Dec. 22, 2023 By Iryna Shkurhan You can’t go inside King of Falafel and Shawarma on Broadway in Astoria without first stepping on the face of Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel. Floor stickers with headshots of highly criticized world leaders who some have accused of crimes against humanity greet customers at the front…
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Dec. 21, 2023 By Ethan Marshall As Christmas weekend approaches, people are already in the holiday spirit. This weekend, there will be plenty to do in the days leading up to Christmas, some of which are themed around the holiday. Friday, Dec. 22 Nacimiento This ballet performance explores pre-Hispanic rituals and the…
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Dec. 21, 2023 By Christian Murray It’s pitched as an affordable apartment in Queens, yet the rent for a one-bedroom is $3,140 a month. NYC Housing Connect has opened a lottery for 16 “affordable apartments” inside a new 8-story, 51-unit development in Kew Gardens. The building, located at 81-07 Kew Gardens Rd., has been developed by FBL Development, and includes a range of amenities, such as a gym and a rooftop terrace. The units are designated for residents whose income falls within 130% of the area median income (AMI). The range accommodates potential tenants with incomes spanning from $107,658 to…
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Dec. 20, 2023 By Iryna Shkurhan Mayor Eric Adams held a town hall meeting in Corona Monday night with residents demanding answers as to how the city plans to address increased prostitution, illegal vending and the proliferation of unlicensed smoke shops in the neighborhood. More than hundred attendees attended the event in the gymnasium at Elm Tree Elementary School on 98th Street and peppered the mayor with questions primarily dealing with quality-of-life issues. Several questions also dealt with an uptick in homelessness in the parks as well as crime and street flooding. A hot topic dealt with the prevalence of…
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Dec. 19, 2023 By Ethan Marshall The number of reported felony assault cases in Queens has increased over the last month when compared to the same period in 2022, according to the latest crime stats released by the NYPD on Monday. Felony assault cases have increased in both northern and southern Queens for the 28-day period from Nov. 20 through Dec. 17, compared to the same 28-day period last year. In northern Queens, felony assault cases over the 28-day period went up 15%, from 167 last year to 192 this year. The numbers also jumped in southern Queens, up 8.4%, from…
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Dec. 15, 2023 By Bill Parry A 7-train rider was struck and killed in Elmhurst early Friday morning, according to the NYPD. The victim, a 25-year-old man, was hit by a Flushing-bound train while at the 90th St-Elmhurst Ave. subway station at 4:55 a.m., police said. Officers from the 115th Precinct in Jackson Heights responded…
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Dec. 15, 2023 By Rachel Butler Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill sponsored by Queens State Sen. Jessica Ramos and Assemblymember Simcha Eichenstein, from Brooklyn, into law on Wednesday that now requires correctional facilities to provide food options that meet special religious dietary requirements. Previously, incarcerated individuals of certain faiths, such as Islam and Judaism,…
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Dec. 14, 2023 By Iryna Shkurhan Alternative transportation options in the form of shared mobility will continue to expand for Queens residents, according to the Department of Transportation (DOT). At this month’s borough board meeting on Monday, Dec. 4, the heads of 14 community boards, along with Borough President Donovan Richards, heard from the DOT about the upcoming rollout of its e-scooter program, Citi Bikes and the ongoing car share program. E-Scooters Rollout In the spring of 2024, eastern Queens will be getting e-scooters after a successful pilot program that was launched in the east Bronx in 2021 and has seen…
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Dec. 14, 2023 By Rachel Butler Trash cans will overflow and park jobs will be lost as a result of Mayor Eric Adams’ budget cuts that were announced in November, a Queens council member warned Monday. Council Member Shekar Krishnan, who represents Jackson Heights and is Chair of the Committee on Parks and Recreation, said…
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Dec. 13, 2023 By Bill Parry
An East Elmhurst man was indicted for the murder of his landlady after a rent dispute turned deadly, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Wednesday.