April 17, 2020 By Michael Dorgan The city has joined forces with a prominent foundation to create a new COVID-19 relief program for undocumented immigrants that will see some families receive up to $1,000, Mayor Bill De Blasio has announced. The Open Society, a progressive philanthropic foundation, has donated $20 million to the city and… Read more »
April 17, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Several Queens officials are backing legislation that would ban vehicles on up to 75 miles of city streets to create space for pedestrians. Council Members Costa Constantinides, Daniel Dromm and Peter Koo are supporting legislation that would block vehicles from certain roads so that the public can use them… Read more »
April 17, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City is increasing its COVID-19 testing capacity by adding new test facilities to each of the five boroughs, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. In Queens, one testing site opened today at York College in Jamaica and the previously announced testing site at Queens Hospital in Jamaica… Read more »
April 16, 2020 By Allie Griffin A prominent Long Island City-based plastics company is manufacturing protective face shields for healthcare workers battling COVID-19. Plaxall — a neighborhood mainstay for 70 years and a well-known property owner— is currently coordinating with city and state officials to distribute face shields for local hospitals. Paula Kirby, the managing… Read more »
April 17, 2020 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that he is cancelling all nonessential events next month — including parades, street fairs, rallies and concerts — amid the coronavirus outbreak. The mayor said that June events are also unlikely to take place, adding that he can’t envision thousands of people gathering… Read more »
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 »