Closure of a Local Brothel Near Schools Brings Relief to Students
Students heading to their classes in Queens can breathe a bit easier now that authorities have shut down a well-known brothel in the Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez area, making their journey to school less perilous.
This brothel, often referred to by locals as “Bodega’s Brothel,” was situated on the second floor of a nearby convenience store just off Roosevelt Avenue. That stretch has gained notoriety for the prostitutes who openly solicit on the sidewalks, as highlighted by community leaders.
What’s concerning is the brothel’s location, right across from two public elementary schools. For several months, students and parents have had to navigate past sex workers loitering outside these illegal establishments on their way to and from school.
Finally, this week, the New York Police Department stepped in and closed down the operation.
Images taken inside revealed cramped makeshift rooms separated by panels and shower curtains, all furnished with beds. Following the shutdown, the NYPD removed the beds and secured the doors with padlocks.
Hiram Monserrate, a former Democratic senator who helped organize multiple rallies to close the brothel, described the place as “clearly unsightly and unsanitary, and frankly, it’s disgusting.” He noted, “The shutdown of ‘Bodega Brothel’ was long overdue, but it’s finally done.”
Local residents have rallied for over a year against rampant street prostitution and other illegal activities in the area, particularly along Roosevelt Avenue. Notably, they have not garnered support from Ocasio-Cortez, the congressional representative, as reported by Breitbart last October.
Ramses Frías, a local Republican City Council candidate, mentioned that Ocasio-Cortez did not attend any of the recent protests. “It took the community to unite and stand against this bodega brothel,” he told Fox News Digital.
While Ocasio-Cortez’s office has not commented on the situation, some locals attribute the rise in prostitution in the area to an influx of illegal immigrants under the Biden administration.
Monserrate pointed out that many of these street workers are reportedly controlled by immigrant gangs like Tren de Aragua, with many being Venezuelan nationals.
Last fall, Mayor Eric Adams initiated “Roosevelt Operations,” aimed at cleaning up a two-mile stretch along Roosevelt Avenue. This initiative seems to have made some headway, as evidenced by hundreds of arrests and a reported 37% decrease in crime rates in the area this year.
However, Montserratte believes there’s still a long way to go. He has also called on the FBI, noting that they have yet to respond regarding issues tied to drug trafficking, illegal gun sales, identity theft, and violent crimes within the vicinity.
