
June 19, 2020 By Allie Griffin A street safety advocacy group is calling on the mayor to redistribute a portion of the NYPD budget to the Department of Transportation (DOT) and shift traffic enforcement away from police officers. Transportation Alternatives released a report Friday in which its members argue that police enforcement of traffic laws… Read more »
June 18, 2020 By Allie Griffin Queens leaders celebrated the Supreme Court’s decision today blocking President Donald Trump from ending the DACA program. The Court ruled, 5-4, that Trump cannot terminate the “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals” or DACA program that protects people unlawfully brought into the country as young children from deportation. The news… Read more »
June 18, 2020 By Allie Griffin New Yorkers will be able to dine out at their local restaurants Monday, as New York City begins the next phase of reopening. Mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed today that the five boroughs will enter Phase Two of the state’s reopening plan Monday, noting that restaurants will be able… Read more »
June 18, 2020 By Allie Griffin Two people were shot near the Woodside Houses Monday, including a bystander. Three men fired several rounds near Broadway and 51st Street just before 8 p.m. The bullets struck a 31-year-old man in the back and grazed a bystander, a 44-year-old woman, in the back, police said. An ambulance… Read more »