Feb. 8, 2021 By Michael Dorgan More than 40 “affordable” apartments in a newly-constructed building in Astoria are up for grabs through the city’s affordable housing lottery – but only for households that make at least $70,286 a year. The building, called “The Astor LIC,” is located at 36-20 Steinway St., and 43 “affordable” housing… Read more »
Feb. 8, 2021 By Christina Santucci Queens community leaders, coaches and athletes are calling on city officials to allow high school sports to restart, citing the benefits to players’ mental health and college prospects. More than 100 people gathered in St. Albans Saturday to push the city’s Public School Athletic League (PSAL) to return to… Read more »
Feb. 7, 2021 By Christina Santucci Queens politicians say city and state officials are not playing fair with vaccine distribution. More than two-dozen elected officials representing the borough urged the governor and mayor Sunday to open Citi Field as a COVID-19 vaccination site immediately. They argue that Citi Field should be open as a vaccination… Read more »
Feb. 6, 2021 By: Tiffany Cabán New York City is facing an unconscionable health crisis. Twenty hospitals have closed over the last decade, most of them safety net institutions here in Queens that serve the un- or underinsured. Meanwhile, the City spends $12 billion more on incarceration and policing, than it does on care and… Read more »
Feb. 5, 2021 By Allie Griffin The COVID-19 vaccination site at Citi Field will open in “a matter of days,” Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Friday. The 24/7 “megasite” was supposed to open the week of Jan. 25, but was delayed due to the city’s shortage of vaccines. The ball field will have the capacity… Read more »
Feb. 5, 2021, By Michael Dorgan A local residents’ group has helped raise more than $180,000 to encourage children living in the Astoria Houses NYCHA complex to attend college. The Astoria Houses Resident Association created a GoFundMe page in June with the goal of ensuring that every child living in the development would have at… Read more »
Feb. 5, 2021 By Allie Griffin Astoria City Council candidate Tiffany Cabàn unveiled a detailed plan Wednesday that involves scaling back the NYPD and introducing a number of community-based measures. Cabán — a 33-year-old former public defender who previously ran for Queens District Attorney — announced that she wants to slash the NYPD budget and… Read more »
Feb. 4, 2021 By Allie Griffin Actress and progressive activist Cynthia Nixon endorsed Amit S. Bagga today in the crowded 26th District council race. The former gubernatorial candidate is Bagga’s second high-profile endorsement this week. He was endorsed by State Sen. Jessica Ramos on Tuesday. The seat representing Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside and a portion… Read more »
Feb. 4, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Love comes in many forms. A Valentine’s Day-inspired initiative kicked off Wednesday that encourages residents to shop locally in order to help small businesses generate some much-needed cash. The city-wide initiative, called the Sweethearts Shop Local Program, calls on the public to show their “love and support” for small… Read more »
Feb. 3, 2021 By Michael Dorgan Council Member Robert Holden is calling on Governor Andrew Cuomo to immediately reopen indoor dining in New York City at 50 percent capacity. Holden penned a letter to Cuomo on Feb. 1 demanding that the governor reconsider his decision to make bars and restaurants wait until Valentine’s Day before… Read more »