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 »
June 19, 2019 By Laura Hanrahan The New York City Council’s Black, Latino/a, Asian Caucus (BLAC) and Progressive Caucus united yesterday to voice their support for Education Chancellor Richard Carranza after a letter, signed by seven City Council members and two Assembly members, was sent to Mayor Bill de Blasio on Saturday condemning Carranza’s alleged… Read more »
June 18, 2019 By Meghan Sackman Queens Borough President Melinda Katz announced today that she has allocated $65 million for capital projects throughout Queens in fiscal year 2020. The $65 million, to be used to upgrade and improve 80 different projects in Queens, is part of the $92.8 billion Fiscal Year 2020 budget agreement reached by… Read more »
June 18, 2019 By Laura Hanrahan Governor Andrew Cuomo announced yesterday an agreement with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority that would add 500 officers to the city’s transit system to crack down on the increasing number of fare evasions and assaults on transit workers. “This year we succeeded in making historic reforms to the MTA and… Read more »