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By: Mario Mancini
A crime-ridden stretch of Jackson Heights in Queens, where prostitution and rampant shoplifting have become the norm, has deteriorated even further since the New York Post first shed light on the situation nearly five months ago. This area along Roosevelt Avenue near 91st Street has long been plagued by an illegal open-air market catering to migrants and the presence of numerous sex workers on the sidewalks. According to locals, the situation has only worsened, with the number of prostitutes on the block reportedly doubling since the initial report.
In the wake of the NY Post’s exposé, one might expect swift action to address the escalating crime and disorder in this community. However, the reality has been quite the opposite. As the NY Post reports, thieves have become increasingly emboldened, with some going so far as to threaten shopkeepers with retaliation if they’re caught. Jesus Diaz, the manager of Bravo Supermarket on Roosevelt Avenue, lamented that the behavior of shoplifters has drastically changed. “It’s getting worse,” he told the NY Post, recounting how thieves now respond with anger and threats instead of apologies. “You call and tell the cops that you caught them stealing and that you’re holding them, waiting for them, and the cops, they don’t even want to come; they don’t want to arrest these people,” Diaz added.
This disturbing trend is symptomatic of broader issues stemming from the Democratic Party’s “woke” policies and sanctuary laws, which have allowed lawlessness to flourish unchecked. These policies have created an environment where criminals feel empowered to act with impunity, knowing that law enforcement is often reluctant or unable to intervene.
The proliferation of the so-called “Market of Sweethearts,” where sex workers openly solicit customers on the street, is another glaring example of how Democratic policies have failed communities like Jackson Heights. A local jewelry store owner, who spoke to the NY Post, expressed frustration over the growing number of prostitutes congregating outside her store. “Too many beautiful ladies standing outside my door,” she said, adding that she has resorted to politely asking them not to block her entrance. “This is not like before. Before it was very clean here,” she lamented, pointing to nearby brothels that have become a fixture in the area.
The NY Post previously reported in April on the block’s growing problems, with both residents and store owners voicing concerns about migrants stealing from their stores and selling the stolen goods on the sidewalks. Items ranging from power tools to basic household products are being sold at a discount in the street, with retailers powerless to stop it. Meanwhile, sex workers continue to roam the block, propositioning passersby and disappearing into makeshift brothels inside local apartments when they secure a client.
When the NY Post revisited the area in July, the situation had not improved. Merchants expressed their outrage over the lack of police action. “The police do nothing—nothing!” exclaimed an employee at a nearby cellphone store. The area has become a haven for drugs, prostitution, and public drunkenness, all of which have driven away customers and left business owners feeling abandoned by the very authorities meant to protect them.
Despite occasional police sweeps that temporarily clear out the illegal vendors and sex workers, the problem persists. As Mi Pharmacia pharmacist Jenny Leal told the NY Post, the cops do their best, but the moment they leave, the troublemakers return. “The number of prostitutes has doubled in the last two months,” Leal said.
