Whether in Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Woodhaven, Forest Hills, or Rego Park, the sentiment was the same: parks are great, but transit is needed more. If there is the opportunity for both, all the better.
Bronx
‘This is Going to be a Back Breaker’: Landmark Climate Law Poses Test for NYC’s Co-ops
Illan Ireland |
Local Law 97 is one of the most ambitious—and divisive—climate measures enacted in any U.S. city. While some co-op boards see the mandate as an opportunity to make sustainable upgrades to their buildings, others say it will drain their financial reserves.
CITY VIEWS: OPINIONS and ANALYSIS
Opinion: Fighting for Basement Apartment Tenants, 11 Years After Hurricane Sandy
Jessica González-Rojas and Harvey Epstein |
“Instead of turning a blind eye to the suffering of basement and cellar apartment dwellers, disproportionately low-income and from immigrant communities, we must find the political courage to face this challenge by legalizing and making them safe.”
Health and Environment
Off the Map: Swaths of Southeast Queens Overlooked in State’s List of Climate-Priority Neighborhoods
Roxanne Scott |
Under New York’s climate law, “disadvantaged communities” that have borne the brunt of pollution and other environmental issues are being prioritized for funding and climate-related benefits. But swaths of Southeast Queens didn’t make the cut, what local leaders say was an oversight.
Citywide
In First Months of Street Vendor Enforcement, Sanitation Seized—Then Donated—32,220 Pounds of Food
Daniel Parra |
Since Sanitation took the street vending enforcement reins, the department has confiscated abandoned or non-compliant material from street vendors in 228 cases, and has donated 32,220 pounds of food and composted another 3,880 pounds.
ARTS and CULTURE
Opinion: Recognizing Queens’ Hip-Hop Legacy, 50 Years Later
Nantasha Williams |
“The Bronx may have birthed hip-hop, but Queens embraced it with open arms and nurtured its growth. As the phenomenon spread through New York City, Queens quickly established itself as a hotbed for talent, nurturing the creativity of aspiring artists who would later become legends.”
Housing and Homelessness
Iniciativa de albergar solicitantes de asilo en centros religiosos arranca con lentitud en medio de escasez de capacidad
Daniel Parra |
Project Hospitality e Interfaith Center of New York, dos de las partes involucradas en el contrato, dijeron que el camino para iniciar el programa ha sido accidentado y esperan que menos de 10 de los 50 espacios designados abran sus puertas en las próximas semanas.
Housing and Homelessness
Faith-Based Shelter Initiative Off to Slow Start Amid Ongoing Capacity Crunch
Daniel Parra |
Project Hospitality and Interfaith Center of New York, two of the parties involved in the contract, said the road to initiating the program has been bumpy, and expect fewer than 10 of the designated 50 spaces to open their doors in the coming weeks.
Government
City’s Largest Power Plant Nears Milestone in Renewable Energy Push
Mary Cunningham |
A plan to transform the Ravenswood Generating Station into a clean energy center is in the works, with a vote on an offshore wind proposal expected this fall. Queens community members say that the stakes could not be higher.
Health and Environment
Sweltering Summer Weather Stirs Familiar Concerns Over Heat in NYC Jails
Mary Cunningham and Julia Goldberg |
“It’s an issue that seems to be within DOC’s control, something they can anticipate, and yet they’re really not able to make sure that the conditions are humane for the people that are forced to be there,” one civil rights attorney said.
CITY VIEWS: OPINIONS and ANALYSIS
Opinion: Helping More New Yorkers Access Crisis Respite Centers
Keith Powers, Linda Lee and Cal Hedigan |
“New York City and the rest of the nation continue to grapple with the failings of our mental health system that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.”