Nov. 9, 2020 By Jeanette Harrington Sunnyside and Woodside residents flocked to Bliss Plaza at the 46th Street Station for a dance party Saturday to celebrate the news that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were named President and Vice President elect. The event, organized by resident Morry Galonoy and dubbed “Democracy Wins,” was filled with… Read more »
Author: Czarinna
Podcast: We Talk to Shaun Donovan, Candidate for New York City Mayor
Nov. 2, 2020 By Christian Murray The presidential election may be front and center but the New York City mayoral race is beginning to take shape. Today we talk to Shaun Donovan, one of the many candidates looking to be the next mayor. He will be competing in the Democratic primary in June 2021 against… Read more »
Gianaris Introduces Legislation Calling for Rent Reductions When Utilities Are Down at NYCHA
Oct. 29. 2020 By Christian Murray If the gas line is down–the rent needs to come down with it, according to Astoria elected officials. State Sen. Mike Gianaris announced today that he is introducing legislation that provides rent relief for NYCHA tenants should they experience utility outages. The bill, which will be co-sponsored in the… Read more »
Man Indicted for Murder in Stray Bullet Killing of Jackson Heights Woman
Oct. 29, 2020 By Christian Murray A Corona man has been indicted by a Queens Grand jury on murder, manslaughter and other charges for the stray-bullet killing of a woman who was in her Jackson Heights apartment last month. Issam Elabbar, 31, was arraigned today on a seven-count indictment including murder in the second degree… Read more »
Man Arrested in Corona for Trying to Lure 11-Year-Old Girl Into His Car
Oct. 28, 2020 By Christian Murray A man has been arrested for trying to lure an 11-year-old girl into his vehicle in Corona Monday morning. Frank Ayala, 28, allegedly followed the girl in the vicinity of 103rd Street and Strong Avenue at around 8:30 a.m., police said. He then tried to entice the 11-year-old into… Read more »
BOE Expands Hours for Early Voting, Follows Criticism Over Hours-Long Lines
Oct. 27, 2020 By Christian Murray The New York City Board of Elections announced today that it will be expanding its hours for the final three days of early voting. The board’s commissioners said at their meeting today that they would expand the hours on Friday, Oct. 30 through Sunday, Nov. 1. The announcement follows… Read more »
Nine-Story Building Planned for Rego Park Site; Zoning Change Needed
Oct. 23, 2020 By Christian Murray A developer has filed plans with the Department of City Planning to have a Rego Park site where the Shalimar Diner was located rezoned. The application was filed earlier this year by David Koptiev, the owner of the Forest Hills-based company Platinum Realty, who is looking to construct a… Read more »
PODCAST: Ingrid Gomez Announces Run for Francisco Moya’s Seat
Oct. 22, 2020 By Christian Murray Ingrid Gomez, a long time Corona resident, formally announced today that she is running to unseat Council Member Francisco Moya to represent the 21st Council District. Gomez, a clinical social worker and self-described progressive, said she was prompted to run after seeing up close the toll COVID-19 had taken… Read more »
Early Voting Begins Saturday, Check Out Queens Poll Site Locations
Oct. 20, 2020 By Christian Murray Registered voters will be able to vote in-person in this year’s general election starting Saturday, Oct. 24. Voters in the borough will be able to go cast their ballot at one of the 18 early-voting sites in Queens for the Nov. 3 election. Residents are not permitted to vote… Read more »
Enforcement of the Plastic Bag Ban Has Begun
Oct. 19, 2020 By Christian Murray Enforcement of the plastic bag ban started today. The ban, which was approved by Governor Andrew Cuomo last year, went into effect on March 1 but the state did not enforce the law due to the coronavirus pandemic and a lawsuit filed by plastic bag manufacturers. The lawsuit was… Read more »