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 »
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 »