June 22, 2021 By Christina Santucci A Queens Criminal Court judge granted District Attorney Melinda Katz’s request to dismiss thousands of cases for people who had been charged with low-level marijuana offenses—during a virtual proceeding Tuesday morning. Katz had sought to have the 3,255 unresolved misdemeanor cases be dismissed – after New York state legalized… Read more »
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Check out the Expected Timeline for Election Results
June 22, 2021 By Christina Santucci Voters can expect to find out some initial vote tallies from today’s Primary Election following the close of the polls – but election officials estimate that the final results will not be certified until mid July. The Board of Elections (BOE) plans to release preliminary, unofficial results of in-person… Read more »
State Legislature Passes ‘SLEEP Act’ to Curb Souped-Up Vehicles
June 22, 2021 By Ryan Songalia State lawmakers have taken a big step to rid the streets of souped-up vehicles that have been keeping residents awake at night. A bill, called the Stop Loud and Excessive Exhaust Pollution (SLEEP) Act, passed both the Assembly and senate on June 10 and awaits the signature of the… Read more »
Queens Residents Take Advantage of Early Voting in Modest Numbers
June 21, 2021 By Christina Santucci More than 35,000 Queens residents cast their ballots during the past nine days of Early Voting for the Primary Election, the city’s Board of Elections said Sunday night. Early Voters in Queens made up about 18.5 percent of the total 191,197 people citywide, according to unofficial and cumulative counts… Read more »
Op-Ed: Rank Prochoice Candidates on Your Ballot
June 17, 2021 Op-Ed By: Heidi L. Sieck As New York City voters begin voting early, filling out and mailing in their absentee ballots, or heading to the polls in person on Election Day, New Yorkers will be voting like we have never done before. This is the first election where New York City voters… Read more »
Parks in Queens Renamed in Honor of Famous African Americans–Including Gwen Ifill and Malcolm X
June 17, 2021 By Ryan Songalia The NYC Parks Dept. renamed 16 sites and parks—including three in Queens—in honor of famous African Americans yesterday. The announcement Wednesday follows the launch of a program last June to rename various public spaces in honor of Black New Yorkers to bring attention to the Black experience in New… Read more »
Far Rockaway and Southeast Queens Lag Rest of City in Vaccination Rates
June 16, 2021 By Allie Griffin The sky above the New York Harbor was lit up with a firework display last night marking the milestone that 70 percent of adults across the state have received at least their first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. However, not all neighborhoods across the state have a vaccination rate… Read more »
DA Melinda Katz and AG Letitia James Hold Gun Buyback Event, Net Nearly 80 Guns
June 14, 2021 By Christina Santucci Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz partnered with state Attorney General Letitia James to hold a gun buyback in Springfield Gardens over the weekend – and the event netted nearly 80 firearms. “Every gun that we get off the streets is a potential life saved, a potential tragedy averted,” the… Read more »
City Creating Special Task Force to Crack Down on Illegal Fireworks
June 11, 2021 By Allie Griffin The city is creating a multi-agency task force to crack down on illegal fireworks this summer, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced earlier this week. The task force will be comprised of 32 agents — 10 officers from the NYPD Intelligence Bureau, 12 fire marshals from the FDNY and 10… Read more »
Major League Baseball And Queens Non Profit to Hold ‘Home Run Derby’ for Kids Sunday
June 10, 2021 By Christian Murray Batters up! Major League Baseball is calling on young sluggers to participate in a free home run derby in East Elmhurst Sunday. The MLB, in conjunction with the Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens and Elmjack Little League, is hosting the event that will take place at Elmjack Fields… Read more »