Staff Reports
Residents of Queens, New York, are raising the alarm as their neighborhoods, particularly along Roosevelt Avenue, have descended into chaos marked by rampant prostitution, drug trafficking, and violent gang activity. The situation has become so dire that local leaders and citizens are now pleading for federal intervention, turning to the FBI and DEA for help after city efforts failed to deliver lasting results. Despite a temporary drop in crime following a major NYPD crackdown, the illicit activity has quickly returned, leaving many to question the priorities and leadership of their congressional representative, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The numbers paint a grim picture: major crime in Ocasio-Cortez’s district has surged by 57% since she took office, with hate crimes up more than 80%. The NYPD’s “Operation Restore Roosevelt” brought a visible police presence and resulted in over 1,800 arrests and a 37% reduction in crime in the targeted area. But as soon as the operation ended, gangs like the notorious 18th Street Gang stepped back in, reasserting control and transforming bars into brothels, some even operating near schools. Residents now describe their once-thriving community as a “Red Light district” and “third world” territory, overrun by criminal enterprises that prey on the vulnerable and undermine public safety.
What’s especially troubling is the lack of engagement from Ocasio-Cortez, who has been conspicuously absent from local efforts to address the crisis. While she travels the country campaigning against “oligarchy” and pushing progressive national agendas, her constituents are left to deal with the fallout of policies that have weakened law enforcement and emboldened criminals. The congresswoman’s previous calls to defund the police have only exacerbated the problem, as evidenced by the sharp rise in crime following the NYPD’s budget cuts—cuts she not only supported but argued didn’t go far enough. This hands-off approach to local crime has left residents feeling abandoned and desperate for real leadership.
Community leaders, including former Democratic state senator Hiram Monserrate, have taken matters into their own hands, documenting the open solicitation of sex workers, many of whom are migrants, and exposing the proliferation of brothels and violent crime. Their calls for federal intervention underscore a growing frustration with city and congressional leadership that seems more interested in political grandstanding than protecting the people they serve. Residents have praised Mayor Eric Adams for his willingness to deploy police resources, but they are clear: temporary crackdowns are not enough. Sustained, tough-on-crime policies are needed to restore order and reclaim their neighborhoods.
This crisis is a direct result of progressive policies that prioritize ideological battles over the basic needs of public safety and law and order. The people of Queens deserve a representative who puts their safety first, not one who is missing in action when their community is under siege. It’s time for leaders who understand that strong policing and accountability are essential to any thriving community. Until then, the residents of Ocasio-Cortez’s district will continue to pay the price for failed leadership and misplaced priorities.
