Jan. 26, 2021 By Allie Griffin Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer earned an endorsement from Hollywood today. Van Bramer was endorsed by actor Kal Penn, who starred in NBC’s short-lived show “Sunnyside,” for Queens Borough President Tuesday. Penn played a disgraced former council member whose district included Sunnyside — the same neighborhood represented by Van… Read more »
Jan. 22, 2021 By Allie Griffin The rental market in Queens has taken a hit over the past year — and western Queens saw a heavy decline. The average rent paid in December to nab a Queens apartment was down 6.23 percent, from December 2019, according to a recent report released by the real estate… Read more »
Jan. 22, 2021 By Allie Griffin A Catholic deacon from Maspeth was caught trying to engage a 14-year-old boy in a sex act through an undercover sting Tuesday. Rogelio Vega — who serves as a deacon at Saint Sebastian Church in Woodside — allegedly conversed with an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old boy for… Read more »
Jan. 20, 2021 By Allie Griffin President Joseph Biden was honored in a very New York way at a Queens subway station Wednesday. As Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States, the 46th Street subway station in Astoria was transformed in honor the new president. One of the signs inside… Read more »
Jan. 19, 2021 By Allie Griffin New York City’s supply of the COVID-19 vaccine will run out by Friday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. The city’s supply of life-saving doses will begin to dry up on Thursday and health officials will be forced to cancel appointments that are scheduled for Friday and beyond, de… Read more »
Jan. 18, 2021 By Allie Griffin A New York-based power company is rebranding its Long Island City subsidiary–Ravenswood Generating–as it looks to convey its commitment to clean energy production. LS Power is renaming Ravenswood Generating — which operates New York City’s largest power generator, Ravenswood Generating Station — to Rise Light & Power. Ravenswood Generating… Read more »
Jan. 15, 2021 By Allie Griffin More than 50 new Citi Bike docking stations will be installed in Astoria in coming weeks as the bike-share company expands its network deeper into Queens. The expansion will extend Citi Bike’s service area north of Ditmars Boulevard and east of Steinway Street. There will be 52 docking stations… Read more »
Jan. 15, 2021 By Allie Griffin A long-standing nonprofit serving the LGBTQ community has found a new home at the historic Kaufman Astoria Studios. The LGBT Network, a 28-year-old nonprofit that has been based in Long Island City, moved into a new space within the Studio’s main building at 34-12 36th St. last month. The… Read more »
Jan. 15, 2021 By Allie Griffin State Sen. Joseph Addabbo introduced a bill earlier this month to protect people with cognitive disabilities during the pandemic after he heard of an autistic constituent’s tragic death. Addabbo said he was inspired to craft the bill after learning about the passing of Fred D’Amico, a 30-year-old Glendale man… Read more »
Jan. 14, 2021 By Allie Griffin A new building with 135 affordable housing units for seniors is going up in Astoria, announced Council Member Costa Constantinides Wednesday night. The mixed-use building will be for seniors and all the units will be affordable. The development will replace a Department of Transportation (DOT) parking lot on city-owned… Read more »