Sept. 25, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City’s popular outdoor dining initiative will now be year-round and permanent, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. The “Open Restaurants” program, where restaurants can set up outdoor dining on sidewalks and streets, will continue into the fall and winter months, de Blasio said. The “Open Streets: Restaurants”… Read more »
Sept. 25, 2020 By Christian Murray Next June there will be hundreds of candidates across the city vying for the 51 council seats on offer. In Queens, there are 15 council seats up for grabs–with only four incumbents eligible to run again due to term limits. We plan to speak to as many candidates running… Read more »
Sept. 25, 2020 By Allie Griffin The city is threatening to shut down nonessential businesses and limit gatherings in neighborhoods with coronavirus clusters if cases continue to rise. Kew Gardens and Far Rockaway, along with several neighborhoods in Brooklyn, are in danger of a second shutdown if the cases don’t decline by Monday, the Health… Read more »
Sept. 25, 2020 Staff Report A real estate investment group has signed a contract to buy Silvercup Studios for $500 million, according to the Wall Street Journal. The group led by Hackman Capital Partners, a Los Angeles-based real-estate investor and operator, signed a contract to buy the studios and the accompanying real estate, the outlet… Read more »
Sept. 25, 2020 By Christian Murray A 56-year-old pedestrian was struck dead by a BMW while crossing College Point Boulevard on Saturday. Lujan Quintero, a Flushing resident, was crossing midblock in the vicinity of Avery Avenue when he was hit by a northbound 2014 BMW sedan at around 9:10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19. The… Read more »
Sept. 24, 2020 By Allie Griffin A Flushing-based food pantry has suddenly lost its funding at a time when more New Yorkers are going hungry amid the pandemic and subsequent shutdown. La Jornada, which has distributed food to Queens residents for 12 years, recently lost its federal grant from a coronavirus food assistance program, U.S…. Read more »
Sept. 24, 2020 Staff Report A giant private equity firm has bought a building located in Queens Plaza for $40 million. The Carlyle Group—along with Botantic Properties– has purchase 24-02 Queens Plaza South from Atlas Capital, according to city records. The three story property–built in 1949– is currently occupied by the Apex Technical School. The… Read more »
Sept. 24, 2020 By Allie Griffin Queens State Sen. Jessica Ramos and City Comptroller Scott Stringer are calling on the city to make its Open Streets program a year-round initiative. The officials penned a letter to the mayor Thursday asking him to extend the program that turns specific streets over to pedestrians and restaurants beyond… Read more »
Sept. 24, 2020 By Christian Murray The Queens Public Library announced today that seven additional branches are slated to reopen for “to-go” service Monday. The library system currently has 15 branches open for to-got service and after Monday it will have 22 up and running. The latest branches to be added include the Arverne Library,… Read more »
Sept. 24, 2020 By Allie Griffin A 27-year-old Woodside deliveryman died after he crashed his Yamaha scooter into a minivan in Astoria Wednesday night. Mariano Canales, who lived on 58th Street, was driving a blue Yamaha Chappy Scooter east down 24th Avenue when he ran into a white Chrysler Town & Country which was crossing… Read more »