Even the mayor is now in tune with the years-long deplorable situation along Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights and Corona. While our continued investigation of the strip showed a police and sanitation presence, there was still little done to remedy the illegal activity. For decades Roosevelt Avenue has notoriously been the place anyone can get a social security card. It slowly turned into a haven for sex-workers, food and merchandise vending and a plethora of illegal activity. What’s worse is that the perps we so unconcerned they would be arrested they didn’t even bother to scatter when ‘the man’ was in sight.
It’s all changed as far as we can see.
Over the past six months attention by the media, police commissioner and frequent sweeps might have just changed the culture on the block. Last Friday, it seems the strip of Roosevelt Avenue in the 90s and 100 blocks was safe enough for even Mayor Adams to visit. Kudos to all of you for helping start to turn the tide. The work is not done yet, by any means, but that’s why media attention is so important in this city. Things can get done.
