Category: Uncategorized

City Launches Online Toolkit to Address Anti-Asian Hate Crime

Feb. 23, 2021 By Allie Griffin New York City has launched an online toolkit to address the spate of attacks against Asian Americans in recent months. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday the creation of an online toolkit that aims to provide support to New Yorkers of Asian heritage who are subjected to hate crimes…. Read more »

Political Candidates Required to Get Signatures to Be on the Ballot: Court Ruling

Feb. 23, 2021 By Christina Santucci A state supreme court justice has dismissed a lawsuit filed by nearly 100 political candidates that sought to cancel the requirements for in-person signatures required to get on the ballot. The group of more than 100 plaintiffs, including about a dozen Queens candidates, filed suit Feb. 8 against Governor… Read more »

Record Number of Residents Apply for Community Board Positions

Feb. 23, 2021 By Christina Santucci The number of applications for a seat on a community board in Queens went up by more than 56 percent this year. The borough president received 931 applications for the unpaid positions, up from 595 in 2020. The number was an all-time high, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said…. Read more »

Astoria Native Lorraine Grillo Appointed as ‘Recovery Czar’

Feb. 23, 2021 By Allie Griffin Mayor Bill de Blasio has created a new position, “Recovery Czar,” to lead the city’s recovery from the pandemic and accompanying economic crisis. De Blasio appointed Astoria native and CEO of the City’s School Construction Authority (SCA) Lorraine Grillo to fill the position as the senior advisor of the… Read more »

Movie Theaters Can Reopen March 5 at 25 Percent Capacity: Cuomo

Feb. 22, 2021 By Christina Santucci New Yorkers will soon be able to watch the latest movie on the big screen. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that theaters in New York City will be able to open at 25 percent of normal capacity beginning March 5. The state, however, will limit each screening to 50… Read more »

Hearing Held Over Lawsuit Challenging Ballot Requirements

Feb. 22, 2021 By Christina Santucci A Supreme Court justice is now weighing in on a lawsuit brought by more than 100 political candidates and their supporters — asking that the requirements to collect in-person signatures to get on the ballot be waived. State Supreme Court Justice Frank P. Nervo presided over a hearing about… Read more »

Queens Lawmakers Gather on Steps of Borough Hall to Denounce Spike in Hate Crimes

Feb. 22, 2021 By Allie Griffin Queens lawmakers and community leaders joined together on the steps of Borough Hall Monday to denounce a recent string of hate crimes against the Asian American and Jewish communities in the borough. The press conference was organized by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards following three bias incidents in the… Read more »

Queens Council Member’s Bill To Remove NYPD Safety Officers From Public Schools Draws Critics

Feb. 22, 2021 By Michael Dorgan A coalition of elected officials, students, parents and other advocates have come out against a bill sponsored by Queens Council Member Costa Constantinides that aims to remove the NYPD from public schools. The group argues that the bill–introduced Feb. 11— falls short since the 5,000 NYPD safety agents that… Read more »

Man Released After Being Arrested for Shoving Asian Woman on Flushing Street: DA

Feb. 19, 2021 By Christian Murray The man who was arrested Thursday for assaulting a 52-year-old Asian woman on a Flushing street was released from custody early this morning. Patrick Mateo, 47, who was charged with assault and harassment, was released this morning at around 3 a.m. without bail, according to the Queens District Attorney’s… Read more »