Author: schnepsrestagent

Evictions spike at NYCHA properties under private partnership program, Comptroller’s audit finds

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Dec. 19, 2024 By Shane O’Brien Eviction rates at New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) properties have surged under the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program, raising concerns about tenant protections, according to a new audit by NYC Comptroller Brad Lander. The PACT program, designed to address decades of underfunding and disrepair in public…

Goodbye MetroCards: MTA Reduced-Fare riders adopt OMNY technology

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Dec. 19, 2024 By Athena Dawson Tap-to-pay is here to stay, and the iconic yellow MetroCards will soon be a New York City relic. The MTA announced on Friday, Dec. 13, that tap-and-go fare technology is now available for nearly all of the MTA’s millions of transit riders.  OMNY, the MTA’s contactless fare payment…

Woodhaven BID spreads holiday cheer with Christmas tree lighting supported by Kiwanis and CB9

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Dec. 19, 2024 By Colum Motherway The Woodhaven Business Improvement District (BID) hosted a stunning Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 6, with the help of the Kiwanis Club of Ozone Park-Woodhaven and Queens Community Board 9. Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar was in attendance as the beautiful tree was lit up to mark the…

Rental prices in Queens continued to rise from previous year in November 2024: report

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Dec. 18, 2024 By Ethan Marshall The average rental price in Queens for studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units maintained an upward trend from the previous year in November 2024, according to a report by the real estate firm M.N.S. Real Estate. Year-over-year, Queens experienced a 4.44% increase in its average rental price, from $2,763…

Fare hikes and tolls: Queens commuters hit with double trouble

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The MTA Board approved on Wednesday a budget plan for 2025 that includes public transportation fare hikes and toll increases slated to take effect next summer. The board unanimously voted to pass the plan during its monthly meeting on Dec. 18. The exact amount of the increases has yet to be announced but could…

Small Pins, Big Impact: One Rochdale resident’s journey to becoming an e-commerce entrepreneur

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Dec. 18, 2024 By Athena Dawson In the heart of Southeast Queens, one creative entrepreneur is proving that big empowerment can come in small packages. Kamille Cooper is a Rochdale resident and self-taught creative. After clocking out of her 9-to-5 marketing job, the 35-year-old entrepreneur spends her evenings on her e-commerce business, She Got…

2025 minimum wage increase: A step forward or not enough?

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With a new year comes new opportunities for New Yorkers making the minimum wage. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday that the minimum wage will increase by 50 cents hourly in 2025, to $16.50 per hour in New York City, Westchester, and Long Island, while the rest of the state will see an increase to…

Paws and lanterns: Tianyu Lights Festival at Citi Field to host pet-friendly ‘Twinkle Tails Night’ with adoption opportunities next month

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Dec. 17, 2024 By Colum Motherway Grab your furry friends and get ready for a night of lights, lanterns, and wagging tails. On Friday, January 10, 2025, the Tianyu Lights Festival will host ‘Twinkle Tails Night,’ a pet-friendly event for one night only, at Citi Field in Flushing. Since Nov. 29, the festival has…