Sept. 22, 2021 By Allie Griffin The final phase of the Queens Boulevard redesign project will be completed next month, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced at a press conference on Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills Wednesday. The fourth and final phase — from Yellowstone Boulevard to Union Turnpike — will be finished by Oct. 29,… Read more »
Sept. 22, 2021 By Allie Griffin Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other New York Congress members are calling on both the governor and mayor to immediately shut down the Rikers Island jail complex. Ocasio-Cortez and Reps. Jamaal Bowman, Jerry Nadler and Nydia Velázquez penned a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Bill de Blasio Tuesday… Read more »
Sept. 21, 2021 By Allie Griffin Democratic mayoral nominee Eric Adams wants to convert 25,000 outer-borough hotel rooms into permanent affordable housing. Adams outlined a plan — during a press conference in Sunset Park Monday — for the city to acquire economically distressed hotels in the outer boroughs and convert them into supportive housing. The… Read more »
Sept. 21, 2021 By Allie Griffin The city will require weekly COVID-19 testing of students and staff at public schools beginning next week, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday. The Department of Education will increase testing from biweekly to weekly at all public schools beginning Sept. 27. As such, 10 percent of unvaccinated students will… Read more »
Sept. 20, 2021 By Allie Griffin The New York City Department of Transportation has banned Revel scooters from the Queensboro Bridge, the agency confirmed Monday. The DOT informed the scooter-sharing app that it must end its users’ short-lived access to the bridge following safety concerns. In July, Revel permitted its riders with more than 25… Read more »
Sept. 20, 2021 By Allie Griffin A housing lottery has opened for 267 apartments in a new affordable development in Forest Hills. The units, which are located in two of a three-building development, are open to residents who fit low-, moderate- and middle-income categories. The apartments are part of a development operated by Phipps Houses,… Read more »
Sept. 17, 2021 By Allie Griffin The organizers of a Queens-based film festival will present an $8,000 check to Elmhurst Hospital Monday. The organizers of the annual Queens World Film Festival will donate the money — proceeds from the sale of “hero tickets” to its 11th annual festival held in June — during a ceremony… Read more »
Sept. 16, 2021 By Allie Griffin Council Member Francisco Moya has secured hundreds of thousands in funding to tackle illegal dumping in his district, he announced Wednesday. Moya has secured $472,000 from the Sanitation Department to increase litter basket service, install security cameras and more to fight illegal dumping across Corona, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights… Read more »
Sept 16, 2021 By Allie Griffin The Queens Night Market will open for the fall season in Flushing Meadows Corona Park Saturday with a Hurricane Ida relief fundraiser. The organizer of the popular nighttime food festival will collect donations at the door during the season opener to support Queens flood survivors who are unable to… Read more »
Sept. 15, 2021 By Allie Griffin Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will introduce a bill in the House of Representatives this week to extend federal unemployment insurance through February, she announced Tuesday. The federal unemployment benefits expired Sept. 6 — leaving millions of Americans without income as they look for work. An estimated 800,000 New York City… Read more »