March 31, 2021 By Allie Griffin Council Member Costa Constantinides announced today that he will be leaving office next month, about 8 months before his term in office was to officially end. Constantinides will resign on Friday, April 9 to take a job in the nonprofit sector as the Chief Executive Officer of the Variety… Read more »
March 30, 2021 By Allie Griffin New York City’s long-delayed plan to charge drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street is a step closer to becoming a reality. The Biden administration notified city and state officials Tuesday that they can move forward in conducting an environmental review of the congestion pricing plan– which is required before… Read more »
March 30, 2021 By Christina Santucci A Queens-based theater company that closed its performance space in Long Island City last year is opening a location in Sunnyside to offer performing arts classes. Richard Mazda, the owner and founder of the Secret Theatre, said he has found a venue in Sunnyside for his company’s educational programming… Read more »
March 30, 2021 By Allie Griffin Jimmy Van Bramer and several candidates running for elected office are calling on Council Speaker Corey Johnson to release the findings of an audit of the City Council’s sexual harassment policies ordered nearly two years ago. Van Bramer, who represents the 26th council district and is running for Queens… Read more »
March 30, 2021 By Christina Santucci A Queens prosecutor – who a judge said had “deliberately” withheld key evidence in a 1996 double murder case that ended with the wrongful conviction of three men – has stepped down from the Queens District Attorney’s office. Brad Leventhal, who was the DA’s long-time Homicide Bureau Chief, has… Read more »
March 29, 2021 By Allie Griffin The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) is now accepting applications for the second year of its Open Streets program that transforms roadways into pedestrian spaces and outdoor dining areas. Local businesses and community groups can apply online to designate a street near them as an Open Street…. Read more »
March 29, 2021 By Allie Griffin New Yorkers as young as age 30 will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting Tuesday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today. All adults in the state — from age 16 and up — will be eligible for the vaccine a week later on April 6. Residents as young as… Read more »
March 29, 2021 By Christina Santucci Several dozen people marched through the streets of Astoria Sunday evening, demanding justice for a woman who was killed by a stray bullet near Woodside Houses two weeks earlier. The march, held in memory of Gudelia Vallinas, started at the corner of 50th Street and Broadway, where the fatal… Read more »
March 29, 2021 By Christina Santucci An Astoria bar that had its liquor license suspended earlier this month for flouting COVID-19 restrictions will be up for review by the State Liquor Authority (SLA) later this week. Members of the SLA are expected to consider possible disciplinary measures for Rocky McBride’s, at 27-01 23rd Ave., after… Read more »
March 26, 2021 By Christian Murray A Long Island City developer who owns a waterfront property near Anable Basin has plans to convert part of his 6-acre site into a “green energy hub” that would provide power to Queensbridge Houses as well as nearby businesses. Bruce Teitelbaum, the general partner of RiverLInC, plans to develop… Read more »