Dec. 23 By Kristen Torres More New York City residents will be eligible for half-priced MetroCards under an expansion of the city’s Fair Fares program, officials announced Friday. Fair Fares offers half-priced MetroCards to low-income residents. The program was launched by Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson early this year. “We’re… Read more »
Dec. 23, 2019 By Allie Griffin Former gubernatorial candidate and “Sex and the City” actress Cynthia Nixon formally endorsed Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer for Queens Borough President today. In a letter to supporters, Van Bramer’s campaign announced he received endorsements from both Nixon and Zephyr Teachout, a former state Attorney General candidate and Fordham… Read more »
Dec. 20, 2019 By Kristen Torres A Corona man has been convicted for the brutal rape of his girlfriend last year, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office that made the announcement Thursday. Olger Macas, 31, was found guilty of first and third-degree rape, second-degree sexual abuse and second-degree criminal contempt. He now faces up… Read more »
Dec. 20, 2019 By Kristen Torres Police are looking for man who punched a subway rider on the train platform in Jackson Heights earlier this month. Police said the 33-year-old victim was riding on a northbound E train when he got involved in an argument with the suspect on Dec. 8 around 3:30 p.m. The… Read more »
Dec. 19, 2019 By Allie Griffin Police are searching for a middle-aged man who touched himself while staring at a 22-year-old woman on board a F train earlier this month. The man stared down the woman while he placed his hands inside his pants and touched himself on board a Manhattan-bound F train, approaching the… Read more »
Dec. 18, 2019 By Allie Griffin The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) Board approved the hiring of 500 additional transit police officers Wednesday, despite opposition from several local lawmakers. The board voted to approve the authority’s $17 billion budget for 2020, which included funding for the additional officers — an expected $249 million over the next… Read more »
Dec. 18, 2019 By Kristen Torres A Queens lawmaker held a rally Monday outside the new Amazon distribution center in Woodside, arguing that the e-commerce giant has a history of subjecting its employees to poor work conditions. State Senator Jessica Ramos joined local labor groups on Dec. 16 outside the new facility, which opened in… Read more »
Dec. 18, 2019 By Allie Griffin A second man has been arrested for the fatal stabbing of a homeless man in Jackson Heights in June. Police arrested Elmhurst resident Jose Chavez Del Castillo, 32, on Tuesday and charged him with manslaughter, gang assault and criminal possession of a weapon. Chavez Del Castillo is alleged to have… Read more »
Dec. 17, 2019 By Allie Griffin An Elmhurst home takes the crown for the building with the most housing violations in Queens, according to a new list released by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams on Monday. The modest 3-unit building at 40-26 Benham St racked up 435 open violations from the Department of Housing Preservation and… Read more »
Dec. 17, 2019 By Kristen Torres Nearly 20 percent of residents who live in the greater Elmhurst and Corona areas are living below the federal poverty line, according to a new report. The report, released today by the Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York, looked at five neighborhoods — Elmhurst, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst-Maspeth, Corona… Read more »