Author: Allie Griffin

Long Island City Antibody Testing Site Revealed

May 8, 2020 By Allie Griffin The location of the Long Island City antibody testing site announced yesterday has been revealed. The borough’s free antibody testing facility will be located at 34-09 Queens Blvd., according to Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer. The facility is one of five — one in each borough — that will… Read more »

Edible Queens Magazine Will Shutter at End of the Month

May 8, 2020 By Allie Griffin A magazine celebrating the diverse culinary offerings of the World’s Borough will shutter at the end of the month after struggling to stay afloat as the coronavirus pandemic has devastated the restaurant industry. Edible Queens will close at the end of the month after a three year run, publisher… Read more »

Gov. Cuomo Extends Eviction Moratorium Through August 20

May 7, 2020 By Allie Griffin Governor Andrew Cuomo extended the statewide eviction moratorium a further two months today, as more and more New Yorkers are unable to make rent. Cuomo first issued the moratorium — for both residential and commercial renters — on March 20 by an executive order to prevent landlords from evicting… Read more »

Free Antibody Testing Available in Long Island City Starting Next Week

May 7, 2020 By Allie Griffin The public will be able to head to Long Island City to be tested for coronavirus antibodies free of charge next week, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. The neighborhood will be home to one of the five initial testing sites across the five boroughs scheduled to launch next… Read more »

City Aids 139 Homeless People Found on the Subway Last Night

May 6, 2020 By Allie Griffin City workers convinced 139 homeless New Yorkers sleeping in subway cars and stations last night to take refuge at city shelters. NYPD and MTA officers, along with outreach workers, found 242 homeless people in the subways and stations when trains were closed early this morning from 1 a.m. to… Read more »

De Blasio Announces New Sector Councils to Advise New York City’s Reopening

May 6, 2020 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that his office is forming several advisory councils to aid New York City’s reopening when the coronavirus pandemic recedes. The City is rolling out six councils on specific sectors of city life today with four more on the way in the coming days,… Read more »

Queens District Attorney Has Reopened 10 Cases of Possible Wrongful Conviction

May 6, 2020 By Allie Griffin The Queens District Attorney’s office, which opened a unit to investigate potential wrongful convictions in January, announced yesterday that it has reopened 10 such cases. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz established the Conviction Integrity Unit when she took office on January 1 — making good on one of her… Read more »

Queens Supreme Court Judge Orders Two Bangladeshi Candidates Back on Ballot

May 5, 2020 By Allie Griffin Two Bangladeshi women are back on the ballot in an upcoming Queens primary after a judge ruled against the Board of Elections’ (BOE) decision to remove them for technicalities last week. On Monday, Queens Supreme Court Judge Leonard Livote ordered Mary Jobaida, who hopes to unseat Cathy Nolan in… Read more »

Future of the BQX Streetcar Uncertain as COVID-19 Puts Hole in City Budget

May 4, 2020 By Allie Griffin The future of the $2.7 billion streetcar connecting western Queens to northwest Brooklyn remains uncertain, as the city now grapples with a massive budget hole brought on by COVID-19. The city had just begun the environmental review process for the streetcar project, dubbed the BQX,  in February and March… Read more »

Key Indicators Show Positive Signs as NYC Tries to Combat COVID-19

May 4, 2020 By Allie Griffin The city is making progress in its fight against the coronavirus with a number of key measures moving in the right direction. The mayor announced today that the three key indicators that will be used to determine when the city can reopen showed positive results. The number of new… Read more »