Category: Uncategorized

Donovan Richards Calls for Creation of New Office to Manage City’s COVID-19 Response

Jan. 14, 2022 By Michael Dorgan Queens Borough President Donovan Richards called for the establishment of a new office Thursday to centrally manage the city’s overall response to COVID-19. Richards proposed creating the “NYC Office of COVID Recovery” tasked with streamlining and improving the city’s COVID-19-related services. He said the office was needed to cut… Read more »

Nearly $325,000 in Funding to Support Senior Services in Queens Is Restored

Jan. 12, 2022 By Michael Dorgan Nearly $325,000 in funding to support senior services in Queens has been restored, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards announced Monday. The funding, which had been eliminated from last year’s city budget, will be allocated to senior centers and home care service providers in Queens. The funds are being allocated… Read more »

Council Member Paladino Apologizes for Comparing Vaccine Mandates to Nazi Germany

Jan. 12, 2022 By Allie Griffin Queens Council Member Vickie Paladino, who came under fire Tuesday for comparing the city’s vaccine mandates to Nazi Germany, has apologized for her remarks. Paladino made the comparison during an interview with NY1 when explaining that she wouldn’t disclose whether she had been vaccinated against COVID-19. Her statement came about… Read more »

Three Queens Council Members Join GOP-Backed Lawsuit to Block Noncitizen Voting Law

Republican Council Members Joann Ariola and Vickie Paladino as well as Democrat Council Member Robert Holden have signed onto a lawsuit with leaders of the New York state Republican Party arguing that the new law is unconstitutional.

Jan. 11, 2022 By Michael Dorgan Three Queens Council Members have joined a Republican-led lawsuit that aims to block a new city law that allows legal noncitizens to vote in local elections. Republican Council Members Joann Ariola and Vickie Paladino as well as Democrat Council Member Robert Holden have signed onto a lawsuit with leaders… Read more »

Rockaway Beach Senior Arrested For Threatening to Kill Trump, Whom he Called “Hitler”

Jan. 11, 2022 By Michael Dorgan A Rockaway Beach senior — who referred to former President Donald Trump as “Hitler” — was arrested by federal officials Monday for allegedly threatening to kill the ex-Commander-in-Chief, according to a criminal complaint filed in Brooklyn federal court. In the complaint, federal authorities accused Thomas Welnicki, 72, of calling… Read more »

Half of Bail Reform Release Program Participants Rearrested, State Stats Show

This article was originally published by The CITY on Jan.10, 2022, 9:57 p.m.  By Greg B. Smith and Suhail Bhat City Hall expanded supervised release to create an alternative to Rikers Island and ensure defendants show up for trial. The number being rearrested far exceeds projections. High-flight-risk criminal defendants are being rearrested on felony charges… Read more »