Sept. 3, 2020 By Allie Griffin Shopping malls and casinos are allowed to reopen in New York City next week– after being closed for six months in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Malls and casinos are permitted to reopen on Wednesday, Sept. 9 on the condition that they have an adequate air filtration system in… Read more »
Sep. 3, 2020 By Michael Dorgan Queens Council Members Costa Constantinides, Jimmy Van Bramer and Antonio Reynoso are among a group of elected officials who want New York sports arenas and franchisees to pay more taxes to help the cash-strapped city get through the current economic crisis. Nine city council members–including the three from Queens–… Read more »
Sept. 2, 2020 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio said he will give restaurants an answer this month as to if and when indoor dining can reopen. The mayor said restaurant owners and workers deserve a clear answer soon as more and more industry leaders and politicians have been calling on the city to reopen… Read more »
Sept. 1, 2020 By Christian Murray The city is reducing the speed limit on a 7 mile stretch of Northern Boulevard from 30 MPH to 25 MPH. The DOT, as part of an announcement to lower the speed limit on nine city streets, is lowering the limit on Northern Boulevard from 114th Street in Corona… Read more »
Sept. 1, 2020 By Allie Griffin New York City schools will reopen more than 10 days later than originally planned, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today. Public school buildings were set to reopen next week on Thursday, Sept. 10, but de Blasio pushed back the reopening date to Monday, Sept. 21 in a last-minute change… Read more »
Aug. 31, 2020 By Michael Dorgan A new advertising campaign has been launched by the NYC Parks Dept. to combat excessive trash being left in public parks. The agency kicked off its “Toss your trash” campaign last week and has released a number of targeted advertisements to encourage visitors to dispose of their trash correctly… Read more »
Aug. 27, 2020 By Allie Griffin State Sen. Jessica Ramos penned a letter to the State Liquor Authority (SLA) Wednesday calling on the agency to stop hitting small restaurant owners with hefty fines. The lawmaker claims that the agency’s fines and “harassment tactics” are unfair, and come at a time when many business owners are… Read more »
Aug. 27, 2020 By Allie Griffin Two Queens lawmakers have introduced legislation that aims to block the de Blasio administration from holding its up-coming lien sale to help struggling homeowners at risk of losing their homes. The administration’s annual lien sale is set for Sept. 4, after being postponed from its original May date due… Read more »
Aug. 29, 2020 By Allie Griffin The MTA warned of huge service reductions, fare hikes and mass layoffs if the federal government doesn’t step in and provide aid to the cash-strapped agency. The MTA needs $12 billion in federal funding immediately to avoid “draconian” and “unthinkable” measures to alleviate its massive deficit caused by the… Read more »
Aug. 26, 2020 By Allie Griffin The city began inspecting air ventilation systems at classrooms Tuesday, with less than three weeks before public schools reopen, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced yesterday. Every classroom and space inside a school building will be inspected by a team of independent engineers, joined by the Department of Buildings and… Read more »