May 5, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Several Queens Congress Members have demanded the national cancellation of all rent and mortgage payments for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic – and for six months afterward. Lawmakers Grace Meng, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Carolyn Maloney, Nydia Velázquez and Hakeem Jeffries wrote to House and Senate leaders Tuesday urging them… Read more »
May 5, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Several Queens Congress Members want the next COVID-19 relief bill to include assistance for bodegas, ethnic grocery stores and small independent supermarkets. Congresswoman Grace Meng announced Sunday that she wrote a letter— signed by 12 other New York Congress Members– to House leaders Nancy Pelosi and Kevin McCarthy urging… Read more »
May 4, 2020 By Christian Murray Governor Andrew Cuomo said that certain regions of the state may begin to reopen on May 15, the date the state’s stay at home order is set to end. The governor said that the restrictions would only be lifted if a number of benchmarks were met. He stated that… Read more »
May 4, 2020 By Christian Murray The Burger Garage has officially closed. The restaurant, which opened 10 years ago in a building that was once home to an auto garage, has shut for good and the building where it operated will be bulldozed for a residential development. The establishment, located at 25-36 Jackson Ave., had… Read more »
May 2, 2020 By Christian Murray In upcoming months Queens residents will see for themselves the economic carnage COVID-19 has delivered to the borough’s small businesses. Store fronts will be empty; cherished restaurants will be gone; and neighborhood business owners who residents adored and could count on to sponsor local events will disappear. The number… Read more »
May 1, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A series of mini-dance videos featuring local artists and performers will make their world premieres online next week. “Dance Shorts” is a compilation of various short video clips that are being put together by The Physical Plant, a Long Island City-based nonprofit organization that also runs the annual Queensboro… Read more »
April 30, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Governor Andrew Cuomo is shutting the New York subway system for four hours each night for “aggressive” coronavirus cleanings. The system – which has operated on a 24/7 basis throughout the pandemic – will stop for nightly closures so that trains can be cleaned and sanitized, the governor said… Read more »
April 30, 2020 By Michael Dorgan IKEA is donating thousands of products to Queens-based organizations that will distribute them to families in need. The Swedish home ware and furniture giant is partnering with the Queens Borough President’s office to provide new bedding, towels, batteries, and children’s items to low-income families. The contribution is part of… Read more »
April 29, 2020 By Michael Dorgan IKEA is delaying the opening of its new store at the Rego Center mall due to the coronavirus pandemic. The popular Swedish homeware and furniture store was expected to move into a 115,000 square foot space at the corner of Queens Boulevard and Junction Boulevard this summer. However, IKEA… Read more »
April 29, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Suicides in Queens have soared since COVID-19 broke out. The rate has doubled in the past six weeks compared to the same period in 2019, according to the Queens District Attorney’s office. The alarming numbers come at a time when Queens is being hit hard by the virus. The… Read more »