Queens in ON Long Island,
.
Queens is indeed on the island of Long Island. But most people in the City and on Long Island, when they refer to Long Island, are actually talking about Nassau and Suffolk Counties, both outside NYC.
Thus the confusion.
Of course...both Queens and B’klyn are technically on Long Island, but most people think of LI, with its attendant traffic and such, as the suburbs: Farmingdale, Port Washington, the Gold Coast, etc.
Not one of the five boroughs, which is where LI City’s located.
Sorry I didn’t reply sooner, I’ve been busy.