March 10, 2021 By Allie Griffin Queens Borough President candidate Jimmy Van Bramer is calling for Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign amid sexual harassment allegations — and now wants his opponents in the BP race to do the same. Van Bramer is asking his fellow borough president candidates to join the growing number of lawmakers… Read more »
March 10, 2021 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled a plan Tuesday to provide $65 million in relief funds for taxi drivers plagued by the city’s taxi medallion crisis. The plan, however, was quickly criticized by cab drivers and progressive lawmakers–such as State Sen. Jessica Ramos–who say it doesn’t begin to address the… Read more »
March 10, 2021 By Michael Dorgan Police are searching for a woman who allegedly fondled a teenage boy inside the victim’s home in Corona last month. The woman allegedly grabbed the genitals of the 16-year-old victim inside a residence located in the vicinity of 98th Street and Alstyne Avenue on Feb. 28, according to police…. Read more »
March 9, 2021 By Christian Murray New York City is opening a new vaccination site in Flushing in partnership with the Queens Public Library. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that the city is opening a site at the Flushing Library, located at 41-17 Main St., and plans to open additional sites in the borough… Read more »
March 9, 2021 By Michael Dorgan Pablo Calle, the longtime co-owner of Donato’s Italian Restaurant, died Wednesday. He was 69. Pablo was an affable, gregarious character, known for greeting customers into his restaurant, which is situated on the corner of 39th Avenue and 51st Street on the Sunnyside/Woodside border. The Ecuadorian native established the restaurant,… Read more »
March 9, 2021 By Christian Murray The fashion shoe company Steve Madden is threatening to leave Sunnyside if the seven story, 167-unit building development planned by Phipps Houses on Barnett Avenue goes up. Steve Madden, which penned a letter to Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer Jan. 14, said that it employs more than 400 people… Read more »
March 9, 2021 Op-Ed By: Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer Four years ago, Phipps Houses withdrew their application to build an affordable housing complex in my Sunnyside neighborhood after I had come out against it. It was a project that the community board voted against and which faced significant community opposition. I too was opposed,… Read more »
March 9, 2021 By Allie Griffin New Yorkers as young as 60 will be eligible to be vaccinated for COVID-19 starting Wednesday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today. Cuomo lowered the current vaccine-eligibility age — which is 65 in the state — by five years. He also expanded eligibility to additional categories of essential workers, who… Read more »
March 9, 2021 By Michael Dorgan U.S. Senator Charles Schumer announced Monday that more than 1 million households in Queens will receive economic stimulus checks within the next two weeks. The Senate majority leader said that the checks will be sent out as part of the latest COVID-19 relief bill. The massive $1.9 trillion American… Read more »
March 8, 2021 By Allie Griffin New York City launched an effort last week to vaccinate thousands of homebound seniors for COVID-19. The city is utilizing its supply of the newly-approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine to bring the shot directly to seniors inside their homes. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is easier to transport because… Read more »