June 15, 2020 By Allie Griffin The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that employers cannot fire workers based on their sexual orientation or gender identity and Queens elected officials are celebrating the historic decision. The Court ruled that an employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender violates Title VII of the… Read more »
June 15, 2020 By Allie Griffin Woodside community members unveiled a new mural Friday honoring the Filipino neighborhood and the efforts of Filipino healthcare workers and businesses during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. The mural reads “Mabuhay,” a Philippine expression that has several meanings, including “cheers”, “welcome” and “may you live.” It was painted… Read more »
June 15, 2020 By Allie Griffin Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz has launched a new bureau dedicated to combating hate crimes. The announcement comes amid a national discussion on systemic racism following the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, as well as a recent uptick in biased attacks against Asian Americans during the coronavirus pandemic…. Read more »
June 15, 2020 By Allie Griffin A 31-year-old man from Sunnyside was killed in a motorcycle crash on the Long Island Expressway shortly after midnight Monday. Richard Diaz, of 48th Street, was riding his 2014 Yamaha motorcycle westbound on the Long Island Expressway when he lost control and rear-ended a 2013 Porsche Cayenee SUV near… Read more »
June 14, 2020 By Christian Murray Former Council Member Elizabeth Crowley, who represented the 30th district in western Queens from 2009-2017, is running to be the next Queens Borough President. We spoke to Crowley last week. The focus of the discussion dealt with police reform, COVID-19, community boards and jobs. Crowley is one of several… Read more »
June 14, 2020 By Christian Murray The rendering of a high school slated to go up on Northern Boulevard was released last week and its design was not lavished with praise. State Sen. Jessica Ramos, whose district borders the school site, as well as many residents said it looked like more like a jail than… Read more »
June 14, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A virtual celebration to mark Pride Month in Queens will take place Thursday. Acting Queens Borough President Sharon Lee will host the online event via the video-conferencing application Zoom on June 18 at 2:00 p.m. The event will celebrate the LGBTQ community who typically put on parades and marches… Read more »
June 14, 2020 By Christian Murray The police have released video surveillance of a man wanted for a fatal stabbing in Jackson Heights Friday. The footage is of a suspect who allegedly killed a 21-year-old man by stabbing him multiple times in the chest on Northern Boulevard Friday evening. Police responded to a call at… Read more »
June 12, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a package of police reform bills into law Friday that seeks to improve relations between cops and the general public. The legislation, which was hurried through the state legislature earlier this week, will make police disciplinary records public, ban cops from using chokeholds on civilians… Read more »
June 12, 2020 By Michael Dorgan More than 100 western Queens residents who have died from COVID-19 will be honored during a virtual memorial service later this month. The event, titled Remembering Locals Lost to COVID-19, will take place via the video-conferencing application Zoom on June 28 at 2 p.m. The service seeks to honor… Read more »