Feb. 5, 2019 By Meghan Sackman The Astoria-based activist and community organizer who made headlines last year after confronting then-Sen. Jeff Flake at Capitol Hill over Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination has been invited by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to be her guest at tonight’s State of the Union. Ocasio-Cortez announced on Monday that Ana Maria… Read more »
Feb. 5, 2019 By Meghan Sackman A man was pulled out of the waters near Astoria after he apparently jumped off the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge yesterday morning, according to police. Police received a call around 8:52 a.m. on Feb. 4 of a man, who appeared to be still alive, floating in the East River… Read more »
Feb. 4, 2019 By Meghan Sackman Councilmember Costa Constantinides unveiled his 2019 plans for Astoria and East Elmhurst in his State of the District speech Thursday night delivered at The Alfred Zimberg School. Constantinides said his major plans include building a solar energy plant and wind farms on Rikers Island once the 400-acre prison site… Read more »
Feb. 2, 2019 By Christian Murray The police have released a photo of a man who allegedly spat on a Muslim woman on a Dutch Kills street last week. The suspect allegedly walked past the woman–who was wearing a hijab–at around 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 29 and spat on her in front of 37-14 30th… Read more »
Feb. 1, 2019 Staff Report Assemblymember Aravella Simotas announced yesterday that she is introducing legislation to correct a shortcoming in the record sealing law enacted last year as part of New York’s Raise the Age reforms. While the law currently allows individuals to apply to have a felony conviction sealed if a judge granted them… Read more »
Jan. 31, 2019 By Nathaly Pesantez The Astoria Boulevard station will be closing in March until the end of the year in a major nine-month overhaul that includes road closures below and service changes along the line. Representatives from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority presented plans for the 102-year-old station in a meeting last night hosted… Read more »
Jan. 31, 2019 By Meghan Sackman A handful of elementary and middle schools in Astoria and Long Island City will have solar panels installed in a green initiative announced yesterday by Council Member Costa Constantinides. Six schools will see the panels installed over the next two years in an effort that aims to teach students… Read more »
Jan. 30, 2019 By Meghan Sackman The 114th Precinct has confiscated 11 e-bikes in the past week as part of a sting to get the illegal vehicles off the streets. The e-bikes were taken while riders were making food deliveries, with some of the bikes owned by the restaurants and others their employees. The 114th… Read more »
Feb. 4, 2019 Staff Report Police have apprehended a suspect who escaped from their custody during an arrest at the Queensbridge Houses last week. NYPD Crime Stoppers announced via Twitter this morning that Mohamed Saleh, 32, has been caught after fleeing from police while in handcuffs during a large drug bust on Jan. 29. Saleh… Read more »
Jan. 30, 2019 By Meghan Sackman Nomiki Konst, one of several candidates in the running for Public Advocate, took to Astoria yesterday to release her environmental platform in an event that also saw her campaign endorsed by Council Member Costa Constantinides. Konst, a former investigative reporter and activist, pledged in her Jan. 29 conference outside… Read more »