June 18, 2020 By Christian Murray New York State faces a $14 billion deficit and more than 100 state legislators—including 18 from Queens—have pledged that they will not approve spending cuts unless taxes are raised on the wealthy. The legislators are upset that Governor Andrew Cuomo does not want to raise taxes on the wealthy… Read more »
June 18, 2020 By Allie Griffin New Yorkers will be able to dine out at their local restaurants Monday, as New York City begins the next phase of reopening. Mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed today that the five boroughs will enter Phase Two of the state’s reopening plan Monday, noting that restaurants will be able… Read more »
June 18, 2020 By Michael Dorgan More than 400 protesters marched through Astoria Wednesday evening demanding that the Christopher Columbus statue on Astoria Boulevard be removed. The protest, led by local group Justice for George Queens, said that the statue is offensive. The organizers said that Columbus exploited the indigenous populations of the Americas and… Read more »
June 17, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Council Member Donovan Richards, a borough president candidate, has called on the city to remove NYPD officers from school security duties. Richards wants the Department of Education to take back the role of school safety following widespread demands for police reform. Donovan, in a joint statement released with Brooklyn… Read more »
June 18, 2020 By Allie Griffin A robber shot a 43-year-old man in Corona Sunday and took off with the man’s backpack. The unidentified perpetrator approached the victim from behind at about 3:50 p.m. near Horace Harding Expressway and Calloway Street, police said. He then knocked the man to the ground and shot him once… Read more »
June 18, 2020 By Allie Griffin Two people were shot near the Woodside Houses Monday, including a bystander. Three men fired several rounds near Broadway and 51st Street just before 8 p.m. The bullets struck a 31-year-old man in the back and grazed a bystander, a 44-year-old woman, in the back, police said. An ambulance… Read more »
June 18, 2020 By Allie Griffin A burglar allegedly stole several thousand dollars from an Astoria Popeyes Monday. The man climbed onto the roof of the fried chicken chain restaurant, located at 32-78 48th St., and broke in from above at about 4:25 a.m., police said. Inside, he grabbed $4,600 from cash registers and ran… Read more »
June 18, 2020 By Christian Murray Dao Yin, a Bayside businessman and community activist, is running to be the next Queens Borough President. We spoke to Yin earlier this week. The focus of our discussion dealt with police reform, Rikers Island, COVID-19, community boards and jobs. Yin is one of several candidates in the race…. Read more »
June 18, 2020 By Christian Murray The New York City Rent Guidelines Board voted last night for a rent freeze on the nearly one million rent stabilized apartments. The 6-3 vote will see a rent freeze on one-year leases that go into effect after Sept. 30. The board ruled that on two-year leases, the rent… Read more »
June 17, 2020 By Allie Griffin The New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) rejected an application for a mega wine and liquor outlet store slated for College Point. The SLA members voted unanimously to deny the application last week for Total Wine & More, which planned to open a mega store at 30-02 Whitestone Expressway…. Read more »