April 3, 2020 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio advised all New Yorkers Thursday to wear face coverings when stepping outside their homes. He said people should wear bandanas, scarves, or other coverings over their mouth and nose while out in public in order to slow the spread of the virus that has infected… Read more »
April 3, 2020 By Michael Dorgan The MTA is boosting its weekly supply of masks to its frontline workers to 100,000 masks per week. The announcement comes at a time when 16 MTA workers have now died due to complications from the virus and 744 MTA staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. The agency… Read more »
April 2, 2020 By Allie Griffin Queens and Brooklyn churches will ring “Bells of Hope” beginning tomorrow and continuing every day as the city grapples with the coronavirus pandemic that is killing New Yorkers. Every parish in the two boroughs with outdoor bells will ring them each day at 3 p.m. at the request of… Read more »
April 2, 2020 By Christian Murray The New York State legislature reached a budget agreement yesterday that includes a provision that will legalize the operation of most e-bicycles and e-scooters. The new legislation is similar to what State Sen. Jessica Ramos and Assembly Member Nily Rozic championed in 2019 that Governor Andrew Cuomo did not… Read more »
April 2, 2020 By Michael Dorgan An online map has been created to pinpoint local businesses that are open and what services they are providing during the coronavirus shutdown. The Western Queens Local Business Source Map or Who’s Open?? aims to help customers better locate businesses across Sunnyside/Woodside, Astoria and parts of Long Island City… Read more »
April 2, 2020 By Allie Griffin Corona, the Queens neighborhood that shares the same name as the horrid virus, has the most COVID-19 cases in New York City — with nearly 1,000 cases in its zip code, according to newly released data. Elmhurst has the second greatest number of cases and Jackson Heights is high… Read more »
April 1, 2020 By Allie Griffin Governor Andrew Cuomo will shut down all New York City playgrounds to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, he announced today. The order comes after Mayor Bill de Blasio resisted a mass closure and opted to shut down specific playgrounds where social distancing was not being observed. However, at… Read more »
April 1, 2020 Staff Report Representatives Carolyn B. Maloney and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to revise its policy of turning away blood donations from gay and bisexual men in light of the long-term impacts of the coronavirus crisis on the nation’s blood supply. The pair, who both represent portions… Read more »
Op-ed: April 1, 2020 By State Sen. Mike Gianaris America is facing an unprecedented public health crisis which will soon become an unprecedented economic and housing crisis. With rents due April 1 and jobless claims expected to pass 3.5 million this week, we could see millions evicted from apartments, homes foreclosed upon, and small businesses… Read more »
April 1, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A New York City artist has erected “Thank You” signs outside various city hospitals – including Elmhurst Hospital – to show his appreciation for frontline staff battling the COVID-19 spread. Scott LoBaido, a Staten Island native who has been creating patriotic art for 25 years, said he wanted to… Read more »