Jan. 8, 2024 By Martha Stark For decades, it has been an open secret that New York City’s property tax system is inequitable and unfair. This regressive system, rooted in outdated and discriminatory policies, has not only exacerbated the housing crisis but also deepened the economic divide, disproportionately burdening lower-income and minority communities. Next week,…
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Jan. 8, 2024 By Bill Parry and by Lloyd Mitchell A two-alarm fire that broke out in a commercial building in South Richmond Hill on Saturday night was caused by an exploding lithium-ion battery that saw nearly two dozen e-bikes erupt in flames, according to the FDNY. Fire marshals based their determination on a digital…
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Jan. 8, 2024 By Iryna Shkurhan Advocates standing up for elderly, disabled and low-income bus riders brought up several issues with the MTA’s proposed plan to redesign the entire Queens bus network during a virtual meeting held by a transit advocacy group on Thursday. About a dozen participants who familiarized themselves with the MTA’s $30 million bus plan, which was unveiled in December, say that its proposed removal of over a thousand bus stops will hurt riders. While the MTA hopes to give riders faster and more consistent service, while also combatting low ridership, advocates argue that it has failed…
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Jan. 5, 2024 By Bill Parry
A 44-year-old woman fell victim to a pickpocket in broad daylight along a bustling stretch of Main Street in Flushing late last month.
Jan. 5, 2024 By Bill Parry Police are looking for three men wanted for hitting up three banks across Queens over the past two weeks. The thieves allegedly targeted banks in Glendale, Jamaica Hills and Woodhaven between Dec. 26 and Wednesday, Jan 3, cops said. The most recent incident took place at around 11:30 a.m….
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Jan. 5, 2024 By Anthony Medina A mother is seeking answers following the theft of her disabled son’s wheelchair by a group of thieves outside of her South Ozone Park home on Monday. Marta Escobar, a mother of a 4-year-old disabled child, says she left her home around 5:30 p.m. to run errands when a…
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Jan. 5, 2024 By Iryna Shkurhan Following three months of voting, the nominees for the inaugural Best of Bayside contest, organized by the Bayside Business Association, are here. Voting for the contest opened in October in an effort to highlight popular establishments in Bayside. With over 50 members, the BBA seeks to empower business owners…
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Jan. 4, 2024 By Bill Parry A 73-year-old man was punched in the face by a stranger while on a Rosedale street Wednesday morning, police said. The senior was in front of 253-51 Rockaway Blvd. just before 6 a.m. on Jan. 3, when he got into a verbal dispute with a man that turned physical—with…
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Jan. 4, 2024 By Ethan Marshall New events come with the new year. As we enter the first weekend of 2024, there is plenty of things to do across Queens. Whether it is related to art, entertaining performances, or even contributing to the community, there are a lot of activities to keep people occupied in…
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Jan. 4, 2024 By Anthony Medina A new bill sponsored by Queens Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar aims to shut down smoke shops that are illegally selling cannabis in New York City. Rajkumar’s bill, called the SMOKEOUT Act (A8428), was introduced in Albany last week, and would grant local municipalities the power to close smoke shops caught illegally selling cannabis. Currently, the industry is primarily policed on a state level and enforcement has been limited. The bill aims to address the public’s concern about the proliferation of illegal smoke shops, which have emerged since cannabis use was legalized in 2021. “My…
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