🌱Queens Riots, Vandalism + Student Journalists Oust Sex Offender

Hello, people of Queens! Miranda Fraraccio here with today's edition of the Queens Daily.

First, today's weather:

A little morning rain. High: 52 Low: 33.

Here are the top stories in Queens today:

1. Five people were hit with rioting and other charges Saturday after police say they damaged and graffitied a vehicle in Queens Friday night. Police shared images of the vehicle on social media, however, they did not specify where in Queens the incident took place. The NYPD tweeted the following: "The NYPD takes its responsibility to protect the [First] Amendment rights of peaceful demonstrators seriously. Just as important is the safety of [New Yorkers and] the protection of property from people breaking the law in the name of protest. As seen tonight in Queens, they will be arrested." (WPIX 11 New York)
2. Thanks to intrepid student journalists, a teacher at Townsend Harris High School was fired this week after city investigators confirmed he had sex with a former female student. Though 53-year-old Joseph Canzoneri was recommended to be fired from his teaching position, the female student refused to testify at a hearing, so the case was dropped. The scandal remained under wraps until three weeks ago when an anonymous "concerned parent" leaked the case to teen journalists at the school's student newspaper. On Wednesday, the students filed a Freedom of Information Law request to authenticate the document, prompting swift action from the New York DOE. (New York Post)
3. Just ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, the Nourish New York initiative has been signed into law. The legislation, pushed by Senator George Borrello, was signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul while in Queens. The Nourish New York initiative reroutes the state's surplus agricultural products to the populations who need them most through the state’s food banks. (Evening Observer)
4. Several Queens residents turned anger into action, getting the liquor license temporarily suspended from a bar they call "problematic" and "dangerous." Last week, two people were shot at Kloud Tequila Grill – including the owner. Neighbors have been reportedly calling on the state liquor authority to take action for months, resulting in a temporary liquor license suspension this past Thursday. On Saturday, workers closed the Auburndale bar with no signs of it reopening any time soon. (CBS New York)
5. A motorcyclist was killed when he lost control of his chopper and crashed in Queens. 32-year-old Christopher Tarry of Brooklyn was driving his motorcycle westbound on Cooper Avenue on Friday. At around 5:40 p.m., he "failed to properly navigate the roadway, fell to the pavement" and was thrown from his vehicle. EMS transported Tarry to Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. (New York Post)

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Today in Queens:

• Compost Build Volunteer Days - Queens Botanical Garden (9:30 AM)
• Elected Officials Meet & Greet at Commonpoint Queens (7:30 PM)

Queens Patch Notebook

• Queens Botanical Garden: "We're thrilled many families are already taking advantage of the discounted package for all five sessions of Winter Family Outings! Starting at just $22 per outing ($100 for all five), these adventures welcome you to explore winter trees, learn about Black botanists, make clay creepy crawlies, and much more." (Facebook)
• Queens, New York: "Multi-published author Richard Panchyk discusses his new book on Queens cemeteries at the Queens Historical Society on Nov. 23 at 6:30 pm. https://bit.ly/3HrV2WG" (Facebook)
• Queens Economic Development Corporation: "This upcoming Tuesday, November 23: Head to Whitney Avenue and 43 Avenue in Elmhurst for a Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration and fun family activities hosted by Hon. Daniel Dromm and Catalina Cruz NY. The festivities start at 5 pm. Queen..." (Facebook)
• Queens Chamber of Commerce: "It's #SmallBusinessSaturday without the stress! The Queens Underground Black and Brown Filmmakers & NY International Arts Film Festival are having a film festival and holiday pop-up market on November 27." (Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update! If you're feeling these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander. She works as a freelance copywriter for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and as an assistant producer for a live-lit storytelling show in Chicago. She holds a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies from The University of Rhode Island. In her free time, you can find her traveling, hiking, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.