Pharmacists and shopkeepers in NYC blast sudden explosion of migrants openly operating illegal street market for stolen goods and prostitution
Shopkeepers in New York City have criticized the sudden increase in migrants openly operating illegal street markets, including peddling stolen goods and prostitution.
Milton Reyes, the manager at 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 — smoke, drink, leave trash — and called the situation out. of control.’
He said: ‘It started with one or two guys sporadically and now it’s so bad you can’t cross the street. The Random Neighbors. The shops are being gutted.
“We have problems with prostitutes, problems with people who don’t feel safe, can’t cross the street, can’t visit their doctor’s offices.”
The pharmacy is on the same street as some doctors’ 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 ‘want to sell anything they can sell’
Illegal vendors are out on the streets of Roosevelt Avenue with one seller – wearing a black face mask over his head – loading up his wares, including speakers and electronic equipment, onto a trolley
Black garbage bags, toasters and electronic equipment dumped on the corner of Jackson Heights street
Reyes said: ‘They start at 8 in the morning and stay until dusk – all day – every day – selling everything from pots and pans, clothes and shoes to electronics and power equipment.
‘To be honest with you, I don’t know where they’re going to get these items – they’re going to sell whatever they can sell.’
The situation, he predicts, will worsen as the weather warms. ‘Eventually they will be on both sides of the streets all the way around.’
‘I understand that it is not easy to come to a country like this, but you are also violating the rights of other people who live here and pay taxes – it is not fair.’
He said some of them stand up in the shop windows blasting music and ‘smoking weed right in front of the pharmacy all day long’.
‘I have to tell them not to sit there and place items there. I have to tell them ‘turn the music down, it’s a business’.
Reyes said at times he feels insecure. He added: ‘Sometimes sellers argue about where to set up – it’s unruly you don’t want a customer to feel uncomfortable spending money in your business, you want them to feel good fit and feel safe.
When he tells them to leave, he said some listen, but others, ‘look at you like, “this is a free country, I’ll do what I want.”
There was a police car stationed further down the Avenue and a police car drove by – but there were no street officers walking around when they were there.
Reyes said: ‘The police will come by from time to time, they will pick up some of the sellers, but fifteen minutes later they will set up again. It hasn’t gotten worse’.
Claudia Canizlez, manager of the discount store at Lot-Less on the corner of 91st. and Roosevelt Avenue said the illegal market is affecting their business and its employees
Lot-Less is one of the stores located on Roosevelt under the train trestle
He said that many of the older people who use canes and walkers and thank youCar services are not able to be dropped off in front of the doctors.
“Where are they going to cross the street,” 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 they’re all migrants, but where did these women suddenly come from – sometimes it’s the easiest way for them to make money.’
Claudia Canizlez, manager of discount store Lot-Less at the corner of 91st and Roosevelt Avenue, said the illegal market is affecting her business and its employees.
‘It upsets me because it takes business away from us. They sell it cheaper than the shops and people will buy it from outside instead of coming in.
Rafael (left) and Carlos (right), who have lived in the country for more than 20 years, sell used clothes and used shoes on the same street – and have to compete with these sellers who sell stolen goods
“We’re the ones paying the rent, paying the taxes and rent and paying people to work, but if customers don’t come in, then we have to cut their hours because the sales aren’t there – all because of this.”
She said some of the items for sale look like they belong at a yard sale, but some of the clothes are name-brand items that still have tags on them — just like what shoppers would see at stores like Macy’s, JC Penney and Target.
The loss of business 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, congested and difficult to walk’ when the vendors are out.
She said: ‘Doctors will tell you they’re having problems because their patients can’t get in because they’re blocked, so their appointments are being cancelled.’
On Sunday, The New York Post showed photos of many of the illegal vendors selling used clothes, used shoes, power tools, electronics, microwave ovens.
However, Canizlez said many of them did not show up today, probably because work was being done on one of the buildings.
Two men, Rafael and Carlos, sell used clothes and used shoes at Roosevelt and 91 Avenue. The couple has been in the country for more than 20 years.
Speaking through a translator, they told DailyMail.com they are there to work so they can support their families, but now they don’t haveo compete for business and share the street with the new wave of migrants.