June 22, 2021 By Allie Griffin Candidates on the ballot for City Council seats are competing for a two-year term—not the four-year term members normally serve. Council members elected this year will complete a two-year term for the first time in two decades due to a provision in the city charter related to the census…. Read more »
June 22, 2021 By Christina Santucci A Queens Criminal Court judge granted District Attorney Melinda Katz’s request to dismiss thousands of cases for people who had been charged with low-level marijuana offenses—during a virtual proceeding Tuesday morning. Katz had sought to have the 3,255 unresolved misdemeanor cases be dismissed – after New York state legalized… Read more »
June 22, 2021 By Christina Santucci Voters can expect to find out some initial vote tallies from today’s Primary Election following the close of the polls – but election officials estimate that the final results will not be certified until mid July. The Board of Elections (BOE) plans to release preliminary, unofficial results of in-person… Read more »
June 22, 2021 By Ryan Songalia State lawmakers have taken a big step to rid the streets of souped-up vehicles that have been keeping residents awake at night. A bill, called the Stop Loud and Excessive Exhaust Pollution (SLEEP) Act, passed both the Assembly and senate on June 10 and awaits the signature of the… Read more »
June 21, 2021 By Ryan Songalia A legislative package that would require public companies to disclose social, environmental and governance metrics to investors passed the U.S. House of Representatives last Wednesday. The Corporate Governance Improvement and Investor Protection Act passed along partisan lines – 215 to 214 – although four Democrats voted in opposition to… Read more »
June 21, 2021 By Allie Griffin Federal officials have postponed making their final decision on the $2 billion LaGuardia AirTrain project after community groups and legislators expressed concerns over its environmental review. Early construction of the AirTrain — a proposed 1.5 mile rail line linking LaGuardia Airport to the 7 train and Long Island Rail… Read more »
June 21, 2021 By Christina Santucci A development team’s plan to build a large film production studio—backed by actor Robert De Niro—got the approval of Astoria’s Community Board 1 last week. The plans call for a $400 million complex – called Wildflower Studios – to be built at 35-15 19th Ave., between the Steinway &… Read more »
June 21, 2021 By Christina Santucci Andrew Yang and former Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley announced last week that they are supporting one another’s respective campaigns for mayor and Queens borough president. The candidates held an event in Bayside to cross endorse each other Friday – with supporters including the firefighters union. “Together, we’ll deliver for Queens… Read more »
June 21, 2021 By Christina Santucci More than 35,000 Queens residents cast their ballots during the past nine days of Early Voting for the Primary Election, the city’s Board of Elections said Sunday night. Early Voters in Queens made up about 18.5 percent of the total 191,197 people citywide, according to unofficial and cumulative counts… Read more »
June 18, 2021 By Allie Griffin A candidate running to represent the 26th Council District released an explosive Medium post Wednesday just days ahead of Election Day. Jonathan Bailey, a former co-chair of the Queens Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and a candidate for District 26, argues that political opportunists are co-opting the progressive-left platform,… Read more »