Queens, NY — Roosevelt Avenue in Queens has once again become the center of rising concern among local residents as open-air prostitution, illegal vending, and suspected gang activity resurface in one of the borough’s busiest corridors.
Stretching through parts of Jackson Heights and Corona, the area has long struggled with public disorder, but recent months have seen a noticeable resurgence. Local families, many of whom have lived in the neighborhood for decades, say conditions have deteriorated to the point that some now avoid walking the stretch entirely — especially at night.
Street vendors line the sidewalks under the subway tracks, offering everything from grilled food and clothing to unmarked electronics. Nearby, groups of women are seen openly soliciting customers, according to residents and community advocates.
“We feel like prisoners in our own homes,” said local resident and activist Ramses Frias. “This isn’t just about sex work or vendors — this is about safety, dignity, and our right to live in a clean and respectful neighborhood.”
Despite recent police efforts, including a dedicated initiative called Operation Restore Roosevelt, residents say the impact hasn’t been enough to keep illegal activity off the streets. Warmer weather has only brought more foot traffic — and more problems.
According to Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Kaz Daughtry, the initiative has had measurable success on paper. Robberies have dropped by 23%, felony assaults are down 33%, and burglaries by nearly half. Still, he admits, challenges remain.
“We’ve shut down multiple brothels and brought in hundreds of extra officers,” Daughtry said. “But the work isn’t done. It’s a complex situation that requires more than arrests — we need community involvement, service connections, and long-term investment.”
A recent raid of an illegal brothel operating above a bodega near two schools revealed unsanitary and dangerous conditions. Makeshift rooms, constructed from plywood and curtains, served as spaces for sex work — raising alarm among nearby parents and school staff.
While law enforcement continues its crackdowns, some residents worry the pace of change is too slow. On a single block alone, up to 30 women were seen lining the sidewalk during a recent weekend, according to a local media report.
Many say what’s missing is a stronger collaboration between city leaders, neighborhood organizations, and elected officials.
“We need everyone to step up,” Frias added. “Lawmakers, city agencies, the police — and yes, the community. If we work together, we can restore Roosevelt Avenue to a place that feels safe and welcoming for everyone.”
As summer heats up, so too does the urgency for solutions that go beyond enforcement — solutions that combine public safety with access to services for those caught in cycles of poverty, exploitation, or crime.
“This is not just a law enforcement issue,” said one longtime resident. “It’s a human issue. And it’s going to take all of us to fix it.”