Feb. 26, 2021 By Christian Murray A Queens state senator introduced legislation Thursday that aims to protect commercial tenants from personal liability if they unable to pay their rent due to COVID-19. The bill, sponsored by State Sen. Mike Gianaris, aims to protect business owners who were forced to close due to the pandemic from… Read more »
Feb. 26, 2021 By Christian Murray A number of high-profile developers who are profiting from a Trump-era tax break may be forced to pay more in taxes if a bill State Sen. Mike Gianaris is sponsoring becomes law. The bill, dubbed the Opportunity Zone Tax Break Elimination Act, would scrap a handsome tax break that… Read more »
Feb. 26, 2021 By Allie Griffin More than 330 affordable apartments in Long Island City’s 5 Pointz towers are up for grabs through the city’s affordable housing lottery. The units are located within in two newly-constructed towers at 22-44 Jackson Ave., where the famous 5 Pointz factory building once stood that was known for its… Read more »
Feb. 25, 2021 By Allie Griffin A Queens council candidate is taking aim at the Working Families Party after the progressive powerhouse rejected the advice of the Queens chapter to endorse her– and went with Amit Bagga. Julie Won, who is running to represent the 26th Council District, got the support of the Queens chapter… Read more »
Feb. 25, 2021 By Allie Griffin The Working Families Party announced a new round of endorsements in several Queens council races today. The influential progressive party endorsed candidates in Council districts 19, 20 and 26 and made its very first ranked-choice endorsement in the latter. The Working Families Party picked Amit Bagga as its top… Read more »
Feb. 25, 2021 By Michael Dorgan The Queens Chamber of Commerce has created a new council that aims to transform Queens into a new technology hub. The Queens Tech Council, which launched Wednesday, aims to lure tech companies to the borough and make sure that existing businesses are in a position to embrace new technologies…. Read more »
Feb. 25, 2021 By Allie Griffin A coalition made up of a powerful labor union and two activist organizations announced new endorsements in three Queens council races Tuesday. Road to Justice NYC — comprised of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, Community Voices Heard Power and Make the Road Action — named its picks for districts… Read more »
Feb. 24, 2021 By Allie Griffin New York City’s public schools will welcome back middle schoolers for in-person learning tomorrow. Public schools that serve grades six through eight will hold in-person classes beginning Thursday. The schools have been closed since November when COVID-19 cases spiked. “I am very excited that tomorrow our New York City… Read more »
Feb. 23, 2021 By Allie Griffin New York City has launched an online toolkit to address the spate of attacks against Asian Americans in recent months. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday the creation of an online toolkit that aims to provide support to New Yorkers of Asian heritage who are subjected to hate crimes…. Read more »
Feb. 23, 2021 By Christina Santucci A state supreme court justice has dismissed a lawsuit filed by nearly 100 political candidates that sought to cancel the requirements for in-person signatures required to get on the ballot. The group of more than 100 plaintiffs, including about a dozen Queens candidates, filed suit Feb. 8 against Governor… Read more »