News

Additional trash bin pickups has come to northeast Queens.

Last week, Councilman Paul Vallone announced that he secured $71,000 through the City Council’s Clean Up NYC Initiative to fund garbage pickups in communities in his district, including Auburndale, Bayside, College Point, Douglaston, Flushing, Little Neck and Whitestone.

The funding comes in response to significant cuts to the Department of Sanitation (DSNY)’s operating budget, which has left garbage bins filled with trash throughout the city.

“As we continue to face the ongoing impact of COVID-19, public health remains top priority, and this allocation will serve to keep our streets clean and our neighborhoods safe,” Vallone said in a statement. “Increased trash bin pickups, particularly around our busy commercial corridors, will help ensure safety and sustained quality of life for all those living, commuting and doing business in northeast Queens.”

Within Queens Community District 7, there will be an additional garbage pickup on Sundays.

In Community District 11, there will be pickups on one additional weekday for 30 weeks.

The increased service began on August 23.

The Health Department is conducting yet another round of aerial larviciding treatment to parts of eastern Queens to reduce mosquito activity and reduce the risk of West Nile virus.

It’s at least the third round of mosquito spray being applied to the area.

The aerial larviciding will take place on Thursday, August 20 between 8:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning.

In case of bad weather, the application will be delayed for Monday, August 24.

The department will use very low concentrations of DeltaGard or Anvil. The risks of the pesticides for mosquito control are low to people and pets.

Some people who are sensitive to spray ingredients may experience short-term eye or throat irritation or a rash.

To stay safe during spraying, residents are advised to stay indoors whenever possible. Air conditioners can remain on.

That area that will be sprayed is bordered by 188^th Street, Grand Central Parkway, 164^th Street, Hillside Avenue, and 181^st Street to the West; Long Island Expressway to the North; Nassau-Queens County Boundary to the East; and Union Turnpike, Grand Central Parkway, Francis Lewis Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue to the South.

That includes parts of Fresh Meadows, Glen Oaks, Hollis, Hollis Hills, Holliswood, Jamaica Hills, Little Neck and Oakland Gardens.

Queens DA Melinda Katz and Police Commissioner Dermot Shea announced on Friday that Guang Jin of Flushing has been charged with grand larceny, identity theft and other crimes for using a fake ID to buy and lease several luxury cars.

One of the victims was actually Jin’s terminally-ill uncle.

“We are coming after con artists and crooks who run scams to enrich themselves at the expense of others,” Katz said. “This defendant is accused of stealing his dying uncle’s identity and going on a shopping spree for luxury automobiles.

“Others were also allegedly victimized when the defendant used forged documents to acquired cars in their names,” she added. “This kind of thievery is inexcusable.”

Jin was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on two separate complaints charging with grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, identity theft and other crimes.

He will return to court on September 28.

If convicted, he faces up to 12 years in prison.

The Health Department is conducting aerial larviciding treatment to parts of northeast and southeast Queens to reduce mosquito activity and reduce the risk of West Nile virus from Thursday, August 6 to Friday, August 7, and again from Monday, August 10 between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., weather permitting.

The helicopter is treating only non-residential areas, the agency said.

To date, no human cases of West Nile virus have been reported this season.

Still, during the summer months, mosquitos can breed in any still water that has been standing for more than five days.

With hot and wet weather conditions, the targeted areas can be home to a rise in mosquito populations.

Here are the areas that will be sprayed:

• Alley Pond Park (Marsh areas inside Alley Pond Park – areas bounded by Douglaston Parkway and 240^th Street to the east; Northern Boulevard to the north; Cross Island Parkway and East Hampton Boulevard to the west; and Grand Central Parkway to the south)
• Linden Hill/College Point (Marsh areas bounded by Whitestone Expressway to the east; 20^th Avenue to the north; 130^th Avenue and Ulmer Street to the west; and Ulmer Street and 28^th Street to the south)
• Kissena Park (Marsh areas bounded by 164^th Street to the east; Oak Avenue and Rose Avenue to the north; and Kissena Boulevard to the west; and  Booth Memorial Avenue to the south)

Queens College has rolled out a new digital brochure to offer information to prospective students, parents and the public.

The brochure, called QC at a Glance, gives a virtual introduction to Queens College.

It touches on topics like programs, faculty, campus life and the value of a Queens College education.

Visitors go on a virtual campus tour that includes campus buildings, departments and programs.

They will also hear about the college’s diverse student body, well-known alumni and the school’s role in the community.

Check out QC at a Glance here.

It was already a foregone conclusion after primary night that Assemblyman Ron Kim would win re-election, it was just a matter of the margin.

After all of the absentee ballots were counted last week, it’s now clear: Kim captured north of 70 percent.

According to the Flushing lawmaker, he secured 3,585 votes out of a total of 5,095 votes cast for the 40th Assembly District. That’s about 70.36 percent.

Here’s what Kim had to say about the victory:

My colleagues and I have already returned to Albany to continue our work ensuring a safe path to reopening New York’s institutions and businesses in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and I am also fighting to ensure that those in power are held accountable for mistakes and misconduct that caused otherwise preventable harm and trauma to our fellow New Yorkers during this health crisis. Though the general election is on the horizon, my focus these next few months will be on bringing New York back to its full potential.

Kim faced police sergeant Steven Lee, a first time candidate, who would later form a nonprofit organization, call for neighborhood watch patrols, and donate PPE to senior centers.

The race eventually got dirty and personal, with accusations of cyberbullying.