Author: Allie Griffin

June 24, 2020 By Allie Griffin Travelers from states with a high rate of COVID-19 infection must quarantine for 14 days upon entering New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today. Cuomo made the announcement with the governors of New Jersey and Connecticut via video in a joint press conference Wednesday. “We are announcing today a… Read more »

June 24, 2020 By Allie Griffin Progressive newcomer Zohran Mamdani is leading incumbent Aravella Simotas in the race to represent Astoria in the state Assembly. Mamdani has taken roughly 54 percent of votes, while Simotas has secured 46 percent, in the race to represent the 36th District in the Assembly — with 76 percent of… Read more »

June 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin Council Member Donovan Richards has clinched an early lead in the race to be the next Queens Borough President — though the official winner won’t be announced for at least a week. Richards, the Queens Democratic party pick, had nearly 38 percent of the votes in the Democratic primary… Read more »

June 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin Alternate side parking rules will be cut to once per week across the entire city for a one-week pilot beginning Monday — in what could well become a permanent change. The city will cut street cleaning and alternate side parking rules to once a week on streets where they… Read more »

June 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Monday that her office has formed a violent crimes bureau to prosecute street gangs, drug traffickers and firearms dealers. The newly-created Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau combines the former Narcotics Investigations and Gang Violence bureaus. The unit focuses on identifying organized criminal activity in… Read more »

June 22, 2020 By Allie Griffin Playgrounds opened for New York City children today, but Big Apple pups will have to wait longer to play inside public dog runs. Playgrounds reopened today as the city entered Phase Two of the reopening plan, while other defined spaces inside city parks remain closed — including dog runs… Read more »

June 19, 2020 By Allie Griffin A Bayside resident was assaulted by an alleged bigot at a local 7-Eleven last week and the whole incident was caught on tape. Sungmin Kwon, a South Korean student at Queens College, was picking up snacks at the convenience store, located at 218-01 Northern Blvd., on June 13 when… Read more »

June 19, 2020 By Allie Griffin A street safety advocacy group is calling on the mayor to redistribute a portion of the NYPD budget to the Department of Transportation (DOT) and shift traffic enforcement away from police officers. Transportation Alternatives released a report Friday in which its members argue that police enforcement of traffic laws… Read more »

June 18, 2020 By Allie Griffin Queens leaders celebrated the Supreme Court’s decision today blocking President Donald Trump from ending the DACA program. The Court ruled, 5-4, that Trump cannot terminate the “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals” or DACA program that protects people unlawfully brought into the country as young children from deportation. The news… 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 »