April 17, 2020 Staff Report The popular strip along Shore Boulevard by Astoria Park has been closed to traffic indefinitely as a means to stop people from congregating. The boulevard, a long-time gathering spot for motorcycle and car enthusiasts, was still drawing people each night despite calls for social distancing. The strip was closed yesterday… Read more »
April 17, 2020 By Christian Murray Several Queens council members have penned a letter to Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza to let him know that many low-income parents have not received the equipment their children need for remote learning. New York City public schools started remote learning on March 23 and many schools were able to… Read more »
April 16, 2020 By Christian Murray New York City’s public pools will be be shut this summer. Mayor Bill de Blasio made the announcement at a press briefing this morning when he also warned that beaches may close too. The city operates more than 50 outdoor pools, including seven in Queens. The mayor said the… Read more »
April 16, 2020 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that he plans to slash billions of dollars from the city’s budget for the 2021 fiscal year that begins July 1. He has proposed cutting $2.7 billion in funding to ease a loss of tax revenue that the city estimates to be $7.4… Read more »
April 16, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City will offer 11,000 free hotel rooms to New Yorkers who live in overcrowded households in an effort to control the spread of COVID-19, Mayor Bill de Blasio said today. The initiative, which begins next Wednesday, is targeted toward hard-hit communities where many impoverished families live in… Read more »
April 16, 2020 By Christian Murray Gov. Andrew Cuomo has extended the state shutdown until May 15. The restrictions were originally in place through April 29 but Cuomo said they need to be extended in order to contain the virus. He said that while it appears as though the virus has peaked, it is still… Read more »
April 16, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Police are searching for a man wanted for an armed robbery of a Jackson Heights gas station Monday night. On April 13, at around 11:40 p.m., the suspect entered the BP Gas Station, located at 75-15 Northern Blvd. and wielded a firearm at staff, according to police. The suspect… Read more »
April 16, 2020 By Michael Dorgan An unidentified man’s body was found floating in the East River by Roosevelt Island this morning. Police responded to a 911 call at around 6:28 a.m. about a person in the water near NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler by 900 Main St. in Roosevelt Island, according to police. The NYPD… Read more »
April 16, 2020 By Allie Griffin A 25-year-old man who was shot in front of the Astoria Houses last week died at the hospital yesterday. Darrian Ramdial, of Mount Vernon, NY, was shot in front of 3-20 27th Ave. shortly before 3 p.m. last Thursday, police said. He suffered a gunshot wound to the lower… Read more »
April 15, 2020 By Allie Griffin The Mayor is launching a $170 million initiative to feed hungry New Yorkers–many of whom have lost their jobs or income due to the coronavirus pandemic. “We’re dealing with an unprecedented challenge in terms of people needing food, so we’re going to create an unprecedented response,” Mayor Bill de… Read more »