Aug. 27, 2020 By Allie Griffin State Sen. Jessica Ramos penned a letter to the State Liquor Authority (SLA) Wednesday calling on the agency to stop hitting small restaurant owners with hefty fines. The lawmaker claims that the agency’s fines and “harassment tactics” are unfair, and come at a time when many business owners are… Read more »
Aug. 27, 2020 By Allie Griffin Two Queens lawmakers have introduced legislation that aims to block the de Blasio administration from holding its up-coming lien sale to help struggling homeowners at risk of losing their homes. The administration’s annual lien sale is set for Sept. 4, after being postponed from its original May date due… Read more »
Aug. 29, 2020 By Allie Griffin The MTA warned of huge service reductions, fare hikes and mass layoffs if the federal government doesn’t step in and provide aid to the cash-strapped agency. The MTA needs $12 billion in federal funding immediately to avoid “draconian” and “unthinkable” measures to alleviate its massive deficit caused by the… Read more »
Aug. 26, 2020 By Allie Griffin The city began inspecting air ventilation systems at classrooms Tuesday, with less than three weeks before public schools reopen, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced yesterday. Every classroom and space inside a school building will be inspected by a team of independent engineers, joined by the Department of Buildings and… Read more »
Aug. 25, 2020 By Allie Griffin Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney penned a letter to the City University of New York (CUNY) urging the administration to reverse its decision to layoff nearly 3,000 employees. CUNY decided to not renew the contracts of about 2,800 employees — mostly adjunct professors and part time staff members — across its… Read more »
Aug. 25, 2020 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday that schools can apply to the City to hold classes outside in schoolyards, local parks and closed streets to limit the spread of coronavirus. Schools that don’t have usable outdoor space within their campuses, as well as schools in neighborhoods that were hit… Read more »
Aug. 25, 2020 By Christian Murray Three more Queens bars and restaurants had their liquor licenses suspended over the past weekend — including a Woodside strip joint— as the state continues to crack down on establishments that violate coronavirus regulations. The state’s task force led by the State Police and State Liquor Authority (SLA) conducted… Read more »
Aug. 24, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Two men were killed and two others were injured during a spate of shootings in Queens Village over the weekend. Leonard Carlisle, 33, was shot in the head at Hillside Avenue and 207th Street at around 7:48 p.m. Saturday, according to cops. Carlisle was transported to Queens General Hospital… Read more »
Aug. 22, 2020 By Michael Dorgan More than 150 supporters of the NYPD 108 Precinct marched up Greenpoint Avenue into Sabba Park in Woodside Saturday as part of a pro-police rally. The supporters– who were carrying signs that read “back the blue” and “who are you going to call? 911”–– were greeted by about 100… Read more »
Aug. 24, 2020 By Allie Griffin A St. Albans man was killed in a motorcycle crash on the Cross Island Parkway in Queens Village Saturday. Michael Roach, 31, succumbed to his injuries after crashing his 2012 BMW motorcycle on the Cross Island Parkway at about 4:30 a.m., police said. He was driving the bike southbound… Read more »