Friday, February 5, 2010

Disgruntled in Jackson Heights


"Hello,

I am a life-long resident of Jackson Heights. My parents lived here and raised me here and I can honestly say I love my neighborhood. My old neighborhood, not the cesspool it has turned into. Jackson Heights used to be where a blue-collar family could live comfortably and with peace of mind. Today gangs, prostitution, filth, and garbage are synonymous with Jackson Heights. I am close to giving up and just moving out but cannot do so without a fight.

Here is where I ask your help. I am compiling information on gang activity in Jackson Heights and the NYPD failure to truly respond and take action. I do not need to tell you that where gangs, which engage in prostitution and identity fraud rings, openly operate, there is a police failure. I want to compile this sort of information and make it available to the public and other enraged residents of Jackson Heights that I know. I am not sure yet what I will do with this information (you have inspired me to set up some sort of online publication to disseminate this information) but I do know that it needs to get out there.

I was wondering if you knew a way to get a hold of the transcript and minutes of the Town Hall Meeting that occurred on December 9th 2009 in St. Mark's Church? This Town Hall Meeting was hosted by Assemblyman Jose R. Peralta and included a special guest appearance by Queens DA Richard A. Brown. I learned about this meeting via this link in the Queens Gazette. The meeting focused on gangs, quality of life and "cleaning up Roosevelt Ave."

I am also contacting Peralta's office and Brown's office but have no faith that I will get any results. I wish I had known about this meeting so that I would have attended myself, but this is my own fault. I would appreciate any help.

Keep fighting the good fight,

Disgruntled in Jackson Heights"

I'm sorry, I don't know the answer to that question. But hey - have you noticed the vibrant diversity of food carts under the el? That's reason enough to stay right there for many people...

Photo from gardenfork.tv

60 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wish you luck. I grew up in Jackson Heights and can't believe how much it has changed.

Remember there is power in numbers. I am sure there are plenty who feel as you do and will help you in your fight.

Anonymous said...

your area was a fun section in the 1956 period.
the Montclaire Supper Club at 37th ave./74th street had great music groups. e.g. Bobby Hackett's Big Band.

the Tune Timers at 82street/Northern Blvd.excellent dance spot.

and then there was Budds,just a pub ,but great for making connections.

Fields Clothier on 74 st.

from engaging in civic work for many years,i must warn you to be very cautious at what you are about to expose. try to remain as anonymous as possible.
you might be dealing with vicious animals.you can not be sure who their agents are up front.

anon letters with no prints. contact only highest n.y.p.d. officials.e.g. Commissioner's office,1 police plaza,n.y.c.

stay in the shadows. you are a good citizen.

Anonymous said...

Call 646-6105000 ask for the extension to occb/vice.

Anonymous said...

We did this in the early 90's. The police were out en masse, raiding the prostitution houses, locking up gang mambers and drug dealers and making progress. But then, every other municipal faction, the courts, the politicians, the civil rights group, the media, all started complaining that civil rights were being violated, and the enforcement subsided. now the mayor is cutting an already thin police force. There is barely enough personnel for the thinning IMPACT footposts you see now, so there will be no personnel to fill the spacialized units needed to do the work recommended in this piece.

Anonymous said...

jackson heights is toast

has been crap for over 20 years or more

but hey if you like great etnic food it can't be beat
lol

Anonymous said...

But then, every other municipal faction, the courts, the politicians, the civil rights group, the media, all started complaining that civil rights were being violated, and the enforcement subsided.
----

That is because your efforts were cutting into the tweeder base. Lots of money to be made, lots of votes to be gathered, lots of campaign donations (hi John Liu!) to be made.

Good governement is always bad for the 'bhoys.'

Anonymous said...

I think "roach coach" is a more appropriate name for the typical vibrant food cart. Good thing that most people have strong immune systems.

As for Jackson Heights, I doubt cleaning it up will do it any good. The people who live there are filthy and do not appreciate cleanliness. They will keep throwing their gum on the sidewalk, spitting on the subway platforms, and leaving trash on the trains.

Anonymous said...

Another example of the machine shaping agendas by writing the same story over and over again for decades and disguising it as news:


http://www.queenstribune.com/deadline/Deadline_immigrantRole.html

Anonymous said...

