Staff Reports
In Queens, a district once known for its vibrant communities and hard-working families, residents are now grappling with a crisis that their congressional representative, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, seems content to ignore. While AOC jets across the country on her “Fighting Oligarchy” tour with Bernie Sanders, her constituents are left behind to deal with a surge in prostitution, gang activity, and street crime that has turned Roosevelt Avenue into a battleground. Local leaders and everyday citizens are pleading for federal intervention as the situation spirals, with some even calling on the FBI to step in where their elected officials have failed.
Despite a recent NYPD crackdown that resulted in hundreds of arrests and a reported 37–40% drop in crime along Roosevelt Avenue, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Residents still fear for their safety, reporting open prostitution, human trafficking, and violent gang activity at all hours. The notorious 18th Street Gang has taken over illicit operations, displacing others and fueling a criminal marketplace that has left law-abiding citizens feeling abandoned. The so-called “success” of Operation Restore Roosevelt is cold comfort to families who still can’t walk the streets without looking over their shoulders.
Meanwhile, local businesses are suffering from a double standard that only progressive politicians could defend. Licensed business owners, who pay taxes and follow the rules, are forced to compete with unlicensed street vendors selling everything from alcohol to counterfeit goods, with little fear of enforcement. The city’s response? More tickets and fines for struggling vendors, but little relief for the brick-and-mortar shops that are the backbone of the community. The permitting system is so broken that desperate vendors are forced to pay thousands on the black market just to operate legally, all while city leaders wring their hands and blame “systemic issues.”
The root of the problem is clear: a lack of leadership and accountability from those elected to represent Queens. Ocasio-Cortez is more interested in building her national profile and fundraising off progressive outrage than rolling up her sleeves and addressing the real, gritty problems facing her district. Her absence is felt acutely as residents and local leaders beg for help, their pleas drowned out by the applause at AOC’s rallies in red states. It’s the same old story—lofty rhetoric for the cameras, but radio silence when it comes to the safety and prosperity of her constituents.
As new candidates emerge, promising to put Queens first and restore order to the streets, there’s hope that change is on the horizon. The people of Queens deserve a representative who will fight for their safety, dignity, and economic future, not one who treats the district as a mere stepping stone to national fame. The upcoming elections will be a referendum on AOC’s neglect and a chance for voters to demand real solutions, not just slogans. It’s time for leaders who remember who they serve and are willing to get their hands dirty, making Queens livable again.
