Kash Patel urged to crush gangs locals say running AOC’s ‘Red Light’ district
As Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., embarks on her “Fighting Oligarchy” tour in a private jet across the nation, residents in her Queens constituency are facing a different kind of battle. They have been pleading with the FBI and the DEA to help them crack down on the illegal sex workers and drug dealers that have turned their neighborhood into a dangerous “gangland.”
Local leaders, including former Democrat state senator Hiram Monserrate, recently wrote to FBI Director Kash Patel, urging him to unleash agents to address the rampant problem along Roosevelt Avenue. This 2-mile commercial strip has been described as a Third World Country and a Red Light district, where scantily-clad women soliciting sex on sidewalks is a common sight.
The 18th Street Gang is said to have taken over illegal operations in the area, filling the void left by other gangs such as Tren de Aragua following a massive police operation that resulted in hundreds of arrests. Despite a previous police crackdown known as “Operation Restore Roosevelt,” which saw a 37% drop in crime in the area, locals claim that the gangs quickly replaced their foot soldiers and resumed their criminal activities.
Bars have reportedly been turned into makeshift brothels, where dances can easily be negotiated into sexual encounters in dingy rooms downstairs. Many of the sex workers in the area are migrants, adding to the complexity of the situation. Monserrate and advocacy groups like Restore Roosevelt Ave. and Neighbors of the American Triangle have called on Patel to investigate the escalating crime wave in their community.
The gangs are allegedly involved in a range of serious crimes, including human trafficking, drug trafficking, illegal gun sales, identity theft, and distributing fake Green Cards. Monserrate’s sources have identified at least 20 brothels in the area, some of which operate near schools. Violent crimes are also on the rise, with a recent fatal stabbing occurring when a man tried to stop a thief from stealing his bike near a local subway station.
Despite the pleas from local leaders, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez has yet to comment on the situation along Roosevelt Avenue. She is scheduled to hold a town hall in the neighborhood on Saturday, where residents hope to address the pressing issues they are facing. Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., whose district also includes the neighborhood, has expressed confidence in the NYPD’s ongoing efforts to improve public safety and quality of life in the area.
As the community continues to grapple with the challenges posed by gangs, sex workers, and drug dealers, residents are looking to their elected officials for support and action. The situation along Roosevelt Avenue serves as a stark reminder of the complex and urgent issues facing neighborhoods across America, and the need for comprehensive and collaborative solutions to address them.
