Leaders in AOC's 'Red Light' district call on Kash Patel to crush 'worsening' gang crime and prostitution

As Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., privately jets across the nation for her "Fighting Oligarchy" tour, residents in her Queens constituency have been calling on the FBI and the DEA to help them crack down on the illegal sex workers and drug dealers that they say have turned their neighborhood into a festering "gangland."
Last week, local leaders, including a former Democrat state senator, wrote to FBI Director Kash Patel urging him to unleash agents to quell the raging problem along Roosevelt Avenue – a 2-mile commercial strip which has been likened to both a Third World Country and a Red Light district – where scantily-clad women on sidewalks soliciting sex is commonplace.
They also claim the ruthless 18th Street Gang has taken over illegal operations there, filling the void of other gangs like with Tren de Aragua after a massive police operation saw hundreds of people arrested.
Aoc's 'Red Light' District Overrun With Prostitutes As Locals Call Out Mia 'Squad' Member
That police crackdown, which started in October and was labeled "Operation Restore Roosevelt," saw hundreds of city and state troopers descend on the neighborhood. The NYPD told Fox News Digital that the clampdown has resulted in a 37% year-to-date drop in crime in the Roosevelt Avenue zone with more than 1,800 arrests and more than 15,000 summonses.
Residents and local activists heaped praise on New York City Mayor Eric Adams after he spearheaded the aggressive 90-day police blitz.
Read On The Fox News App
But locals say the blitz was short-lived and bars have been turned into makeshift brothels where a dance can easily be negotiated into sex in dingy rooms downstairs. Many of the sex workers are migrants, the leaders said.
"The NYPD's Operation Restore Roosevelt did lead to arrests, but our street sources say the gangs replaced their foot soldiers within days," said the advocates, who include former Democrat state Senator Hiram Monserrate.
"The money never stopped moving, the dance floors stayed open, and the prostitutes came back in full force. This isn't just a Queens problem, it's a blueprint for how gangs, cartels, and traffickers can take over a community in plain sight."
They said that the gangs have turned the two-mile seedy strip into a "well-oiled criminal machine" using Roosevelt Avenue as its marketplace. "Roosevelt Avenue doesn't just have a gang problem. It has become gangland."
The NYPD did not confirm the locals' claims about gangs operating in the area.
Aoc's 'Red Light District' Plagued By Crime As Democrat Who Helped Her Rise To Power Says She 'Disappeared'
Monserrate and the two groups — Restore Roosevelt Ave. and Neighbors of the American Triangle — called on Patel to investigate the "ever-worsening situation" they face.
They write that the 18th Street gang have tagged their gang insignia around the area marking their territory.
Monserrate said that the gangs are involved in all sorts of serious crimes, including human and drug trafficking, illegal gun sales, identity theft and distributing fake Green Cards, as well as violent crimes. His sources have identified at least 20 brothels in the area, some of which operate near schools.
He said that crime in general is still plaguing the area. Earlier this week, a man was fatally stabbed when he tried to stop a violent thief from stealing his bike steps from a local subway station, police said.
Monserrate shared a video with Fox News Digital with what he said were 23 alleged sex workers on one block.
In September, Fox News Digital cameras recorded a line of no less than 19 alleged sex workers on one block along Roosevelt Avenue with at least seven more on the next block. One woman was witnessed soliciting sex for $60.
Click To Get The Fox News App
Cortez has yet to respond to multiple Fox News Digital requests for comment regarding the situation along Roosevelt Avenue. She is scheduled to hold a town hall in the neighborhood on Saturday.
Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., whose district also includes the neighborhood, told Fox News Digital that she is closely engaged with the NYPD's ongoing efforts to improve public safety and quality of life in the area.
"I have confidence in the NYPD's commitment and capability to address these challenges, and I commend their sustained presence and work in the community," Meng said.
"As the top Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee responsible for funding for law enforcement agencies such as the NYPD and FBI, I will continue to advocate for the resources they need to protect residents in Queens."Original article source: Leaders in AOC's 'Red Light' district call on Kash Patel to crush 'worsening' gang crime and prostitution

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Politico

an hour ago

• Politico

Rival calls Cuomo a ‘sociopath;' ex-gov attacks Mamdani's ‘defund' rhetoric in final weekend of NYC mayor's race

