April 2, 2020 By Allie Griffin Queens and Brooklyn churches will ring “Bells of Hope” beginning tomorrow and continuing every day as the city grapples with the coronavirus pandemic that is killing New Yorkers. Every parish in the two boroughs with outdoor bells will ring them each day at 3 p.m. at the request of… Read more »
April 2, 2020 By Christian Murray The New York State legislature reached a budget agreement yesterday that includes a provision that will legalize the operation of most e-bicycles and e-scooters. The new legislation is similar to what State Sen. Jessica Ramos and Assembly Member Nily Rozic championed in 2019 that Governor Andrew Cuomo did not… Read more »
April 2, 2020 By Allie Griffin Corona, the Queens neighborhood that shares the same name as the horrid virus, has the most COVID-19 cases in New York City — with nearly 1,000 cases in its zip code, according to newly released data. Elmhurst has the second greatest number of cases and Jackson Heights is high… Read more »
April 1, 2020 Staff Report Representatives Carolyn B. Maloney and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to revise its policy of turning away blood donations from gay and bisexual men in light of the long-term impacts of the coronavirus crisis on the nation’s blood supply. Maloney –who represents portions of north… Read more »
April 1, 2020 By Allie Griffin Governor Andrew Cuomo will shut down all New York City playgrounds to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, he announced today. The order comes after Mayor Bill de Blasio resisted a mass closure and opted to shut down specific playgrounds where social distancing was not being observed. However, at… Read more »
April 1, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A New York City artist has erected “Thank You” signs outside various city hospitals – including Elmhurst Hospital – to show his appreciation for frontline staff battling the COVID-19 spread. Scott LoBaido, a Staten Island native who has been creating patriotic art for 25 years, said he wanted to… Read more »
March 31, 2020, By Michael Dorgan Mayor Bill De Blasio has announced that the city – in partnership with FEMA – will get an additional 250 ambulances and around 500 extra EMTs and paramedics to help meet the spike in demand for emergency services. The extra resources will increase medical transport capacity between medical sites… Read more »
March 30, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York’s five district attorneys and the special narcotics prosecutor said the mayor’s office has put forward the names of several dangerous inmates for release–in his attempt to stop the outbreak of coronavirus in city jails. The head prosecutors said the mayor and the Department of Corrections had suggested… Read more »
March 30, 2020, By Michael Dorgan Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez revealed Monday that she has a presumed case of COVID-19 and has self-quarantined. The lawmaker, who represents New York’s 7th District, said she began feeling ill on Sunday morning and sought treatment from her physician. She was diagnosed with a presumed coronavirus infection after consulting with… Read more »
March 30, 2020 By Christian Murray A Brooklyn pastor died Friday from coronavirus—the first priest in the U.S. known to have succumbed to the virus. Father Jorge Ortiz-Garay, 49, pastor of St. Brigid’s Church in Wyckoff Heights, died Friday at Wyckoff Hospital Medical Center from complications relating to COVID-19. “This is a sad day and… Read more »