For all her fame in Washington and flair for grabbing national headlines, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is facing backlash from the very people who sent her to Congress. Many in her Queens district say they’ve had enough—and some are even warning her seat may not be safe much longer.

In her latest constituent newsletter, AOC informed residents how to update their passport’s gender marker—a move that didn’t sit well with locals watching their neighborhood crumble under drugs, gangs, and prostitution. Her critics say she’s prioritizing fringe progressive causes while ignoring basic public safety issues.

“She’s not here when it matters,” said Rosa Sanchez, who leads the Restore Roosevelt Avenue Coalition. Sanchez, along with other local business owners and residents, says violent crime and organized criminal activity have spiraled out of control, especially along Roosevelt Avenue—now nicknamed “The Market of Sweethearts” due to the visible prostitution problem.

What they want from AOC is simple: show up and do something.

“We are more focused on the bigger issues,” Sanchez told the New York Post. “We need our congresswoman’s help to stop crime, drugs, gangs, sex trafficking. I would love for her to address these issues.”

The area has become a hotspot for criminal activity, much of it linked to the 18th Street Gang, which has reportedly turned parts of Queens into a no-go zone. The gang has been indicted for beatings, stabbings, drug and weapons trafficking, fake passports, and even extorting local businesses for “rent.” And according to law enforcement, the crisis has been fueled by the massive surge of illegal immigrants pouring into New York over the last two years.

Since AOC entered Congress in 2019, violent crime in parts of her district has surged by as much as 70%—more than double the overall citywide increase. That’s not just a stat—it’s a red flag to many voters who feel left behind while their congresswoman chases a national spotlight.

Residents say she’s more likely to be found on MSNBC or protesting outside an ICE detention center than addressing the decay in her own backyard.

There was no mention of Roosevelt Avenue in her most recent newsletter. Instead, AOC highlighted a program bringing Vaughn College into the FAA’s Air Traffic Training Initiative. She also touted gender marker changes for passports—a topic that struck many as tone-deaf.

The same newsletter failed to mention that a stretch of her district is overwhelmed by open-air illegal activity. The prostitution trade thrives in broad daylight. Counterfeit goods are sold on sidewalks. Families avoid certain blocks altogether. And criminal gangs are seizing control.

To her credit, AOC did attend a community meeting in July to discuss street vendors, but locals say it’s not enough. A few words about sidewalks won’t cut it when people are getting stabbed, extorted, and trafficked right outside their businesses.

She may still be a media darling to the left, but back home, her image is wearing thin. Some residents remember when she flaunted the beat-up shoes she wore while ousting Joe Crowley in 2018. Now, they say, someone else might be lacing up a fresh pair of campaign sneakers—with her seat in mind.

Even in deep-blue New York, there’s only so much crime and chaos voters can take before they demand change. AOC might be learning that lesson the hard way.