Dec. 14, 2021 By Allie Griffin and Christian Murray A street corner in Woodside is going to be co-named “Little Manila Avenue” as an ode to the Filipino community in the neighborhood. The NYC Council Parks and Recreation committee voted 15-0 Tuesday in favor of co-naming the southwest corner of Roosevelt Avenue and 70th Street… Read more »
Dec. 13, 2021 By Allie Griffin A former NYPD officer who once served as a bodyguard for El Chapo’s wife was indicted Friday for allegedly transporting cocaine throughout Queens in 2019. Ishmael Bailey, of Staten Island, was arraigned in Queens Supreme Court on charges of selling and possessing a controlled substance, receiving bribes, conspiracy and… Read more »
Dec. 13, 2021 By Allie Griffin A Flushing-based pediatrician was indicted on attempted murder and other charges Thursday for allegedly stabbing a pregnant employee at his medical office over the summer. Jianqiang An, 58, who runs a pediatric clinic in Flushing, allegedly slashed his 30-year-old pregnant employee repeatedly with a knife on June 21 in… Read more »
Dec. 13, 2021 By Allie Griffin A 34-year-old New Jersey man is dead after crashing his car on the Whitestone Expressway early Saturday. Omkar Shivnauth, of Rockaway, NJ, died after losing control of his Toyota Highlander and smashing into a cement median at 4:20 a.m., police said. Shivnauth, according to police, was driving northbound on… Read more »
Dec. 10, 2021 By Allie Griffin The City Council passed a bill Thursday aimed at protecting city trees across the five boroughs. The Council voted unanimously in favor of a bill sponsored by Flushing Council Member Peter Koo that requires the Parks Department to more regularly inspect trees and to publish its findings for the… Read more »
Dec. 9, 2021 By Allie Griffin A comedian who was born and raised in Queens — and at one time owned a comedy club in Long Island City — is returning to the elementary school he attended as a kid to perform and film a comedy special. Comedian Steve Hofstetter will make a return to… Read more »
Dec. 9, 2021 By Allie Griffin Queens officials are calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to replenish and reopen the Excluded Workers Fund after the state closed applications in October upon running out of money. Officials such as State Sen. Jessica Ramos and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards are urging Hochul to inject $3 billion into… Read more »
Dec. 8, 2021 By Allie Griffin Two men were caught with two kilos of fentanyl in their car last week during a traffic stop in Bayside. The men — Navarro Gonzalez, 26, of California, and Esquer, 48, of Jalisco, Mexico — were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and other crimes in Queens… Read more »
Dec. 7, 2021 By Allie Griffin Queens Republicans are pushing back against a City Council bill that would provide legal noncitizens with the right vote in city elections. Republicans and other critics have held press conferences, launched ‘call to action’ campaigns and have publicly condemned the legislation, known as “Our City, Our Vote”, ahead of… Read more »
Dec. 6, 2021 By Allie Griffin Council Member Robert Holden is looking to form a bloc of like-minded moderate colleagues in the City Council to provide a counter to members on the “far left”. Holden submitted paperwork to the Council Speaker’s Office to form the “Common Sense” caucus about two weeks ago and is confident… Read more »