Oct. 15, 2020 By Allie Griffin The City Council passed a bill today to extend New York City’s outdoor dining program through next September — and at that point make a variation of it permanent. The legislation extends the current outdoor dining program called “Open Restaurants” until Sept. 30, 2021. The current program allows eateries… Read more »
Oct. 14, 2020 By Allie Griffin New Yorkers — and all Americans — have just one more day to fill out their Census survey after the Supreme Court approved its early termination in a ruling yesterday. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of President Donald Trump Tuesday and allowed the administration to cut the count… Read more »
Oct. 12, 2020 By Allie Griffin Council Member Antonio Reynoso, who represents parts of Williamsburg, Bushwick and Ridgewood, has gained several big endorsements over the past few weeks in his bid for Brooklyn Borough President. Reynoso, who launched his campaign in June, has garnered the support from key progressives including Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and… Read more »
Oct. 9, 2020 By Allie Griffin The Diocese of Brooklyn — which also covers Queens — has slapped Governor Andrew Cuomo and the State of New York with a lawsuit for allegedly violating its First Amendment right to practice religion. The Diocese filed the lawsuit Thursday in Brooklyn federal court in response to Cuomo’s order… Read more »
Oct. 8, 2020 By Allie Griffin An additional 33 New York City public schools in parts of Queens and Brooklyn were shut down Thursday for at least two weeks in an eleventh hour move by the city and state. The schools are located within COVID-19 hotpots and were ordered to close by Governor Andrew Cuomo… Read more »
Sept. 25, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City’s popular outdoor dining initiative will now be year-round and permanent, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. The “Open Restaurants” program, where restaurants can set up outdoor dining on sidewalks and streets, will continue into the fall and winter months, de Blasio said. The “Open Streets: Restaurants”… Read more »
Sept. 24, 2020 By Allie Griffin Queens State Sen. Jessica Ramos and City Comptroller Scott Stringer are calling on the city to make its Open Streets program a year-round initiative. The officials penned a letter to the mayor Thursday asking him to extend the program that turns specific streets over to pedestrians and restaurants beyond… Read more »
Sept. 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin More than 9,000 city employees will be furloughed as the city faces a major budget deficit spurred by the coronavirus shutdown, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. Thousands of managerial and non-union city employees must take five days of furlough between October and March, which will save the city… Read more »
Sept. 21, 2020 By Allie Griffin Brooklynites spelled out how they really feel about the New York City mayor and New York governor with a massive street mural over the weekend. Attendees of a Williamsburg block-party fed up with the elected officials painted “F–k Cuomo and de Blasio” in huge block letters across the blacktop… Read more »
Sept. 18, 2020 By Allie Griffin Community compost and food scraps drop-off sites are back up and running in Queens after the sites were shuttered for months due to pandemic-related budget cuts. The sites were reopened after the city’s executive budget restored $2.8 million to community composting for Fiscal Year 2021 last minute, the Department… Read more »