March 18, 2020 By Allie Griffin Prompted by the number of coronavirus cases across New York state surpassing 2,000, Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered all businesses to keep half their workforce home or working remotely. The executive order — which goes into effect Friday — is meant to reduce density of people and reduce the spread… Read more »
March 18, 2020 By Christian Murray Forget about the inexpensive Uber ride-share option. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced yesterday that he has signed an executive order than bans shared rides in an effort to promote social distancing. “We want to protect drivers and we want to protect riders alike,” the Mayor said during a press… Read more »
March 17, 2020 By Allie Griffin The mayor announced this afternoon that he is suspending alternate side parking and street cleaning for one week–after facing heavy criticism for not doing so earlier. Alternate side parking will be suspended across the five boroughs starting tomorrow, March 18 through Tuesday, March 24, Mayor Bill de Blasio said…. Read more »
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 17, 2020 By Allie Griffin Police are looking for a group of three men who smashed the windows of nearly 20 parked cars on a Williamsburg street last week. The trio intentionally broke the windows of 19 parked vehicles on Penn Street between Marcy Avenue and Harrison Avenue — and stole property from inside… 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 »