Feb. 19. 2020 By Kristen Torres The city is hiking the fine for alternate side parking violations starting tomorrow, according to the Department of Sanitation. Fines for violators–who fail to move their vehicle to make way for street cleaning–will increase to $65 starting on Feb. 20 in all five boroughs. Currently, drivers who receive tickets… Read more »
Author: Czarinna
State Lawmakers Remain Split on Whether Bail Reform Laws Need Changing
Feb. 19, 2020 By Kristen Torres Lawmakers are split on whether or not to back the state’s six-week-old bail reform law, which has ignited fierce debate among elected officials, the police and criminal justice advocates since it went into effect on Jan. 1. The new law eliminated cash bail for most misdemeanor and non-violent offenses,… Read more »
Protesters for a Free Tibet Call on Queens Public Library to Shut Down Elmhurst Exhibit
Feb. 19, 2020 By Michael Dorgan More than 150 people took part in a demonstration outside the Elmhurst library Saturday to protest an exhibition on display about the life and customs of Tibet. Protesters from various Tibetan affiliated groups rallied outside the 86-07 Broadway library and called for the exhibition to be shut down. Protestors… Read more »
MTA Touts Improved On-Time Subway Performance
Feb. 19, 2020 By Kristen Torres The MTA said on-time performance rates for city subways in January approached a record high. Weekday subway on-time performance was around 83 percent last month—the highest of any January since 2013, the agency reported. There were just 29 major weekday incidents that caused delays throughout the month—a 44 percent… Read more »
Construction Has Begun on Hart Playground Overhaul, Work to be Done by Jan. 2021
Feb. 17, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Construction has begun on a $3.2 million revamp to a Woodside park that will feature a new basketball court, children’s play areas and other amenities. Renovations on Hart Playground, located at 65th and 37th Ave., got underway last month and are slated to be done by January 2021. The… Read more »
Former Sanitation Worker Seeks 12th District Senate Seat, Says Incumbent Mike Gianaris Failed Public on Amazon and Bail Reform
Feb. 17, 2020 By Kristen Torres A former sanitation employee who spent 20 years working for the city is putting his hat in the ring to challenge State Senator Michael Gianaris in this year’s Democratic primary. Ignazio “Izzy” Terranova retired from the city’s Department of Sanitation after a decades-long career in 2019. His inspiration to… Read more »
City Council Passes ‘Reckless Driver” Bill
Feb. 12, 2020 By Kristen Torres The City Council passed landmark legislation Tuesday that would force drivers who rack up tickets for running red lights or speeding to take a traffic safety course– or else risk getting their car impounded by the Sheriff’s Office. Council Member Brad Lander, who represents parts of western Brooklyn, sponsored… Read more »
CB 7 Approves Contentious Flushing Waterfront Rezoning
Feb. 11, 2020 By Ryan Brady At a tense Monday night meeting, Community Board 7 voted 30-8 to approve a development team’s plan to rezone a large section of land by Flushing Creek. Dozens of protesters showed up to criticize the land-use application filed by FWRA, a consortium of real estate firms behind the project…. Read more »
Former CNBC Anchor and Sunnyside Resident to Challenge AOC in Primary
Feb. 11, 2020 By Allie Griffin A former CNBC anchor and Sunnyside resident will challenge Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for her Congressional seat in the Democratic primary election. Michelle Caruso-Cabrera today announced her run for the 14th District, which covers Astoria, College Point, Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Sunnyside, Woodside and parts of the Bronx. “I’m… Read more »
Bail Reform is Not Responsible for Crime Spike Say Two Queens Council Members, Pair Criticize NYPD Commissioner Shea
Feb. 7, 2020 By Allie Griffin Two Queens Council Members have accused the NYPD Police Commissioner of creating a “false narrative” by attributing an uptick in crime to the new bail reform laws. Council Members Donovan Richards and Rory Lancman penned a letter to Commissioner Dermot Shea yesterday asking him to publicly withdraw his comments,… Read more »