Queens News

By Julian Shen-Berro, Chalkbeat New York Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news organization covering public education in communities across America. Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to keep up with NYC’s public schools. NEW YORK - New York City public school families, regardless of income, will soon receive a new allotment of food benefits of at least $391 per child, according state officials.  Known as the Coronavirus Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer, or P-EBT, the federal program aims to help families whose children typically receive free meals at school — and since New York City public schools have universal meals, all families are eligible. The latest disbursement of funds — which could total up to $1,671 per child based on COVID-related absences or remote-learning days — is based on the 2021-22 school year and the summer of 2022. The rollout began in April, with most payments posting this month, according to the state. Officials expect distribu

Mayor Eric Adams and Chief Climate Officer and New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala announce New York City is extending the successful water bill amnesty program. -Photo by Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office By Mayor Eric Adams Community Op-Ed  May 12, 2023   NEW YORK - Water is a precious resource, and New York City has some of the best municipal drinking water on the planet.   Our water comes from reservoirs in the Catskills and beyond, and travels hundreds of miles to reach our taps. New Yorkers pay just one cent per gallon for our exceptional drinking water. And we use that money to maintain and improve the critical infrastructure that keeps our water flowing and keeps New Yorkers hydrated and healthy.   However, we know that some New Yorkers have trouble paying their water bills, so we are extending our Water Bill Amnesty program to May 31 st .   If you pay the principal of your water bill in FULL,

Suspect Accused of Housing Arsenal in Parent’s Basement Apartment QUEENS - A Queens man living in his parents’ basement apartment was charged with a slew of gun posession charges when law enforcement officials uncovered an arsenal of ghost guns and body armor. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Zhili Song of Flushing was arraigned on weapons possession and other charges after a search warrant executed at his basement apartment in his parent’s home uncovered a cache of firearms, including ghost guns, and ammunition.  District Attorney Katz said: “The arsenal of lethal illegal weapons and ammunition seized in this defendant’s home because of our investigation could have done untold damage. We will not let up in our efforts to get deadly weapons off the streets of Queens.”  Song, 30, of Flushing, was arraigned and charged with nine counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, nine counts of criminal possession of a weapon in

A temporary shelter on Randall’s Island for single men, Oct. 18, 2022. | Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY By Gwynne Hogan and Gabriel Poblete, The City This article was originally published on May 10 2:50pm EDT by THE CITY NEW YORK - On Tuesday afternoon an urgent email went out from the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services to vendors it regularly works with.  “We need your help!” the email begins. “The City is also looking for emergency sites such as gyms or dorms that are available quickly and that could be used by the City temporarily to provide immediate relief to asylum seekers.” The email said the city is seeking spaces with open layouts and a minimum of 10,000 square feet with bathrooms. “Preferably showers (but we can figure out showers if need be),” the email reads. The plea is the latest indication that Mayor Eric Adams’ administration is casting an increasingly wide net in an effort to prepare for the looming expiration of Title 42 . That’s the federal doc