A New York neighborhood represented by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is pleading for federal help as gang violence, prostitution, and drug activity surge—while she flies across the country promoting her political brand. Local leaders say Roosevelt Avenue has become an open-air red-light district ruled by gangs and traffickers.
Key Facts: Out of Control Crime AOC Fails to Address
- Residents of Queens, New York, are asking the FBI and DEA to intervene in gang and trafficking activity on Roosevelt Avenue.
- Local leaders report the 18th Street Gang has taken control of illegal operations, filling a void left by a prior police crackdown.
- NYPD’s “Operation Restore Roosevelt” led to over 1,800 arrests, but locals say gang activity returned almost immediately.
- Sex workers, mostly migrants, reportedly operate in bars-turned-brothels, some near schools, with gangs allegedly running the trade.
- AOC has not commented on the situation, though she plans to hold a town hall in the area soon.
The Rest of the Story: Gangs, Migrants, and Crime Overrun Roosevelt Ave
Community leaders in Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s district are sounding the alarm.
They claim Roosevelt Avenue in Queens has become a haven for sex trafficking, gang activity, and violent crime.
Despite a high-profile crackdown last year that led to thousands of citations and over 1,800 arrests, residents say the crime quickly rebounded.
The 18th Street Gang is now allegedly running the area, using it as a base for prostitution, drug sales, and trafficking.
Bars have become informal brothels, and migrants, including many women, are being exploited.
At least 20 brothels have been identified—some dangerously close to schools.
A recent fatal stabbing near a subway station underscores the growing violence.
Former state senator Hiram Monserrate and community groups have written to FBI Director Kash Patel, asking for urgent intervention.
They warn Roosevelt Avenue is no longer just a local issue—it’s a case study in how criminal groups thrive in the absence of political will and sustained enforcement.
🚨Queens Residents Demand Shutdown of New Brothel on Roosevelt Ave
Community members gathered in front of @HiramMonserrate’s office, calling for the closure of a newly opened brothel in their neighborhood.
Residents have been actively fighting to remove human trafficking from… pic.twitter.com/Z8oBS7e0OS
— Viral News NYC (@ViralNewsNYC) March 23, 2025
Commentary: AOC Turns a Blind Eye to the Crime in Her Own Backyard
While the people of Queens face crime and chaos, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez is flying around the country on her “Fighting Oligarchy” tour.
The irony is hard to miss: she rails against elites while using private jets, all while ignoring the very real, dangerous conditions in her own district.
The situation unfolding on Roosevelt Avenue isn’t new.
It’s been developing for months—years, even.
But instead of using her national spotlight to demand lasting enforcement or support victims, AOC seems more concerned with self-promotion and media appearances.
Her silence on this issue says everything.
Leaders like Hiram Monserrate are stepping in because their federal representative won’t.
They’re seeing firsthand how gangs adapt, how enforcement fizzles out, and how migrants are being turned into commodities by ruthless traffickers.
It’s a total breakdown of law and order—and it’s being ignored at the highest levels.
This isn’t just about one congresswoman.
AOC represents a broader failure of leadership: loud on ideology, quiet on action.
Gangs tag buildings, women are exploited in broad daylight, and kids walk past brothels to get to school—all while their congresswoman tweets about climate change and class warfare.
Let’s hope voters are paying attention.
Let’s hope they remember that when the streets were overrun, AOC was busy taking selfies on a jet.
New York deserves better.
America deserves representatives who show up, not just show off.
The Bottom Line: Why AOC’s Inaction Matters in the Crime Crisis
Roosevelt Avenue has become a battleground between local families and violent gangs.
While federal help is being requested, leadership at home is lacking.
AOC’s absence and silence in the face of a public safety disaster is a failure her constituents shouldn’t have to endure.
As criminals tighten their grip, residents are left wondering: Who’s really fighting for them?
If AOC won’t, someone else should.
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