🌱 Fix The MTA Bill + Queens Humanitarian Relief Center + JFK Delays

Hello, everybody! I'm back in your inbox this morning to walk you through all the most important things happening locally.

But first, today's weather:

Windy; morning rain. High: 59 Low: 27.

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Here are the top three stories today in Queens:

1. On Feb. 14, lawmakers and public transport advocates called on the state to pass a finance bill that would fully fund the MTA through 2026 and make it more efficient. The nearly $11 billion, called Fix the MTA, would stop subway fare hikes — keeping the price per swipe at $2.75 — making bus rides throughout the city free by 2027. The largest portion of the package, around $4.6 billion, would plug the agency's budget deficit for the next four years, while $2 billion would go towards increasing bus services by 20 percent. (Astoria Post)
2. On Wednesday, Mayor Eric Adams announced that the Wingate by Wyndham hotel in Long Island City would open as the city's seventh humanitarian relief center for asylum-seekers. Almost 150 rooms will be available at The “Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center” to provide services to families with children. Since last spring, 45,000 migrants have arrived in the city, leading to record-high homelessness at city shelters, according to City Hall. In response, the mayor has made another plea to the federal government for assistance with the ongoing migrant crisis. (Gothamist)
3. Travelers faced delays and cancelations on Thursday afternoon due to a power disruption at JFK Airport's Terminal 1. The cause of the power outage was an electrical panel failure that also resulted in a small fire overnight. As a result, the terminal could not accept inbound and outbound flights, and some flights were redirected to other terminals, while others were delayed or canceled. (WABC-TV)

Today in Queens:

• Free Admission Fridays At Museum Of The Moving Image (3:00 PM)
• Open Mic At Q.E.D. (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• A new J. Crew Factory will open its doors in late spring/early summer at the Bay Terrace Shopping Center, according to the mall’s owner Cord Meyer Development. (Patch)
• The New York Blood Center is in need of donors due to a persistent blood shortage, as it strives to provide crucial blood transfusions for patients. Several blood drives have been scheduled in the coming weeks, including locations in Long Island City, Glendale, Forest Hills, and Elmhurst. Click the link to view upcoming blood drives in Queens. (QChron)
• A new affordable housing lottery has been launched for a nine-story residential building, Parkside Manor, located at 148-29 90th Avenue in Jamaica, Queens. (New York YIMBY)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with your next update.

— 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.