I think "roach coach" is a more appropriate name for the typical vibrant food cart. Good thing that most people have strong immune systems.
--------

I guess 'Honest Joe' Crowley and 'th boys' think an anti-litter campaign would be anti-immigrant.

Like the cancer inducing hookah parlours of Astoria, and the roving taco trucks now all over the city.

When the immigrants are involved we look the other way - even when the health of innocent people are involved.

(funny how stuff like this never makes the news either - but who Paris or Lindsay are whoring it up with is important we are told)

Anonymous said...

When in doubt, go after the vibrant diversity of food carts. Because a food cart doing brisk business is a clear sign of neighborhood in decline.

You guys/girls are xenophobic nincompoops who live in a bygone era and can't adjust to change. That's why we have something called natural selection.

Anonymous said...

I must say Crapper, as much as I love you, this "Vibrant and Diverse" line is not a panacea response...it's getting trite already.

Queens Crapper said...

You guys/girls are xenophobic nincompoops who live in a bygone era and can't adjust to change. That's why we have something called natural selection.

What exactly does complaining about gangs, prostitution, filth, and garbage in one's neighborhood have to do with xenophobia? Do you expect people to shut up about quality of life issues because "new people" have moved in? And you obviously don't know what "natural selection" is. (You're more proof that our public schools really do suck...)

this "Vibrant and Diverse" line is not a panacea response...it's getting trite already.

That's the point, genius.

Anonymous said...

"Because a food cart doing brisk business is a clear sign of neighborhood in decline."

Yeah. Let's talk up the food carts and pretend the rest of the shit is not going on. That's what Crapper's trying to point out - that this is exactly what the tweeders do. Sorry that it's too over your head for you to understand.

Queens Crapper said...

There are A LOT of people who profit off making sure once beautiful neighborhoods turn into slums.

Anonymous said...

"Because a food cart doing brisk business is a clear sign of neighborhood in decline."
----------------------------------
OK, so are you liberal retards ready to discuss the brisk prostitution business, the brisk drug business, the brisk gang business, the brisk sleeper-cell business or the brisk illegal day-laborer business yet?

Anonymous said...

I can sympathize with the author... I also grew up in the neighborhood and it saddens me to see it this way. I have noticed that 1) Alot of people have moved away from the neighborhood. It isn't as dense as it once was. I think the economy has alot to do with it. But who knows... 2) I was walking down Roosevelt and came across a man that was saying the infamous "Socio" "Socio" on 85th Street & Roosevelt Ave. (Southside). Might be a good start to walk down, if you haven't done so already, and take a listen... Good Luck!

Anonymous said...

What?! This person is crazy. Young professionals and young families are moving into the area like crazy. (I am one of them.) Upscale shops and restaurants are starting to open, and there is plenty of the old-school (in a good way) JH around. This person cannot live in Jackson Heights, I'm sorry. Either that, or he/she is someone who longs for when NYC was "gritty" and crime-ridden.

I cannot believe that Queens Crap would publish such poisonous writing. Come out and see what it is like yourself and write it up! I suggest checking out Espresso 77, Table Wine, and Rudy Volcano to see how "dangerous" JH is.

Anonymous said...

And, hello, if this person has lived here so long, they don't remember the 80s, when JH was cocaine central? It's SO different now that it is not funny. (Of course, there is crime--this is NYC, but check the crime stats on the area. It's really not bad at all.)

Anonymous said...

Anon...I believe the author was refering more to Roosevelt Ave. than 37th Ave. There is a BIG difference. Gangs, prostitution, "social security transactions", not to mention garbage PROLIFERATE the area. Yes, in the 80's it was cocaine central, and drug transactions are still present. I'm not sure how long you've been in the neighborhood, but soon enough you will see. You might not care. But there are still alot of people in the community that do.

Anonymous said...

And by the way...Jackson Heights doesn't only consist of the "Historic District" it runs east to as far as Junction Blvd.( I believe). And goes up to Northern Blvd. Anyway, it's comprised of a larger area than you must think...

Anonymous said...

Are any of these food vendors licensed at all? In Manhattan they all have IDs around their neck. Here in Queens they can do whatever they want without any kind of license??

Anonymous said...

37th avenue is the most dangerous avenue in Jackson Heights and Corona. The police walk around in groups of 4 and they have checkpoints to stop cars and run the licenses. Something big is definitely afoot around there.

