June 22, 2021 By Allie Griffin Candidates on the ballot for City Council seats are competing for a two-year term—not the four-year term members normally serve. Council members elected this year will complete a two-year term for the first time in two decades due to a provision in the city charter related to the census…. Read more »
June 22, 2021 By Christina Santucci A Queens Criminal Court judge granted District Attorney Melinda Katz’s request to dismiss thousands of cases for people who had been charged with low-level marijuana offenses—during a virtual proceeding Tuesday morning. Katz had sought to have the 3,255 unresolved misdemeanor cases be dismissed – after New York state legalized… Read more »
June 22, 2021 By Christina Santucci Voters can expect to find out some initial vote tallies from today’s Primary Election following the close of the polls – but election officials estimate that the final results will not be certified until mid July. The Board of Elections (BOE) plans to release preliminary, unofficial results of in-person… Read more »
June 22, 2021 By Ryan Songalia State lawmakers have taken a big step to rid the streets of souped-up vehicles that have been keeping residents awake at night. A bill, called the Stop Loud and Excessive Exhaust Pollution (SLEEP) Act, passed both the Assembly and senate on June 10 and awaits the signature of the… Read more »
June 21, 2021 By Christina Santucci Andrew Yang and former Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley announced last week that they are supporting one another’s respective campaigns for mayor and Queens borough president. The candidates held an event in Bayside to cross endorse each other Friday – with supporters including the firefighters union. “Together, we’ll deliver for Queens… Read more »
June 21, 2021 By Christina Santucci More than 35,000 Queens residents cast their ballots during the past nine days of Early Voting for the Primary Election, the city’s Board of Elections said Sunday night. Early Voters in Queens made up about 18.5 percent of the total 191,197 people citywide, according to unofficial and cumulative counts… Read more »
June 17, 2021 Op-Ed By: Heidi L. Sieck As New York City voters begin voting early, filling out and mailing in their absentee ballots, or heading to the polls in person on Election Day, New Yorkers will be voting like we have never done before. This is the first election where New York City voters… Read more »
June 17, 2021 By Ryan Songalia The NYC Parks Dept. renamed 16 sites and parks—including three in Queens—in honor of famous African Americans yesterday. The announcement Wednesday follows the launch of a program last June to rename various public spaces in honor of Black New Yorkers to bring attention to the Black experience in New… Read more »
June 17, 2021 By Ryan Songalia A service hub providing immigration-related resources at Queens Borough Hall opened Tuesday. The center is offering immigrants free legal consultations through CUNY Citizenship Now!, which is the largest university legal assistance program in the nation. Other services tailored for new immigrants are expected to be announced soon. “There’s a… Read more »
June 16, 2021 By Allie Griffin The sky above the New York Harbor was lit up with a firework display last night marking the milestone that 70 percent of adults across the state have received at least their first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. However, not all neighborhoods across the state have a vaccination rate… Read more »