Aug. 4, 2020 By Christian Murray The NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot has resigned and the mayor has already announced a replacement. Barbot stepped down from the job this morning and Mayor Bill De Blasio appointed Jackson Heights resident Dr. Dave Chokshi to take over. Barbot, according to the Daily News, wrote an e-mail… Read more »
Aug 4, 2020 By Michael Dorgan People dependent on SNAP will be able to use their government benefits to buy groceries online on a permanent basis if a new bill that was passed by the state legislature last month is signed into law. The legislation, sponsored in the assembly by Andrew Hevesi, is one of… Read more »
Aug. 3, 2020 By Christian Murray Four in five bars and restaurants in New York City were unable to pay their full rent in July, according to a new study. The NYC Hospitality Alliance released results from a survey today that found that only 17 percent of establishments were able to pay their full rent… Read more »
Aug. 3, 2020 By Allie Griffin The city will bring back its open restaurants outdoor dining program next June — or even earlier, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. The program, which converts parts of city streets and sidewalks to dining areas, is set to expire on Oct. 31. De Blasio said the initiative will… Read more »
July 31, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Calling all job seekers! Hundreds of jobs will be up for grabs when the Queens Borough President’s sixth recruitment fair is held next week. The event, which will take place via the video-conferencing application Zoom, is being held on Aug. 5 at 2:00 p.m. and out-of-work residents will get… Read more »
July 30, 2020 By Allie Griffin A group of small business owners from across the borough came together on the steps of Queens Borough Hall Wednesday to demand more financial help from legislators as they try to keep their businesses afloat amid the pandemic. The mom-and-pop shop owners are struggling to pay their rent from… Read more »
July 30, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A Glendale pastor has been arrested for exchanging sexually explicit text messages and pornographic images with a minor from Westchester. Francis Hughes, 65, who served at St. Pancras Church, located at 72-22 68th St., allegedly sent the 15-year-old boy a picture of his private parts and discussed performing sexual… Read more »
July 30, 2020 By Allie Griffin Six more bars and restaurants in Queens have lost their liquor licenses to ongoing state suspensions amid the coronavirus pandemic. Over the last few weeks, Governor Andrew Cuomo and the State Liquor Authority (SLA) have cracked down on bars and restaurants that blatantly disregard the state’s social distancing rules… Read more »
July 29, 2020, By Michael Dorgan Vehicle thefts are on the rise in northern Queens and drivers are making it easy for criminals. The number of reported vehicle thefts in the eight precincts that make up Queens North has jumped by 32 percent this year, according to official police data. Queens North consists of the… Read more »
July 29, 2020 By Christian Murray New York & Company, a retail clothing chain, will permanently close at least four locations in Queens, according to various store employees throughout the borough. The Astoria, Jamaica, Ridgewood and Bayside stores are all slated to close, according to employees at the respective locations. The only other store in… Read more »