Queens community members demand action against sex trade
QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) – Women on sidewalks soliciting for sex and storefronts used as brothels. PIX11 News reporter Eileen Lehpamer saw signs of both as she walked an area of Roosevelt Avenue near Elmhurst Avenue with Ramon Ramirez Baez on Thursday night.
Ramirez Baez, of “Let’s Improve Roosevelt Avenue,” estimated that 35 to 50 brothels are operating in the area.
“We have places open in the community; everybody knows that,” he said.
On Wednesday night, the NYPD raided a storefront on Case Street off Roosevelt Avenue allegedly being used as a brothel. A small door was cut out of the roll-down gate to allow quick access into the building. Three people were arrested.
Dipesh Shinde, 37, and 32-year-old Victor Velasquez were charged with patronizing prostitution in the third degree. Jairimar Garcia, 21, was accused of prostitution.
Former New York City Councilmember Hiram Monserrate has been working with community members to try to find a solution to the problem that PIX11 News has been reporting on for years.
“No one wants to live around this. This is a residential community. People go to the store here. We have more brothels than bodegas here. It’s got to stop,” Monserrate told PIX11 News.
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