Feb. 26, 2021 By Christian Murray A Queens state senator introduced legislation Thursday that aims to protect commercial tenants from personal liability if they unable to pay their rent due to COVID-19. The bill, sponsored by State Sen. Mike Gianaris, aims to protect business owners who were forced to close due to the pandemic from… Read more »
Feb. 26, 2021 By Christian Murray A number of high-profile developers who are profiting from a Trump-era tax break may be forced to pay more in taxes if a bill State Sen. Mike Gianaris is sponsoring becomes law. The bill, dubbed the Opportunity Zone Tax Break Elimination Act, would scrap a handsome tax break that… Read more »
Feb. 23, 2021 By Christina Santucci A state supreme court justice has dismissed a lawsuit filed by nearly 100 political candidates that sought to cancel the requirements for in-person signatures required to get on the ballot. The group of more than 100 plaintiffs, including about a dozen Queens candidates, filed suit Feb. 8 against Governor… Read more »
Feb. 23, 2021 By Christina Santucci A Republican district leader from northeast Queens was arrested Monday by the FBI in connection with the riot at the Capitol building last month, according to law enforcement sources and court documents. Philip Grillo, 46, who was picked up by authorities at his girlfriend’s Glen Oaks home yesterday, is… Read more »
Feb. 23, 2021 By Christina Santucci The number of applications for a seat on a community board in Queens went up by more than 56 percent this year. The borough president received 931 applications for the unpaid positions, up from 595 in 2020. The number was an all-time high, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said…. Read more »
Feb. 22, 2021 By Christina Santucci New Yorkers will soon be able to watch the latest movie on the big screen. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that theaters in New York City will be able to open at 25 percent of normal capacity beginning March 5. The state, however, will limit each screening to 50… Read more »
Feb. 22, 2021 By Christina Santucci A Supreme Court justice is now weighing in on a lawsuit brought by more than 100 political candidates and their supporters — asking that the requirements to collect in-person signatures to get on the ballot be waived. State Supreme Court Justice Frank P. Nervo presided over a hearing about… Read more »
Feb. 22, 2021 By Christina Santucci Queens Congress member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has helped raise more than $4 million for relief efforts in Texas, where a winter storm and ensuing power outages wreaked havoc last week. Ocasio-Cortez announced the fundraising milestone in a tweet Saturday. Donations will be split evenly among 12 food banks and organizations… Read more »
Feb. 22, 2021 By Christina Santucci A chicken found in a beer box in Astoria Park last weekend is on the mend at a Manhattan bird rehab center. The rescued hen, now named Lily, is being treated for bumblefoot and other potential infections, but is still a bit lethargic, a spokesperson for the Wild Bird… Read more »
Feb. 21, 2021 By Christina Santucci A carbon monoxide leak sickened nine people — including a 3-year-old child — in East Elmhurst early Saturday, according to the FDNY and published reports. Five people were taken to a local hospital, including one person in critical condition, and four people were treated at the scene, the FDNY… Read more »