Jackson Heights Life

For anyone who was still wondering about the 3 guys posted on the NW corner of 79th and Roosevelt, a little bit of online research will make it clear that they are escorting johns to a nearby garage for sexual services. A few clicks will give you all the details you need.  And anyone who has walked down Roosevelt in recent weeks knows that the level of soliciting has risen significantly--the SE corner at 77th and SW corner at 80th are particularly active.   So, this leads to several possibilities to the thoughts of our locally elected officials and cops--go ahead and choose your favorite:

1) They have no idea what's going on.  Meaning they're not paying attention to their own neighborhood.  Or haven't bothered with any kind of online research.  Which would be alarming since it's pretty hard to miss.

2) They see it every day like most of us.  But they acknowledge that there's nothing that can be done.  It's a whack-a-mole game and not possible to solve under current laws.  No point even trying. Sad but possibly true.

3) They see it and they're completely cool with it.  A decriminalization of sorts without actual laws.  Which means that it's a tax-free, unprotected, unregulated, abusive, exploitative industry that could be largely helped by legalization rather than ignoring/decriminalizing.

4) They see it, are cool with and are, in fact, taking a bit of money on the side to turn a blind eye.   Most disturbing of all but hardly without precedent.

5) They see it and there's a plan underfoot. Just you watch.  But it's taking time.

For the record, I'm in favor of legalization and regulation but that's neither here nor there--just pointing out that the concern has nothing to do with prudishness or morality.  But the situation is growing and it would be a problem if it brings on other crimes and makes the neighborhood less safe in general. 

What are your thoughts?

What are your thoughts?

I hate that this is a persistent problem and that it seems to be growing. My gut tells me that if we genuinely all started complaining...to the 115/110, elected officials, and potentially higher up, they would be forced to pay attention.

Write letters, call, voice your concerns...share the online research you found. It's a good first step to getting this taken seriously.

The next thing needed: no matter how many people kick and scream, Roosevelt desperately NEEDS a BID to help clean up that block and attract quality businesses (i.e. not "massage" parlors) that ultimately will detract this kind of activity.

The net net? It starts with us as concerned and active citizens.

I am very familiar with the situation, as I park my car in that alley right next to the flop house! I've complained to the police, Danny Drumm, the city, the human trafficking hotline, and a bunch of other people I can't remember. I've been voicing my concern for 3 years. The most recent time I went to the precinct an officer admitted that it's out of their jurisdiction - there's a special unit that deals with stuff and apparently they are very secretive and don't work well with the "regular" cops. The officer I spoke to said that they are very aware of the situation, but their hands are tied, but that they've been reporting the activities to this other unit regularly. So I think that's where the fault lies.

BelowThe7 -- The No. 2 guess is spot on. Last year I brought this issue up with the NYPD officer who is responsible for that sector of the precinct and was told this particular problem has been a focus of the Vice Squad for some time and that they have actually busted and prosecuted some of the people involved. His take was the Vice Squad struggles with cases like this because those arrested are often let out without bail only to reemerge on the street and that these guys are difficult to prosecute. They also can't arrest the guys every day just for standing on the street. I don't buy that. The real problem it seems is that this problem appears to be solely the domain of the Vice Squad which means local cops can't or won't get involved due to internal NYPD politics. Still, it can't hurt for all of you call the officer who heads the sector.  Maybe the more we call, the more pressure we put on the issue, will help. Here's the guy's contact info:

Police Officer Bryan Leibold
New York City Police Department
Neighborhood Coordination Officer
115 Precinct
92-15 Northern Boulevard
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
Cell:(929)287-7218
Fax:(718)533-6102
bryan.leibold@nypd.org

I found him very responsive.

(Just as an aside, the NYPD has created these NCOs as part of its community policing effort whereby they split precincts into various sectors and place a group of officers who work exclusively in that sector.)

Maybe we should be writing the mayor. Anyone know where in Iowa he is?

I still am of the belief that calling and putting pressure on officials from a larger number of concerned citizens may start to be effective at spurring some action. That or we all.band together like an angry mob and drive them out ourselves. Can you imagine if we got like 50ppl to protest outside the flop house? What a scene. It would be amazing.

I do think that the more we can attract legitimate businesses to the block, the better. Imagine if Starbucks were on that corner rather than that rinky dink travel agency. A few calls to their PR team about illicit activity happening outside their property line and I would venture to guess those guys would have to find a new corner to call home.

I just worry that women are being kept against their will in that cesspool. Its bad enough that this is going on in broad daylight, and the NYPD does nothing, but sex slaves are another thing entirely.

you're absolutely correct, abc. the more light shined on something like this, the better.

the question is, how to make it seem "major" to someone who's not witnessing it every day. people take notice when there are fentanyl overdoses in parks/public areas, particularly when the victims are nice middle class folks (like most opioid users). i don't want anyone to OD here, but there has to be something "eye opening," as opposed to the sort of drug dealing/prostitution that has existed in nyc, on and off, for 60 years.

i do hope the problem is solved soon.