Queens residents, retailers and civic leaders blasted US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for being lacking in motion within the combat to wash up the notorious “Market of Sweethearts”.
Locals alongside the Roosevelt Avenue hall have begged for assist as the world has been suffering from rampant prostitution and unlawful avenue distributors — fueled partially by gangs who obtained a foothold within the space as a result of metropolis’s migrant disaster.
“I have not personally seen Ocasio-Cortez since she’s been elected. I have not seen her in the community,” stated Rosa Sanchez, president of the Restore Roosevelt Avenue Coalition. “I have seen her in a parade — that’s it.”
A part of the avenue is within the coronary heart of the district that the high-profile Democrat represents within the US Home of Representatives, whereas a part of the neighborhood crosses into Rep. Grace Meng’s district.
Regardless of efforts of the NYPD and town to wash up the troubled hall, unlawful distributors and retailers nonetheless have a foothold — typically peddling objects stolen from native shops, locals stated. Sanchez stated the unlicensed distributors are placing respectable retailers out of enterprise whereas younger girls compelled into intercourse work who’re getting no assist from politicians.
“You have young women held against their will. They’re being sex trafficked. This is not normal,” stated Sanchez. “Our community is suffering.”
Mauricio Zamora, head of the Neighbors of the American Triangle, stated AOC has “never” been useful on the world’s largest issues as residents and companies attempt to take Roosevelt again.
Zamora met with Ocasio-Cortez final Friday in regards to the unlawful merchandising in Corona Plaza however he claimed the congresswoman stated bigger crime points must be addressed by the mayor’s workplace, the NYPD and metropolis elected officers slightly than her workplace.
By comparability, Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres has led the cost and personally known as on Mayor Eric Adams to wash up a infamous open-air drug market stuffed with junkies and prostitutes in his district within the Bronx, known as The Hub.
The Publish visited the Roosevelt Avenue neighborhoods once more on Sunday — and instantly noticed prostitutes beneath the elevated No. 7 subway line.
Twenty three residents and native retailers instructed a reporter they’ve by no means seen AOC within the neighborhood.
“No, I have never seen AOC here. I’ve seen the local city councilman [Francisco Moya]. I’ve seen the police. I’ve never seen AOC,” stated Jenny Leo, 54, a pharmacist at Mi. Farmacia at 90-15 Roosevelt Ave.
Leo stated the scenario alongside Roosevelt is “not getting worse but it’s not getting better either” after the police launched a focused crackdown within the space for 90 days, a part of Operation Restore Roosevelt.
It’s been a well-recognized story, with unlawful distributors flooding the streets once more about two weeks in the past after the surge of legislation enforcement tapers off.
David Ortega, 50, supervisor of close by Bravo Grocery store, stated little has modified.
“People are stealing meat and beer and laundry detergent. The police come and they take them outside,” Ortega stated.
“Two times recently the thieves tell me that they’re going to wait for me when I leave. They’re not afraid. It is not changing. It is the same.”
By way of all of it, he stated AOC “doesn’t come here.”
Native leaders despatched letters to the Trump administration asking the FBI and Homeland Safety to intervene and break up the migrant gangs and lawlessness on Roosevelt Avenue.
Final month, the feds charged a gang of unlawful migrants with extorting brothels, beating up rivals and promoting medicine and phony IDs alongside Roosevelt Avenue to finance a bootleg community primarily based in El Salvador.
Way more must be performed and residents within the hall might use AOC’s assist, stated former Councilman Hiram Monserrate — a neighborhood activist who used to rep the world and resides in East Elmhurst.
“We want our Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to use her platform to bring in more police officers to stabilize the area. We want our community back,” Monserrate stated.
Monserrate stated the NYPD put a dent within the lawlessness throughout its 90-day Operation Restore Roosevelt operation. However the division scaled again its presence after the surge, he stated.
Crime dropped 28% amid beefed up police enforcement, the mayor stated final month.
Gov. Kathy Hochul final fall additionally dispatched 100 state troopers to help the NYPD alongside Roosevelt.
“We need them back,” Monserrate stated, referring to a bigger police presence.
Ocasio-Cortez’s rep on Sunday defended her advocacy to enhance the standard of life alongside Roosevelt Avenue in Corona-East Elmhurst, notably citing a gathering the congresswoman attended with constituents final Friday in regards to the proliferation of distributors in and round Corona Plaza.
“The congresswoman is focused on solutions not credit. She has done multiple cleanups of the plaza on the other side, and on the official side has worked with DOT to fix street lights and improve sanitation,” stated Ocasio-Cortez congressional spokeswoman Karla Santillan.
She referred The Publish to AOC’s assertion on X in regards to the assembly.
“Happy to be back in Corona Plaza to continue our team’s conversations with vendors and local business owners about our coordinated efforts to make Roosevelt Avenue a safer and cleaner place,” Ocasio-Cortez stated.
