US Senate confirmation hearings for nominees to cabinet positions in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration began yesterday, with Democrats poised to hear nominees’ answers to questions that might reflect how they feel about the president’s policy plans. Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer, signaling that the questions could get sticky in spots, was quoted as saying in some press reports: “will they […]
Meng Selected For House Appropriations Committee
US Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) announced on January 6th that the House Democratic leadership had selected her to serve on the powerful House Appropriations Committee. The committee is responsible for funding every federal agency, program, and project within the United States government. “It is an honor to have been chosen for this critical committee and I thank my colleagues for […]
Long Island City BID Expansion Passes City Council
The New York City Council unanimously voted on January 4th to expand the boundaries of the Long Island City Business Improvement District, effective on July 1, 2017. Created in 2005, the Long Island City BID currently encompasses Queens Plaza to 21st Street, and Jackson Avenue, between Queens Plaza and Thompson Avenue. The expansion will nearly double the current area of […]
Next Round Of Tech Classes For Seniors At Queensbridge
On Monday, January 9, the next round of Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) technology classes for seniors began at NYCHA’s Queensbridge Jacob A. Riis Senior Center. Classes include Computer Basics, Beyond the Basics and, for the first time, Financial Literacy. On December 14th, OATS celebrated the graduation of seniors who completed the first round of technology classes. This training is […]
Rev. King’s Message Still Resonates
The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be celebrated on Monday, January 16. The courageous visionary and Nobel Peace Prize winner would have been 88 this year. He was taken from us much too soon, in the prime of his life, at age 39. Dr. King was raised in a secure, well-cushioned environment, with all the benefits of higher […]
Letters to the Editor
Kicking The Can To The Editor: There is still more to the New Year’s Day opening of Phase 1 of the Second Avenue Subway (“Grand Opening Fanfare Making The Impossible Happen,” John Toscano, January 4). There is only $1.035 billion in funding contained within the Metropolitan Transportation Authority $27 billion Five Year 2015-2019 Capital Program to support preliminary work for […]
Meet Long Island City’s New Top Cop
There’s a new top cop at the 108th Precinct in Long Island City – a Queensborn leader with a long history of working to keep the borough safe. Newly-appointed Captain Ralph Forgione assumed command of the 108th Precinct shortly after the ball dropped at Times Square on New Year’s Eve. “He’s a nice guy who is well known and liked,” […]
Apply Now For Discretionary Funding
Council Member Paul Vallone notified his constituents that this is the time of year when the City Council receives numerous requests for funding through the city’s expense and capital application procedure. He invites all eligible organizations to apply. Said Vallone, “As such please find all critical dates, links, procedures and deadlines for Fiscal Year 2018. After reviewing this notice, if […]
Sanders & Cuomo Discuss Future Of Free SUNY/CUNY College
During his campaign for president, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont made free tuition at all public colleges and universities a centerpiece of his position on education. Last week, Senator Sanders came to LaGuardia Community College to join and support Governor Andrew Cuomo’s announcement offering free tuition to middle class families at all state (SUNY) and city (CUNY) two- and four-year […]
D.A. Brown Delivers Year-End Message To Queens’ Residents
Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown – who began his record 7th consecutive term as District Attorney and marked the completion of his 25th year as Queens County’s chief law enforcement officer in 2016 – delivered his year-end message to the residents of Queens County, in which he noted that Queens County was again among the city’s leaders in crime […]