NYC pharmacists and shopkeepers blast sudden explosion of migrants who are flagrantly running illegal street market for stolen goods and prostitution
Shopkeepers in New York City have condemned the sudden increase in migrants blatantly running illegal street markets, including flogging stolen goods and prostitution.
Milton Reyes, the manager of Mi Farmacia, whose store is located along the Roosevelt Avenue strip in Jackson Heights, Queens, told DailyMail.com that these illegal vendors are a nuisance – smoking, drinking, littering – and called out the situation. of control.’
He said: ‘It started with one or two boys and now it’s so bad you can’t cross the street. The random neighbors. The shops are looted.
“We have problems with prostitutes, problems with people who don’t feel safe, can’t cross the street, can’t visit their doctor’s office.”
The pharmacy is located on the same street as some medical offices, a health clinic and discount stores, but when the illegal street market opens, it becomes ‘unruly’.
Milton Reyes (pictured), manager at Mi Farmacia, located along the Roosevelt Avenue strip in Jackson Heights, said these illegal vendors will “sell whatever they can sell.”
Illegal vendors have taken to the streets of Roosevelt Avenue, with one vendor β wearing a black face mask over his head β loading his goods, including speakers and electronic equipment, onto a cart
Black trash bags, toaster ovens and electronic equipment are thrown away at the corner of Jackson Heights street
Reyes said, βThey start at 8 a.m. and stay until sunset – all day – every day – selling everything from pots and pans, clothes and shoes to electronics and electrical equipment.
βTo be honest, I don’t know where they get this merchandise; they will sell everything they can sell.β
He predicts the situation will worsen as the weather warms. “They end up being on opposite sides of the street, all the way around.”
“I understand it’s not easy to come to a country like this, but you’re also infringing on the rights of other people who live here and pay taxes – it’s not fair.”
He said some of them stand against the store windows and play music all day and “smoke weed right in front of the pharmacy.”
βI have to tell them not to sit there and put merchandise there. I have to tell them, ‘Please turn the music down, this is a case.’
Reyes said he sometimes feels unsafe. He added: ‘Sometimes the sellers argue about where to locate – it’s unmanageable that you don’t want a customer to feel uncomfortable spending money in your business, you want them to feel comfortable and feel safe.
When he asked them to leave, he said some listen, but others say, “Look at you, this is a free country, I will do whatever I want.”
There was a police van further down the Avenue and a police car drove by, but there were no street officers walking around when they were there.
Reyes said, βThe police come by every now and then to pick up some vendors, but fifteen minutes later they’re up all over again. It hasn’t gotten any worse.’
Claudia Canizlez, manager of a discount store at Lot-Less on the corner of 91st. and Roosevelt Avenue said the illegal market is impacting their business and its employees
Lot-Less is one of the shops on Roosevelt under the train trestle
He said many elderly people use canes, walkers and branchese-car services cannot be dropped off in front of the medical officers.
βWhere are they going to cross the street,β he said. “We’re talking about elderly people with canes and walkers.”
Reyes said the prostitutes were initially on Roosevelt, but after the police crackdown, the shops were closed. But he said: ‘Prostitution has escalated again.’
The pharmacist said: ‘I’m not sure if they are all migrants, but where did these women suddenly come from? Sometimes that’s the easiest way they can make money.β
Claudia Canizlez, manager of a discount store at Lot-Less at the corner of 91st and Roosevelt Avenue, said the illegal market is impacting their business and its employees.
βIt upsets me because it takes business away from us. They sell it cheaper than in the stores, and people buy it from outside instead of coming in.
Rafael (left) and Carlos (right), who have lived in the country for more than twenty years, sell used clothes and used shoes on the same street and have to compete with these sellers who sell stolen goods
βWe are the ones who pay the rent, pay taxes and rent and pay people to work, but when no customers come in, we have to cut their hours because there is no turnover β all because of this.β
She said some of the items for sale look like they belong at a garage sale, but some of the clothing is name-brand merchandise that still has tags attached β like what shoppers would see at stores like Macy’s, JC Penney and Target. .
The loss of sales is not her only complaint. It is also the waste that is left behind.
A woman, who did not want to be identified but lives nearby, called it a “disaster.”
Canizlez said the street is “narrow, busy and difficult to navigate” when the vendors are gone.
She said: ‘The doctors will tell you they are having problems because their patients can’t come because they are blocked and their appointments are being cancelled.’
On Sunday, The New York Post showed photos of many of the illegal vendors selling used clothing, used shoes, power tools, electronics and microwaves.
However, Canizlez said many of them probably didn’t show up today because work was being done on one of the buildings.
Two men, Rafael and Carlos, sell used clothing and used shoes on Roosevelt and 91 Avenue. The pair have been in the country for more than twenty years.
Through a translator, they told DailyMail.com that they are there to work so they can support their families, but now they have too compete for business and share the streets with the new wave of migrants.