June 16, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City residents may have to wait longer before they can get a haircut or eat out, as Mayor Bill de Blasio warned today it could take longer than expected to reach Phase 2 of reopening. The city is the only region of the 10 regions in the… Read more »
June 16, 2020 By Michael Dorgan The US Tennis Open will go ahead in Queens this summer without spectators, Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced. The competition will be held on its originally scheduled dates of Aug. 31 through to Sept. 13. “It will be held without fans but we can watch it on TV and… Read more »
June 15, 2020 By Michael Dorgan The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is donating thousands of bags of pet food to Queens-based organizations that will then distribute them to pet owners in need. The ASPCA is partnering with the Queens Borough President’s office to provide more than 2,500 bags of dog… Read more »
June 15, 2020 By Allie Griffin The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that employers cannot fire workers based on their sexual orientation or gender identity and Queens elected officials are celebrating the historic decision. The Court ruled that an employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender violates Title VII of the… Read more »
June 15, 2020 By Allie Griffin Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz has launched a new bureau dedicated to combating hate crimes. The announcement comes amid a national discussion on systemic racism following the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, as well as a recent uptick in biased attacks against Asian Americans during the coronavirus pandemic…. Read more »
June 14, 2020 By Christian Murray Former Council Member Elizabeth Crowley, who represented the 30th district in western Queens from 2009-2017, is running to be the next Queens Borough President. We spoke to Crowley last week. The focus of the discussion dealt with police reform, COVID-19, community boards and jobs. Crowley is one of several… Read more »
June 12, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a package of police reform bills into law Friday that seeks to improve relations between cops and the general public. The legislation, which was hurried through the state legislature earlier this week, will make police disciplinary records public, ban cops from using chokeholds on civilians… Read more »
June 11, 2020 By Allie Griffin Two school advocacy groups are calling out the mayor for his refusal to pull police officers out of public schools. Yesterday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said that the more than 5,000 NYPD school safety agents should remain at city schools, when asked at a daily press briefing. “I personally… Read more »
June 10, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Homeless New Yorkers have been dying at a higher rate from COVID-19 than the general public, according to a new report. Homeless people “living in shelters” died at a 61 percent higher rate from COVID-19 than the city average from March 1 through May 31. For the three-month period,… Read more »
June 11, 2020 By Christian Murray A Ridgewood man who fatally stabbed his roommate in 2016 has been sentenced to five to 15 years in prison, according to the Queens District Attorney’s office. Render Stetson-Shanahan, a 30-year-old artist, was found guilty of manslaughter in February, for brutally killing Carolyn Bush, 26, at their Stanhope Street… Read more »