June 15, 2020 By Allie Griffin The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that employers cannot fire workers based on their sexual orientation or gender identity and Queens elected officials are celebrating the historic decision. The Court ruled that an employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender violates Title VII of the… Read more »
June 15, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A trendy, upmarket bar/restaurant in Dutch Kills has shuttered after a near 7-year-run. Dutch Kills Centraal, located at 38-40 29th St., has closed for good, its owners announced Sunday. Dominic and Jean Stiller, a husband and wife duo, said that the business could not withstand the COVID-19 economic restrictions… Read more »
June 15, 2020 By Allie Griffin Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz has launched a new bureau dedicated to combating hate crimes. The announcement comes amid a national discussion on systemic racism following the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, as well as a recent uptick in biased attacks against Asian Americans during the coronavirus pandemic…. Read more »
June 15, 2020 By Asha MacKay The owner of CrossFit Sunnyside has dropped the CrossFit name and is rebranding in the wake of its global CEO making a number of insensitive and incendiary remarks following the death of George Floyd. Greg Glassman, the founder of the international CrossFit brand, showed little concern about Floyd’s brutal… Read more »
June 15, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Two men were shot and injured inside the Astoria Houses NYCHA complex Sunday. The victims, who were in the courtyard area at 4-10 27th Ave. at around 5 p.m., were caught completely unaware. They heard gunshots and then suddenly felt pain to their bodies, police said. One victim, a 52-year-old,… Read more »
June 14, 2020 By Christian Murray Former Council Member Elizabeth Crowley, who represented the 30th district in western Queens from 2009-2017, is running to be the next Queens Borough President. We spoke to Crowley last week. The focus of the discussion dealt with police reform, COVID-19, community boards and jobs. Crowley is one of several… Read more »
June 14, 2020 Staff Report A video has gone viral of a woman deliberately coughing on another customer at a bagel shop in Astoria. In the video, a woman comes into New York City Bagel & Coffee House on Broadway–near 30th Street–to pick up an order without a mask on June 6. Another customer complains… Read more »
June 14, 2020 By Christian Murray The rendering of a high school slated to go up on Northern Boulevard was released last week and its design was not lavished with praise. State Sen. Jessica Ramos, whose district borders the school site, as well as many residents said it looked like more like a jail than… Read more »
June 14, 2020 By Christian Murray The police have released video surveillance of a man wanted for a fatal stabbing in Jackson Heights Friday. The footage is of a suspect who allegedly killed a 21-year-old man by stabbing him multiple times in the chest on Northern Boulevard Friday evening. Police responded to a call at… Read more »
June 12, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a package of police reform bills into law Friday that seeks to improve relations between cops and the general public. The legislation, which was hurried through the state legislature earlier this week, will make police disciplinary records public, ban cops from using chokeholds on civilians… Read more »