NEW YORK — New York City mayoral candidate Brad Lander urged Democrats not to elect 'sociopathic' Andrew Cuomo. Hours later, the ex-governor slammed leading rival Zohran Mamdani for his past calls to defund the police. And Mamdani, on the defense from relentless attack ads, campaigned by walking the length of Manhattan on Friday night. While nearly 350,000 New Yorkers have already cast ballots, attacks flew on the final weekend of campaigning before Tuesday's Democratic primary. Cuomo leads nearly every poll, but Mamdani has been keeping the race competitive and is closing out the campaign with high energy among his supporters. Lander, feeling upbeat after a headline-grabbing week despite his third-place status, aimed his fire at Cuomo on Saturday. Lander stood beside Cuomo accuser Charlotte Bennett, whom the former governor sued for defamation, as he recounted how Cuomo apologized to the women who accused him of sexual harassment in 2021, before resigning, but now denies any wrongdoing. 'I don't have a license to practice psychology, but I believe that utter inability to take accountability or responsibility for one's actions is a sign of sociopathy,' Lander said. 'The Democratic Party should not elect sociopaths. It's a bad idea,' he added. Cuomo brushed off Lander's comment. 'Does anyone really care what he says?' he said at his own press conference Saturday. 'I said to the extent I offended anyone it was unintentional, and I didn't mean it, and I apologize. But that was (a) generic (apology) — to the extent I offended anyone.' Cuomo may dismiss Lander — 'goodbye and good riddance to the saddest, rudderless, least effective money burning operation we have ever seen,' Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi responded — but his supporters' lower-ranked picks could prove decisive in a primary determined through ranked-choice voting. Polling has shown that Cuomo receives a portion of Lander's redistributed votes when he is removed from the running, even as he's relentlessly attacked the former governor for months. Lander, the city comptroller, brought together Bennett and other former Cuomo employees who accused him of sexual harassment, a man whose father died in a nursing home during Covid, and state legislators and union leaders who battled with him in Albany. Former Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who resigned amid his own sexual abuse scandal, even showed up and chatted briefly with Lander before the press conference on the vote-rich Upper West Side of Manhattan. Lander's aides said he had not been invited. 'I love this city and I want to help solve its problems,' Lander said. 'So far as I can tell, Andrew Cuomo despises this city and wants to try to redeem himself by pounding his fist.' Hours later, Cuomo appeared in the South Bronx alongside Leandra Feliz, the mother of Lesandro 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz who was murdered by gang members in 2018, to receive her endorsement. But a press conference to tout his plan to add 5,000 cops to the NYPD turned into an attack on Mamdani's calls to 'defund the police,' with his 2020 tweets plastered on posters behind the speakers. Cuomo read Mamdani's words from a 2020 X post, amid the Black Lives Matter protests following the death of George Floyd: 'We don't need an investigation to know that the NYPD is racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety. What we need is to #DefundTheNYPD.' 'How are you going to get a police force to work for you?' Cuomo asked. 'To say those things is reckless and irresponsible, especially at a time when public safety is a major issue in this city.' Polls show New Yorkers generally rank affordability as a top concern, followed by public safety. Asked for his closing argument, Cuomo contrasted his years in office with the 33-year-old Mamdani's record. 'Experience matters. Knowledge matters. Accomplishments matter,' he said. '(Mamdani) said the job is to be a messenger. That's why you have a press secretary. The mayor is not a messenger.' Cuomo also campaigned Saturday at a street fair in the South Bronx, taking a photo with former state Sen. Rubén Díaz Sr., a prominent Trump supporter who opposes same sex marriage. He received cheers and a warm reception in a neighborhood that's supported him before, according to video shared by his campaign. Later, he rode on the back of a flatbed truck through southern Brooklyn with endorsers including City Council Member Susan Zhuang. Mamdani started his day Saturday at Al Sharpton's National Action Network in Harlem, with fellow mayoral candidates Lander, Adrienne Adams, Zellnor Myrie and Michael Blake. Mamdani charmed the influential civil rights leader by quoting Sharpton during his 2004 presidential run saying that some forces in the Democratic Party want progressives and people of color 'to voluntarily turn into invisible people' in the name of electability. 'To quote Sharpton in front of Sharpton,' Sharpton joked. 'That was a chess move there.' 'Zohran, you quoted him, but I marched with him,' Adams shot back, emphasizing her long history with Sharpton. Despite the positive reception he gets on the trail — including people asking for selfies Saturday in his home borough of Queens — Mamdani has been the target of $7 million worth of reported spending on attack ads from a pro-Cuomo super PAC. The TV spots and mailers, dub him 'too radical' and 'dangerous' for his inexperience, his criticism of Israel and his socialist politics. Friday evening, after riding Citi Bikes with Lander, Mamdani walked the length of Manhattan, a more than 13-mile journey he finished after 2 a.m. Passing through Times Square, Mamdani threw up his hands while dozens of supporters following along booed when a digital billboard from political betting site Kalshi showed he had a 23 percent chance of winning the race, to Cuomo's 77 percent. 'Gambling is haram,' he joked — forbidden by Islamic law. 'There were many who doubted whether we could even get 46,000 votes,' he said, reflecting on the surprising strength of his campaign. 'We now have 46,000 volunteers.' Emily Ngo contributed reporting.

