Mayor Adams, Councilmember Moya Launch Multi-Agency Operation to Address Urgent Public Safety and Quality-of-Life Concerns Along Roosevelt Avenue in Queens

October 15, 2024

Watch the video here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqeWhMZPOlE&t=2s

Led by NYPD, “Operation Restore Roosevelt” Will Focus on Illegal Brothels, Sex Trafficking, Unlicensed Vendors, and Other Quality-of-Life Concerns

Part of Mayor Adams’ “Community Link Initiative,” Intensive Government Response Effort That Has Already Responded to Over 800 Complaints and Conducted Over 600 Operations

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Police Department (NYPD) Interim Commissioner Thomas G. Donlon, and New York City Councilmember Francisco Moya today launched a multi-agency enforcement operation — known as “Operation Restore Roosevelt” — aimed at addressing public safety and quality of life in the Elmhurst, North Corona, and Jackson Heights neighborhoods of Queens. Over the past year, members of the NYPD have been addressing community concerns about prostitution, illegal brothels, unlicensed vendors and food carts, retail theft and the sale of stolen goods, and other quality-of-life offenses. To expand its efforts to address these continuing challenges, the Adams administration is bringing together over a dozen city agencies under the administration’s “Community Link” initiative, a collaborative, sustained, and intensive multi-agency response to address persistent quality-of-life and public safety issues. Additional support from state law enforcement partners to enforce the law and deliver essential services to New Yorkers will be provided. For years, Councilmember Moya has highlighted the quality-of-life issues that have become chronic for many portions of Roosevelt Avenue, advocating for more resources to be deployed to the community to address them.

“Roosevelt Avenue is one of the most diverse avenues in our city — it is home to businesses from all over the world and New Yorkers from all over the world live and raise their families nearby. This road should be the pride of our city, but for too long it has been plagued by persistent public safety and quality-of-life issues. We won’t allow this to continue any longer,” said Mayor Adams. “To tackle these issues, we are launching a multi-agency operation that brings together more than a dozen city agencies with state partners to make sure crime and quality-of-life issues are addressed. Our administration has a clear mission: to make New York a safer, more affordable city, and we will not rest until we have accomplished that mission.”

“Every person who lives and works along the Roosevelt Avenue corridor deserves a clean, safe neighborhood, and that is what this multiagency enforcement operation is going to deliver,” said NYPD Interim Commissioner Donlon. “We are listening to the concerns of this community and finding permanent solutions to longstanding public safety and quality-of-life issues. To do that, we are using the collaborative approach that has led to improved conditions in neighborhoods across our city — and now, with Mayor Adams’ leadership, we are focusing our collective efforts here. It is what the residents and businesses on Roosevelt Avenue rightfully demand, and the NYPD is going to get the job done.”

“I am proud to announce, alongside the administration, the introduction of 'Community Link' to Roosevelt Avenue,” said New York City Councilmember Francisco Moya. “This initiative will ensure that no issues get lost between agencies and that we are all working in tandem to provide the people of my district with the safety and quality of life they deserve. I want to thank Mayor Adams for bringing the necessary resources to our community to make this possible. I remain committed to the Roosevelt Avenue Task Force, which will now function as a reporting mechanism for the 'Community Link' operation, keeping my office informed and focused on effectively addressing the right issues.”

“Addressing the pressing issues on Roosevelt Avenue is a priority for my office," said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. “Nearby families and residents have the right to feel safe in their own neighborhoods. The dedicated multi-agency effort announced today will serve as a strong deterrent for the illegal activity plaguing this area. At the same time, we remain dedicated to connecting those caught in the cycle of prostitution with meaningful services and support while prosecuting the individuals managing and patronizing these illicit establishments.”

The NYPD is running a multi-agency operation that includes:

• Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY)
• Mayor's Office of Community Mental Health (OCMH)
• Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV)
• New York City Department of Buildings (DOB)
• New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
• New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS)
• New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)
• New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks)
• New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY)
• New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS)
• New York City Department of Transportation (DOT)
• Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
• New York State Police (NYSP)
• Queens County District Attorney’s Office

“This administration is proud to take yet another step in ensuring the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers. We are not just responding — we are leading with comprehensive, community-driven solutions that ensure no neighborhood is overlooked or underserved,” said Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack. “Through initiatives like the highly successful 'Community Link,' and now 'Operation Restore Roosevelt,' we’re bringing together an unprecedented multi-agency coalition to directly address the chronic quality-of-life challenges in this area. Together, with our partners, I am confident we will continue to make New York the safest and most resilient big city in the nation.”

“Quality-of-life and public safety have been a top priority for this administration from day one," said Mayor’s Office Community Affairs Unit Commissioner Fred Kreizman. “By launching 'Operation Restore Roosevelt,' which has taken into consideration the concerns of the stakeholders along Roosevelt Avenue, we see Mayor Adams delivering on that once more. Through this collaborative multi-agency initiative, we will ensure that our office will work with the appropriate city agencies to tackle and bring back the quality-of-life that all of Roosevelt Avenue’s residents and businesses deserve.”
“This administration is laser focused on making sure that all New Yorkers not only are safe, but also feel safe — and this multi-agency operation is another example of how we are achieving that mission,” said FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker. “‘Operation Restore Roosevelt’ will address the important quality-of-life issues that have been brought to the administration’s attention by the community and ensure that the businesses along Roosevelt Avenue can thrive for generations to come.”

