Closure of Controversial Brothel Highlights Community Safety Concerns in AOC’s District

QUEENS, N.Y. — A notorious brothel situated near two schools in Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s district has been shut down by the New York Police Department following persistent advocacy from local leaders. They assert that the progressive lawmaker did little to assist in their efforts to close the establishment.

Known locally as the “bodega brothel,” this establishment operated on the second floor of a bodega just off Roosevelt Avenue, an area infamous for open solicitation by sex workers, according to Hiram Monserrate, a local Democratic district leader.

Footage captured inside the brothel revealed five cramped and makeshift rooms separated by wooden panels and shower curtains, each barely large enough for a bed.

The bodega’s location is alarmingly close to two public schools, forcing students to walk by sex workers outside the brothel during their daily commutes. Just before a town hall hosted by Ocasio-Cortez earlier this month, observers noticed children passing by with their parents as three women solicited outside.

On Monday, law enforcement took definitive action, removing beds from the brothel and securing its wooden door with a padlock.

Monserrate, who spearheaded the campaign for the brothel’s closure, expressed gratitude toward the police for their prompt response.

He stated, “The closing of the ‘bodega brothel’ was long overdue, but it has finally happened.” Monserrate described the deplorable conditions of the brothel after touring the premises.

“This place is clearly unsightly and unsanitary, and frankly, disgusting,” Monserrate remarked, as he noted that he had organized four different rallies aimed at shutting down the establishment.

Many residents have voiced frustration over Ocasio-Cortez’s lack of involvement in addressing the issue. Monserrate confirmed that he, along with local organizations, had repeatedly urged elected officials, including Ocasio-Cortez, to take action, but received minimal support.

“AOC did not play any role in this,” Monserrate emphasized. He previously faced backlash for opposing local activists who advocated for legalizing prostitution in the area.

Ramses Frías, a Republican candidate for city council, echoed Monserrate’s concerns, stating that Ocasio-Cortez never attended any of the demonstrations advocating for the closure of the brothel.

“It took the community uniting to rally against this bodega brothel,” Frías said, highlighting the collective effort required to address the issue.

Ocasio-Cortez’s office has declined to comment on the recent closure.

Monserrate further explained that the neighborhood continues to grapple with the issues posed by sex work, driven in part by migrant gangs like the 18th Street Gang and Tren de Aragua. He has called for intervention from the FBI to deal with other escalating problems along Roosevelt Avenue, such as drug trafficking, illegal firearm sales, identity theft, and violent crime. Despite his concerns, he has not received any response from federal authorities, noting that his sources identified at least twenty other brothels operating in the vicinity.

In October, New York City Mayor Eric Adams initiated a comprehensive police operation, deploying over 200 police officers and state troopers to the area to combat crime.

The NYPD reported last month that this operation, known as Operation Restore Roosevelt, led to a 37% decline in crime in the Roosevelt Avenue area. Law enforcement noted over 1,800 arrests and more than 15,000 summonses as part of the crackdown.

However, police officials did not confirm whether any arrests were linked to the brothel’s closure on Monday.

The New York City Department of Buildings indicated that a partial vacate order was issued to the brothel in December, but Monserrate maintained that it remained in operation for illicit activities since then.

While Monserrate welcomed the NYPD’s recent efforts, he acknowledged that the neighborhood still faces significant challenges. He stated, “We appreciate the NYPD, the NYC Buildings Department, and the mayor’s office for their help, but we recognize that much work remains to be done to stabilize this community and make it a safer, better place for everyone.”

He concluded, “We will continue our efforts to close down more brothels and expose the ineffective policies that have adversely affected our community.”