Jackson Heights Life

Day and night--10am, noon, 2am, you name it--the Roosevelt gauntlet of nefarious massage soliciting continues.  It's well documented--these are not above-board day spas but rather illegal sex and trafficking vendors.  It's not good, it's abusive, it brings down the neighborhood.  And it seems to be growing and growing. 

Obviously our elected officials--Dromm, Peralta, DeBlasio, Katz--must know about this.  It happens more in Jackson Heights than anywhere I've seen in the city, feeling almost like Times Square in the 80's.  How do they feel about it?  Do they feel it can't be fought, nothing can be done about it?  Do they feel it's okay?  That it's not a bad thing?

How do all of you feel?  It really seems something has to be done about this.  Jackson Heights is so great on so many levels, has so much to offer.  It seems a shame that it should be tarnished by activities like these.

Okay, got that off my chest.  But please weigh in.  I hear that local politicians monitor this blog.  So it might be good for them to know how we feel.  thanks!

What if that is their preferred form of work? Obviously it's terrible bringing someone against their will and essentially keeping them as sex slaves for profit, but what if they chose to be in the profession?

What if that is their preferred form of work? Obviously it's terrible bringing someone against their will and essentially keeping them as sex slaves for profit, but what if they chose to be in the profession?

So you might suggest your son or daughter do it, since it's a "profession"? (I know you wouldn't) I'm sorry the "consenting adults" "chosen profession" arguments are more a male  fantasy than a reality, especially when it comes to Jackson Height's sex corridor. It's not Miss Kitty from Gun Smoke around here.


http://writ.news.findlaw.com/colb/20070919.html
http://www.wnyc.org/story/152866-prostitution-plagues-queens/

I suspect the authorities know about it, it's been written about enough times that there's no way they don't. Seems there's a lot of gang related activity and human trafficking/prostitution on Roos. Suggesting to walk one block north, while a good immediate suggestion, isn't a long term solution to the problem that is being discussed. Frankly being thankful they aren't fruit vendors? Thanks for your input.

What can we do as citizens of the neighborhood about it? Not sure where to start. I mean it's been screamed from the rafters by the media, everyone knows about it. What's holding up rooting it out? Either they don't think they can? They don't think it's worth it? Is JH not worth it? Is there money involved? I don't like to even insinuate that, but what else COULD it possibly be besides one of these reasons? Is it just acceptable that they try to contain it there? There has to be a reason. Is it that the expense of rooting it out means they only do it when it reaches some breaking point or they can get as much bang for the government buck as possible because they know it'll just pop back up like whack-a-mole and they'll never get ahead of it on the budget they have?

I'm baffled by the fact that there is such blatant prostitution happening in a residential neighborhood as well.  I suspect the city doesn't do more about it because it's too much of an undertaking with too little payout (for the same reason 42nd St wasn't cleaned up until there was money to be made).  Otherwise, I can't imagine why it's allowed to go on.  I see cops on Roos at night all the time but they're clearly looking the other way. 

I suggest that you ask the police precinct.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/precincts/precinct_115.shtml

115th Police Precinct
92-15 Northern Blvd.
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
718 533 2002

Captain Brian Hennessy is in command. Perhaps start by reaching out to the community affairs:

(718) 533-2010

Ask if they know of the issue and what are they doing about it. If the response is not satisfactory, you can ask to meet with the captain and ask him directly.

Another option of contact is to attend to a Community Council meeting, held the third Tuesday of the month (except July and August) at 7:00 P.M. at the 115th Precinct, 92-15 Northern Boulevard.

Post the results of your inquiry here, I'll be curious.

In Jackson Heights, both young women and young men can be hired for sex.

If you don't like it, the "solution" is to demand that our local precinct arrest them and send them to Rikers.

Either that, or tell the police to arrest and charge the neighbors who hire them, and send them to Rikers.

There is one other alternative, but it requires support and jobs rather than condemnation.

And yes, in Jackson Heights we aren't talking about the women that Eliot Spitzer was hiring.

Sex trafficking is definitely a huge problem here.  Not only is the proliferation of massage parlors and other fronts a problem here, but the large amount of gentleman and caberet clubs here contribute to the problem as well.  While Roosevelt has a number of legitimate and wonderful businesses on it, it often reminds me of the old Times Square or Queensboro Plaza.  Jackson Heights has always seemed very strange to me on this end - Roosevelt being very seedy and two avenues away, the beauty of 34/35 Avenue is a stark contrast.  And no, the women being trafficked are not doing this willingly.  There are lots of programs and articles written on the subject - just google it.

There have been articles written about the problem and this one in particular has some links and resources listed in it on what to do to help.  http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20140718/kew-gardens/roosevelt-avenue-is-epicenter-of-nyc-sex-trafficking-officials-say