March 10, 2021 By Allie Griffin Police are searching for a man wanted for a string of break-ins and burglaries in Astoria. The suspect broke into five apartment buildings last week and ran off with cash and various items of value, police said. He first broke into an apartment building near 33rd Street and 28th… Read more »
March 10, 2021 By Allie Griffin Queens Borough President candidate Jimmy Van Bramer is calling for Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign amid sexual harassment allegations — and now wants his opponents in the BP race to do the same. Van Bramer is asking his fellow borough president candidates to join the growing number of lawmakers… Read more »
March 10, 2021 By Christina Santucci Bike advocates are inviting the public to ride around western Queens this weekend with nearly a dozen political candidates who are vying to replace Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer. The activities will begin with a rally Sunday, March 14 at 11 a.m. at Queensbridge Park, followed by a five-mile ride… Read more »
March 10, 2021 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled a plan Tuesday to provide $65 million in relief funds for taxi drivers plagued by the city’s taxi medallion crisis. The plan, however, was quickly criticized by cab drivers and progressive lawmakers–such as State Sen. Jessica Ramos–who say it doesn’t begin to address the… Read more »
March 9, 2021 By Michael Dorgan Pablo Calle, the longtime co-owner of Donato’s Italian Restaurant, died Wednesday. He was 69. Pablo was an affable, gregarious character, known for greeting customers into his restaurant, which is situated on the corner of 39th Avenue and 51st Street on the Sunnyside/Woodside border. The Ecuadorian native established the restaurant,… Read more »
March 9, 2021 By Christian Murray The fashion shoe company Steve Madden is threatening to leave Sunnyside if the seven story, 167-unit building development planned by Phipps Houses on Barnett Avenue goes up. Steve Madden, which penned a letter to Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer Jan. 14, said that it employs more than 400 people… Read more »
March 9, 2021 By Michael Dorgan A locally-owned gift and accessory store in Astoria will shutter permanently next month after a 15-year run. Inside Astoria, known for selling Astoria branded merchandise, locally made knick-knacks, artwork and jewelry will close on April 30, the owners announced last week. Andrew Purdom, who co-owns Inside Astoria, located at… Read more »
March 9, 2021 Op-Ed By: Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer Four years ago, Phipps Houses withdrew their application to build an affordable housing complex in my Sunnyside neighborhood after I had come out against it. It was a project that the community board voted against and which faced significant community opposition. I too was opposed,… Read more »
March 9, 2021 By Christina Santucci More than 100 firefighters and medics responded to a two-alarm blaze in Astoria Monday night — after the fire spread from a commercial building to a house on an adjacent block. The fire began at about 10:30 p.m. in the back of 29-03 23rd Ave. and spread to a… Read more »
March 9, 2021 By Allie Griffin New Yorkers as young as 60 will be eligible to be vaccinated for COVID-19 starting Wednesday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today. Cuomo lowered the current vaccine-eligibility age — which is 65 in the state — by five years. He also expanded eligibility to additional categories of essential workers, who… Read more »