🌱 2023 Construction Data + City Council Requests BQE Overhaul

Hey, neighbors. It's Saturday in Queens and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in our community today.

But first, today's weather:

Sunny and cooler. High: 44 Low: 35.

Are you a business owner or marketer in Queens who wants to build awareness, connect with customers and increase sales? If that's you, then I invite you to see how our newsletter sponsorships combine our local audience reach with your expertise to attract new customers. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top three stories today in Queens:

1. Recently-released data from the Department of Buildings revealed a 60 percent increase over last year’s tally of 2,017 new building permits in the New York area. The total volume of new filed-for floor space also rose from 53 million square feet in 2021 to 66 million square feet in 2022. Queens leads in the number of permits filed with moderately decreasing figures for Brooklyn, Staten Island, the Bronx, and Manhattan. Between 2021 and 2022, the number of filings in Queens increased from 743 to 1,085. The full report can be found at the link. (New York YIMBY)
2. City council members have requested the U.S. Department of Transportation to consider revising several areas along the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway to make them more environmentally friendly for nearby neighborhoods. Several council members banded together to send Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the U.S. Department of Transportation to maintain two lanes of traffic instead of six lanes on the BQE in each direction. The call comes after the recently passed bipartisan infrastructure bill by President Joe Biden. (News 12 New Jersey)
3. Local protestors joined a South Jamaica resident at the Queens’ Civil Court on Thursday in a rally of support. The Queens resident is facing eviction from her home of 13 years after she allegedly declined sexual advances from her landlord. Carlene Hosang, 52, alleges that her landlord, Michael O’Neil, approached her with the offer that he would cancel her rent if she slept with him. After denying his requests, Hosang said her landlord began making efforts to evict her. Hosang was joined inside the court by her two daughters as well as Jeremy Maldonado from Communities For Change for her first court appearance in a holdover eviction case filed by her landlord. (Queens Daily Eagle)

Today in Queens:

• International Saturdays At Kiss Lounge (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• With yesterday's topping-off ceremony for Wildflower Studios, which was developed by the iconic Robert De Niro, Queens will soon be a place to film and produce movies! (Queens Borough President Donovan Richards via Facebook)
• Celebrate birthdays with garden flair! Queens Botanical Garden is open to host children's birthday parties. For more details, visit the link. (Queens Botanical Garden via Facebook)
• Tickets are available for the 2023 Queens Museum Gala! The Queens Museum teased on its social media page that it will be honoring Sable Elyse Smith, an interdisciplinary artist, writer, and educator based in New York. Learn about Sable's journey and stay tuned for more information at the link. (Queens Museum via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Cash For JUNK Cars — (Visit website)
• Add your business here

Featured events:

• National Art League - Art Exhibition Reception (February 19)
• Children's Events for President's Week (February 20)
• Summer Camp Registration is Now Open!! (February 28)
• Legal and Justice Studies Pathways (February 28)
• Add your event

You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you around.

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. She is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where she earned degrees in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or practicing film photography.