AOC Now Mocked for Focusing on Trash While Ignoring Crime

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is facing a mix of praise and backlash after announcing the installation of dozens of new trash cans along Roosevelt Avenue, a bustling corridor in her district long plagued by litter, illegal vending, prostitution, and gang-related crime.

While some local business owners hail the move as a practical step toward improving quality of life, critics argue it sidesteps the area’s more pressing public safety concerns, fueling ongoing calls for federal intervention.

Roosevelt Avenue, stretching through neighborhoods like Corona, Jackson Heights, and Elmhurst, has earned the notorious nickname “Market of Sweethearts” due to rampant sex work and associated criminal activities.

Residents and merchants report that the issues have intensified in recent years, partly attributed to the city’s migrant crisis, which has brought an influx of vulnerable individuals exploited by organized crime groups.

Prostitution operates openly along the sidewalks, often alongside unlicensed street vendors selling counterfeit goods, creating a chaotic environment that locals say deters families and legitimate businesses.

The avenue’s challenges are not new.

In October 2024, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Councilmember Francisco Moya launched “Operation Restore Roosevelt,” a multi-agency initiative deploying over 200 NYPD officers and state troopers to crack down on quality-of-life offenses.

This included unlicensed vending, trademark counterfeiting, prostitution, and ghost vehicles.

The 90-day operation temporarily reduced visible crime, with reports of a 28% dip in incidents during its run.

However, by early 2025, problems resurfaced, prompting community frustration and accusations that the effort was short-lived.

Federal Crackdowns and Ongoing Concerns

Federal authorities stepped in during July 2025, when agents busted a violent migrant gang allegedly controlling parts of the avenue’s illicit activities, including prostitution and gambling rings.

This followed pleas from locals in April 2025, who urged the FBI to investigate organized crime links in the area.

Despite these interventions, residents continue to report overflowing trash, unsafe streets, and a lack of sustained enforcement.

Enter Ocasio-Cortez’s recent initiative.

On August 8, 2025, the congresswoman posted on social media about her office’s collaboration with the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) to address sanitation needs raised by local vendors and business owners.

“After meeting with local vendors and business owners, my office reached out to @NYCSanitation about the need for more trash cans along Roosevelt Ave,” she wrote.

“Thanks to their quick response, 51 trash cans were installed! Grateful for their partnership in keeping our community clean!”

The post, accompanied by a photo of the new bins, garnered hundreds of likes but also drew sharp criticism in replies, with users questioning why she wasn’t focusing on crime instead.

Sanitation Department Clarifies Efforts

DSNY confirmed to reporters that 48 missing trash baskets were replaced between 82nd and 111th Streets as part of routine maintenance across the city, noting that baskets often go missing or sustain damage.

However, Ocasio-Cortez’s office emphasized that the request stemmed directly from a summer roundtable discussion with business owners, who identified sanitation as a top concern.

Critics, including Republican City Council candidate Ramses Frias, dismissed the effort as superficial.

“Celebrating garbage cans is like putting sprinkles on s–t and calling it a birthday cake,” Frias said.

“It’s all for show.”

Rosa Sanchez, president of the Restore Roosevelt Avenue Coalition, echoed this sentiment, stating she has rarely seen Ocasio-Cortez in the community beyond parades and stressing the need for focus on “bigger issues” like prostitution and gang activity.

Social media reactions on platforms like Facebook and X amplified these views, with users like John Lomonaco asking, “That’s all you’re worried about on Roosevelt Ave?”

AOC’s Broader Efforts Defended

Ocasio-Cortez’s defenders point to her broader track record.

Her office highlighted that she has requested $500,000 in federal funding for nonprofits aiding victims of sexual violence, a direct response to exploitation issues in the area.

This aligns with her past advocacy for decriminalizing sex work, which she frames as protecting workers from violence rather than endorsing the industry.

Additionally, Ocasio-Cortez has secured funding for violence prevention programs in Queens, such as nearly $400,000 in 2022 for Jacobi Hospital’s Stand Up to Violence initiative, which supports mental health services for at-risk individuals.

Community stakeholders acknowledge that while trash cans address immediate sanitation woes—exacerbated by illegal vending—they don’t solve underlying problems.

“We need more sanitation workers or overtime for the ones we have,” posted Queens resident John McGarry on a local Facebook group, sharing photos of overflowing bins.

Advocates like those in the Restore Roosevelt Coalition continue to push for comprehensive reforms, including stronger law enforcement partnerships and resources for migrant support to curb exploitation.

Looking Ahead for Roosevelt Avenue

As debates rage, Roosevelt Avenue remains a microcosm of urban challenges in New York City, where small wins like cleaner streets collide with demands for systemic change.

Ocasio-Cortez’s office did not respond to additional requests for comment, but her actions suggest a multifaceted approach, even as constituents urge greater visibility and urgency on crime.

With federal funding requests pending and local operations like Restore Roosevelt potentially expanding, the avenue’s future hinges on collaboration across government levels.

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