Hundreds of people met Sunday afternoon at the 90th Street Triangle, on the border of Jackson Heights and Elmhursst, to support the fight against crime in the Roosevelt Avenue corridor. This occurs after Mayor Eric Adams launched a compliance operation of several agencies in the area in early October.
The istin for public safety, organized by the Let’s improvise Roosevelt Ave. and the former New York City Consciousness, Hiram Monserrate, took place at the intersection of Case Street and 90th Street, described by the organizers as the “epicenter of the urban area of Crime.”
Sunday’s rally – the second in the triangle of 90th Street so far in October – began with sentences of several local clergy and had speeches from several community defenders.
The speakers praised Adams for launching the Operation Restor Roosevelt, a 90 -day police plan to improve public safety and quality of life in the neighborhoods of Elmhursst, North Corona and Jackson Heights in Queens. Governor Kathy Hochul has also sent state troops to the area, which extends from 74th Street to 111 street.
The organizers said that Roosevelt Avenue was “low siege” before the launch of the Ray Roosevelt operation, which some critics describe as a potentially dangerous response that points to the most vulnerable members of the local community.
However, Sunday’s organizers praised Adams and Hochul, stating that various organized crime entities, drug networks, people traffickers, pimps, prostitutes and robbery networks operated impunity in the area.
The organizers repudiated any effort of “radical groups” for opposing the police plan and “returning the control” of Roosevelt Avenue to cartels and street gangs.
Sunday’s attendees carried banners with slogans such as “keep the police in Roosevelt”, “children should not be exposed to prostitution” and “not to prostitution in New York.”
Ramón Ramírez-Báez, president of the Let’s Improve Rosevelt Ave. coalition, said the community members have expressed gratitude for the police plan and requested that the law agents sent to Roosevelt Avenue as part of the plan remain there permanently.
“Since they arrived (the police), I have spoken with hundreds of community residents and business owners who are extremely grateful for the greatest police presence,” said Ramírez-Báez. “Sometimes, foreign and politicians repeat political arguments that do not apply in this case. We need our police to stay here permanently.”
The Reverend Frank Almonte of the Adonai Christian Church in Corona told the crowd that he has worked in the local community for 35 years, helping families victims of drugs and other problems. He affirmed that the crime in the area had reached “unprecedented” levels before the launch of the police plan and that more officers were needed along the Roosevelt Avenue corridor.
“We know that we need more police officers, and we need to stay. We need more unity to maintain a crime -free environment so that residents of this community of Queens can live as they deserve, in a safe and decent neighborhood,” said Almonte.
Monserrate praised Adams and Hochul for sending hundreds of state and officers of the New York Police to the area to combat crime in the Roosevelt Avenue corridor. He also promised to denounce those who oppose the plans to combat crime in the area.
“They understand this: Organized crime is directing a multimillionaire operation of human and drug trafficking. That is what we have here in Roosevelt Avenue,” said Monserrate. “We will tirelessly defend this community and call those who oppose a better and safer community for all.”
Rosa Sánchez, a member of the Let’s Improvelt Ave. coalition, said the police plan had helped reduce the crime “markedly” since it was implemented in early October, but that there was still work to do in the corridor.
“Prostitutes, drug sales, drunks, sellers without a license. I have lived here for 40 years, and it was never like that,” said Sánchez. “Who is saving these women from people traffickers? Now we have additional police here, and we are here to say that we support them 100%. We need to stay here permanently.”
Ramírez-Báez closed the Sunday rally promising to send letters to all elected officials in Queens asking them to oppose any legislative effort to legalize prostitution in New York. He also promised to address any politician who has supported the legalization of prostitution.
“To those who have introduced, copatrochin or spoken in favor of the legalization of prostitution, we ask them to withdraw that support immediately.”
A previous protest in the Triangle of 90th Street on September 5 requested greater support in the area, with many speakers stating that the crime is out of control in the area.
Related Notes: War on Roosevelt Avenue: Sex workers challenge the police and city council against prostitution and illegal vendors in Queens
