April 3, 2020 By Allie Griffin Nearly 500 Queens residents have now been killed by the coronavirus since the pandemic took over New York City and turned the World’s Borough into the epicenter. Across the five boroughs, 1,584 people have died, as of 9:30 a.m. today. In Queens, 499 residents have died and 17,832 residents… Read more »
Apr. 3, 2020, Staff Report New Yorkers across the 5 boroughs are able to get three free meals at city schools starting today. The ‘grab and go’ meals are available at more than 400 locations around New York and residents can go online and search by zip code the school locations that are offering them…. Read more »
April 3, 2020 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio advised all New Yorkers Thursday to wear face coverings when stepping outside their homes. He said people should wear bandanas, scarves, or other coverings over their mouth and nose while out in public in order to slow the spread of the virus that has infected… Read more »
April 2, 2020 By Allie Griffin Queens and Brooklyn churches will ring “Bells of Hope” beginning tomorrow and continuing every day as the city grapples with the coronavirus pandemic that is killing New Yorkers. Every parish in the two boroughs with outdoor bells will ring them each day at 3 p.m. at the request of… Read more »
April 2, 2020 By Christian Murray The New York State legislature reached a budget agreement yesterday that includes a provision that will legalize the operation of most e-bicycles and e-scooters. The new legislation is similar to what State Sen. Jessica Ramos and Assembly Member Nily Rozic championed in 2019 that Governor Andrew Cuomo did not… Read more »
April 2, 2020 By Allie Griffin Corona, the Queens neighborhood that shares the same name as the horrid virus, has the most COVID-19 cases in New York City — with nearly 1,000 cases in its zip code, according to newly released data. Elmhurst has the second greatest number of cases and Jackson Heights is high… Read more »
April 1, 2020 By Allie Griffin Governor Andrew Cuomo will shut down all New York City playgrounds to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, he announced today. The order comes after Mayor Bill de Blasio resisted a mass closure and opted to shut down specific playgrounds where social distancing was not being observed. However, at… Read more »
Op-ed: April 1, 2020 By State Sen. Mike Gianaris America is facing an unprecedented public health crisis which will soon become an unprecedented economic and housing crisis. With rents due April 1 and jobless claims expected to pass 3.5 million this week, we could see millions evicted from apartments, homes foreclosed upon, and small businesses… Read more »
April 1, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A New York City artist has erected “Thank You” signs outside various city hospitals – including Elmhurst Hospital – to show his appreciation for frontline staff battling the COVID-19 spread. Scott LoBaido, a Staten Island native who has been creating patriotic art for 25 years, said he wanted to… Read more »
March 31, 2020 By Allie Griffin The 350-bed temporary hospital that will takeover a portion of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center will be used as an overflow facility to specifically help the heavily-burdened Elmhurst Hospital. The beds will begin serving non-ICU coronavirus patients next week, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today at the… Read more »