New York City merchants have criticized the sudden rise of immigrants blatantly running illegal street markets, including flogging stolen goods and prostitution.
Milton Reyes, manager of Mi Farmacia, whose store is located along Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights, Queens, told DailyMail.com that these illegal vendors are a nuisance – they smoke, drink, leave trash – and denounced the situation. of control.’
He said: “It started with one or two sporadic guys and now it’s so bad you can’t cross the road.” The random neighbors. Stores being looted.
“We’re having problems with prostitutes, problems with people who don’t feel safe, can’t cross the street, can’t visit their doctors’ offices.”
The pharmacy is located on the same street as some doctors’ offices, a health clinic and discount stores, but when the illegal street market opens it goes “unruly.”
Milton Reyes (pictured), manager of Mi Farmacia located along Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights, said these illegal vendors “will sell anything they can sell.”
Illegal vendors are on the streets of Roosevelt Avenue and one vendor, wearing a black mask over his head, loads his wares, including speakers and electronic equipment, into a cart.
Black garbage bags, toaster ovens and electronic equipment litter the corner of Jackson Heights street.
Reyes said: ‘They start at 8 in the morning and stay until dark, all day, every day, selling anything from pots and pans, clothes and shoes, to electronics and electrical equipment.
“To be honest, I don’t know where they get this merchandise; they’ll sell anything they can sell.”
The situation, he predicts, will get worse as the climate gets warmer. “Eventually they will be on both sides of the streets in every direction.”
“I understand that coming to a country like this is not easy, but you are also infringing on the rights of other people who live here and pay taxes; it is not fair.”
He said some of them are against the store windows and are playing loud music and “smoking marijuana right in front of the pharmacy all day.”
‘I have to tell them not to sit there and put merchandise there. I have to tell them ‘please turn down the music, this is a business’.
Reyes said he sometimes feels insecure. He added: “Sometimes suppliers 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 comfortable and safe.”
When he asked them to leave, he said some listen but others, ‘look at each other like, “this is a free country, I’ll do whatever I want.”
Further down the avenue there was a police van and a police car drove by, but there weren’t any street cops walking by when they were there.
Reyes said: ‘The police will come by from time to time and pick up some of the vendors, 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 affects their businesses and their employees.
Lot-Less is one of the stores located on Roosevelt under the train trestle.
He said many of the older people, who use canes and walkers and takeCar services cannot be left in front of medical officials.
‘Where are you going to cross the street?’ he said. “We’re talking about seniors with canes and walkers.”
Reyes said that the prostitutes, at first, were in Roosevelt, but after the police repression the stores were closed. But he said: “Prostitution has increased again.”
The pharmacist said: “I’m not sure they are all immigrants, but where did these women suddenly come from? Sometimes that’s the easiest way to make money.”
Claudia Cañizlez, manager of the discount store at Lot-Less on the corner of 91st and Roosevelt Avenue, said the illegal market affects her business and her employees.
‘It bothers me because it takes away business from us. They sell it cheaper than in 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 20 years, sell used clothes and shoes on the same street – and have to compete with these sellers who sell stolen goods.
“We’re the ones who pay the rent, we pay the taxes and the rent and we pay people to work, but if customers aren’t coming in, then we have to cut their hours because there’s no sales, all for this reason.”
He said some of the items for sale look like they belong at a garage sale, but some clothes are name-brand products that still have tags, like those shoppers would see at stores like Macy’s, JC Penney and Target. .
Loss of business is not their only complaint. It is also the garbage that remains.
One woman, who did not want to be identified but lives nearby, called it a “disaster.”
Cañizlez said the street is “narrow, congested and difficult to walk” when vendors are outside.
She said: “Doctors will tell you they are having problems because their patients can’t come because they are locked out and their appointments are 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, Cañizlez said many of them did not show up today, most likely because work was being done on one of the buildings.
Two men, Rafael and Carlos, sell used clothing and shoes on Roosevelt and 91 Avenue. The couple has been in the country for more than 20 years.
Speaking through a translator, they told DailyMail.com that they are there to work to support their families, but now they have noor compete for business and share the street with the new wave of immigrants.