QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) – Women on sidewalks soliciting for sex and storefronts used as brothels.
PIX11 News reporter Eileen Lehpamer saw both signs as she walked an area of Roosevelt Avenue near Elmhurst Avenue with Ramon Ramirez Baez of "Let's Improve Roosevelt Avenue" on Thursday night.
Ramirez Baez estimated that 35 to 50 brothels are operating in the area.
"We have places open in the community; everybody knows that, "Baez said.
On Wednesday night, the NYPD raided a storefront that was being used as an alleged brothel on Case Street off Roosevelt Avenue. A small door was cut out of the roll-down gate to allow quick access into the building. Three people were arrested.
37-year-old Dipesh Shinde and 32-year-old Victor Velasquez were both 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.
Monserrate tells PIX11 News, "None 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."
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