Anonymous said...

"I suggest checking out Espresso 77, Table Wine, and Rudy Volcano to see how "dangerous" JH is."

Why are the newbies all obsessed with restaurants? Seriously, if this is what you base your choice of neighborhood on, then no wonder it's going down the tubes. Sounds like this one needs to get out more and stop sticking their heads in the sand. The vast majority of Jackson Heights is a slum.

Anonymous said...

I find places like Flushing and Jamaica to be WAY worse off.

Once you cross that Van Wyck you get into some hybrid (manhattan and Long island) land with ALL 3rd worlders.

Count your blessings.

Anonymous said...

I find places like Flushing and Jamaica to be WAY worse off.

Once you cross that Van Wyck you get into some hybrid (manhattan and Long island) land with ALL 3rd worlders.
---------------------------------
???????
WAY worse off in which way?
Please explain that entire
second sentence. There are very few non-3rd worlders left in JH and that is part of the point of this story.

Anonymous said...

Dear Disgruntled,

No amount of NYPD presence and activity is going roll back the calendar in Jackson Heights to 1950, 1960, or 1970 or whenever your personal memory starts.

The JH residents then would not leave garbage all around, the merchants would not tolerate the crap on Roosevelt Ave and 37th Ave.

The new JH residents have created "the new normal" for JH: the same level of crowding, filth and chaos they experienced or at least tolerated from their country of origin. Recall that "home" for most of the there people is elsewhere, JH is merely their "current address."

Disguntled, you just need to follow the other JH residents to Long Island, upstate, or NJ/FL/TX if you want the experience of living in neighborhood like what JH was because it's not returning to JH.

Anonymous said...

I am the anonymous who posted earlier. I have lived in JH for just over 5 years, and as a woman, I have never felt fearful. Yes, I am aware that Roosevelt Avenue is not too beautiful, but to portray it as a crime-ridden street worthy of the slums of Brazil is insane.

It has crime like any other NYC neighborhood, but it has a lot of nice things going on. The Friends of Travers Park are very active, the Green Agenda for Jackson Heights, the JH Beautification Committee, to name just a few.

Anonymous said...

Let's just face it: NYC is full of people who could not care less about keeping the city clean.

Liman said...

I drove up Roosevelt from Woodside a couple of Saturday nights ago, at about 11 pm. Rich and vibrant? Well, vibrant maybe. A huge number of either homeless or illegals (or both) being fed by a religious relief group from the back of a truck under the el. Looked like a regular thing. Kind of late, though.

Cops every couple of blocks pulling drivers over. Cops in threes walking (standing) on the beat.

One night club after another. Cars zigzagging on and off Roosevelt. Definitely not the family atmosphere that used to be there.

I wonder what it looked like after midnight?

Unknown said...

You drove up Roosevelt? Why not try walking? I appreciate all the people on Roosevelt when I get out of the subway at night. To me, that's safe. And for the person who thinks Jackson Heights is a slum-- you need to get out more. What are you comparing JH to, Forest Hills?

Anonymous said...

Keep whining. I hear there aren't too many "third world" people in Des Moines - maybe you'll be happier there. I'll stay in JH. I love my apartment, I love my neighbors, and love the neighborhood. I love that I can buy a big, clean, renovated one-bedroom here for under a quarter million, and still be 20 minutes door-to-door to Midtown. Nowhere else in the city is that even possible. So you keep whining, and I'll stay here.

Anonymous said...

You can buy a renovated one bedroom just about anywhere in Queens outside of LIC.

Anonymous said...

I understand the desire to want to leave the third world to come here and make a better life. What I don't understand is bringing the third world with you to fuck up your new country. Leave it behind!

Anonymous said...

Response over on
Jackson Heights Life:

"How dare Queens Crap print this! Our neighborhood is perfect! They must be jealous!"

Yes, I want to live in a neighborhood full of gangs and whores with a noisy overcrowded el to boot.

Maybe instead of being both defensive and clueless, you'll become more involved in your community and do something to help rid it of these problems. Or maybe this is just a temporary stopover to your real destination (kind of like those on your sister site, Astorians).

Snake Plissskin said...

The reality is outside of the real estate brokers and hacks (who I suspect dominate blogs like Jackson Heights and Astorians - and relentlessly throw off members from the community that don't read from the script) real public blogs like Queens Crap offer a dose of reality and fresh air.

