Jan. 6, 2021 By Christian Murray Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer released his 2020 annual report Tuesday. We talk to Van Bramer in a podcast about the report, as well as his potential run for Queens Borough President. The council member discusses the challenges his constituents have faced following the outbreak of COVID-19 and what… Read more »
Jan. 1, 2021 By Christian Murray Three men were shot, one fatally, outside a Kew Gardens hotel this morning, in what authorities say was the first homicide in New York City this year. The shooting took place at around 1:10 a.m. outside the Umbrella Hotel, a hotel known for being a hotbed for crime that… Read more »
Dec. 30, 2020 By Christian Murray The mayor announced Tuesday that the city is extending a pilot program that allows storefront owners to sell goods on the sidewalk. The initiative, dubbed the Open Storefronts program, was launched at the end of October and will now be in operation until Sept. 30, 2021. The program is… Read more »
Dec. 30, 2020 By Christian Murray The Department of Homeless Services will be opening a shelter for senior women in Douglaston at the end of next year. DHS will open the facility at 243-02 Northern Blvd. and it will serve 75 adult women over the age of 50. The facility will open where Pride of… Read more »
Dec. 29, 2020 By Christian Murray The Department of Transportation constructed 28.6 miles of protected bicycle lanes across the city in 2020, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. The mayor said 2020 was a record year in terms of mileage, outdoing 2017 when 24.9 miles of protected bicycle lanes were built. The borough of Queens… Read more »
Dec. 28, 2020 By Christian Murray The New York State legislature is set to pass a bill Monday that would block the eviction of struggling New Yorkers until May 1. Elected officials are convening a special session to pass the COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act that aims to help residents remain in their… Read more »
Dec. 14, 2020 By Christian Murray An ICU nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center Queens became the first American to receive the COVID-19 vaccine Monday. Sandra Lindsay, a critical case nurse, received the shot just after 9 a.m., one day after Pfizer’s vaccine began being shipped across the country. The shot, the first in… Read more »
Dec. 9, 2020 By Christian Murray The first batch of the COVID-19 vaccine is expected to arrive in New York City by next week and Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today that a total of 72,000 doses are coming to the five boroughs. Cuomo announced that the doses “could arrive as early as this weekend”—with nursing… Read more »
Dec. 8, 2020 By Christian Murray A virtual job fair hosted by the Queens Borough President is set to be held Wednesday. The event, which will be the twelfth and final fair in a series, will include 16 employers and recruiters who will try to match Queens job seekers with a wide array of employment… Read more »
Dec. 8, 2020 By Christian Murray A homeless man who fatally shot a worker inside an Ozone Park deli in October has been indicted for murder. Steven Cohen, 63, shot at two employees inside the Crossbay Express Deli on Oct. 26, killing Tarwala Mahmadkhurshid, 26, while missing a second deli worker. According to the charges,… Read more »