March 23, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Finally some good news for New York straphangers – MTA bus trips will now be free while New York fights the coronavirus pandemic. The MTA has announced that it has suspended fare collection on all of its local and select bus routes in order to keep its drivers safe… Read more »
March 23, 2020 By Christian Murray New York State has closed all the playgrounds, athletic courts and sports fields that it administers in Long Island City. The state, which manages Gantry Plaza State Park and a number of courts and playgrounds in Hunters Point, has shut down these facilities like it has done so across… Read more »
March 21, 2020 By Christian Murray New York State has conducted more coronavirus tests than any other state, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced this morning. He said the state has performed 45,000 tests to date, much higher than the states of California and Washington–each having performed 23,000 tests. He said on a per capita basis the… Read more »
March 20, 2020 By Michael Dorgan The Queens Chamber of Commerce has launched a new website to help small local businesses battle the impact coronavirus is having on trade. The new website, QueensBest.org, lists restaurants throughout the borough that are offering delivery and takeout service during the crisis. The government has already shut most businesses… Read more »
March 20, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York will essentially shut down on Sunday in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, following an order Governor Andrew Cuomo announced in Albany today. All non-essential businesses must close or have all employees work from home and New Yorkers should stay home as much as possible…. Read more »
March 20, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that hair and nail salons, tattoo parlors and other personal care providers will shutter across New York state from 8 p.m. Saturday. It comes as almost 4,000 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the city with 26 fatalities, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on… Read more »
March 20, 2020 By Christian Murray State Sen. Mike Gianaris is calling for a 90-day suspension of residential and commercial rent for tenants and small businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Under Gianaris’ proposal, residential and commercial tenants would have 90 days of rent forgiven if they lost their work or closed due to the… Read more »
March 20, 2020 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio demanded the federal government to step up its efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic and send millions of medical supplies to New York City — the country’s hardest hit area — or lives will be unnecessarily lost. The number of COVID-19 cases drastically jumped to… Read more »
March 20, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City will release 40 inmates on Rikers Island who are vulnerable of complications associated with the novel coronavirus, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday. The individuals have been chosen based on specific health vulnerabilities and their low-risk status, as non-threatening and unlikely to reoffend. The NYPD and… Read more »
March 19, 2020 By Allie Griffin Governor Andrew Cuomo has introduced a number of new measures to help New Yorkers struggling to pay their credit card bills and make mortgage payments — and has taken action to increase the state’s hospital capacity as the coronavirus takes hold. Cuomo is offering relief to New Yorkers facing… Read more »