March 21, 2022 By Christian Murray A Long Island City-based organization that helps people who have been incarcerated get back on their feet has received a $10 million award care of philanthropist MacKenzie Scott—of Amazon fame. The Fortune Society, a non-profit organization based at 29-76 Northern Blvd., was given the funds by Scott in recognition… Read more »
March 21, 2022 By Czarinna Andres Thirty-six units in a luxury building by the Astoria waterfront are up for grabs as part of an affordable housing lottery. The lottery opened last week and applicants who want to live at the 11-37 31st Ave. development— known as Astoria West—have until May 19 to apply. The units… Read more »
March 21, 2022 By Christian Murray A 15-year-old boy was shot inside a Jackson Heights playground Saturday afternoon. The teenager was shot in the back and torso at Playground Ninety, located near Northern Boulevard and 89th Street, at around 3:30 p.m., police said. The shooting stemmed from an argument that the victim had with the… Read more »
March 18, 2022 By Christian Murray A Starbucks in Astoria has announced plans to unionize, the first location in Queens to do so. Workers at the 30-18 Astoria Blvd. store sent a letter to Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz announcing their intention to form a union and their legal right to do so. “Starbucks continues to… Read more »
March 18, 2022 By Christian Murray A development team that seeks to rezone an industrial property on 11th Street in order to build two 8-story buildings—which would include 332 units and two trade schools—was unable to get the approval of Community Board 1 Tuesday night. The board voted 15 for and 15 against the project,… Read more »
March 18, 2022 By Michael Dorgan Police are searching for an alleged pervert who groped a woman inside a subway station in Astoria Monday. The suspect, according to police, assaulted the 29-year-old victim inside the Astoria Boulevard subway station at around 7:25 p.m. as she waited for a train. The man approached the victim and… Read more »
March 17, 2022 By Allie Griffin Nearly a dozen council members, including three from Queens, along with scores of community-based groups are pushing back against cuts proposed by the mayor in the preliminary budget he introduced last month. The elected officials and groups said Mayor Eric Adams’ $98.5 billion budget cuts funding to important services… Read more »
March 17, 2022 By Michael Dorgan A man was fatally struck by a subway train in Astoria Thursday afternoon after slipping off the platform while urinating on the tracks. The 27-year-old victim fell in front of an R train at around 3:35 p.m. as it pulled into the 46th Street station, according to police. The… Read more »
March 17, 2022 By Allie Griffin A large energy company that had its plans to build a power plant in Astoria rejected by the state in October has challenged the decision and in doing so has drawn the ire of local officials and activists. NRG Energy is seeking the state’s approval to replace its 50-year-old peaker… Read more »
This article was originally published by The CITY on March 16, 2022 at 10:05 p.m. By Greg David, THE CITY To the Citizens Budget Commission, the controversial property tax break called 421-a for developers of new rental buildings, including affordable apartments, is essential to increase the city’s too-small housing supply. “Allowing 421-a to lapse would… Read more »