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 »
Dec. 17, 2019 By Allie Griffin Police are searching for a man who sexually assaulted multiple women in separate incidents in both Astoria and Jackson Heights. The suspect first assaulted two women at an Astoria massage parlor near Steinway Street and 25th Avenue on Nov. 8. At about 8:45 p.m., the unidentified man grabbed a… Read more »
Dec. 16, 2019 By Allie Griffin Undocumented immigrants can now apply for a driver’s license in New York state. A new law went into effect today that allows 16-year-olds, no matter their immigration status, to apply for a driver’s license. The change stems from the passage of the Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act that… Read more »
Dec. 16, 2019 By Allie Griffin A hit-and-run driver fatally struck a pedestrian in Woodside Wednesday after blowing through a red light while drunk, according to police. The driver, 50-year-old Jorge Samaniego of Maspeth, then fled the scene after hitting the pedestrian on Broadway at 60th Street at around 8 p.m. While fleeing, he collided… Read more »
Dec. 16, 2019 By Allie Griffin State Senator Jessica Ramos and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic are calling on Governor Andrew Cuomo to sign legislation that would legalize most e-bikes and e-scooters across the state. The lawmakers, who sponsored a bill that aims to permit the use of throttle-controlled e-bikes and e-scooters, held a rally Friday at… Read more »
A Corona man who stabbed his estranged wife to death inside a Jackson Heights nail salon earlier this year has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and is expected to be sentenced to 25 years in prison, the Queens District Attorney announced today. William Rivas, 39, stabbed his estranged wife Carmen Iris Santiago in front of… Read more »
Dec. 13, 2019 By Allie Griffin Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer and Queens transit advocates rallied for a safer Northern Boulevard on Wednesday morning. The advocates called for a dedicated bus lane, a protected bike lane and safer street designs along the road, where 1,200 people have been injured since 2014, according to Van Bramer’s… Read more »