Hamilton Spectator

an hour ago

• Hamilton Spectator

Trump wins immediate praise from Republicans in Congress after announcing strikes on Iran

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional Republicans — and at least one Democrat — immediately praised President Donald Trump after he said Saturday evening that the U.S. military bombed three sites in Iran. 'Well done, President Trump,' Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina posted on X. Texas Sen. John Cornyn called it a 'courageous and correct decision.' Alabama Sen. Katie Britt called the bombings 'strong and surgical.' Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin posted: 'America first, always.' The Senate Armed Services Committee chairman, Roger Wicker of Mississippi, said Trump 'has made a deliberate — and correct — decision to eliminate the existential threat posed by the Iranian regime.' Wicker posted on X that 'we now have very serious choices ahead to provide security for our citizens and our allies.' The quick endorsements of stepped up U.S. involvement in Iran came after Trump had publicly mulled the strikes for days and many congressional Republicans had cautiously said they thought he would make the right decision. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Saturday evening that 'as we take action tonight to ensure a nuclear weapon remains out of reach for Iran, I stand with President Trump and pray for the American troops and personnel in harm's way.' Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., were briefed ahead of the strikes on Saturday, according to people familiar with the situation and granted anonymity to discuss it. Johnson said in a statement that the military operations 'should serve as a clear reminder to our adversaries and allies that President Trump means what he says.' House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford, R-Ark., said he had also been in touch with the White House and 'I am grateful to the U.S. servicemembers who carried out these precise and successful strikes.' Breaking from many of his Democratic colleagues, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, an outspoken supporter of Israel, also praised the attacks on Iran. 'As I've long maintained, this was the correct move by @POTUS,' he posted. 'Iran is the world's leading sponsor of terrorism and cannot have nuclear capabilities.' Both parties have seen splits in recent days over the prospect of striking Iran. Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican and a longtime opponent of U.S. involvement in foreign wars, posted on X after Trump announced the attacks that 'This is not Constitutional.' Many Democrats have maintained that Congress should have a say. The Senate was scheduled to vote as soon as this week on a resolution by Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine requiring congressional approval before the U.S. declared war on Iran or took specific military action. Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House intelligence panel, posted on X after Trump's announcement: 'According to the Constitution we are both sworn to defend, my attention to this matter comes BEFORE bombs fall. Full stop.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .

Axios

an hour ago

• Axios

Trump faces bipartisan blowback in Congress on Iran strikes

While most congressional Republicans and some pro-Israel Democrats are praising President Trump's strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, pockets of opposition are already emerging in both parties. Why it matters: The objections center on the argument that Trump needed congressional authorization for such a provocative use of military force, with one House Democrat pushing for a vote to restrict further unilateral action. "We need to immediately return to DC and vote on [Rep. Thomas Massie's] and my War Powers Resolution to prevent America from being dragged into another endless Middle East war," said Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.). Massie (R-Ky.), a libertarian who often breaks with Trump, said in a post on X reacting to the strikes: "This is not Constitutional." What happened: Trump announced in a Saturday night post on Truth Social, "We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran." "A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow," he added. "All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors." The decision to intervene directly in Israel's war with Iran marks a historic escalation in the Middle East, Axios' Barak Ravid reported. State of play: Khanna and Massie, along with Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), had been trying to build bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress for their war powers measures in the days leading up to the strikes. There is little appetite among the ruling Republicans, outside of a handful of right-wingers, to be in direct conflict with Trump on the issue. Both Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) publicly backed the strikes on Saturday night. Zoom in: The position that Trump's strikes were constitutionally unsanctioned is more mainstream with Democrats, including House Intelligence Committee ranking member Jim Himes (D-Conn.). Himes called the strikes a "clear violation of the Constitution" in a statement, adding, "We also don't know if this will lead to further escalation in the region and attacks against our forces." "I am continuing to closely monitor the situation and demand answers from the Administration," he added. Kaine posted on Saturday that he will "push for all Senators to vote on whether they are for this third idiotic Middle East war."