June 25, 2019 By Christian Murray The Astoria Park Pool opens Thursday along with 52 other outdoor New York City pools. City pools traditionally open the day after public schools close. The Astoria Park Pool, located at 19th Street and 23rd Dr., will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., except for a cleaning… Read more »
June 25, 2019 By Shane O’Brien The annual 4th of July fireworks display will take place at Astoria Park on Thursday. Organized by the Central Astoria Local Development Coalition Inc.(CALDC), the celebration will take place on the Great Lawn exactly a week before Independence Day. The non-profit organization has been hosting the 4th of July… Read more »
June 24, 2019 By Laura Hanrahan and Christian Murray State Senator Michael Gianaris endorsed public defender Tiffany Cabán, 31, over the weekend in the contentious race for Queens District Attorney. “I’m interested in supporting someone who is going to bring real change to the prosecutor’s office,” Gianaris said when he made the announcement. “Tiffany Cabán… Read more »
June 23, 2019 By Shane O’Brien State Sen. Mike Gianaris faces a challenger in next year’s Democratic primary. Justin Potter, a Long Island City resident, announced the launch of his campaign to represent the 12th Senate district recently, arguing that people can no longer count on Gianaris to take a pragmatic approach to policymaking. Much… Read more »
June 21, 2019 By Christian Murray BJ’s Wholesale Club and Burlington Coat Factory are likely to be opening on 48th Street in the mall that used to house National Wholesale Liquidators and Toys R Us. Heidenberg Properties Group, the owner of the 35-00 48th Street mall, went before Community Board 1 Tuesday to get the… Read more »
June 20, 2019 By Shane O’Brien Astoria’s first dog run has opened although the official unveiling is scheduled for mid-July. The long-awaited dog park at Triborough Bridge Playground C on Hoyt Avenue was open to the public Thursday and pooches large and small were seen to be enjoying the new play space. The bone-shaped park,… Read more »
June 20, 2019 By Shane O’Brien Community leaders and elected officials announced today that the Astoria Houses Senior Center will remain open. The announcement comes just two months after the Mayor’s office had proposed shutting down the facility, citing low attendance as the reason. The administration threatened to close the facility and many others operated… Read more »
June 20, 2019 By Laura Hanrahan The Assembly passed a bill Wednesday introduced by Aravella Simotas that would increase the statute of limitations for both second degree rape and incest. Victims of these crimes would have 20 years to report them, quadrupling the current five year limit. The bill was also passed by the senate…. Read more »
June 19, 2019 By Laura Hanrahan The city has launched a lawsuit against a number of Astoria residents accused of using Airbnb and other rental platforms to illegally rent out housing in 36 buildings across the City. The operators, according to the suit, converted 60 housing units into illegal hotels, and between 2015 and 2019… Read more »
June 19, 2019 By Laura Hanrahan (Updated) Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer and the Parks Dept. will officially reopen Dutch Kills Playground Thursday, marking the completion of a $4.5 million overhaul. The Parks Dept. has reconstructed the northern section of the playground, which now features new adult fitness equipment, basketball and handball courts, new accessible play… Read more »