Sept. 15, 2021 By Allie Griffin Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will introduce a bill in the House of Representatives this week to extend federal unemployment insurance through February, she announced Tuesday. The federal unemployment benefits expired Sept. 6 — leaving millions of Americans without income as they look for work. An estimated 800,000 New York City… Read more »
Sept. 14, 2021 By Allie Griffin Catholic school students in Queens and Brooklyn have the option to learn fully online, the Diocese said Monday — the same day public school students returned to school with no remote option at all. Elementary and middle school students at Catholic academies across Queens and Brooklyn can attend school… Read more »
Sept. 14, 2021 By Allie Griffin Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer wants to make a pandemic-era program that allows performers to host ticketed events on city streets a permanent fixture in the city. Van Bramer introduced a bill last week to make the temporary “Open Culture” permit program permanent and year-round. The Council’s Committee on… Read more »
Sept. 10, 2021 By Christian Murray A 21-year-old Far Rockaway man who allegedly filed bogus claims to collect more than $150,000 in unemployment insurance has been indicted on grand larceny charges, the Queens District Attorney’s office announced Thursday. Keijohn Graham, of Hanson Court in Far Rockaway, allegedly bilked the system by illegally tapping into the… Read more »
Sept. 9, 2021 By Allie Griffin A group of Queens officials who have lived in basement apartments themselves said Wednesday that calls to remove such units are not realistic. Critics who want the city to crack down on illegal basement apartments and end their use say the units are unsafe and lead to overcrowding. They… Read more »
Sept. 9, 2021 By Allie Griffin The NYPD released a gruesome video today of a brazen daylight murder that took place in South Ozone Park Monday. The video shows the fatal shooting of a 46-year-old man who was ambushed and shot in the head by a gunman on South Conduit Avenue Monday morning. The footage… Read more »
Sept. 9, 2021 By Christian Murray Several state legislators representing districts in Queens are calling on the schools Chancellor to provide public school students with a remote learning option. The Queens officials signed onto a letter penned by Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz Tuesday that urges Chancellor Meisha Ross Porter to offer a remote learning option. “We… Read more »
Sept. 7, 2021 By Allie Griffin President Joseph Biden visited Queens Tuesday to assess the damage from Hurricane Ida and speak to families afflicted by the destructive storm. Biden met with local elected officials in the borough, where 11 people were killed last week when homes, businesses and streets were flooded with several feet of… Read more »
Sept. 7, 2021 By Allie Griffin Thousands of New York City public school students will be able to get vaccinated against COVID-19 right inside their school buildings when classes begin next week. The city is placing pop-up vaccination sites at roughly 700 middle and high schools during the first week of classes, starting Sept. 13…. Read more »
Sept. 7, 2021 By Allie Griffin Community boards can continue to hold their meetings online—at least until January. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill into law last week that allows boards to hold public meetings and hearings virtually in lieu of the ongoing pandemic. The legislation creates an exception to the state’s Open Meetings Law,… Read more »