“'Operation Restore Roosevelt' is a testament to the Adam's administration’s commitment to addressing the complex and interconnected issues that affect these communities," said OCMH Executive Director Eva Wong. “The Mayor's Office of Community Mental Health is pleased to join so many city and state agencies in this coordinated initiative. Together, we can strategize to enhance connections to mental health supports and resources, improving the quality of life for those in need and ensuring that every New Yorker has the opportunity to thrive in a safe and healthy environment.”

“The enforcement of building code regulations is one critical component in promoting greater public safety and maintaining a high quality of living for the public,” said DOB Commissioner Jimmy Oddo. “But many problems in our city are not confined to the jurisdiction of just a single government agency. That is why we are proud to be taking part in ‘Operation Restore Roosevelt,’ which is offering another opportunity for DOB to collaborate directly with many of our sister agencies all at once, to flood the zone on a vital neighborhood and achieve immediate tangible improvements for our fellow New Yorkers. Our ability to serve our fellow New Yorkers is only heightened when city agencies work together as a team.”

“To improve quality of life and ensure public safety, DEP Police and enforcement staff from our Bureau of Environmental Compliance will be joining the multi-agency ‘Operation Restore Roosevelt,’” said New York City Chief Climate Officer and DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “Our trained professionals will be specifically looking for violations, including air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution in the Elmhurst, North Corona, and Jackson Heights neighborhoods of Queens. We are proud to partner on this collaborative enforcement action to address the community’s concerns regarding this problematic area.”

“With the launch of ‘Operation Restore Roosevelt,’ this administration is sending a clear message that public safety is a shared commitment,” said New York City Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “This multi-agency effort reinforces our promise to ensure that our city's public spaces remain safe, vibrant, and welcoming for all.”

“Jackson Heights is home to hard-working people from all over the world, bustling storefronts, and some of the best food on earth,” said DSNY Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “To keep it that way, we have to do everything we can to make Roosevelt Avenue safe and clean. The Department of Sanitation is prepared to work with the NYPD to enforce the law when it comes to vending, dumping, abandoned vehicles, and more.”

“The launch of 'Operation Restore Roosevelt' is proof that small business owners who have sounded the alarm about activity and conditions along the Roosevelt Avenue corridor, have been heard and are supported,” said SBS Commissioner Dynishal Gross. “Whether their concerns are related to impacts on their businesses or activity impacting vulnerable community members, this multi-agency strategy shows that they are not alone. By working strategically and collaboratively across government entities, we will ensure that this historic street is a place where New Yorkers from all walks of life can thrive, open and operate successful businesses, and fully enjoy the rich diversity of a revitalized commercial corridor.” 

“Every New Yorker deserves a neighborhood that is safe, vibrant, and secure,” said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Mayor Adams is bringing together all of the resources of city government to improve safety and quality of life on Roosevelt Avenue, and DOT is a proud partner in this work.”

“The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene looks forward to working with partner agencies to ensure that community livability and individual’s health needs can be addressed,” said DOHMH Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Health Corinne Schiff.

Operation Restore Roosevelt aims to restore safety and order to the area while delivering resources for those impacted by the issues plaguing Roosevelt Avenue. This collaborative approach will utilize the enforcement capabilities of various city agencies. The NYPD will address crime and quality-of-life offenses, including unlicensed vendors, trademark counterfeiting, prostitution, ghost car and moped enforcement, and excessive noise. The DOB will enforce regulations regarding illegal occupancy and obstructed sidewalks. The DOT will enforce dilapidated and out of code dining sheds, while DSNY will address vendor violations and illegal dumping. The FDNY will enforce propane tank and open flame regulations. As part of the operation, NYPD and partners agencies will also identify specific individuals in the area who may need connections to services, such as housing or medical care, and make referrals to the appropriate city agency or service provider.

Today’s announcement adds Roosevelt Avenue to Mayor Adams’ Community Link initiative — launched in 2023 to bring together various city departments and agencies to collaborate with local communities and business leaders as they address complex and often chronic community complaints that require a multi-agency response. Since its inception, Community Link has already convened five community improvement coalitions throughout the five boroughs. Focused in “hot spot” areas, Community Link is active at 125th Street, in the 110th Street Corridor, in Midtown West, on East 14th Street, and in Washington Square Park. Over the last 18 months, Community Link has responded to over 800 complaints and conducted over 600 operations to address quality-of-life concerns raised by the communities they serve.

Today’s announcement also builds on recent achievements in reducing crime across New York City. Last month, the NYPD announced the ninth straight month of declines in overall crime in the five boroughs, with a 3.1 percent drop in major offenses compared to the same month last year.

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