Labor union says Parks Dept. should let them protest contract awarded to scandal-ridden company

Labor union says Parks Dept. should let them protest contract awarded to scandal-ridden company

A local labor union protested a contract the Parks Department gave to a company that recently pleaded guilty to insurance fraud. But the Parks Department said the union had no standing and continued awarding the company with multi-million dollar, taxpayer-funded contracts. Now, the union and group of lawmakers say the agency needs to change its public bidding process.

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Appellate court says invalidated votes in tight Queens Assembly race should be fixed and counted

Appellate court says invalidated votes in tight Queens Assembly race should be fixed and counted

A panel of Appellate Division, Second Department justices ruled late Tuesday afternoon that nearly 100 previously rejected absentee ballots cast in the race for Queens’ Assembly District 23 will be sent back to the individual voters to be “cured.” The ruling opens the door for 94 ballots to be re-entered into a race where only one vote separates candidates Thomas Sullivan and Stacey Pheffer Amato, who currently holds the lead.

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Last remaining Queens Assembly race continues in court with recount looming

Last remaining Queens Assembly race continues in court with recount looming

With only three votes separating incumbent Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer Amato and Republican challenger Thomas Sullivan, the two candidates went to court to argue over the validity of about 100 absentee ballots, which could sway the race if a judge rules that they can be counted.

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Western Queens schools welcome migrant students but say city has fallen short on support

Western Queens schools welcome migrant students but say city has fallen short on support

In District 30, parents and school staff say that while they’ve embarked on several different efforts to meet the needs of the influx of newly arrived students, institutional support from the city has been lagging.

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Poll shows bipartisan support for solitary confinement ban

Poll shows bipartisan support for solitary confinement ban

A bill that would effectively ban solitary confinement in the city’s jails already has super-majority support in the City Council – now, new polling suggests that the details of the bill have broad support across the political spectrum.

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