Residents Demand More from AOC Amid Growing Neighborhood Issues

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D–NY) has spent the past few months raising her national profile through rallies, speeches, and her high-profile “Fight the Oligarchy” tour alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders.

But while her political star rises on the national stage, her constituents at home in New York are growing increasingly frustrated — and crime statistics in her district are making headlines.

According to data reported by The New York Post, major crime has surged by more than 70% in the areas Ocasio-Cortez represents — parts of Queens and the Bronx — since she first took office in 2019.

That includes incidents of murder, rape, robbery, felony assault, burglary, grand larceny, and auto theft.

📍 Precincts See Alarming Crime Spikes

In the 110th Precinct in Queens, which includes parts of Roosevelt Avenue — an area known for longstanding concerns about human trafficking and street crime — major crime jumped a staggering 105%, the highest increase in the entire city during that time frame.

Nearby in the 115th Precinct, crime was up 85%, according to NYPD statistics reviewed by The Post.

💬 Voters Say They’re Fed Up

Local residents say the rise in crime is eroding their quality of life — and they feel abandoned by their representative.

“She’s not doing anything for us,” said Guadalupe Alvarez, a former supporter of Ocasio-Cortez who lives in Elmhurst. “She doesn’t live in the neighborhood. She doesn’t care.”

Alvarez, who said she once dreamed of raising a family in the area, now plans to move. “It makes me so sad. They’ve pushed us out of our own neighborhood. I could never have a family here.”

She also claimed that she attempted to ask Ocasio-Cortez about rising crime at a town hall event but was brushed off and redirected to an aide.

👮 Concerns Over Police and Public Safety

Critics say Ocasio-Cortez’s progressive stance on policing, including her vocal support for defunding law enforcement, may be contributing to the unease many residents now feel.

“Nobody wants to be a police officer anymore — they’ve been villainized,” said Hannah Meyers, Director of Policing and Public Safety at the Manhattan Institute. “And that affects every function the police do.”

Meyers also pointed out that many crime victims in the district are Black and Hispanic, and that rhetoric about systemic racism may not help those communities feel safer.

“She has such a narrow focus on race,” Meyers added. “You’re not helping the victims of crime by ignoring their need for safety.”

🚨 Community Voices Demand Action

Others echoed the concern. Republican City Council candidate Ramses Frias told The Post: “You have a voice. You have a mouth to speak up. People are scared to go outside.”

Betsy Brantner Smith, a spokesperson for the National Police Association, also criticized the disconnect between AOC’s national image and the situation on the ground.

“She says she’s for the people, but the people in her district don’t feel safe,” Smith said. “And if you don’t feel safe, you’re not free.”

✅ Conclusion:
As Rep. Ocasio-Cortez looks to expand her political future, frustrations back home are growing louder. With crime rising and public safety becoming a top concern, her next challenge may not be in Washington — but right in her own backyard.