Feb. 3. 2021 By Michael Dorgan New York state lawmakers have repealed legislation that critics say has been used by police to target transgender people in the name of curbing illegal prostitution. Lawmakers passed a bill Tuesday that repealed section 240.37 of the penal code which is commonly referred to as the “Walking While Trans”… Read more »
Feb. 1, 2021 By Christina Santucci More than two dozen political candidates from Queens say that gathering signatures to get on the ballot is too dangerous during the pandemic and want city and state officials to suspend the requirement. The group penned a letter Jan. 27 that was sent to the governor, the mayor and… Read more »
Jan. 29, 2021 By Michael Dorgan The City Council passed legislation Thursday that will more than double the number of permits for food vendors in the five boroughs. The bill clears the way for an additional 4,000 street food vending permits to be granted over the next 10 years. The new permits will be on… Read more »
Jan. 15, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A Queens member of the Gambino organized crime family has pleaded guilty to setting a businessman’s car on fire after he stopped paying making extortion payments to the mafia. Peter Tuccio helped torch the businessman’s late-model Mercedes-Benz in 2015, in an effort to extort money from the victim’s pizzeria,… Read more »
Jan. 6, 2021 By Michael Dorgan A GoFundMe has been launched for a well known Sunnyside business owner who was run down by a car during a protest last month. Roque Rodriguez, who owns Suryaside Yoga at 49-06 Skillman Ave., had his leg broken when a car plowed through a group of demonstrators in Manhattan… Read more »
Nov. 2, 2020 Staff Report The entries are in. Now it’s time to vote. Dozens of Queens residents uploaded photos of their Halloween costumes for the inaugural #bewitchinQueens costume competition. The Queens resident with the most popular costume—or “likes” —will win a $250 VISA gift card; with the runner up getting a $150 VISA card;… Read more »
Oct. 5, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Queens Council Member Bob Holden is looking to repeal recently-passed legislation that bans the NYPD from using chokeholds. Holden said the anti-chokehold legislation – which made it a misdemeanor when cops use methods of restraints like chokeholds and kneeling on a suspect’s back – hampers officers from doing their… Read more »
Sept. 16, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Restaurants will soon be able to add a 10 percent service charge to the tab. The City Council voted Wednesday to approve legislation that would temporarily permit restaurants to add a “COVID-19 Recovery Charge” to customer checks. The legislation is expected to be signed by the mayor – which… Read more »
Sept. 16, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Mayor Bill de Blasio and his entire office staff will take one week of unpaid leave in order to help tackle the city’s fiscal crisis amid the coronavirus shutdown. The mayor said that the mandatory furloughs – which will affect nearly 500 employees – will save the city nearly… Read more »
Sep. 9, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A new art project paying homage to public service workers has gone up at subway stations across the city and at the Queens Museum in Corona. The art initiative displays a message of thanks aimed at city staff – particularly sanitation and transit workers – who have kept basic… Read more »