Dec. 6, 2021 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday a major expansion of the city’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Children will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to go to a restaurant or movie starting later this month. All private-sector employees will also be mandated to get the shot. The city… Read more »
Dec. 3, 2021 By Allie Griffin Two cases of the COVID-19 variant known as Omicron have been detected in Queens, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday. Two Queens residents are among five New York state residents who have confirmed cases of the Omicron variant, which was first identified in South Africa last month. Health officials are… Read more »
Dec. 2, 2021 By Allie Griffin Tiffany Cabán was sworn into the City Council yesterday and announced Thursday that she has already signed on as a co-sponsor of 20 bills. Cabán was officially sworn in as the council member for 22nd Council District — becoming the first woman, first Latina and first queer person to… Read more »
Dec. 1, 2021 By Allie Griffin A 61-year-old Asian American woman was brutally assaulted in North Corona last week in what local leaders are saying was a racist attack. Queens officials and Asian American organizations gathered outside the Flushing branch of the Queens Public Library Tuesday to denounce recent attacks against Asian Americans, including the… Read more »
Nov. 30, 2021 By Allie Griffin Tiffany Cabán will be sworn into the City Council Wednesday to fill the vacant Astoria seat. Cabán, a former public defender, will be sworn in by the City Clerk at noon — a month ahead of other council members-elect in order to fill the District 22 vacancy left by… Read more »
Nov. 29, 2021 By Allie Griffin A 60-year-old woman who fatally struck a 37-year-old delivery worker in Astoria with her car this spring will not face charges, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office. The Queens DA issued a memo Nov. 15 stating that there is “insufficient evidence” to prosecute the woman who struck and… Read more »
Nov. 29, 2021 By Allie Griffin A beloved Greek-Cypriot restaurant closed its doors Sunday after serving customers in Astoria for more than three decades. Zenon Tavern, which had been in business for 33 years, posted on its website that its last day of operation was Nov. 28. The owners of the eatery thanked their customers… Read more »
Nov. 29, 2021 By Allie Griffin NRG, the Houston-based energy company, is refusing to back down on its plans to overhaul its 50-year-old peaker plant in Astoria. The company said the state’s decision to reject its plan to rebuild its Astoria plant was “short-sighted and politically driven.” Now, it hopes a judge will agree. NRG… Read more »
Nov. 24, 2021 By Allie Griffin New York City is on track to allow noncitizens the right to vote in local elections. City lawmakers will likely pass legislation next month that will give the city’s more than 800,000 green card holders and authorized workers the right to partake in municipal elections. The bill’s prime sponsor… Read more »
Nov. 24, 2021 By Allie Griffin The owner of “Queens’ oldest gay bar” has purchased the Jackson Heights building that the bar is housed in. Eddie Valentine, who owns Friend’s Tavern, recently acquired the building — located at 78-11 Roosevelt Ave. — effectively ensuring the 32-year-old bar’s future for years to come. Vallentine said he… Read more »