New York: Neighborhood association asks Hochul to deploy the State Police in Queens to fight prostitution

Neighbors on Roosevelt Avenue in Queens, New York City, are fed up with the growing illegal prostitution flooding the area. They claim there are more brothels than legal businesses and are calling on the state's Democratic governor to deploy the State Police there.

Let's Improve Roosevelt Avenue, the civilian neighborhood action group, wrote a letter to Hochul outlining the situation in the area. They are asking her to deploy 100 New York State Police to assist the city's police department in fighting crime in the Roosevelt Avenue area.

Neighbors claim that the NYPD's 100th and 115th precincts are "overwhelmed and understaffed" and that the area has been taken over by organized crime: drug rings, human trafficking, pimps, prostitutes and gangs.

Local media outlets, such as the New York Post, have been reporting on the brothels and prostitution in the area. They claim there is an "explosion of brothels" and shoplifting along Roosevelt Avenue, a main street that runs through Jackson Heights, Corona, Elmhurst and Woodside. Brothels have even been spotted in front of two public schools.

The neighborhood association's petition comes a year after the city's crime situation forced state authorities to deploy the National Guard to the city's public transportation stations. However, this time, it appears that the state is not be willing to deploy additional help. The governor replied to the letter and assured that the State Police work collaborates closely with the NYPD when requested.