Feb. 15, 2021 Op-Ed By Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer Long before COVID hit New York City, small businesses were struggling to compete against big box retailers with exorbitant commercial rents on the rise. Before the pandemic, commercial rents had gone up by 22 percent on average. Vacant space had doubled in the decade leading up… Read more »
Feb. 15, 2021 By Michael Dorgan An online job fair is scheduled to take place Thursday to help out-of-work residents find employment as the one-year anniversary of lockdown restrictions grows near. The virtual fair, which is being hosted by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, will kick off via Zoom on Feb. 18 at 2 p.m…. Read more »
Feb. 12, 2021 By Allie Griffin Two men broke into an old-style German deli in Middle Village last month and took off with $9,000. The thieves busted open the back door of Andy’s Delicatessen, located at 82-17 Eliot Ave., on Jan. 17 at 11:20 p.m. and removed a safe containing the cash. The popular deli… Read more »
Feb. 12, 2021 By Allie Griffin The New York City Council voted unanimously Thursday to pass Council Member Robert Holden’s bill that prevents the city from slapping fines on small business owners for signage violations. The bill extends an existing two-year moratorium on penalties and fines related to businesses’ outdoor signage, which had recently expired…. Read more »
Feb. 12, 2021 By Allie Griffin New York City pharmacies are now offering the COVID-19 vaccine to New Yorkers 65 and older through a federal program that significantly boosts the city’s vaccine effort. More than 250 pharmacies across the five boroughs are now administering the potentially life-saving vaccine, including 188 Walgreens/Duane Reade stores, 75 Rite… Read more »
Feb. 10, 2021 By Michael Dorgan A group of Queens residents were arrested in a major drug bust in Ridgewood Monday – where authorities seized $12 million worth of heroin, 1,000 fentanyl pills and $200,000 cash. The suspects were nabbed by police after authorities raided an apartment located at 63-16 Forest Ave., which was being… Read more »
Feb. 10, 2021 Op-Ed By Brent O’Leary Do you want to have a say as to who the next mayor is—or who your next city council member will be? If so, I urge you to check your party registration and make sure you are registered as a Democrat. The deadline to do so is Feb…. Read more »
Feb. 10, 2021 By Allie Griffin A Queens resident running for City Council is in danger of losing her family home due to her father’s inability to repay a taxi medallion loan he took out years ago. Felicia Singh, a school teacher running for the Council District 32 seat representing Southeast Queens, said she was… Read more »
Feb. 9, 2021 By Christina Santucci The Citi Field megasite is set to open Wednesday, but only 800 shots are expected to be dispensed at the stadium this week. Mayor Bill de Blasio had announced last month Citi Field would scale up to vaccinating between 5,000 and 7,000 people per day. But currently there are… Read more »
Feb. 8, 2021 By Allie Griffin New Yorkers who have pre-existing conditions will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine later this month. Residents who have one or more underlying conditions — which put them at greater risk of complications should they contract the coronavirus — have been added to the list of those eligible for… Read more »