Local Politics · New York, NY
Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed Wednesday that Linda Tigani will remain chair of New York City's independent Commission on Racial Equity (CORE) until at least summer 2027, after City Council members opposed her immediate replacement. The Black, Latino and Asian Caucus urged retention in an Oct. 27 letter, citing ongoing reparations and truth-and-reconciliation work. Mamdani expressed intent to nominate Christopher Alexander, executive director of the NAACP New York State Conference, for a potential August 2027 start, though no appointment has been finalized. The dispute follows months of tension between CORE and City Hall over missed racial equity plan deadlines, including an August Manhattan Supreme Court ruling that found both former Mayor Adams and Mamdani failed to meet charter requirements.
Crime · Queens County
Rogelio Lozano-Garito, 26, was arraigned Wednesday in Queens Criminal Court on charges including second-degree murder for allegedly shooting Seraphina Pereira, 35, inside their shared apartment at the Ocean Bay Apartments in Arverne between 2:16 a.m. and 6:04 a.m. on Oct. 19. Prosecutors allege Lozano-Garito then wheeled her body in a pull wagon to Rockaway Community Park and buried it in a shallow grave before reporting her missing two days later. Her remains were discovered Oct. 24 by an NYPD K9 unit, and the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide on Oct. 26. He was held without bail and faces up to 25 years to life if convicted.
Public Safety · Queens County
On Wednesday, Oct. 28, FDNY responded to four major fires across Queens neighborhoods including Fresh Meadows, Hillcrest, and South Richmond Hill. The most destructive fire at 94-25 115th St. in South Richmond Hill spread to adjacent properties, injuring three firefighters and prompting the Department of Buildings to issue full vacate orders on five buildings and a partial vacate order on one; the American Red Cross registered four households totaling 15 people for emergency assistance. A basement fire at 170-10 73rd Ave. in Fresh Meadows sent three civilians to hospitals with minor injuries, while a house fire at 158-28 75th Road resulted in a full vacate order after heavy structural damage spread to a neighboring home. A grease fire on the top floor of a 12-story building at 153-30 89th Ave. in Hillcrest was extinguished with no injuries reported. FDNY fire marshals will determine the cause of all four fires.
Crime · Queens County
The Appellate Division, Second Department ordered a new trial for Wilson Chimborazo, whose 2017 burglary, assault and bail-jumping conviction carried a 17-year sentence. The appeals judges ruled that Queens Criminal Court Justice Ronald Hollie improperly interjected during the trial, asking 167 questions of witnesses and creating the impression he was advocating for the prosecution rather than serving as a neutral arbiter. Chimborazo's attorney, Sam Feldman of Appellate Advocates, argued the judge's conduct denied his client a fair trial; Queens DA Melinda Katz's office countered that Hollie was merely clarifying testimony. The ruling noted this was at least the eighth time the appellate court overturned a conviction over Hollie's conduct. Hollie retired from the bench in 2020 and died two years later.
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Local Politics · Queens County
U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D) and Republican challenger Mike LiPetri presented their cases to voters at a Meet the Candidates event hosted by the Bay Terrace Community Alliance, Inc. at Bay Terrace Shopping Center on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Both candidates opposed the $3.26 billion Propel NY Energy grid project that passes through Queens neighborhoods including Douglaston and Bayside before reaching Bell Boulevard near the shopping center, though they differed on immigration policy. State Senate District 11 candidates Toby Ann Stavisky and Pamela Michos, along with Assembly District 26 candidates Ed Braunstein and Robert Speranza, also spoke at the forum, with all four expressing concerns about Local Law 97's impact on co-op shareholders.
Local Politics · New York, NY
New York City early voting is underway through Sunday, November 1, with polling locations generally open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Voters will decide on five ballot proposals covering public-space consent processes, city contractor paperwork, street safety project timelines, building and waterfront permitting, and rainy-day fund contribution targets. The proposals would simplify various city government procedures while maintaining community and City Council input.
Housing & Development · Queens County
A housing lottery for four units at 6-05 129th St. in College Point, Queens, closes November 11. The building has 24 apartments total; the four lottery units target households earning up to 130% of area median income with an asset limit of $220,480. Two one-bedroom units rent for $2,200 per month and two two-bedroom units rent for $2,500 per month. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online by the deadline; mail applications go to Reside New York at 349 Keap St., Brooklyn.
Community News · Queens County
City officials broke ground Oct. 27 on a new comfort station at Kissena Park in Queens, New York City, which will provide toilets and sinks near the velodrome and sports fields. Deputy Leader Sandra Ung allocated $7.4 million in 2022 for the restroom facility and portions of the Eastern Queens Greenway. The project is being built through the NYC Department of Design and Construction's Design-Build program and is expected to open to the public in February, roughly four months after groundbreaking.
Community brief · Queens County
The Hunters Point Parks Conservancy will host its annual Halloween on the Waterfront celebration on Saturday, Oct. 31, at the Oval in Hunter's Point South Park. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with a costume parade and contest, followed by an outdoor screening of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" just after sunset at 6:15 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for best kids' costume, best adult costume, and best group costume. Last year's event drew more than…
Community brief · Queens County
A grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Thursday, Oct. 29, for a new Dunkin' location at 15-25 College Point Blvd. in College Point, Queens. State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky and Assemblymember Sam Berger attended the event, where franchisees Neerja and Sanjay Jain of Jain Network presented a $10,000 donation to the Om Foundation, a non-profit focused on diabetes treatment. The 1,500-square-foot next-generation store employs 12 crew members…
