Author: Allie Griffin

De Blasio Announces New Sector Councils to Advise New York City’s Reopening

May 6, 2020 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that his office is forming several advisory councils to aid New York City’s reopening when the coronavirus pandemic recedes. The City is rolling out six councils on specific sectors of city life today with four more on the way in the coming days,… Read more »

Queens District Attorney Has Reopened 10 Cases of Possible Wrongful Conviction

May 6, 2020 By Allie Griffin The Queens District Attorney’s office, which opened a unit to investigate potential wrongful convictions in January, announced yesterday that it has reopened 10 such cases. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz established the Conviction Integrity Unit when she took office on January 1 — making good on one of her… Read more »

Queens Supreme Court Judge Orders Two Bangladeshi Candidates Back on Ballot

May 5, 2020 By Allie Griffin Two Bangladeshi women are back on the ballot in an upcoming Queens primary after a judge ruled against the Board of Elections’ (BOE) decision to remove them for technicalities last week. On Monday, Queens Supreme Court Judge Leonard Livote ordered Mary Jobaida, who hopes to unseat Cathy Nolan in… Read more »

Future of the BQX Streetcar Uncertain as COVID-19 Puts Hole in City Budget

May 4, 2020 By Allie Griffin The future of the $2.7 billion streetcar connecting western Queens to northwest Brooklyn remains uncertain, as the city now grapples with a massive budget hole brought on by COVID-19. The city had just begun the environmental review process for the streetcar project, dubbed the BQX,  in February and March… Read more »

Key Indicators Show Positive Signs as NYC Tries to Combat COVID-19

May 4, 2020 By Allie Griffin The city is making progress in its fight against the coronavirus with a number of key measures moving in the right direction. The mayor announced today that the three key indicators that will be used to determine when the city can reopen showed positive results. The number of new… Read more »

Funding Doubled for Free Transportation Program for Queens Seniors

May 4, 2020 By Allie Griffin The New York City Council has doubled the funding for a program that provides free transportation to Queens seniors, effectively extending the program for at least another year. Northeast Queens Council Member Paul Vallone helped to secure an additional $150,000 to fund the borough-based program which offers seniors rides… Read more »

New York Schools Will Remain Closed Through End of Academic Year: Cuomo

May 1, 2020 By Allie Griffin All New York school and college buildings will remain closed through the end of the academic year, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today. Cuomo made the announcement weeks after Mayor Bill de Blasio said New York City public schools will stay closed through the end of the term. The two… Read more »

LIC Post 5K Postponed to October; Virtual Run to Take Place in June

May 1, 2020 By Allie Griffin The fifth annual LIC Post 5K scheduled for June 6 has been postponed until Oct. 17. The 5K, like all city-permitted events and large gatherings, is not permitted to take place in June as the city looks to stop the spread of the coronavirus. “We are disappointed that the… Read more »

Several Queens Streets Near Parks Will Open to Pedestrians Monday

May 1, 2020 By Allie Griffin Several streets in Forest Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park and near Court Square will be closed to traffic and opened to pedestrians Monday, as part of the city’s new Open Streets initiative. Earlier this week the City Council and Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that 100 miles of New… Read more »

Woodside Man Charged With Murder in Fatal Stabbing of 78-Year-Old Mother

April 30, 2020 By Allie Griffin A Woodside man has been charged with murder for stabbing his 78-year-old mother to death last Friday. David Galicia, 48, allegedly grabbed a kitchen knife and fatally slashed his elderly mother in the head whom he lived with. The incident took place at around 7 a.m. the morning of… Read more »