Dec. 17, 2021 By Allie Griffin The city will distribute 500,000 at-home rapid tests and one million masks to residents across the five boroughs as COVID-19 cases climb rapidly, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday. The announcement came at the same time that health officials released data showing that the seven-day average for new cases… Read more »
Dec. 16, 2021 By Allie Griffin A number of so-called “moderate” City Council members have officially created their own caucus just weeks before a new set of members are to be sworn in. The City Council officially recognized the formation of the “Common Sense” caucus, which consists of a number of moderate Democrats and Republican… Read more »
Dec. 16, 2021 By Allie Griffin The MTA is redesigning the entire bus network in Queens and will release its latest plan early next year, agency officials said Wednesday. The new plan will replace an initial bus redesign plan that the MTA put out two years ago. The agency has scrapped that original, pre-pandemic plan… Read more »
Dec. 17, 2021 By Michael Dorgan Protests against showing proof of vaccination to enter bars and restaurants took place on two separate nights this week at the Queens Center Mall resulting in a number of arrests – videos of which have gone viral online. Four protesters were cuffed by police Wednesday while six activists were… Read more »
Dec. 16, 2021 By Michael Dorgan An off-duty NYPD lieutenant was critically wounded — while a suspect was fatally shot — during an attempted robbery turned shootout on a Woodside street early Thursday. The cop was targeted by a group of at least three armed suspects wearing ski masks as he left La Boom nightclub,… Read more »
Dec. 15. 2021 By Michael Dorgan It’s been a long time coming but a popular California-style Mexican restaurant has finally opened in Astoria. Calexico opened last week at 32-07 30th Ave. and customers are at long last savoring the company’s much-lauded burritos, quesadillas and tacos. The restaurant was initially scheduled to open in early 2020… Read more »
Dec. 15, 2021 By Allie Griffin Mayor-elect Eric Adams has named a Queens native as the city’s first female NYPD Commissioner. Adams announced Wednesday that Keechant Sewell, the Nassau County chief of detectives, will become the top cop of the country’s largest police force next month. “I’m proud to tell you personally that the 45th… Read more »
Dec. 15, 2021 By Allie Griffin The next City Council speaker will apparently be from Queens, but the question as to who it will be remains a mystery as two Queens members declared victory Tuesday in a confusing kerfuffle played out over social media. Both Council Member Francisco Moya and Council Member Adrienne Adams said… Read more »
Dec. 15, 2021 By Christian Murray The MTA will be constructing elevators at the Steinway Street M/R subway station—although it will be several years before they are completed. State Sen. Michael Gianaris, who has been calling for elevators at the station for years, made the announcement Tuesday and said that the MTA has finally provided… Read more »
This article was originally published by Chalkbeat New York on Dec.14, 2021, BY Christina Veiga New York City officials unveiled long-awaited details on how middle and high schools will accept students for the coming year: Middle schools will continue a pause on academic screens, and high schools will dramatically streamline their competitive admissions criteria, education… Read more »