June 24, 2020 By Allie Griffin Progressive newcomer Zohran Mamdani is leading incumbent Aravella Simotas in the race to represent Astoria in the state Assembly. Mamdani has taken roughly 54 percent of votes, while Simotas has secured 46 percent, in the race to represent the 36th District in the Assembly — with 76 percent of… Read more »
June 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin Council Member Donovan Richards has clinched an early lead in the race to be the next Queens Borough President — though the official winner won’t be announced for at least a week. Richards, the Queens Democratic party pick, had nearly 38 percent of the votes in the Democratic primary… Read more »
June 23, 2020 Staff Report Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who stunned the political world in 2018 when she was elected to represent the 14th Congressional District, has shown the establishment today that her victory two years ago was no aberration. Ocasio-Cortez, with nearly 75 percent of the scanners reported, has a significant lead over her challengers Michelle… Read more »
June 23, 2020, By Michael Dorgan Western Queens residents have been subject to a barrage of illegal fireworks in recent weeks that are being set off at all hours of the day and night. Residents who live near the Long Island City waterfront or by Astoria Park say they are being kept awake by the… Read more »
June 23, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced the establishment of a multi-agency task force to crack down on illegal fireworks sales. The move comes after a spike in illegal fireworks usage that has plagued city neighborhoods in recent weeks. The new task force will be made up of NYPD Intelligence Bureau… Read more »
June 23, 2020 By Christian Murray The police are looking for two suspects wanted for punching and robbing a 49-year-old man inside the 103rd St./Corona Plaza subway station last week. The suspects, a man and woman both in their 20s, allegedly got into a dispute with the victim. The pair then punched and kicked the… Read more »
June 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin Alternate side parking rules will be cut to once per week across the entire city for a one-week pilot beginning Monday — in what could well become a permanent change. The city will cut street cleaning and alternate side parking rules to once a week on streets where they… Read more »
June 23, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced that a virtual graduation ceremony will take place for the city’s high school students next week. The ceremony for the class of 2020 will be held on June 30 at 7 p.m. and will be streamed online and broadcast on local TV, the… Read more »
June 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Monday that her office has formed a violent crimes bureau to prosecute street gangs, drug traffickers and firearms dealers. The newly-created Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau combines the former Narcotics Investigations and Gang Violence bureaus. The unit focuses on identifying organized criminal activity in… Read more »
June 22, 2020 By Allie Griffin Playgrounds opened for New York City children today, but Big Apple pups will have to wait longer to play inside public dog runs. Playgrounds reopened today as the city entered Phase Two of the reopening plan, while other defined spaces inside city parks remain closed — including dog runs… Read more »