Community Corner

🛣 $739 Mil Kew Gardens Interchange Complete + New College Point School

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Queens.

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(Patch Media)

Good morning, Queens! 🗞

☀️ Sunshine. High: 47 Low: 32.

Here are the top stories today in Queens:

1. After nearly four decades of stops and starts, Gov. Kathy Hochul on Dec. 5 announced that the $739 million multi-phase reconstruction of the Kew Gardens Interchange is finally complete. The reconstruction project addressed several key challenges having to do with the structural and operational deficiencies of the commuter corridor's old infrastructure, which contributed to congestion and higher-than-average accident rates.. "The transformation of this vital interchange near one of New York's major airports is the latest accomplishment in our efforts to modernize the state's transportation network," Hochul said. "The complete overhaul of Kew Gardens Interchange will provide a safer, less congested network of roads — improving the travel experience for nearly 600,000 daily motorists, enhancing quality of life, and boosting the regional economy for decades to come." The revamped Interchange features 22 new bridges, three rehabilitated bridges, wider travel lanes, new lane configurations, updated signage, upgraded stormwater drainage, and a new dedicated shared-use path for pedestrians and bicyclists.The project also remodeled the stormwater drainage system to mitigate the existing roadway flooding, and created a dedicated shared-use path to address pedestrian safety.

Queens Courier

2. The New York City School Construction Authority, which oversees school constructions, proposed building a new high school in College Point in an effort to reduce overcrowding in educational facilities across Queens. The agency submitted a proposal to install a new high school in the former location of St. Agnes Academic High School before it closed in 2021. The proposed 47,952-square-foot high school is expected to intake students by the 2026 school year, and will enroll 75,017 students (9th to 12th grades) in its commencement year.

Patch

3. A bill introduced by Councilwoman Linda Lee was passed by the City Council on Wednesday in an effort to curb vehicle catalytic converter thefts, which are on the rise in New York City, with Queens being in the epicenter. As part of the legislation, a citywide program would be created through which the NYPD could distribute Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) kits to etch identifying numbers into catalytic converters. A catalytic converter device is located at the bottom of a vehicle and helps to control exhaust emissions. These convertors are valuable due to the precious metals out of which they are constructed — on average repairs cost $5,000 to $10,000. By August 2022, Queens experienced over 2,092 catalytic converter thefts, compared to 574 during the same period last year.

Queens Courier

4. The New York City Council held a hearing Thursday to review the Fair Chance for Housing Act, a bill designed to prevent housing discrimination on the basis of arrest or criminal history, or pending charges. As of now, landlords can deny tenants with past criminal records — approximately 750,000 New York City residents have a conviction history, or 11% of the city's adult population — which advocates say makes it harder for people to successfully rebuild their lives and stay out of jail or prison. The act was first introduced last year to combat housing discrimination but has received push back from conservative lawmakers and residents concerned about safety. Queens Councilmember Shekar Krishnan opposed these safety concerns, arguing that denying people housing on the basis of criminal history is a form of racial discrimination as Black New Yorkers account for the vast majority of people held in city jails and state prisons."We're in the middle of a housing crisis and we're not going to solve that crisis by making it harder for people to find a home," said Krishnan. "People in homes equal safer communities."

City Limits

🗞 Hungry for more news? 🍽 Snack on these headlines:

🗓 To Do Today in Queens:

  • New York Panettone Festival (11 a.m.)
  • Vic Hanson Afterschool Program (3 p.m.)
  • Amaze Light Festival (4 p.m.)
  • The New York Winter Lantern Festival – Illuminate the Farm (5 p.m.)
  • Must Love Dogs and Comedy (7 p.m.)
  • Pitchfork Presents: Perfume Genius, Tomberlin, Yaya Bey (7 p.m.)
  • Daddy Yankee La Ultima Vuelta World Tour (8 p.m.)
  • Fedra: Queen of Haiti at Minor Latham Playhouse (8 p.m.)
  • QED Presents - Pro Stand Up Comedy Showcase (9:30 p.m.)

🗣 Queens Chatter:

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— Emma Radu Fighera

About me: Emma Radu Fighera is a reporter born and raised in Queens, New York. She studied Literature and Studio Art at Hamilton College, where she helped run the only daily publication on campus, The Daily Bull newsletter. This past spring she earned her M.S. from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Queens Daily? Contact me at queens@patch.com

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