The reality is, despite Queens Boro Hall's clumsy efforts to tout the 7 train, everyone agrees that a pig with lipstick is, well, still a pig.

Jackson Heights was a beautiful suburb - you can see it in the buildings and still find glimpses in the backyard gardens.

But today, except for the large gay population and elderly, its third world.

82nd Street is a nightmare with limited quality shopping options (gaudy Indian jewerly, cheap whore-style clothing Spanish stores, stained sidewalks and unpleasant smells are NOT a destination of choice for most of the country that go to either suburban malls or Manhattan-type settings.)

Indeed, I tell out of towners that if you want to see the real underbelly of NYC, and something that most resembles my move, 'Escape from NY,' take a trip (in a car for God's sake) under the el after midnight.

It is a sight to behold.

Anonymous said...

I understand the desire to want to leave the third world to come here and make a better life. What I don't understand is bringing the third world with you to fuck up your new country. Leave it behind!

---

Thank 'Honest Joe' Crowley and the tweeding politicans.

Look how 'Sonny' Vallone lets the hooka places ruin Steinway Street and the taco trucks give the right touch to Broadway.

Anonymous said...

Somebody commented about comparing Jackson Heights to Forest Hills. There is no basis for comparison. It will take a long time for Jackson Heights to look like Austin St. or even 108 St.

Anonymous said...

Wow, there's some serious anger going on here. I'm glad to see people care enough about the neighborhood to express themselves.

From my viewpoint, as a JH resident of 6 years who lives close to Roosevelt Ave., I think the truth is somewhere between these 2 extremes. JH isn't Greenwich Village, with it's cute shops and row houses and millionaire neighbors. It's also not a shantytown. It's a nice place where decent people with average incomes can afford to live. And it's improving.

Roosevelt Ave can be crappy, no doubt about it. But it's underneath the train. Most areas underneath subways are crappy. The trash definitely bothers me. I think that's a product of the crowds and the class of people around Roosevelt - lower class who bring their habits with them from wherever. Litter has been directly linked to class and education many times. Frankly, as some have pointed out, a lot of people are just stopping through, and don't really care about the neighborhood.

But Roosevelt Ave. is the edge of the neighborhood. 37th, 35th and 34th Ave. are much nicer, as are most of the side streets. My wife and I walk around at night all the time in the 70s and 80s and never have any kind of problem. I've never even felt remotely threatened.

The ills that some people suggest are destroying Jackson Heights don't really affect my life that much. If I just avoid Roosevelt, then I don't have to deal with it at all.

For those who are passing judgment with one drive up Roosevelt Ave., I suggest getting out of the car and walking around. You may get a different impression.

And if you don't like the neighborhood for what it is, that's fine. Don't live here. There are plenty of apartments in "desirable neighborhoods" with many of the same problems for 3 times the cost. Someone else will happily take your place here.

Anonymous said...

Actually, the rent prices in Jackson Heights are the same as any other western Queens community outside LIC. And so are the condo/co-op prices. Most other nabes don't come with prostitutes, drug dealers and gangs, however.

Anonymous said...

JH really sucks now. Just get the hell out of there ASAP.

Anonymous said...

I have lived in Jackson Heights for three years, and the best part about it is that the rent is relatively cheap compared to the rest of New York. I do not feel unsafe here at all, but it certainly is not one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city. People talk all the time about its "diversity," when in reality, much of this "diversity" is loud music, people spitting on the sidewalk, yelling, screaming, honking their horns, young women carrying a baby, pushing another in a stroller and holding a toddler by the hand, and ghetto-type nightclubs. Look at the businesses - 99 cent stores, baby stores, shoes stores, "travel agencies" that are fronts for money laundering, music stores, shoe stores, et al. Then go to a place like Cobble Hill, where the chains have not taken over, but there are small, locally-owned places to eat, shop, etc. And yeah, there might be a lot of strollers there too, but I would venture to say that many of the the women pushing them are not here illegally and sucking our bank accounts dry through social services. For the record, I lean left, but by living here, I have seen first hand how we need reform.

Spy vs Spy said...

Myth
Wow, there's some serious anger going on here. I'm glad to see people care enough about the neighborhood to express themselves.

