Earlier this week, New York City police raided an illegal outdoor “flea market” in Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s neighborhood and seized counterfeit goods.
However, some sellers have blamed law enforcement and are once again peddling their wares on the streets.
The sellers, many of whom are reported to be immigrants, have been blocking sidewalks in the Jackson Heights, Corona, and Elmhurst neighborhoods of Queens, selling a variety of items, including used goods and clothing, for shillings.
Local residents say the area looks like a third world country due to its shabby appearance and unsanitary conditions. Prostitution is also rampant in the area, leading some to refer to the area’s main street along Roosevelt Avenue as “Lover Street.”
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Earlier this week, toys and clothing were sold on a sidewalk in team member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s district. (Ramses Frias)
Video obtained by Fox News Digital last month shows an endless line of vendors along Roosevelt Avenue and 91st Street with piles of clothing, sneakers, pots and pans, toys and photo frames. There are also shops that sell such things. It’s not just products for families. The area is also known to be frequented by prostitutes.
Another video taken last Saturday showed more illegal sellers lined up next to each other along a 1,000-foot stretch of Junction Boulevard just a few blocks away.
But on Monday and Tuesday, police were seen raiding the now-infamous hotspot along Roosevelt Avenue near 91st Street and loading supplies into the backs of NYPD trucks. Police said the health department and other agencies also took part in the raid.
“Now we know that…now we don’t,” NYPD Deputy Chief of Operations Kaz Daughtry wrote on X Tuesday. “This ‘flea market’ has been at the center of many quality of life complaints in Jackson Heights. In response to these community concerns, we conducted an operation yesterday…We We dealt with unlicensed peddlers selling counterfeit goods on the streets!
Police also posted photos of dozens of large clear trash bags filled with cell phone covers and other accessories from inside a local station.of new york post At least one vendor on the sidewalk reported selling power tools with tags from a nearby hardware store.
A video shot Tuesday by former Democratic-turned-Republican state House candidate Ramses Frias shows illegal traders back on the streets, flouting the law and hawking goods.
Frias said the attack had proven to be short-lived and warned that the situation would worsen as the weather warms.
“This whole situation is going to continue if there is not a consistent police presence or team in place to educate these illegal sellers,” Frias, who has lived in the area all her life, told FOX News Digital .
Immigrants flooded the streets of the AOC area, and prostitutes infested every block, giving it the nickname “Third World.”
Items seized by NYPD from illegal dealers (New York City Police Department)
“The constant disregard from the actual representatives of this region, including Ms. Ocasio-Cortez and Congressmen Jessica Gonzalez Rojas and Catalina Cruz, has angered and frustrated residents of this community. “We are done with the chaos caused by prostitution, open-air illegal markets and crime,” he added. “Things are getting out of control and the illegal activities must end.”
The attack took place on the edge of Ocasio-Cortez’s 14th Congressional District. A long stretch along Junction Boulevard is also part of the progressive lawmaker’s district.
The region is primarily represented by progressive politicians, including Rep. Grace Meng, Rep. Cruz, Rep. González Rojas, Rep. Steve Raga, and Rep. Shekhar Krishnan. State Sens. Michael Gianaris and Jessia Ramos, both Democrats, also represent the district.
Moya, a Democratic city councilor, also represents the district and is a vocal opponent of illegal street vendors and prostitution in the neighborhood, often at odds with his party colleagues.
The NYPD raid was carried out in collaboration with Moya, who also worked with the mayor to raid several nearby brothels in January. Police said no arrests were made in either raid.
“The number one complaint to my office is the traffic and trash caused by illegal street vendors,” Moya wrote on Instagram in the wake of Sunday’s crackdown. “Moms are unable to push strollers on sidewalks, businesses are being robbed and door steps are chipped, and residents are being put at risk by unsafe food handling. Enough is enough.”
Alleged prostitutes operating in broad daylight in Queens – Squad member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez district. (Ramses Frias)
Meanwhile, following the police raid, New York City Mayor Eric Adams blamed illegal immigrants’ inability to work. He has always said that immigrants have a “right to work” in the United States, and that denying that right is “anti-American.”
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“Some of the problems our city faces are a byproduct of bringing thousands of people into the city and telling them they can’t work…This is what we’re seeing,” Adams said Monday, according to the newspaper. “It’s what we’re doing,” he said. fox 5 new york. “Some illegal stores, sex trafficking that’s going on, all these things are byproducts. … I always tell people, there’s 3,000 people on Randall Island.” [migrant facility] It can’t do anything all day. That’s not correct. ”
A spokesperson for Ocasio-Cortez did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Shoes sold illegally outside optical store in Queens (Ramses Frias)
