Category: Uncategorized

NYPD to Team Up With Community Groups To Combat Graffiti

March 3, 2021 By Michael Dorgan The NYPD announced a new initiative Wednesday that will see the police team up with local communities to combat graffiti across the city. The initiative, called the “Graffiti Clean-Up” campaign, will see the NYPD use information submitted by the public to identify graffiti hotspots – and then help community… Read more »

Governor Andrew Cuomo Apologizes Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations; Says He Won’t Resign

March 3, 2021 By Allie Griffin In his first public appearance since multiple women accused him of sexual harassment, Governor Andrew Cuomo apologized for his behavior, but refused to resign from office as several Queens legislators have called for. Cuomo issued the apology on Wednesday after two former staffers accused the governor of sexual harassment… Read more »

On Day One of Petitioning Political Candidates Brave the Cold to Gather Signatures

March 2, 2021 By Michael Dorgan Political candidates in Queens were out gathering signatures Tuesday–the first day candidates were permitted to solicit signatures in order to get on the ballot. The candidates were calling on registered voters to sign their petition in their quest to generate the required number of signatures in order to get… Read more »

Coalition Calls for 25 Percent of City Roads to Be Converted Into Space for Buses, Bikes and Pedestrians

March 1, 2021 By Michael Dorgan A coalition of transport, community, business and other advocacy groups are calling on the city’s mayoral candidates to commit to converting street space–currently used by private vehicles–into space for the exclusive use of pedestrians, bicyclists and buses. The city-wide coalition, which includes a number of groups from Queens, say… Read more »

Gianaris Takes Aim at Big Developers, Plans to Undo Lucrative Tax Break

Feb. 26, 2021 By Christian Murray A number of high-profile developers who are profiting from a Trump-era tax break may be forced to pay more in taxes if a bill State Sen. Mike Gianaris is sponsoring becomes law. The bill, dubbed the Opportunity Zone Tax Break Elimination Act, would scrap a handsome tax break that… Read more »

NYC Public Schools to Welcome Back Middle Schoolers Tomorrow

Feb. 24, 2021 By Allie Griffin New York City’s public schools will welcome back middle schoolers for in-person learning tomorrow. Public schools that serve grades six through eight will hold in-person classes beginning Thursday. The schools have been closed since November when COVID-19 cases spiked. “I am very excited that tomorrow our New York City… Read more »

City Launches Online Toolkit to Address Anti-Asian Hate Crime

Feb. 23, 2021 By Allie Griffin New York City has launched an online toolkit to address the spate of attacks against Asian Americans in recent months. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday the creation of an online toolkit that aims to provide support to New Yorkers of Asian heritage who are subjected to hate crimes…. Read more »

Political Candidates Required to Get Signatures to Be on the Ballot: Court Ruling

Feb. 23, 2021 By Christina Santucci A state supreme court justice has dismissed a lawsuit filed by nearly 100 political candidates that sought to cancel the requirements for in-person signatures required to get on the ballot. The group of more than 100 plaintiffs, including about a dozen Queens candidates, filed suit Feb. 8 against Governor… Read more »

Astoria Native Lorraine Grillo Appointed as ‘Recovery Czar’

Feb. 23, 2021 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio has created a new position, “Recovery Czar,” to lead the city’s recovery from the pandemic and accompanying economic crisis. De Blasio appointed Astoria native and CEO of the City’s School Construction Authority (SCA) Lorraine Grillo to fill the position as the senior advisor of the… Read more »