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A Democrat who once supported Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized her for “betraying” her Queens constituents, citing rising crime, open-air prostitution, and unsafe conditions under her leadership.
According to Ramon Ramirez Baez, an author and former Democratic Committeeman for the 39th Assembly District, residents compare Roosevelt Avenue to a Third World country or Bangkok’s red-light district, where illegal vendors crowd the sidewalks to sell unregulated goods and counterfeit items. Baez also mentions that quality of life has declined significantly in the area since Ocasio-Cortez’s 2018 upset victory over longtime Democrat Joe Crowley.
Ramirez Baez recalled Ocasio-Cortez as a promising newcomer in 2018, pledging to work hard for Corona, Jackson Heights, and Elmhurst, unlike 10-term incumbent Joe Crowley, who was focused on becoming House Speaker. With just $39,000 compared to Crowley’s $2 million campaign fund, Ocasio-Cortez sought Baez’s help. Leveraging his local connections, especially among Dominican immigrants, Baez introduced her to business owners, campaigned with her, and funded a debate venue. Crowley’s absence at the debate shifted momentum in Ocasio-Cortez’s favor, proving pivotal to her victory.
“I paid for that debate, I have an invoice for everything I did for Ms. Alexandria,” Ramirez Baez said, showing documents he compiled in books about Ocasio-Cortez. He accused her of being absent and no different from Crowley since gaining power.
“We never saw that lady, never, she disappeared,” he told Fox News Digital. “She [didn’t] do anything for the community, nothing, nothing. She disappeared from my community. You never saw Alexandria in my community, nobody saw her in her office. All the time closed.”
He added: “What happened? You have to be [in the] community to do an event. She never did any event. I never saw Alexandria come to do a town hall meeting, to listen to the community, nothing. She disappeared. She goes all over the place, like a movie star, she goes to Texas, all over the place, but what about the community?”
According to the Fox News Digital report, locals often struggle to contact Ocasio-Cortez, as she seemingly lacks a dedicated Queens office. Her website lists an appointment-only office at the same address as NYC Councilwoman Tiffany Caban’s.
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