March 16, 2021 By Christina Santucci (updated) Corona, the Queens neighborhood once dubbed “the epicenter of the epicenter” of the pandemic, has the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rate in all of New York City. Assemblymembers Catalina Cruz, Jeffrion Aubry and Jessica González-Rojas held a news conference Friday to highlight the disparity in vaccination rates and to… Read more »
March 15, 2021 By Allie Griffin The city is launching a new community-based pilot program to prevent gun violence in five precincts across the city–including the Queens precinct where a 37-year-old woman was killed Friday by a stray bullet. The program, called the Advance Peace Model, will start in July and pair at-risk youth with… Read more »
March 12, 2021 By Michael Dorgan An expansive new Chinese restaurant specializing in hand-pulled noodles has opened in Long Island City, following months of delays due to the pandemic. Noodle Craft, located at 10-39 47th Rd. in Hunters Point, had its grand opening on March 4 and their menu consists of a wide range of… Read more »
March 15, 2021 By Christina Santucci Queens Borough President Donovan Richards joined the growing chorus of New York officials calling for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to step down — following allegations that the governor harassed several women. Richards, in a joint statement issued with Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, said Saturday that Cuomo should resign. The… Read more »
March 15, 2021 By Christina Santucci St. Patrick’s Day is this week and the Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District has partnered with a neighborhood group to highlight what local bars and restaurants will be offering on the big day. The promotion includes a series of videos, in which Sunnyside resident Ty Sullivan interviews the owners… Read more »
March 14, 2021 By Christina Santucci The family of a woman shot and killed in Astoria Friday night has received a massive outpouring of support with more than $30,000 raised for them in just one day. A GoFundMe page was launched by the family of Gudelia Vallinas, 37, who was tragically killed by a stray… Read more »
March 12, 2021 By Michael Dorgan The owners of an Afghan restaurant in Astoria plan to open a similar venue in Long Island City this summer. The restaurant, which will be called Sami’s Kebab House, is slated to open at 47-38 Vernon Blvd. in August–where the now-shuttered Four Winters ice cream store was located. The… Read more »
March 12, 2021 By Christian Murray Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, a candidate for Queens Borough President, will change the make-up of community boards by appointing younger, more diverse members–if elected. He said that nearly two-thirds of the members on the 14 community boards in Queens are over the age of 55, and the boards… Read more »
March 12, 2021 By Allie Griffin Governor Andrew Cuomo refused to step down Friday despite mounting calls for his resignation from powerful federal lawmakers after six women accused him of sexual harassment. The vast majority of the Democratic members of New York’s congressional delegation — including several from Queens — called for Cuomo to resign… Read more »
March 12, 2021 By Allie Griffin Queens Congressmembers Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Grace Meng, Carolyn Maloney and Nydia Velazquez are all calling on Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign amid a flurry of sexual harassment allegations. The congressmembers are among the latest to call on Cuomo to step aside and allow the lieutenant governor to take over. Cuomo… Read more »