REALITY
PATRONIZING.

Myth
From my viewpoint, as a JH resident of 6 years who lives close to Roosevelt Ave., I think the truth is somewhere between these 2 extremes.

REALITY
OHH, A SEASONED EXPERT. WELL THAT TRUMPS MY SIX DECADES.

Myth
JH isn't Greenwich Village, with it's cute shops and row houses and millionaire neighbors. It's also not a shantytown. It's a nice place where decent people with average incomes can afford to live. And it's improving.

REALTY
ITS AN ETHNIC GHETTO. IMPROVING? SOME PEOPLE THINK THE ECONOMY IS IMPROVING, TOO.

Myth
Roosevelt Ave can be crappy, no doubt about it. But it's underneath the train. Most areas underneath subways are crappy. The trash definitely bothers me. I think that's a product of the crowds and the class of people around Roosevelt - lower class who bring their habits with them from wherever. Litter has been directly linked to class and education many times. Frankly, as some have pointed out, a lot of people are just stopping through, and don't really care about the neighborhood.

MYTH
ROOSEVELT 'CAN' BE CRAPPY? IT IS CRAPPY, AND IT SETS THE TONE FOR THE COMMUNITY AS SOON AS YOU GET OFF THE TRAIN.

Reality
But Roosevelt Ave. is the edge of the neighborhood. 37th, 35th and 34th Ave. are much nicer, as are most of the side streets. My wife and I walk around at night all the time in the 70s and 80s and never have any kind of problem. I've never even felt remotely threatened.

MYTH
SEE THE NEWS THIS EVENING OF A SHOOTING IN .... JACKSON HEIGHTS.

Myth
The ills that some people suggest are destroying Jackson Heights don't really affect my life that much. If I just avoid Roosevelt, then I don't have to deal with it at all.

REALTY
'SUGGEST'? MAY I SUGGEST THAT ROOSEVELT, AS WELL AS 82ND STREET, IS A SHITHOLE.

Myth
For those who are passing judgment with one drive up Roosevelt Ave., I suggest getting out of the car and walking around. You may get a different impression.

REALITY
YES, YOU 'MAY' GET AN 'IMPRESSION'.

FOR THOSE OF YOU NOT COMATOSE, YOU 'WILL' GET AN IMPRESSION.

Myth
And if you don't like the neighborhood for what it is, that's fine. Don't live here. There are plenty of apartments in "desirable neighborhoods" with many of the same problems for 3 times the cost. Someone else will happily take your place here.

REALITY
IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, SOMEONE WILL ALWAYS BE DESPERATE ENOUGH TO PAY THE RENT.

SURE, AND THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR SOUTH BRONX, EAST NEW YORK. THERE IS A VERY GOOD REASON YOUR AREA IS CHEAP.

SOUTH AMERICANS NEED A HOME, TOO.

Anonymous said...

Why should anyone be surprised that when you rapidly concentrate the poor of Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, Bolivia, etc. into a corner of Queens, that the area takes on the look, sounds, and smells, garbage, and crime of poor urban areas Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, Bolivia, etc?

Anonymous said...

To say that prices outside of LIC are the same is the height of cluelessness. My aunt just sold a 1 bedroom apartment in Woodside on 51st of Skillman for 325k. The walls and floors are so thin that you can hear your neighbors conversations. Two bedrooms in that same building go for 400k and up.

Queens Crapper said...

From Craigslist:

$239000 / 1br - Woodside One BR

Woodside- Large totally renovated One BR with new kitchen featuring microwave oven and dishwasher.Walk to shopping,restaurants and #7 Train.Low maintenance $453,strong financials,no board approval,pet friendly, easy commute.

51st St at skillman ave

But we don't know what we are talking about.

Anonymous said...

Wow his aunt sold a one bedroom for an inflated amount. This is proof that you can't find a one bedroom for less than that!

What a moron.

Anonymous said...

He's trying to say that property values in JH are less than in Woodside? Like that makes sense?

Steve said...

I did not care to waste my time to browse through what posters have to share; Whether opposing or in favor of this entry. I am a life-time resident. Jackson Heights is as strong as it has ever been and is at its safest in the last 40 year span. Check your statistics, look at the numbers, call Precinct 115. Do some damn research before spreading farce on the internet. One person's delusion should not attract reinforcement. Jackson Heights, a place in Queens doesn't need a bumbling nut-job like the composer of "Disgruntled in Jackson Heights." On the other hand, Creedmoor, which is also in Queens would be the proper residence and an accepting place for the "disgruntled" one. Queens Crap truly illuminates itself in the name.

