Brooklyn’s Penn Track, particularly along Pennsylvania Avenue in East New York, has become a focal point of public safety concerns as residents and elected officials raise alarms over a growing open-air prostitution market.
The surge in prostitution, with scantily dressed sex workers frequently visible near family homes and schools, has led to calls for intensified police intervention to curb the activity and restore neighborhood security.
The increase in visible sex work along Penn Track has drawn significant complaints from residents who have witnessed its impact on the area. According to City Councilman Chris Banks, who represents the area, the problem has been allowed to grow with limited enforcement, leaving residents frustrated and feeling neglected.
Banks has called on the NYPD to bring the same level of enforcement seen on Roosevelt Avenue in Queens, where recent law enforcement efforts have targeted similar issues. “We need the same attention the police department is paying to Roosevelt Avenue to bring it out to East New York… to help address the issue,” Banks told the New York Post.
During a recent visit, the Post observed nearly a dozen women in revealing outfits soliciting along Georgia and Malta Avenues. The activity reportedly slowed traffic as drivers paused to negotiate prices, with some of the women offering secluded areas for privacy. This level of coordination has only heightened concerns over the organized nature of the operation, which appears to be managed by pimps exerting control over the women involved.
Prostitution-related complaints from residents have been on the rise. Councilman Banks noted that had the issue been addressed earlier, it might have prevented the current situation from escalating. However, a lack of response has allowed the problem to “fester” over the past couple of years. Banks suggested that recent legislation targeting hotels that enable illegal activities may assist with some aspects of enforcement, but that immediate and more direct action is needed.
According to NYPD statistics, police have made 18 prostitution-related arrests along the Penn Track as of October 27, including 12 arrests for patronizing prostitutes. This number is similar to the 19 arrests made during the same period in 2023 but marks a notable increase from 2022, when only four such arrests were reported. Although the data indicates some law enforcement activity, the arrest rate has not been sufficient to deter the sex trade or address the residents’ concerns.
Complicating the issue further, local officials and advocates believe that many of the women involved in the local sex trade are migrant women staying in nearby shelters. According to a women’s advocate who spoke anonymously, some of these women are being exploited by organized pimps who control the area and enforce their dominance through threats and violence. The advocate reported that underage girls are also being coerced into the trade, underscoring the severity of the exploitation.
“It’s all pimp-controlled,” the advocate explained, emphasizing the challenges women face if they attempt to work independently. Reports of violent turf battles among rival pimps in the area have added to the concerns, creating an environment that is dangerous not only for the sex workers but also for local residents.
Despite verbal commitments from City Hall and the NYPD to provide additional resources, residents have yet to see a consistent police presence in the area. Councilman Banks and other community leaders report that while approximately 50 officers were deployed along Roosevelt Avenue in Queens two weeks ago, only two officers were observed in the Penn Track area on a recent Wednesday night over a four-hour span. This disparity in law enforcement resources has fueled frustration among residents who feel their concerns are not being prioritized.
An NYPD spokesperson confirmed that patrols are being focused on the Penn Track area and assured the public that the department remains “committed to addressing the issue.” City Hall spokeswoman Kayla Mama reiterated that Mayor Eric Adams has taken a firm stance against the exploitation of women, stating that “lawlessness, particularly the exploitation of women, will not be tolerated or ignored.”
Efforts to discourage potential patrons have also been undertaken, with officers cautioning drivers who slow down in the area. When a Post reporter was mistaken for a potential client, officers in an unmarked sedan warned, “Be careful. You don’t want to be in The Post.”
As the situation unfolds, community leaders, including Councilman Banks, continue to push for a more visible and sustained police presence. With residents calling for immediate action, the spotlight on East New York’s Penn Track underscores the broader public safety and enforcement challenges that persist in New York City’s outer boroughs. Banks and local advocates remain hopeful that a more robust law enforcement response will bring relief to families, schools, and businesses in the area.
1 Comment
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