June 28, 2023 By Bill Parry The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is still looking for the man who allegedly drew swastikas on the outside wall of the Sunnyside library more than a month ago. The 108th Precinct in Long Island City received a report that during the afternoon of Friday, May 5, the suspect… Read more »
Author: bparry
Lawmakers gather in Astoria to unveil bill addressing pedestrian fatalities caused by oversized vehicles
June 27, 2023 By Bill Parry Armed with a new study that details the carnage on New York City streets caused by divers of SUVs and other large vehicles, Astoria Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani and Brooklyn state Senator Andrew Gounardes announced new legislation that would increase the registration fees for oversized personal vehicles. The lawmakers were… Read more »
Astoria-based HANAC provides services to help seniors live independently
June 21, 2023 By Bill Parry With the arrival of summer and the inevitable heat waves posing a challenge for the city’s elderly, along with the exorbitantly high cost of living, a western Queens-based nonprofit is reminding elderly New Yorkers that they do more than build and operate senior affordable housing. Since it was founded… Read more »
Man stabbed in Astoria with such force blade became lodged in victim’s back: NYPD
June 21, 2023 By Bill Parry A man was stabbed in the back as he walked along Ditmars Boulevard in Astoria in broad daylight Tuesday morning, according to authorities. Police from the 114th Precinct in Astoria reported that the 21-year-old victim was walking in front of 47-04 Ditmars Blvd., near the heavily trafficked intersection with… Read more »
Small business owners rally against commercial rent hikes at Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights
June 15, 2023 By Bill Parry Small business owners and advocates from across Queens rallied with elected officials on Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights on June 14 to highlight the challenges that excessive rent hikes are creating in neighborhoods throughout the borough. The merchants accused “predatory landlords” of doubling and tripling commercial rents that have… Read more »
Man sought in random attack in broad daylight on 7 train in Jackson Heights: NYPD
June 13, 2023 By Bill Parry A 7 train rider became the victim of an unprovoked attack in broad daylight on Sunday and police from the 115th Precinct in Jackson Heights and Transit District 20 are looking for a suspect in connection with the assault. Police say that at around 12:40 p.m. on June 11,… Read more »
Long Island teen indicted on manslaughter charges in crash that killed 16-year-old boy in Astoria: DA
June 7, 2023 By Bill Parry A Long Island teen on Wednesday was indicted by a Queens grand jury on manslaughter charges in connection with a hit-and-run crash that killed a 16-year-old boy in Astoria in April. Yaser Ibrahim, 18, of Levittown, was arraigned before Queens Supreme Court Justice Bruna Dibiase on an 11-count indictment… Read more »
Senate passes Queens lawmaker’s bill to prepare and protect state agencies against ransomware attacks
June 7, 2023 By Bill Parry With her first legislative session in Albany drawing to a close for the summer, rookie state Senator Kristen Gonzalez, the youngest woman ever elected to the Senate at age 27, has proven herself to be a prolific lawmaker. Her Secure Our Data Act was passed by a full Senate… Read more »
Astoria Film Festival returns with in-person screenings at Kaufman Astoria Studios June 10, 11
June 5, 2023 By Bill Parry The sixth annual Astoria Film Festival is underway with online programming to support filmmakers with disabilities and others who can’t make it to the in-person festival at Kaufman Astoria Studios, with the Youth Film Festival on Saturday, June 9, and the Main Film Festival on Sunday, June 11. The… Read more »
Queens lawmaker’s measure to repeal citizen’s arrest law in New York passes in Senate
June 5, 2023 By Bill Parry State Senator Michael Gianaris on June 2 announced that his legislation to end citizen’s arrests in New York passed in the upper chamber. Gianaris first introduced his citizen’s arrest repeal measure in the wake of the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man in Georgia who was murdered… Read more »