March 15, 2021 By Christina Santucci St. Patrick’s Day is this week and the Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District has partnered with a neighborhood group to highlight what local bars and restaurants will be offering on the big day. The promotion includes a series of videos, in which Sunnyside resident Ty Sullivan interviews the owners… Read more »
March 14, 2021 By Christina Santucci The family of a woman shot and killed in Astoria Friday night has received a massive outpouring of support with more than $23,000 raised for them in less than a day A GoFundMe page was launched by the family of Gudelia Vallinas, 37, who was tragically killed by a… Read more »
March 12, 2021 By Christian Murray Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, a candidate for Queens Borough President, will change the make-up of community boards by appointing younger, more diverse members–if elected. He said that nearly two-thirds of the members on the 14 community boards in Queens are over the age of 55, and the boards… Read more »
March 11, 2021 By Christian Murray Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and eight members of New York’s congressional delegation have penned a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo expressing their opposition to NRG Energy’s plan to overhaul its Astoria power plant, saying that the plant would still rely on fossil fuels and would continue to emit dangerous… Read more »
March 10, 2021 Op-Ed By Emily Sharpe I would like to address two errors contained in Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer’s op-ed explaining why he has decided to approve Phipps’ Barnett Avenue rezoning application. First, Councilmember Van Bramer stated: “all of this housing is for people who are at, near or below minimum wage earners.” That… Read more »
March 10, 2021 By Christina Santucci An estimated 18 percent of adults in Queens have been vaccinated — either partially or fully — against COVID-19 vaccine, a representative from the city Health Department told borough leaders at a virtual meeting Tuesday morning. About nine percent of adults in the borough have received their first dose… Read more »
March 10, 2021 By Christian Murray Sales activity is picking up for condo units at the 67-story Skyline Tower in Court Square, according to the CEO of a Long Island City-based brokerage firm. More than 325 units in the 802-unit development have now sold, according to Eric Benaim, the CEO and founder of Modern Spaces,… Read more »
March 10, 2021 By Christina Santucci Bike advocates are inviting the public to ride around western Queens this weekend with nearly a dozen political candidates who are vying to replace Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer. The activities will begin with a rally Sunday, March 14 at 11 a.m. at Queensbridge Park, followed by a five-mile ride… Read more »
March 9, 2021 By Christian Murray The fashion shoe company Steve Madden is threatening to leave Sunnyside if the seven story, 167-unit building development planned by Phipps Houses on Barnett Avenue goes up. Steve Madden, which penned a letter to Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer Jan. 14, said that it employs more than 400 people… Read more »
March 9, 2021 Op-Ed By: Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer Four years ago, Phipps Houses withdrew their application to build an affordable housing complex in my Sunnyside neighborhood after I had come out against it. It was a project that the community board voted against and which faced significant community opposition. I too was opposed,… Read more »