Dec. 9, 2021 By Allie Griffin Queens officials are calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to replenish and reopen the Excluded Workers Fund after the state closed applications in October upon running out of money. Officials such as State Sen. Jessica Ramos and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards are urging Hochul to inject $3 billion into… Read more »
Dec. 7, 2021 By Allie Griffin Queens Republicans are pushing back against a City Council bill that would provide legal noncitizens with the right vote in city elections. Republicans and other critics have held press conferences, launched ‘call to action’ campaigns and have publicly condemned the legislation, known as “Our City, Our Vote”, ahead of… Read more »
Dec. 6, 2021 By Allie Griffin Council Member Robert Holden is looking to form a bloc of like-minded moderate colleagues in the City Council to provide a counter to members on the “far left”. Holden submitted paperwork to the Council Speaker’s Office to form the “Common Sense” caucus about two weeks ago and is confident… Read more »
Dec. 6, 2021 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday a major expansion of the city’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Children will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to go to a restaurant or movie starting later this month. All private-sector employees will also be mandated to get the shot. The city… Read more »
Dec. 3, 2021 By Allie Griffin Two cases of the COVID-19 variant known as Omicron have been detected in Queens, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday. Two Queens residents are among five New York state residents who have confirmed cases of the Omicron variant, which was first identified in South Africa last month. Health officials are… Read more »
Dec. 2, 2021 By Allie Griffin Tiffany Cabán was sworn into the City Council yesterday and announced Thursday that she has already signed on as a co-sponsor of 20 bills. Cabán was officially sworn in as the council member for 22nd Council District — becoming the first woman, first Latina and first queer person to… Read more »
Dec. 1, 2021 By Allie Griffin A 61-year-old Asian American woman was brutally assaulted in North Corona last week in what local leaders are saying was a racist attack. Queens officials and Asian American organizations gathered outside the Flushing branch of the Queens Public Library Tuesday to denounce recent attacks against Asian Americans, including the… Read more »
Nov. 30, 2021 By Allie Griffin Tiffany Cabán will be sworn into the City Council Wednesday to fill the vacant Astoria seat. Cabán, a former public defender, will be sworn in by the City Clerk at noon — a month ahead of other council members-elect in order to fill the District 22 vacancy left by… Read more »
Nov. 29, 2021 By Allie Griffin A 60-year-old woman who fatally struck a 37-year-old delivery worker in Astoria with her car this spring will not face charges, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office. The Queens DA issued a memo Nov. 15 stating that there is “insufficient evidence” to prosecute the woman who struck and… Read more »
Nov. 29, 2021 By Allie Griffin A beloved Greek-Cypriot restaurant closed its doors Sunday after serving customers in Astoria for more than three decades. Zenon Tavern, which had been in business for 33 years, posted on its website that its last day of operation was Nov. 28. The owners of the eatery thanked their customers… Read more »