Residents in parts of Queens are voicing mounting frustration as visible crime, illegal street activity, and unchecked disorder continue to dominate sections of Roosevelt Avenue—an area that falls partly within the congressional district represented by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Once a busy commercial corridor serving working families, the avenue has increasingly become associated with open prostitution, unlicensed vending, suspected stolen merchandise, and gang-related intimidation. Locals say conditions have deteriorated to the point where everyday life feels unsafe, chaotic, and ignored by elected leadership.
“This Doesn’t Feel Like America Anymore”
Along several blocks beneath the elevated subway line, the scene is striking. Vendors sell food from makeshift grills, counterfeit electronics, tools, and household goods laid out on folding tables. Many operate without permits, refrigeration, or basic sanitation. Nearby, women openly solicit sex along sidewalks, often within view of families and children walking home.
Longtime residents describe the environment as unrecognizable.
“People feel trapped,” said Ramses Frias, a community activist and Republican candidate for New York City Council. “Parents don’t feel comfortable letting their kids walk outside. Small business owners are losing customers. And criminals operate openly, like no one is watching.”
Some locals have begun referring to the area as an informal red-light district, a label that reflects how normalized the activity has become.
Calls for Help, No Visible Results
Residents say they have repeatedly contacted local, state, and federal representatives—including Ocasio-Cortez and neighboring Rep. Grace Meng—asking for enforcement, cleanup, or coordinated action. According to community leaders, those appeals have produced little change on the ground.
“The same problems keep coming back,” Frias said. “Whatever enforcement existed before is gone. Everything we saw last year has returned, and in some cases it’s worse.”
During a recent evening walkthrough of Roosevelt Avenue following a town hall meeting hosted by Ocasio-Cortez, journalists counted dozens of women appearing to solicit sex on a single block. Street vending was similarly widespread, with merchandise stacked beneath the tracks and along sidewalks, often obstructing pedestrian traffic.
A Split Corridor, Shared Consequences
Residents note that the avenue’s issues are not evenly distributed. On one side—within Rep. Meng’s district—prostitution appears more concentrated. On the side represented by Ocasio-Cortez, unregulated vending dominates, including counterfeit brand-name electronics and prepared foods stored in questionable conditions.
Public health concerns are growing, particularly regarding food safety. Locals report meat stored in coolers without ice, uncovered food exposed to exhaust fumes, and trash accumulating overnight.
Despite the jurisdictional divide, residents argue the impact is collective.
“This is one street,” said a nearby shop owner who asked not to be named. “It doesn’t matter which congresswoman represents which side. The whole community is suffering.”
Gang Presence Raises Alarm
Beyond street-level disorder, residents and activists warn of escalating gang activity. Graffiti marking territory has become more visible, and law enforcement sources have confirmed investigations involving transnational gangs such as 18th Street and Tren de Aragua.
Prosecutors have accused multiple gang members of using violence—including beatings and stabbings—to maintain control over parts of the Roosevelt Avenue corridor. Authorities say these groups exploit illegal markets, intimidate vendors, and prey on vulnerable populations.
Community members say the fear is real.
“You see groups watching from corners,” one resident said. “People know who not to look at, who not to challenge.”
Political Fallout for AOC
While crime and public safety are primarily handled at the city and state level, constituents increasingly direct their anger toward Ocasio-Cortez, accusing her of prioritizing national political messaging over local concerns.
“She’s everywhere on social media, everywhere on cable news,” Frias said. “But when it comes to her own district, people feel abandoned.”
Some residents point to Ocasio-Cortez’s support for reduced policing and immigration policies as contributing factors, though others say the issue is less ideological and more about basic governance.
“This isn’t about left or right,” said a local parent. “It’s about whether anyone in power actually cares what’s happening here.”
Enforcement Vacuum
City officials have acknowledged challenges along Roosevelt Avenue, citing limited resources, jurisdictional complexity, and the difficulty of sustained enforcement. Temporary crackdowns have occurred in the past, but residents say activity returns within days.
Police presence is sporadic, and vendors often scatter briefly before reassembling once officers leave. Residents say the pattern reinforces the perception that the area has been effectively surrendered.
“When laws aren’t enforced consistently, people stop respecting them,” Frias said.
A Community at a Breaking Point
For families who have lived in the area for decades, the transformation has been demoralizing. Some are considering leaving altogether, while others remain hopeful that pressure—media attention, elections, or renewed enforcement—might finally force change.
Until then, Roosevelt Avenue stands as a visible symbol of deeper frustrations: a belief that political leaders are disconnected from the everyday consequences of policy decisions, and that ordinary residents are paying the price.
“This shouldn’t be normal,” one resident said quietly while walking past another crowded block. “But here, it feels like it is.”