March 17, 2020 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio said New Yorkers should prepare for a possible “shelter-in-place” order as the number of coronavirus cases in New York City jumped more than 75 percent in one day. Across the five boroughs, there are now 814 positive cases of COVID-19 — up from 463 confirmed… Read more »
March 17, 2020 By Christian Murray The New York City of Department of Consumer Affairs is clamping down further on price gouging. The agency announced this morning that it is illegal for retailers to sell any personal or household good needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at an inflated price. The rule covers items… Read more »
March 17, 2020 By Christian Murray The New York City Board of Correction is calling on New York City to release prisoners deemed at high risk from the COVID-19 virus. The board says that it should reduce the prison population by identifying and potentially releasing people over the age of 50; those with underlying health… Read more »
March 16, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A popular ice-cream chain with locations in Astoria and throughout Brooklyn has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Ample Hills Creamery, which was established in 2011 and quickly grew to have more than a dozen stores, filed for bankruptcy protection yesterday after experiencing financial difficulties. The company’s decision to seek… Read more »
March 16, 2020 By Allie Griffin Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) announced last night that it is shutting down all its local branches–effective immediately–until further notice, amid the coronavirus pandemic. The decision came after the New York Public Library — which includes libraries in Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx — announced Friday it was shutting… Read more »
March 15, 2020 By Christian Murray Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced that public schools will be shut Monday and will not reopen until April 20 at the earliest. The announcement was made during a City Hall press conference Sunday afternoon where he also said the Queens Borough President election will no longer take place… Read more »
March 13, 2020 By Allie Griffin Brooklyn Catholic schools will close next week, amid rising numbers of coronavirus cases in the city. All Catholic academies and parish schools within the Diocese of Brooklyn — which covers both Queens and Brooklyn — will close during the week of March 16 to March 20, the Diocese announced… Read more »
March 12, 2020 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a state of emergency Thursday evening as the number of coronavirus cases reached 95 cases across the five boroughs — including 24 positive cases in Brooklyn. The number of positive cases in the city will reach 1,000 next week, the mayor believes. “It’s going… Read more »
March 12, 2020 By Michael Dorgan The Brooklyn Public Library, and the city’s other library systems – New York Public Library and the Queens Public Library – will be suspending all public programming starting tomorrow, March 13 through Tuesday, March 31. The city’s libraries, however, will remain open and will continue to provide regular services… Read more »
March 11, 2020 By Allie Griffin The City’s Department of Education (DOE) has canceled in-person parent teacher conferences this week at public schools and instead will hold the conferences by phone or virtually. Face-to-face parent teacher conferences that were scheduled for Thursday evening and Friday afternoon are now being swapped for over-the-phone conferences due to… Read more »