Residents of Queens say Roosevelt Avenue has become a red-light district beneath the elevated train tracks, where brothels disguised as bodegas and massage parlors openly operate.
Despite more than 350 prostitution-related arrests this year, locals argue that criminal networks quickly replace offenders, leaving families to navigate solicitation near schools. Community coalition Restore Roosevelt Avenue bypassed Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and appealed directly to FBI Director Kash Patel, demanding a large-scale federal operation using racketeering and trafficking laws.
They point to gangs like 18th Street, Tren de Aragua, and Chinese groups driving the crisis. While AOC has sought nonprofit funding, critics compare her response unfavorably to Rep. Grace Meng’s push for federal support. Residents insist traffickers—not exploited women—must be the focus.