Anonymous said...

I guess while burying your head in the sand you missed all the posts about the phony police stats as well.

Anonymous said...

You know, for a blog that purports to be against the Over-development of the neighborhood, it seems funny to be going after a neighborhood that has been remarkably successful in avoiding the same kind of fedders-monster overdevelopment that has plagued much of Queens.

The history of NY is full of complaints about the "wrong kind" of people "taking over" a neighborhood.

While there are some reports of police stations fudging their crime stats slightly, crime is reported to be 80% lower than it was in the early 90s. Even if they've fudged some, no one can seriously suggest that crime is even close to as bad as it was in 20 years ago.

Yes, JH is less expensive than most of Subway-accessible western Queens.
2008 Price Per Sq. Ft:
LIC: $538
Astoria: $346
Sunnyside: $288
Woodside: $344
Jackson Heights: $266
Elmhurst: $347
Flushing: $409
Rego Park: $356
Forest Hills: $435
Kew Gardens: $274

Cobble Hill (for that one person that suggested that these neighborhoods were equivalent in some way): $688

Only East Elmhurst, Corona, Maspeth, Greenwood are less expensive. You have to go out to Kew Gardens or past the 7 train into Eastern queens for comparable purchases. So yes, you can find a cheap one-bedroom in Woodside. But it won't be as nice as the one you can find in JH for the same price.

Plus, the express E and F trains make JH infinitely more convenient to Manhattan than just the local 7 train - I don't go to 42nd Street, so the E/F give me a 15 minute, one seat ride from 74th Street. Taking the 7 increases my commute to 35min.

One thing those "third world" people brought to this neighborhood is a multitude of 24-hour produce markets - something that other neighborhoods in NY with similar economic demographics just don't have.

Queens Crapper said...

"You know, for a blog that purports to be against the Over-development of the neighborhood, it seems funny to be going after a neighborhood that has been remarkably successful in avoiding the same kind of fedders-monster overdevelopment that has plagued much of Queens."

Sounds like you have never stayed within JH but walked outside the historic district. I have. There are some of the worst Fedders atrocities on the other side of the district lines. And bragging about your low property values is kinda backward, hate to tell you.

DR said...

I've lived in Jackson Heights for 3 years after living in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn for 7 years.

Now that I've provided some context, some observations...

-The food is awesome here. I do wish for some American/Continental style cuisine though.
-I can't believe how many families and expecting families are moving in because of the availability of quality schools and low prices for beautiful pre-war garden apartments.
-The buildings in the historic district are architectural treasures.
-The above-mentioned people are bringing their discretionary income to the neighborhood. Any wonder why 'Le Gamin' with outposts in Prospect Heights and the West Village are scouting out the neighborhood for a new location?
-The Farmer's market and food co-op is great
-I've never felt my family was unsafe here. Prospects Heights was not safe--muggings all the time.
-Crime was off the charts in the 80s compared to now. Any glance at the NYPD crime stats will confirm this. I haven't seen this massive rebel army of pimps, hookers and homeless described repeatedly in this post. I did see a guy spit on the sidewalk though.
-To compare a new york neighborhood from the 50s and 60s to the present is an exercise in futility. Members of my own family grew up in Brooklyn during this time, they moved to the suburbs. Almost every other working class person from the outer boroughs moved to the suburbs during this time.
-There is a bar called The Scorpion on Roosevelt Ave. If this is the seedy underbelly of JH, at least it's cool-sounding.

This neighorhood has plusses and minuses, but the main good thing is that most people give a damn about it. If you're truly disgruntled, I recommend that you: a) get involved or b) get out.

Anonymous said...

I think most of the hate is coming from an "I hate minorities" point of view. So if your problem is with "South Americans" or "third worlders" then who gives a crap about your opinion. Your already a racist nut job. Would those hateful comments still stand if this neighborhood was predominantly white? I think not. I like my neighborhood. I also like other neighborhoods. I don't go around hating neighborhoods because they're too white or too black. I've lived here 26 years and nothing has ever happened to me at 3AM getting off the 7 train. Does shit happen? Of course it does. It happens everywhere.

