An ongoing effort to tackle crime and quality-of-life issues along Roosevelt Avenue in Corona and Jackson Heights should expand west to target problem bars and clubs in Woodside, lawmakers said Monday — likening the street at night to "old Times Square."
Elected officials called on city and state agencies to pour more resources into monitoring "bad actor" businesses along the corridor: bars that operate without proper licenses and attract drug use, prostitution and other problems, they said.
"Roosevelt Avenue is a vibrant avenue during the day," said state Sen. Jose Peralta, who's been pushing for several years to clean up the street, including a request to have NYPD lines redrawn so the avenue was united under one precinct.
"What happens at night is that it turns into something completely different," he said. "It's turned into the old Times Square, where you have prostitution, where you have $2 dance bars, where you have drugs, where you have fake IDs, and that needs to end."
While the stretch of Roosevelt Avenue located within Peralta's district has garnered much of the negative attention in recent years — including in Jackson Heights, identified as a problem spot for sex trafficking — its issues extend into Woodside too, officials said.
"Unfortunately, it's no different on this part of Roosevelt Avenue, a little bit further west," state Sen. Michael Gianaris said at a press conference on 65th Street Tuesday.
The NYPD did not immediately respond to request for comment.
The lawmakers say their focus is on getting the State Liquor Authority and the city's Department of Consumer Affairs to better enforce licensing rules, saying many bars on the avenue operate as dance clubs without the cabaret license that allows them to do so.
Peralta introduced legislation this summer that would increase fines for clubs that violate cabaret rules, and would temporarily suspend the licenses of bars found to be operating illegally.
25 comments:
Vibrant? It's a total ghetto!
There's that word again.....vibrant. Here's an idea just deport them all. FAKE ids are everywhere over there, not just for kids anymore. I wonder if they get a discount inside if thesee strip clubs when they use their nycid cards? Lol.
Girls gotta make a living...
Girls gotta make a living...
Girls gotta make a living...
Fixing the problem really isn't hat difficult. They know where the bad actors are. The problem is the lack of enforcement of any rules on Roosevelt. They cleaned up Times Square by enforcing rules. Why can't they do the same on Roosevelt?
No additional legislation needed, just let ICE do their job.
At one very,very long time it was a NICE community but now a huge dirty flop house. Pure shame!
Oh I remember how nice it was to shop there and visit Walters of Woodside Bakery. Still enjoy Donovan's of Woodside.
You can never go back to the way it was but you can begin by fixing up and begin ticketing those who do not clean.
Where gas law enforcement and the State AG been all these years? Is anyone clsiming responsibility as to how this was allowed to get so out of control?
how come Jimmy Van Bramer is not getting involved with this - this is his district also - oh wait NO MONEY TO BE MADE --
Walters Bakery, Woodside Steak House, Dillon's, The Old Barn in Jackson Heights great memories Anon.
Oh well sanctuary city we must be. Progs suck.
As stated above no new laws needed, just enforce the existing ones.
WE NEED THE SAME RESOURCES THAT ARE DELEGATED TO PROTECT FLUSHING MEADOWS PARK DURING THE US OPEN TOURNAMENT ON THE STREETS OF CORONA, JACKSON HEIGHTS, WOODSIDE & SUNNYSIDE. PROTECT THE LOCALS NOT THE TOURISTS !!!
What are the odds that the women pictured on the cards look anything like the ones who "work" in that neighborhood? Talk about bait and switch!
As usual this shit was allowed to fester for years and decades. This is what happens when there is a lack of enforcement on quality of life laws and the wave of low-life folks who have come to Queens and are coming to Queens.
Should have thought years ago about doing something, but why bother, wait till everything is so out of control.
NYC SUCKS. QUEENS SUCKS. Extremely overrated city and always has been.
Anonymous said...
"No additional legislation needed, just let ICE do their job."
City Council just passed new and improved Sanctuary City Legislation preventing any ICE or deportation actions.
Crapper, can you look at this, who voted how and post please???
>Peralta introduced legislation this summer that would increase fines for clubs that violate cabaret rules,
The same terrible cabaret legislation that imposes crippling fines on bar owners if a few customers start dancing to the jukebox? The same cabaret laws that have killed so much of NYC nightlife scene for anyone who isn't a rich yuppie who can drop hundreds of dollars in the meatpacking district?
Existing laws need to be enforced, but not this one.
Yes we are becoming a sanctuary city...thanks to the city council.
Overcrowding at its best.
Homeless will skyrocket
City Council just passed new and improved Sanctuary City Legislation preventing any ICE or deportation actions.
I think you might be referring to legislation passed in 2014. For Law # 2014/059, "Persons not to be detained by the police department", it passed 41 to 6 (with 4 absent and/or ill), and the only negative votes were cast by Deutsch, Gentile, Ignizio, Matteo, Ulrich, and Vallone.
For Law # 2014/058, "Persons not to be detained by the department of correction", it also passed 41 to 6 (with 4 absent and/or ill), and the only negative votes were cast by Deutsch, Gentile, Ignizio, Matteo, Ulrich, and Vallone.
MS 13 turf in Queens.
The second oldest profession is politics.
At least here you get laid instead of screwed.
More cops retiring after the new commissioner threw the Sgt under the bus. You're on your own......perps lives matter.
Try 162nd Street in Flushing. On par with the old Times Square for sure. It's a total shitshow, all night long and I am caring for children a few blocks away. You'll see out-of-state license plates and men coming to East Flushing for a bit of drugs/prostitutes/gambling and god knows what else.
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that many of these women are working against their will. This has to stop.
Our door is open. We let everyone in. When we find out they are illegals or criminals we offer them sanctuary? We as tax payers pay for the free room and board and benefits they get from Medicaid.
What was wrong with Donald J Trump saying they are not sending their best? There is truth in that!
Yes mixed in with the ones who want a better life, are not on the system and call this home. You got these who only want a free hand out and then complain about it. No other country does this!
>Peralta introduced legislation this summer that would increase fines for clubs that violate cabaret rules,
This law was abused to not only put stripper bars out of business, but longstanding local bars and establishments. It is a cudgel for gentrification. This will probably be exploited to run down every legit restaurant on the avenue too. Definitely not a good idea.
And Lady Viverto's crass decision is even worse in retrospect. It's a combination of lousy legislation from the left and right.
Just total FUBAR
MORE POLICE ENFORCEMENT, PROACTIVE LEGISLATION IS THE KEY...
It's the vicious cycle of modern day NYC.
1) Run the neighborhood into the ground by neglect and apathy.
2) Send the real estate industry in to eviscerate the neighborhood by tearing it down and displacing the current residents.
3) Call it "renewal" and run for re-election
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