April 30, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City will be handing out free face coverings to New Yorkers in an effort to further control the spread of the coronavirus, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. City workers will be distributing up to 100,000 face coverings in parks and playgrounds across the five boroughs from… Read more »
April 30, 2020 By Allie Griffin Queens is approaching 50,000 cases of COVID-19 as the pandemic continues to halt daily life in New York City. The World’s Borough continues to have the highest count of residents infected with the coronavirus among the five boroughs. Queens has had 49,559 residents inflicted with the deadly virus, while… Read more »
April 29, 2020 By Allie Griffin More than 150,000 healthcare workers and first responders will soon be able to undergo COVID-19 antibody testing, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. The city is partnering with the US Department of Health and Human Services and the CDC to offer antibody testing at hospitals, firehouses, police stations and… Read more »
April 28, 2020 By Allie Griffin Council Member Robert Holden has called on Governor Andrew Cuomo to stop requiring nursing homes to house residents who have contracted the coronavirus. Holden penned a letter to the governor yesterday after Cuomo reiterated Sunday that nursing homes must continue to care for their residents who are COVID-19 positive… Read more »
April 27, 2020 By Allie Griffin Reconstruction of the L train tunnel from Manhattan to Brooklyn has been completed ahead of schedule, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Sunday. The tunnel was damaged during Hurricane Sandy and was in need of extensive repairs. The MTA originally planned to shutter service between Manhattan and Brooklyn for 15 to… Read more »
April 27, 2020 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that 100 miles of New York City streets will be turned over to pedestrians as the coronavirus pandemic continues into warmer months. The announcement follows weeks of pressure from the City Council and advocacy groups who have called for car-free streets amid the outbreak…. Read more »
April 27, 2020 By Allie Griffin Two Muslim women running for elected office were kicked of the ballot by the Board of Elections Thursday — and several of their supporters say the ruling was based on xenophobia. The BOE removed Mary Jobaida, who aims to unseat Cathy Nolan in Assembly District 37, and Moumita Ahmed,… Read more »
April 24, 2020 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio is pushing for a rent freeze for New York City’s one million rent-stabilized tenants. The mayor is calling for a range of measures to assist New Yorkers unable to afford their rent amid the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting shutdown. He is also urging the state… Read more »
April 24, 2020 By Allie Griffin Dozens of poets have put together an illustration of the beauty and resilience of Queens with an interactive recorded poetry project. Queensbound, founded in 2018 by writer KC Trommer, collects poems about the borough — from Long Island City to Jamaica — and embeds audio recordings of each at… Read more »
April 23, 2020 By Allie Griffin Hospital admissions for coronavirus patients in New York City are continuing to go down, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. On Wednesday, the number of people admitted to New York City hospitals with coronavirus symptoms was 227, a marked decline from figures of two or three weeks ago. For… Read more »