April 25, 2020 By Michael Dorgan City lawmakers have introduced legislation that would better protect whistleblowers from speaking out about safety practices at the workplace during COVID-19. The bill – which was introduced by Councilmembers Ben Kallos, Brad Lander and Speaker Corey Johnson at Wednesday’s City Council meeting – looks to protect essential workers from… Read more »
April 24, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A Queens teenager has been charged with assault and a string of other charges for crushing a police detective with a stolen 2018 BMW Tuesday night, according to the Queens District Attorney’s office. Jorge Alvarez, 18, of Corona, injured a Nassau County detective after he was spotted by police… Read more »
April 24, 2020 By Allie Griffin Queens Assembly Member Ron Kim and Brooklyn Senator Kevin Parker are calling on the mayor and schools chancellor to add anti-bullying lessons to the curriculum for New York City public school students. The lawmakers said the lessons are needed as hate crimes and violence against Asian Americans have risen… Read more »
April 24, 2020 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio is pushing for a rent freeze for New York City’s one million rent-stabilized tenants. The mayor is calling for a range of measures to assist New Yorkers unable to afford their rent amid the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting shutdown. He is also urging the state… Read more »
April 24, 2020 By Christian Murray A 78-year-old woman was found dead with trauma to her body in Woodside this morning, according to police. Police received a 911 call at around 7:50 a.m. today that a woman was unconscious inside 67-14 41st Ave. Upon arrival, police found her unconscious and unresponsive with trauma to her… Read more »
April 24, 2020 By Christian Murray The House of Representatives passed the $484 billion relief package yesterday that was supported by every House Democrat except for Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Ocasio-Cortez, who represents New York’s 14th Congressional district–the hardest hit district by COVID-19 in the nation, took exception to the bill arguing that it did little… Read more »
April 24, 2020 By Allie Griffin Dozens of poets have put together an illustration of the beauty and resilience of Queens with an interactive recorded poetry project. Queensbound, founded in 2018 by writer KC Trommer, collects poems about the borough — from Long Island City to Jamaica — and embeds audio recordings of each at… Read more »
April 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin Hospital admissions for coronavirus patients in New York City are continuing to go down, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. On Wednesday, the number of people admitted to New York City hospitals with coronavirus symptoms was 227, a marked decline from figures of two or three weeks ago. For… Read more »
By Rosa Goldensohn, THE CITY This story was originally published on 4/22/20 by THE CITY The list of “essential” construction projects and permitted work has ballooned sixfold since Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a virtual construction shutdown last month, Department of Buildings data shows. Some 4,936 job sites are now allowed to be worked on, up… Read more »
April 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin State Sen. Leroy Comrie is leading an effort to deliver food to frontline healthcare workers at Queens Hospital Center and residents in need in Jamaica. Queens Hospital Center, located at 82-68 164th St., is one of 11 public hospitals that has faced the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic in… Read more »