Author: Allie Griffin

Fundraiser Seeking $3M to Gift Donald Trump his Childhood Home Falling Short

Dec. 10, 2020 By Allie Griffin A fundraiser launched last month with the goal to raise $3 million to purchase the childhood home of President Donald Trump appears at this point to be a flop. The GoFundMe — launched by the real estate company representing the anonymous seller —urges Trump supporters to donate to the… Read more »

Council Committee Overwhelmingly Backs Flushing Waterfront Development, Votes 14-to-1

Dec. 9, 2020 By Allie Griffin The proposed 13-tower, mixed-use development on the Flushing waterfront is a step closer toward becoming a reality. The City Council’s Land Use Committee overwhelmingly voted to approve a zoning change that is needed for the ambitious project to move ahead. The committee voted 14-to-1 to approve the land use… Read more »

Queens Rents Have Dropped More Than 4 Percent From Last Year: Report

Dec. 9, 2020 By Allie Griffin The cost to rent an apartment in Queens has dropped more than 4 percent in the past year, according to a new report. The average amount paid to rent a studio, one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartment was down across the board, compared to the same time last year, according to… Read more »

Passenger in Stolen Car Killed in East Elmhurst Crash; Driver Arrested: NYPD

Dec. 9, 2020 By Allie Griffin A passenger in a stolen vehicle is dead after the driver smashed into a tree in East Elmhurst on Tuesday, police said. Christian Carrion-Rivera, 26, was behind the wheel of a stolen SUV when he lost control at around 9:15 a.m. while speeding along Ditmars Boulevard. The car then… Read more »

MTA to Work on Queens Boulevard Line Upgrades During Holidays, Affecting E and M Service

Dec 8, 2020 By Allie Griffin Queens straphangers will face service disruptions to their commute over the holidays due to track work along the Queens Boulevard line. Service on the E and M lines will be rerouted between Christmas and New Year’s Day, as Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) crews modernize the signaling system and perform track… Read more »

Queens Lawmakers Introduce Legislation Requiring State to Cover Cost of COVID Testing at Private Schools

Dec. 7, 2020 By Allie Griffin Two Queens lawmakers introduced legislation Thursday that would require New York State to cover the cost of COVID-19 testing at private, religious and other non-public schools. State Sen. Joe Addabbo and Assembly Member Andrew Hevesi sponsored a bill that would require the state to reimburse non-public schools for the cost… Read more »

Van Bramer Eyeing Another Run for Queens Borough President

Dec. 7, 2020 By Allie Griffin and Christian Murray Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer who represents Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside and Astoria, is contemplating a run for Queens Borough President once again, campaign filings show. Van Bramer has recently filed to run for borough president with the Campaign Finance Board and told Politico last… Read more »

Moya Denounces Vandalism at Winter Wonderland Display in Corona Park

Dec. 7, 2020 By Allie Griffin A winter wonderland display in a Corona park was trashed over the weekend with vandals ripping ornaments off the main Christmas tree, damaging smaller trees and tearing down dangling snowflakes. The festive holiday display at William F. Moore Park was vandalized overnight Saturday — less than two days after… Read more »

Indoor Dining in New York City Could End as Early as Monday, Cuomo Says

Dec. 7, 2020 By Allie Griffin Indoor dining in New York City could close once again if the city’s hospitalization rate continues to rise, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today. The governor said if the rate does not stabilize within five days indoor dining would close. The closure could come as early as next Monday, Dec…. Read more »

More than 21,000 School Students in Queens Were Homeless Last Year: Report

Dec. 6, 2020 By Allie Griffin More than 21,000 public school and charter school children in Queens had no permanent home last school year, according to a report released Thursday. The children represented about 20 percent of the roughly 111,000 students citywide who were homeless during the 2019-2020 school year, according to a report released… Read more »