Sept. 17, 2019 By Allie Griffin Astoria is in the top 10 coolest neighborhoods in the world, according to a new report by Time Out. After surveying more than 27,000 people around the world and gathering local Time Out editors and city experts’ opinions, the global media and entertainment brand ranked Astoria at number eight… Read more »
Sept. 17, 2019 By Allie Griffin Council Member Costa Constantinides is the latest to join the Queens Borough President race, announcing his bid Tuesday morning. Running on an environmental platform, Constantinides joins Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, former Council Member Elizabeth Crowley and Assembly Member Alicia Hyndman in the race to be the next borough… Read more »
Sept. 17, 2019 By Allie Griffin The NYPD is looking for a suspect who they say is connected to string of armed and often violent robberies in Astoria. The unknown man allegedly robbed individuals and/or stores six times, once in August and five times in September, brandishing a handgun each time. In early September, he… Read more »
Sept. 17, 2019 By Allie Griffin The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) released its proposed 2020-2024 capital plan Monday that calls for a $51.5 billion investment in the region’s subways, buses and railroads over the next five years. The proposal outlines a series of projects the authority hopes to tackle in that time, including adding 1,900… Read more »
Sept. 12, 2019 By Allie Griffin Elected officials and cycling advocates called on the MTA–yet again–to make the RFK Triborough Bridge safer for biking and walking at a rally at the foot of the bridge in Astoria on Thursday. A stretch of the bridge’s pathway is protected by just a four-foot barrier, leaving bicyclists susceptible… Read more »
Sept. 11, 2019 By Allie Griffin Homeowners will no longer be penalized for sidewalk damage caused by city trees, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday. Previously if a sidewalk in front of a home was damaged by a tree’s roots, the homeowner would be notified by the city and a lien would be issued against… Read more »
Sept. 9, 2019 By Ryanne Salzano A stretch of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge’s pedestrian lane leaves bicyclists susceptible to tumbling into the East River below and now Council Member Costa Constantinides is calling on the MTA to do something to prevent just that. Constantinides wrote a letter to the MTA on Aug. 30 calling… Read more »
Sept. 5, 2019 By Allie Griffin A Long Island City man was sentenced to eight years in prison Thursday for operating an illicit drug ring for several months near the Ravenswood Houses in Astoria. Jamarl Gilmore, 38, operated the drug ring from March to June 2018 and sold cocaine and heroin to customers near the… Read more »
Sept. 6, 2019 By Allie Griffin The Parks Department broke ground on the reconstruction project of Astoria’s Hallets Cove Playground Thursday — a $2.2 million makeover to better serve the community’s children. The playground is nearby NYCHA’s Astoria Houses and will be undergoing a total redesign with an expected completion date of winter 2020, according… Read more »
Sept. 3, 2019 By Allie Griffin A 19-year-old from East Elmhurst planned an ISIS-inspired knife attack at several Queens locations including the World’s Fair Marina — going so far as to purchase a knife and camera mount to livestream the attack, according to the FBI. Awais Chudhary, a U.S. citizen born in Pakistan, was arrested… Read more »