Community Corner

🌱 Home Care Workers Protest 24-Hour Shifts + Astoria Apartment Fire

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

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Emma Radu Fighera, Patch Contributing WriterVerified Patch Staff BadgeVerified User Badge
(Patch Media)

Good morning, Queens! 👑

I heard there's just one more day until Friday. Here are today's headlines:

  • 🗣 Home care workers speak out against unworkable 24-hour shifts.
  • 🔥 An Astoria apartment building caught fire on Tuesday evening. 6 people were injured.
  • 🧱 A big residential + commercial development is underway in Kew Garden Hills.

⛅️ Times of clouds and sun. High: 79 Low: 66.

Here are the top stories today in Queens:

1. On Tuesday, home care workers gathered on the steps of City Hall ahead of a City Council hearing to protest the 24-hour workday, and to support the proposed bill No More 24 Act or Intro 175, which would put an end to the countless hours of work. They were joined by Assemblymember Ron Kim, who represents Flushing, Queens, and Councilmember Christopher Marte, of the Lower East Side. In a crucial step toward indicating the importance of the bill, the council heard harrowing testimonies from the workers, who are primarily immigrant women of color. The bill also looks into the issue of lack of pay.

AM New York Metro


2. A Queens apartment building fire on Tuesday evening left six people injured, and required about 60 firefighters to extinguish the blaze. At least two people jumped from the three-story building, which caught fire after 7 p.m. on its second floor. Four people were rescued from the building, including a mother and her newborn baby, one man fell from a second-story window while escaping and broke his leg, and a trapped dog escaped when a door was opened. According to FDNY officials, the fire was caused by an overloaded power strip.

New York Post ; QNS

3. After several votes against the development, the City Planning Commission has approved the construction of a six-story, mixed use property in Kew Garden Hills, Queens. When the project was originally proposed in 2020, an eight-story building with 119 rental units was planned to sit on the wedge-shaped development site. Now, the current iteration of the project specifies a six-story building with up to 90 apartments, and an additional 35,000 square feet of commercial and community space. The demolition of the previous property on the site is nearly complete as of today.

New York Yimby


4. On Saturday, September 10, a Ditmars Boulevard Open Street event will celebrate local women business oweners, leaders, and artists. The Open Street program is managged by The Brass Owl & Queens Room, both owned by women who are committed to giving back to the community. "Women account for 13.4% of entrepreneurial activity in the U.S. Any opportunity to pull together strong women leaders to showcase their talent, ingenuity, and contributions to the community is cause for celebration," said co-producer of the event, Jennah Vox. The event will take place between Ditmars Boulevard and 35th Avenue in Astoria starting at 2.p.m.

QNS


5. Starting this Friday, September 9, until Sunday, September 11, the Queens County Farm Museum will hold the Queens County Fair. The first ever county fair in Queens was held 325 years ago, way back in 1693! Take a step back in time at this traditional agricultural fair with some pie-eating, corn-husking, hay-riding, arts-and-crafting, and more. While there, make sure to visit the Amazing Maize Maze! For more info, tickets and schedule, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/39th-annual-queens-county-fair-tickets-244255874897. Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park, NY 11004.

Queens Gazette


🗞 Hanking for more headlines? 👀 Look no further:

  • Queens man wins $1M on scratch-off lottery ticket (FOX 5 New York)
  • Queens man charged for head-butting hate attack on Asian man (New York Daily News)
  • Woman, Baby Rescued From Fire Escape in NYC Apartment Building Inferno; 6 Hurt (NBC New York)
  • Six injured in Queens apartment fire, people jump from building (New York Post )
  • Construction Milestone Reached for New 116th Precinct in Southeast Queens CityLand (CityLand)

There's A Lot To Do Today in Queens:

  • Queens Love & Hiking Date for Couples (Self-Guided) (7 a.m.)
  • Volunteer at 9 Million Reasons / Evangel Food Pantry (8:45 a.m.)
  • Corporate Volunteer Day at the Queens Botanical Garden (9:30 a.m.)
  • Compost Beautification Community Volunteer Day (1:00 p.m.)
  • Exhibition: Living with The Walking Dead (2 p.m.)
  • Music Skills: Remix Katy Perry at the Apple Store (5:30 p.m.)
  • John Yao and His 17-piece Instrument (7:00 p.m)
  • Shame: A Theatrical Dance Piece (7:00 p.m.)
  • Greek Cultural Center and Garret Theater present "The Maids" (9 p.m.)

🗣 Queens Chatter:

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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll be in your inbox tomorrow morning with another update!

— Emma Radu Fighera

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

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