April 14, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City is continuing to flatten the COVID-19 curve, although it suffered a setback over the weekend with the number of coronavirus patients in the ICU going up, Mayor Bill de Blasio said today. The number of people in the ICU at the city’s public hospitals for coronavirus… Read more »
April 14, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City will begin making its own coronavirus test kits, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. The City’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) will create a supply chain through New York City-based companies to create the tests and will also buy tests from an Indiana-based firm to reach 100,000… Read more »
April 6, 2020 By Allie Griffin Governor Andrew Cuomo has increased the fine for violating the statewide social distancing order after officials witnessed crowding in city parks — including Astoria Park. Cuomo is doubling the penalty in an effort to stop overcrowding that can spread the coronavirus, he announced in Albany today. People who do… Read more »
April 2, 2020 By Allie Griffin Queens and Brooklyn churches will ring “Bells of Hope” beginning tomorrow and continuing every day as the city grapples with the coronavirus pandemic that is killing New Yorkers. Every parish in the two boroughs with outdoor bells will ring them each day at 3 p.m. at the request of… Read more »
April 1, 2020 By Allie Griffin Governor Andrew Cuomo will shut down all New York City playgrounds to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, he announced today. The order comes after Mayor Bill de Blasio resisted a mass closure and opted to shut down specific playgrounds where social distancing was not being observed. However, at… Read more »
March 30, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York’s five district attorneys and the special narcotics prosecutor said the mayor’s office has put forward the names of several dangerous inmates for release–in his attempt to stop the outbreak of coronavirus in city jails. The head prosecutors said the mayor and the Department of Corrections had suggested… Read more »
March 26, 2020 By Allie Griffin A 43-year-old man was assaulted by a group of men who tried to steal his cell phone at an Astoria subway station last month. The victim was riding a northbound N train on Feb. 18 when several men approached him and started a dispute at around 11 p.m. The… Read more »
March 26, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City will release 300 more inmates from Rikers Island amid fears of the coronavirus spreading across the sprawling jail facility. The move comes after the mayor announced last week that 40 inmates from Rikers Island were set to be released on Friday. On Sunday he announced a further 23 prisoners… Read more »
March 25, 2020 By Allie Griffin Two Astoria advocates for small businesses have joined forces to support local restaurants, cafes and bars as the coronavirus pandemic takes hold of New York City. Neighborhood residents Jaime-Faye Bean and Jonathan Forgash launched “Astoria Together,” an initiative that updates the public on local restaurant hours, takeout and delivery… Read more »
March 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin Transportation advocates are asking the City to close off specific streets across the city to traffic, so that pedestrians have more space to practice safe distancing from one amid the coronavirus outbreak. The calls follow a suggestion by Governor Andrew Cuomo to open New York City streets to pedestrians…. Read more »