Feb. 19, 2020 By Kristen Torres Lawmakers are split on whether or not to back the state’s six-week-old bail reform law, which has ignited fierce debate among elected officials, the police and criminal justice advocates since it went into effect on Jan. 1. The new law eliminated cash bail for most misdemeanor and non-violent offenses,… Read more »
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MTA Touts Improved On-Time Subway Performance
Feb. 19, 2020 By Kristen Torres The MTA said on-time performance rates for city subways in January approached a record high. Weekday subway on-time performance was around 83 percent last month—the highest of any January since 2013, the agency reported. There were just 29 major weekday incidents that caused delays throughout the month—a 44 percent… Read more »
Former Sanitation Worker Seeks 12th District Senate Seat, Says Incumbent Mike Gianaris Failed Public on Amazon and Bail Reform
Feb. 17, 2020 By Kristen Torres A former sanitation employee who spent 20 years working for the city is putting his hat in the ring to challenge State Senator Michael Gianaris in this year’s Democratic primary. Ignazio “Iggy” Terranova retired from the city’s Department of Sanitation after a decades-long career in 2019. His inspiration to… Read more »
City Plans on Closing Sanitation Facility on 21st Street, Public Hearing Tuesday
Feb. 17, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A public hearing is scheduled take place tomorrow to discuss the relocation of the DSNY garage and salt shed on 21st Street to an industrial area in Astoria. The city plans to move the current facility located at 34-28 21st St. to 30-11 20th Ave., by Luyster Creek, which… Read more »
Man Breaks Into 30th Avenue Bar and Steals $6,700 Cash: NYPD
Feb. 17, 2020 By Allie Griffin An alleged thief stole about $6,700 and two tablets from an Astoria cocktail bar and restaurant earlier this month. The unidentified man smashed in the front window of The Social, located at 37-06 30th Ave., at 6:30 a.m. on Feb. 8. He entered the restaurant and broke into the… Read more »
Woman Robs Man by Queensbridge Houses, Steals Cash and Metrocard: NYPD
Feb. 17, 2020 By Kristen Torres A woman snatched a man’s wallet out of his back pocket as he was walking home in Long Island City last week, police said. The 67-year-old victim was walking on the sidewalk in front of 22-14 40th Ave. on Feb. 10 around 6:30 p.m. when an unidentified woman went… Read more »
Protected Bicycle Lanes Planned for Crescent Street and 31st Street: DOT
Feb. 13, 2020 By Michael Dorgan The Department of Transportation presented plans for a comprehensive bicycle network at an Astoria public meeting Tuesday night that featured two protected bike-lane routes that will go north south. Around 130 people attended the event at P.S. 166 on 33-17 35th Ave, where the DOT put forward draft plans… Read more »
Astoria’s 114th Precinct Accounted for the Highest Number of Stop-and-Frisk Incidents in Queens Last Year: NYPD
Feb. 13, 2020 By Kristen Torres Astoria saw the highest number of stop-and-frisk incidents by police in Queens last year, according to recently released NYPD data. The 114th precinct in Astoria reported the greatest number of stops of any of the 16 precincts in Queens in 2019, with 242 incidents. Nearly 2,500 stops took place… Read more »
City Council Passes ‘Reckless Driver” Bill
Feb. 12, 2020 By Kristen Torres The City Council passed landmark legislation Tuesday that would force drivers who rack up tickets for running red lights or speeding to take a traffic safety course– or else risk getting their car impounded by the Sheriff’s Office. Council Member Brad Lander, who represents parts of western Brooklyn, sponsored… Read more »
Former CNBC Anchor and Sunnyside Resident to Challenge AOC in Primary
Feb. 11, 2020 By Allie Griffin A former CNBC anchor and Sunnyside resident will challenge Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for her Congressional seat in the Democratic primary election. Michelle Caruso-Cabrera today announced her run for the 14th District, which covers Astoria, College Point, Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Sunnyside, Woodside and parts of the Bronx. “I’m… Read more »