March 17, 2021 By Allie Griffin JetBlue is considering pulling its headquarters from Long Island City, where it’s been for roughly a decade, according to a new report. The airline, which brands itself as “New York’s Hometown Airline,” has been headquartered in Queens since its founding in 1999. JetBlue, however, may move jobs out of… Read more »
March 16, 2021 By Allie Griffin Elected officials in Jackson Heights and Elmhurst appear to be divided as to who they want as their next council member. State Senator Jessica Ramos endorsed candidate Carolyn Tran, a single mom and former council staffer, for the District 25 city council race last week. Meanwhile, about a month… Read more »
March 15, 2021 By Allie Griffin The city is launching a new community-based pilot program to prevent gun violence in five precincts across the city–including the Queens precinct where a 37-year-old woman was killed Friday by a stray bullet. The program, called the Advance Peace Model, will start in July and pair at-risk youth with… Read more »
March 15, 2021 By Allie Griffin The New York Blood Center is hosting a series of blood drives across the five boroughs this month in honor of two young brothers from Queens Village — who were both born with a rare blood disease. The drives, which run from March 13 through March 31, will be… Read more »
March 12, 2021 By Allie Griffin Governor Andrew Cuomo refused to step down Friday despite mounting calls for his resignation from powerful federal lawmakers after six women accused him of sexual harassment. The vast majority of the Democratic members of New York’s congressional delegation — including several from Queens — called for Cuomo to resign… Read more »
March 12, 2021 By Allie Griffin Queens Congressmembers Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Grace Meng, Carolyn Maloney and Nydia Velazquez are all calling on Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign amid a flurry of sexual harassment allegations. The congressmembers are among the latest to call on Cuomo to step aside and allow the lieutenant governor to take over. Cuomo… Read more »
March 11, 2021 By Allie Griffin A Queens food writer and a group of real estate developers have joined forces to launch Astoria Eats, a new website that features a curation of food items from several Astoria eateries. The website offers a selection of menu items from Astoria-based restaurants curated by Joe DiStefano, a food… Read more »
March 12, 2021 By Allie Griffin Queens State Sen. John Liu has endorsed Julie Won in the crowded District 26 Council race. Won, a tech consultant and Queens Community Board 2 member, is one about 20 candidates running for the seat representing Sunnyside, Woodside, Long Island City and parts of Astoria. Liu said he was… Read more »
March 11, 2021 By Allie Griffin A Flushing couple has been indicted on sex trafficking charges for allegedly bringing two women into the country from Korea and forcing them into prostitution, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today. Jung Ja Ornstein, 62, and Eric Ornstein, 49, allegedly arranged the transportation of the two women from… Read more »
March 11, 2021 By Allie Griffin More than 55 state legislators, including 14 from Queens, are calling for Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign amid mounting sexual harassment allegations and the state’s nursing home death scandal. The Democratic lawmakers released a joint statement Thursday demanding Cuomo resign and allow the lieutenant governor to take over for… Read more »