March 11, 2021 By Allie Griffin A Queens food writer and a group of real estate developers have joined forces to launch Astoria Eats, a new website that features a curation of food items from several Astoria eateries. The website offers a selection of menu items from Astoria-based restaurants curated by Joe DiStefano, a food… Read more »
March 11, 2021 By Christian Murray Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and eight members of New York’s congressional delegation have penned a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo expressing their opposition to NRG Energy’s plan to overhaul its Astoria power plant, saying that the plant would still rely on fossil fuels and would continue to emit dangerous… Read more »
March 11, 2021 By Allie Griffin A Flushing couple has been indicted on sex trafficking charges for allegedly bringing two women into the country from Korea and forcing them into prostitution, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today. Jung Ja Ornstein, 62, and Eric Ornstein, 49, allegedly arranged the transportation of the two women from… Read more »
March 11, 2021 By Allie Griffin More than 55 state legislators, including 14 from Queens, are calling for Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign amid mounting sexual harassment allegations and the state’s nursing home death scandal. The Democratic lawmakers released a joint statement Thursday demanding Cuomo resign and allow the lieutenant governor to take over for… Read more »
March 11, 2021 By Christian Murray Three tax preparers—one from Flushing and two from Woodside—were busted for fraud following sting operations conducted by undercover investigators. Yachun Lin, of ETS Tax Services on Main Street, was charged with tax fraud after she filed a return on behalf of an undercover investigator that contained bogus information in… Read more »
March 11, 2021 By Michael Dorgan An Asian woman who was holding a baby in Fresh Meadows Tuesday was allegedly spat at by a man who also shouted out a racist remark, police said. The hateful act, in what appears to be the latest anti-Asian incident to take place in the city, has been condemned… Read more »
March 10, 2021 By Michael Dorgan Evie Hantzopoulos, a city council candidate who is running for the 22nd District Council seat, announced Wednesday that she has gathered approximately 900 signatures– well over three times the amount needed to get on the ballot. Hantzopoulos was set the task March 2, like her competitors, to get 270… Read more »
March 10, 2021 By Allie Griffin New York City eateries will be permitted to increase indoor dining to 50 percent capacity starting on March 19, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday. Cuomo upped the capacity from its current level of 35 percent in a joint announcement with Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey. Murphy said New… Read more »
March 10, 2021 By Christina Santucci An estimated 18 percent of adults in Queens have been vaccinated — either partially or fully — against COVID-19 vaccine, a representative from the city Health Department told borough leaders at a virtual meeting Tuesday morning. About nine percent of adults in the borough have received their first dose… Read more »
March 10, 2021 By Christian Murray Sales activity is picking up for condo units at the 67-story Skyline Tower in Court Square, according to the CEO of a Long Island City-based brokerage firm. More than 325 units in the 802-unit development have now sold, according to Eric Benaim, the CEO and founder of Modern Spaces,… Read more »