March 28, 2019 By Christian Murray A Long Island City man faces up to seven years in prison for downloading and sharing thousands of images and videos of child sex abuse. Dodelyn Vertilus, 40, of 29th Street, was charged on a 3,201-count indictment for sharing thousands of images of children as young as three being… Read more »
March 26, 2019 By Christian Murray A Long Island City parks group was awarded a $17,000 state grant to replace the hammocks in Gantry Plaza State Park and expand its gardening program. The Hunters Point Parks Conservancy, a non-profit that aims to enhance the quality of Long Island City’s waterfront parks, was awarded the grant… Read more »
March 26, 2019 By Christian Murray A 36-year-old woman faces up to 15-years in prison after giving birth to a baby in the toilet of a Long Island City hotel and letting her prematurely born infant die. Lauren Becker, of Long Island, was charged with second degree manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child…. Read more »
March 22, 2019 By Christian Murray The Court Square Library, a long-time tenant on the ground floor of the Citigroup Building, may soon be looking for a new home. The library’s lease is coming to an end later this year and it remains unclear whether it will be renewed. “We are having conversations with the… Read more »
March 21, 2019 By Laura Hanrahan The New York State Senate and Assembly passed a bill on Tuesday that will establish the use of speed cameras in 750 school zones across the five boroughs. The legislation, which Governor Andrew Cuomo is expected to sign into law in days, is an extension of a previously passed… Read more »
March 20, 2019 Staff Report A 36-year woman has been charged with manslaughter stemming from the death of her newborn baby at a Long Island City hotel in July. Lauren Becker, of Seaford, Long Island, was charged in relation to the death of her baby, who was found by police lying unconscious and unresponsive at… Read more »
March 20, 2019 By Christian Murray Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer has released the ballot items for the fifth round of participatory budgeting in the district, with a significant number of the 13 projects listed dedicated toward schools and public housing. Participatory budgeting is a process that allows constituents to vote on how capital dollars… Read more »
March 19, 2019 By Meghan Sackman Two eateries with well-known names are about to open on Jackson Avenue. Sweetleaf, a boutique café which has two locations in Hunters Point, plans to open its latest venue on Jackson Avenue on Thursday, March 21. Meanwhile, Xi’an Famous Foods, the well-known Chinese food chain, will also be opening… Read more »
March 18, 2019 By Laura Hanrahan A majority of New Yorkers say that Amazon’s decision to scrap its plans to come to Long Island City was bad for the state, according to a new Sienna College poll of New York State registered voters. Sixty-one percent of respondents would support the deal–including the $3 billion in… Read more »
March 15, 2019 By Jon Cronin and Christian Murray A vigil will be held Saturday to pay tribute to the bicyclist who was tragically killed on a Hunters Point street Thursday morning. The vigil will be held on the corner of Borden Avenue and 2nd Street, where Robert Spencer, 53, was killed while riding his… Read more »