June 1, 2021 By Christina Santucci New Yorkers who are behind on their rent and have suffered financial hardship due to COVID-19 can submit applications for rent relief starting Tuesday, the governor announced. Those eligible and approved by the program can receive funding to cover up to 12 months in past due rent – as… Read more »
May 28, 2021 By Ryan Songalia A bill that aims to prevent green construction fences from becoming magnets for graffiti was passed by the city council Thursday. The legislation, sponsored by Council Member Bob Holden, requires construction companies to take down the green wooden fences on building sites where work has stopped for two consecutive… Read more »
May 28, 2021 By Michael Dorgan Some of the city’s most beloved and time-worn playground animals are set to be given a new lease of life thanks to an initiative by the NYC Parks Dept. The agency is creating a new “retirement home” in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park for a number of concrete animal statues that… Read more »
May 27, 2021 By Ryan Songalia A campaign mailer sent out by Elizabeth Crowley that reads “eviction notice” in large font has sparked outrage among her critics. The mailer, released by her campaign last week, was intended to attack Queens Borough President Donovan Richards for accepting real estate money—but was viewed by many as being… Read more »
May 26, 2021 By Christina Santucci Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas and the Jacob Riis Settlement House are holding a virtual workshop this week about free and low-cost health services for New Yorkers who do not qualify for and cannot afford health insurance. The event, which will be held via Zoom, is scheduled for Thursday between… Read more »
May 25, 2021 By Christina Santucci Two peregrine falcon chicks have hatched in a nesting box atop the Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge, which connects the Rockaways with Brooklyn. The now four-week-old hatchlings live with their mother in the perch on the bridge’s 215-foot Rockaway tower, officials from MTA Bridges and Tunnels said. Research scientist… Read more »
May 24, 2021 By Ryan Songalia The culinary diversity of Queens will be on display when the Queens Night Market returns for its sixth season, beginning on June 19. The weekly food festival, which was canceled last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will be held each Saturday at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The market… Read more »
May 24, 2021 By Allie Griffin New York City public schools will reopen in the fall with full in-person learning for all students — and no remote option, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. The announcement is a switch from the current school year in which most students either attend a mix of remote and… Read more »
May 19, 2021 By Michael Dorgan The Tribeca Film Festival will be held across all five boroughs this summer with screenings set to take place at a number of outdoor venues in Queens. Movie-goers will be able to watch films on a 40-foot tall cinema screen next month at Astoria Park, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park and… Read more »
May 19, 2021 By Ryan Songalia Queens voters aged 50+ view crime as their number one concern, a recent poll found. An AARP-Siena College poll published Monday found that 67 percent of Queens respondents 50+ named crime as their biggest concern, followed by the availability of affordable housing at 59 percent. The concern relating to… Read more »