Jan. 26, 2021 By Christina Santucci Council Member Costa Constantinides is reportedly going to leave office before his Council term ends in December, City & State reported today. The well-respected political publication reported in its newsletter this morning that it had heard from three sources that he planned to resign and leave office. A source… Read more »
Jan. 26, 2021 By Michael Dorgan A local candidate for city council has taken issue with a large banner hanging in front of a house in Kew Gardens that claims Joe Biden’s inauguration marked the beginning of socialism. Aleda Gagarin, who is running as a progressive to represent District 29, came across the banner at… Read more »
Jan. 26, 2021 By Allie Griffin Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer earned an endorsement from Hollywood today. Van Bramer was endorsed by actor Kal Penn, who starred in NBC’s short-lived show “Sunnyside,” for Queens Borough President Tuesday. Penn played a disgraced former council member whose district included Sunnyside — the same neighborhood represented by Van… Read more »
Jan. 26, 2021 By Allie Griffin Police are looking for a man who robbed a bank in Astoria last week. The suspect walked into a Citibank, located at 22-16 31st St., at around 9:30 a.m. Thursday and handed a note to a teller demanding cash, police said. The 26-year-old male teller complied and handed over… Read more »
Jan. 25, 2021 By Allie Griffin Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the state will begin to lift some COVID-19 restrictions this week as the state’s coronavirus positivity rate and other benchmarks are decreasing. Cuomo said he will lower restrictions in micro-cluster zones statewide–including a Queens yellow zone that covers portions of northern and central Queens…. Read more »
Jan. 22, 2021 By Allie Griffin The rental market in Queens has taken a hit over the past year — and western Queens saw a heavy decline. The average rent paid in December to nab a Queens apartment was down 6.23 percent, from December 2019, according to a recent report released by the real estate… Read more »
Jan. 25, 2021 By Allie Griffin The opening of a 24/7 COVID-19 vaccination site at Citi Field has been postponed as New York City’s supply of the vaccine dwindles. The vaccine “mega site” at the ball field was originally set to open this week. However, the city doesn’t have enough doses this week to supply… Read more »
Jan. 25, 2021 By Michael Dorgan The owner of a hookah lounge in Astoria was arrested for setting his own restaurant on fire after authorities got their hands on video that captured the incident. Asif Raja, 54, was caught on CCTV footage lighting multiple fires inside Ignited Restaurant and Lounge, located at 30-27 Steinway St.,… Read more »
Jan. 25, 2021 By Michael Dorgan A citywide initiative kicks off Monday to help struggling restaurants generate some much-needed cash in the midst of ongoing coronavirus lockdowns. The initiative, called Restaurant Week To Go, features 45 restaurants in Queens as part of the 570 eateries that are participating. The event runs from Jan. 25 through… Read more »
Jan. 25, 2021 By Christina Santucci Police released surveillance video Friday of two men involved in a shoot out in front of Hotel Nirvana in the Dutch Kills section of Long Island City on New Year’s Day. The NYPD is calling on the public to help them identify the men as well as a get-away… Read more »