Jan. 20, 2022 By Michael Dorgan Andrew Bellucci, a renowned and controversial pizza maker, is opening a new restaurant in Astoria. Bellucci will open a new pizzeria next month at 37-08 30th Ave., which will be called Bellucci’s Pizzeria. He hopes that the new restaurant will cement his reputation in the pizza business. The Jersey… Read more »
Jan. 19, 2022 By Michael Dorgan (updated) A group of community and business leaders from Flushing announced Tuesday that more than 54,000 residents have signed a petition opposing the construction of a 90-unit homeless housing development on College Point Boulevard. The petition, launched last month, seeks to stop the proposed seven-story building from being constructed… Read more »
Jan. 14, 2022 By Michael Dorgan Queens Borough President Donovan Richards called for the establishment of a new office Thursday to centrally manage the city’s overall response to COVID-19. Richards proposed creating the “NYC Office of COVID Recovery” tasked with streamlining and improving the city’s COVID-19-related services. He said the office was needed to cut… Read more »
Jan. 12, 2022 By Michael Dorgan The MTA has been sent more than $6 billion in COVID-19 relief funds from the federal government, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer announced Wednesday. The bailout, a near $6.2 billion lump sum, is the largest one-time payment ever awarded by the Federal Transit Administration, an agency within the U.S. Dept…. Read more »
Jan. 12, 2022 By Michael Dorgan Nearly $325,000 in funding to support senior services in Queens has been restored, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards announced Monday. The funding, which had been eliminated from last year’s city budget, will be allocated to senior centers and home care service providers in Queens. The funds are being allocated… Read more »
Jan. 11, 2022 By Michael Dorgan Police have arrested a suspect wanted for shooting a man in the leg outside a nightclub in Astoria last month. Abubakar Malik, 37, from Brooklyn, was arrested and charged Monday for shooting a 29-year-old man outside of Alpha Lounge, located at 40-06 Astoria Blvd. South, police said. The shooting… Read more »
Jan. 10, 2022 By Michael Dorgan Two million Queens residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, Borough President Donovan Richards announced Saturday. Richards, citing Dept. of Health data, said Queens was the first borough in the city to reach the milestone for one shot being administered. “To all our neighbors who… Read more »
Jan. 10, 2022 By Michael Dorgan Green card holders and residents who are authorized to work now have the right to vote in local elections. Mayor Eric Adams, who had expressed concerns about a bill passed by the council last month permitting certain noncitizens the right to vote, decided not to challenge the legislation. The… Read more »
Jan. 7, 2022 By Michael Dorgan Drinks-to-go will be making a comeback. Governor Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that alcoholic beverages will soon be available for takeout and delivery, marking the return of a provision that was popular for struggling bars and restaurants during the height of the pandemic. “We’re… going to do something bars and… Read more »
Jan. 7, 2022 By Michael Dorgan New York City was blanketed by a large snowstorm early Friday with parts of Queens being hit the hardest. The first widespread snowfall of the year saw LaGuardia Airport hit with 8.4 inches of snow — the largest total recorded in the five boroughs — while 5.5 inches covered… Read more »