July 1, 2020 By Allie Griffin The City Council passed the mayor’s executive budget that included deep cuts to the NYPD last night, as protesters cried to “defund the NYPD” outside City Hall. The council passed the $88.1 billion budget with a 32-to-17 vote around midnight, just before the July 1, 2021 fiscal year began…. Read more »
July 1, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A hit-and-run driver who fled the scene of a fatal crash in Middle Village Wednesday has been arrested for manslaughter and other charges. Ramon Pena, 37, drove a stolen 2006 Isuzu box truck and crashed into another vehicle just before 1 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Metropolitan Avenue… Read more »
July 1, 2020 By Michael Dorgan The MTA has rolled out vending machines across select city subway stations that dispense COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE). The new machines offers face masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes. There are 10 machines in Manhattan and just one machine in both Queens and Brooklyn. The agency wants… Read more »
June 30, 2020 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a municipal budget deal that would cut NYPD funding by $1 billion and redistribute much of it to support youth services and public housing residents. The City Council will vote on the new $88.1 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2021 — which begins July… Read more »
June 30, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Mayor Bill de Blasio is looking to reduce funding to the NYPD by up to $1.5 billion in the city’s 2021 fiscal budget. The mayor is calling for a $1 billion cut from the NYPD’s operating budget and another $500 million cut in capital funding. The lost capital funds… Read more »
June 29, 2020 By Christian Murray The city’s plan to allow bars and restaurants to reopen their indoor space next week is now being called in question. The sudden uptick in COVID-19 cases in other U.S. states has been linked to indoor dining, causing the mayor and governor to rethink the reopening timeline in New… Read more »
June 29, 2020 By Christian Murray The city has released a new map that provides the public with a list of restaurants across the five boroughs offering outdoor dining. The Department of Transportation has posted the map online–called “NYC Open Restaurants“—that provides a growing list of the more than 6,200 restaurants now offer outdoor dining…. Read more »
June 27, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Several Queens lawmakers have called on the mayor to redistribute NYPD funds into the Parks Department in order to increase the role of Park Enforcement Patrol (PEP) officers at city parks. The legislators want the NYPD – whose relationship with the public has been strained in recent weeks –… Read more »
June 25, 2020 By Christian Murray The New York City Council passed legislation Thursday that legalizes the operation of most e-bicycles and e-scooters. The legislation is a long time coming but the council had to wait for Albany to pass legislation allowing municipalities to approve their use. That took place earlier this year after much… Read more »
June 25, 2020 By Michael Dorgan The Queens Public Library (QPL) has announced that it will reopen some of its local branches on July 13 with restrictions. Seven locations will be open to the public for pickups and returns while nine additional sites will accept returns, President and CEO of Queens Public Library Dennis Walcott… Read more »