Author: michaeldorgan

State Lawmakers Repeal ‘Walking While Trans’ Ban

Feb. 3. 2021 By Michael Dorgan New York state lawmakers have repealed legislation that critics say has been used by police to target transgender people in the name of curbing illegal prostitution. Lawmakers passed a bill Tuesday that repealed section 240.37 of the penal code which is commonly referred to as the “Walking While Trans”… Read more »

City Council Passes Bill To Add 4,000 Extra Street Food Vendor Permits

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 »

Queens Member of Gambino Crime Family Pleads Guilty to Torching Car to Extort Cash

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 »

Vote: Which Halloween Costume Do You Think is the Best

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 »

Holden Wants to Repeal ‘Reckless’ City Council Anti-Chokehold Legislation

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 »

Mayor and His Staff to Take One Week Unpaid Leave to Tackle Budget Crisis

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 »