Residents say that a “red-light district” has grown up under the elevated train tracks on Roosevelt Avenue in Queens. This used to be a busy commercial area for immigrants. There are openly operating brothels that pretend to be bodegas or massage parlors. This has led to calls for federal action because local law enforcement is having trouble dealing with the issue.
Community leaders were tired of years of failed crackdowns, so they went around Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and went straight to FBI Director Kash Patel. Their group, Restore Roosevelt Avenue, has held protests outside of places they think are brothels to warn that gangs are forcing women into prostitution and selling drugs in plain sight.
This year, police have made more than 350 arrests related to prostitution, but residents say these efforts are only the tip of the iceberg. When members of criminal groups are arrested, they quickly replace them. This means that families have to walk through streets where solicitation is common, even near schools. Parents say that this has a big effect on their children’s mental health.
In April, federal agents arrested eight people they thought were members of the 18th Street gang, which was linked to violence on the strip. But community leaders say that only a large-scale federal operation using racketeering and trafficking laws can break up long-standing networks that include Tren de Aragua and Chinese organized crime groups.
The effects on people are very bad. Rosa Sanchez, a spokesperson for the coalition, said, “Our kids shouldn’t have to see women being forced to sell their bodies.” Residents say they have to change their daily routines to avoid dangerous blocks, which shows how much the problem has affected life in the neighborhood.
AOC has asked for money for nonprofits that deal with trafficking, but people in her district say her response isn’t enough compared to Rep. Grace Meng, who has been pushing for federal money and better cooperation with the NYPD. The difference has led to more criticism of AOC’s priorities.
Law enforcement has its limits: nuisance abatement laws shut down brothels for a short time, but they quickly move to new locations. Residents want action against traffickers, not women who are being exploited, with trafficking victims at the center of the issue.
The crisis is still a political and social flashpoint for now. Roosevelt Avenue’s problems are part of bigger problems with immigration, organized crime, and running cities. The people in the area don’t want to stay quiet while their neighborhood changes.
