THE BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11) -- U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres is demanding New York City do more to combat drug addiction in the South Bronx.
The congressman said the Bronx has become ground zero for the fentanyl crisis and that the borough is entitled to the same public health and public safety as the rest of the city.
Drug users could be seen Friday afternoon on Melrose Avenue, between East 149th and 150th streets.
One Bronx resident expressed dismay at the thought of children seeing the needles and said something should be done about it.
PIX11 News walked around the vibrant neighborhood and observed people injecting themselves with what appeared to be illegal substances. Others were seemingly unconscious.
“An open-air drug market right here in the hub, which is the economic beating heart of the South Bronx,” Torres said.
Earlier this week, Torres sent a letter to Mayor Eric Adams calling on the city to do something.
“If we were in the Upper East Side or Upper West Side of Manhattan, the city of New York would never allow an open-air drug market to flourish, so why should we in the Bronx be treated any differently?” Torres said.
Business owners like Ali are also feeling the impact. He said customers are afraid to come in. He shared pictures of what he claims he deals with on a regular basis outside of his clothing store.
“We called 911 many times. They come up, they kick them. After the police leave, 5-10 minutes, they just come back. I think they need to have somebody here just to stay, don’t let them back in,” said Ali.
“Most of us in the Bronx have compassion for drug users who are struggling with fentanyl addiction. But there is nothing remotely compassionate or progressive about allowing those drugs users to languish and die on the streets. That’s not compassion, that’s cruelty, and it is cruel to them and to the rest of us subject to those conditions," said Torres.
PIX11 News asked Torres if he has heard back from the mayor. He said the response he got was, "We look forward to working with the congressman and partnering with him.”
Torres concluded: “What we need is not partnership. What we need is leadership. He is the mayor. He has the authority to deploy health and police officials to dismantle this open-air drug market and connect these drug users to critically needed anti-addiction services.”
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