Jan. 12, 2021 By Christina Santucci The site of the famed Astoria catering hall Riccardo’s by the Bridge has been sold for $6.4 million, according to Alexander Pereira, a real estate broker with Douglas Elliman. The deal closed on Dec. 30, Pereira said, less than three months since the banquet hall shut down. “It was… Read more »
Jan. 12, 2021 By Christian Murray U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer is calling on residents to lobby President-elect Joe Biden for student loan forgiveness. Schumer, who spoke to Community Board 2 members via Zoom Thursday, said that he and Senator Elizabeth Warren have proposed that the first $50,000 of student loan debt be forgiven by the… Read more »
Jan. 12, 2021 By Michael Dorgan Satanic graffiti was spray-painted across a wall outside a Sunnyside business overnight Friday. The offensive graffiti was scrawled across the side wall of Bill’s Wines & Liquors, located at 42-26, 43rd Ave., sometime between 8 p.m. Friday and noon on Saturday, according to police. The graffiti consisted of a… Read more »
Jan. 12, 2021 By Christina Santucci Organizers of the Queens Night Market have announced plans to return to Flushing Meadows Corona Park this spring after last year’s event was cancelled due to COVID-19. “In order to open in April, we have to start the process now. We are going to target April 17 and keep… Read more »
Jan. 11, 2021 By Michael Dorgan State Sen. Michael Gianaris has introduced a bill aimed at protecting employees from contracting COVID-19 by improving workplace safety standards. The bill, called the New York Health and Essential Rights Act (HERO), would require businesses to implement a range of safety standards in order to reduce the spread of… Read more »
Jan. 7, 2021 By Christian Murray Just hours after he called for President Donald Trump’s ousting, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer appeared before members of community board 2 via Zoom. The 75 people on the Zoom call Thursday night were surprised, given that it was less than a day since the Capitol building was in turmoil…. Read more »
Jan. 8, 2021 By Michael Dorgan Gov. Andrew Cuomo plans to legalize online and mobile sports betting as well as the sale of recreational marijuana as he looks to generate revenue in the cash-strapped state. Online betting would bring an estimated $500 million dollars a year while marijuana would net the state around $300 million,… Read more »
Jan. 6, 2021 Christian Murray A right-wing extremist who allegedly planted a fake bomb on top of a car at the Queens Place Mall Monday has been charged with making terrorist threats and faces up to 7 years in prison. Louis Shenker, a 22-year-old man from Massachusetts, was arraigned Wednesday before a Queens Criminal Court… Read more »
Jan. 6, 2021 By Christian Murray Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer released his 2020 annual report Tuesday. We talk to Van Bramer in a podcast about the report, as well as his potential run for Queens Borough President. The council member discusses the challenges his constituents have faced following the outbreak of COVID-19 and what… Read more »
Jan. 4, 2021 By Christian Murray A Sunnyside institution came to an end last week, with the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post officially closing after being in the neighborhood for nearly 90 years. The John Vincent Daniels Jr. VFW Post, or Post 2813, officially shut down its 43-53 43rd St. location on Dec. 31. The… Read more »