Sept. 2, 2020 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio said he will give restaurants an answer this month as to if and when indoor dining can reopen. The mayor said restaurant owners and workers deserve a clear answer soon as more and more industry leaders and politicians have been calling on the city to reopen… Read more »
Author: Allie Griffin
New York City Schools Reopening Date Pushed Back By More Than 10 Days
Sept. 1, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City schools will reopen more than 10 days later than originally planned, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. Public school buildings were set to reopen next week on Thursday, Sept. 10, but de Blasio pushed back the reopening date to Monday, Sept. 21 in a last-minute change… Read more »
Council Members Push DOT to Open Pedestrian Pathway on Queensboro Bridge ASAP
Aug. 31, 2020 By Allie Griffin Two council members are pushing the Department of Transportation (DOT) to add a dedicated pedestrian pathway to the Queensboro Bridge as soon as possible. Council Members Ben Kallos and Jimmy Van Bramer want the DOT to open a pedestrian pathway on the bridge’s south outer roadway. Currently, pedestrians and… Read more »
MoMA PS1 to Reopen Sept. 17
Aug. 28, 2020 By Allie Griffin MoMA PS1 will officially reopen to the public next month after being closed for months due to the ongoing pandemic. The museum will reopen Sept. 17 and feature a new outdoor commission by artist Rashid Johnson in its courtyard as well as a major exhibition on art and mass… Read more »
Ramos Says SLA is Slamming Restaurants With ‘Exorbitant Fines’ And it Needs to Stop
Aug. 27, 2020 By Allie Griffin State Sen. Jessica Ramos penned a letter to the State Liquor Authority (SLA) Wednesday calling on the agency to stop hitting small restaurant owners with hefty fines. The lawmaker claims that the agency’s fines and “harassment tactics” are unfair, and come at a time when many business owners are… Read more »
Queens Legislators Introduce Bill to Postpone Tax Lien Sale to Help Struggling New Yorkers
Aug. 27, 2020 By Allie Griffin Two Queens lawmakers have introduced legislation that aims to block the de Blasio administration from holding its up-coming lien sale to help struggling homeowners at risk of losing their homes. The administration’s annual lien sale is set for Sept. 4, after being postponed from its original May date due… Read more »
MTA Warns 40 Percent Service Reductions, Fare Hikes and Mass Layoffs Without Federal Aid
Aug. 29, 2020 By Allie Griffin The MTA warned of huge service reductions, fare hikes and mass layoffs if the federal government doesn’t step in and provide aid to the cash-strapped agency. The MTA needs $12 billion in federal funding immediately to avoid “draconian” and “unthinkable” measures to alleviate its massive deficit caused by the… Read more »
City Inspecting Ventilation Systems at Classrooms Ahead of Schools Reopening
Aug. 26, 2020 By Allie Griffin The city began inspecting air ventilation systems at classrooms Tuesday, with less than three weeks before public schools reopen, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced yesterday. Every classroom and space inside a school building will be inspected by a team of independent engineers, joined by the Department of Buildings and… Read more »
Rep. Maloney Urges CUNY to Reverse Layoffs of Nearly 3,000 Employees
Aug. 25, 2020 By Allie Griffin Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney penned a letter to the City University of New York (CUNY) urging the administration to reverse its decision to layoff nearly 3,000 employees. CUNY decided to not renew the contracts of about 2,800 employees — mostly adjunct professors and part time staff members — across its… Read more »
Mayor Announces Schools Can Utilize Outdoor Space for Classes, Including Streets and Parks
Aug. 25, 2020 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday that schools can apply to the City to hold classes outside in schoolyards, local parks and closed streets to limit the spread of coronavirus. Schools that don’t have usable outdoor space within their campuses, as well as schools in neighborhoods that were hit… Read more »