Queens Crapper said...

Interesting. This line summarizes the post in a nutshell.

"Today gangs, prostitution, filth, and garbage are synonymous with Jackson Heights."

So, anonymous, are you saying that the "minorities" "South Americans" and "third worlders" are causing these problems, or that the problems don't exist?

Cherokeesista said...

They came to our yard to play:)And every single day OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO LIVE PEACEFUL DECENT LIVES ARE VIOLATED BY THESE LOW LIFE SCUMBAGS!!! And why is it when someone opens their damn mouth and complains some idiot has to cry RACISM!!! MY GRANDFATHER WAS NATIVE TO THIS LAND FULL BLOODED TSALAGI "CHEROKEE" HE'S PROBABLY DOING CARTWHEELS IN HIS GRAVE LOOKING AT WHAT HAS BECOME OF OUR COUNTRY!! SHAMEFUL!! OBEY THE LAWS OR GET THE HELL OUT OF AMERICA!!!! I SPEAK THE TRUTH THATS MY RIGHT!!!

Anonymous said...

OHH, A SEASONED EXPERT. WELL THAT TRUMPS MY SIX DECADES.


It is exactly that- your six decades and you seem to be the most negative, depressing individual I have come across in a long time. Acerbic, caustic, hate mongering and argumentative all add up to a cranky old curmudgeon. You hold onto the past and refuse to see any improvement. I have only been here 10 years and see an improvement. I do live in the "historic district" and love it.Yep Roosevelt Ave and 73rd & 74th Streets are not my favorites, but come on you make it sound like they are life threatening. Unfortunately your glass will always seem half empty.

Anonymous said...

"I have only been here 10 years and see an improvement. I do live in the "historic district" and love it."

Of course you love it, it's in the historic district. Only been here 10 years and see an improvement in the historic district, eh? Congrats.

Anonymous said...

What I'm about to write will sound very offensive & discriminatory. It's not meant to target or generalize. Yet, something must be done.

Let's take a good look not only at Jackson Heights, but Corona & Elmhurst as well. The problem is that the majority of long-term residents & recent arrivals tend to come from largely disadvantaged backgrounds with no values & morals. Kids grow up thinking that gangs, violence, etc. is the way to act. In the end, this is the problem when genetic trash is here.

It's not going away. For those that prefer to live better, my suggestion would be to leave this whole area & just leave it for the genetic trash.

JM said...

I made a big mistake getting off the F train at 74st & Roosevelt ave at 3:45am last Sat night. Instead of walking upstairs and waiting for the 7 train to Flushing I figured it would be easier hailing a cab on 74st instead back to Whitestone. Big mistake!..the cops were out on full force on Roosevelt ave so very few private cabs were stopping (very few yellow cabs in JH) and the few that stopped wouldn't take me to Whitestone since it was "out of their way". I decided to walk up to 82nd St and Roosevelt ave and that was my fatal error.. bars/clubs/restaurants were closing and the drunks, prostitutes (woman and transexuals) and drug dealers were on a rampage. I saw a fight between 2 mexican guys and one was all bloody..not sure what it was all about but the cops were talking to the mexican guys but they didn't speak english. I was approached by a transexual prostitute..i had to laugh but it was a bit disturbing. and then loads of club goers, drunks, immigrant women pushing baby strollers & loads of homeless people loitering along Roosevelt ave between 76st and 82st. To make matters worse once i was finally able to catch a cab to Whitestone the police had closed one of the side streets arresting some mexican looking gang members who were fighting. OMG is this what Roosevelt ave in Jackson Heights is like after midnight? Next time I'll wait for the 7 train to the other not so safe neighborhood of Flushing and pay my $12 cab ride to Whitestone...

Anonymous said...

I moved out of The filthy, disgusting Jackson Heights area on 74 Street and 37 Avenue.I was there for 40 years and it sure did turn into a stinking cesspool.
The immigrants love filth and prove everyday how they have no desire to make the neighborhood even a little bit clean. The last straw for me was having to dodge huge street rats and raccoons while walking to the subway in the mornings.Always,there are piles and piles of unwrapped garbage strewn all around the area. Can someone tell me why the local politicos gave the Diversity Pedestrian Mall to these filthy people?