Northeast
AOC played video game with Walz as constituents protested against prostitution in her 'Third World' district
At the exact time Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., was live-streaming her “Madden” NFL video game session with vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, on Twitch, her constituents were taking to the streets to protest rampant illegal prostitution and crime in the neighborhood she represents.
The progressive “Squad” member was slammed by fellow Democrat politician Hiram Monserrate for playing the video game on the streaming service Sunday afternoon while residents from her district held a rally calling for their community to be cleaned up.
“We need advocates not gamers,” Monserrate, a former New York state senator who is running for State Assembly, told Fox News Digital.
The Queens neighborhood is well known as a “Red Light” district, with some residents comparing the unsanitary and seedy conditions to a “Third World” country. Organizers of the rally say the area is “under criminal siege” while protesters carried signs reading, “children should not be exposed to prostitution,” and, “save our community.”
Ocasio-Cortez and Walz jumped on the streaming service during NFL Sunday games to secure more support from male voters before Election Day. Both were scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. Sunday.
DEMOCRAT POL CHASED AWAY IN AOC’S ‘RED LIGHT’ DISTRICT AFTER BACKING POLICE CRACKDOWN ON OPEN-AIR PROSTITUTION
A woman at the rally holding a sign against prostitution, left. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., live-streaming her “Madden” NFL video game with vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., on Twitch Sunday, top right. A sex worker in Ocasio-Cortez’s district last month, bottom right. (Ramses Frias | Twitch | Michael Dorgan/Fox News Digital)
“Shame on any of the elected who did not show to the public safety rally nor advocated against the failed policies like defending the police which have proven catastrophic to our community,” Monserrate told Fox News Digital.
The gathering – which brought together local leaders, residents, merchants and clergy members – sought to draw attention to crime in the neighborhood and show support for a police clampdown on the illegal activity called “Operation Restore Roosevelt.” The operation aims to crack down on miscreant behavior over the next few weeks with more than 200 extra police officers deployed to the area, including state troopers. The demonstration was organized by Monserrate and the local advocacy group Let’s Improve Roosevelt Ave. Coalition.
Sex workers have been known to line the streets while illegal vendors clog sidewalks selling hot food and assorted merchandise. Several other raids have taken place since the operation went into effect two weeks ago.
Demonstrators say they want the extra boots on the ground to be a permanent fixture in the area. Monserrate says that well over 300 people attended the rally in Queens where they demanded a two-mile strip of Roosevelt Avenue be cleaned up.
SOCIALIST GROUP IN AOC DISTRICT BLASTS POLICE CRACKDOWN IN HER CRIME-RIDDEN AREA
Last month, Fox News Digital cameras recorded a line of at least 19 alleged sex workers scantily-clad on a sidewalk on one block along Roosevelt Avenue. Around the corner, there were at least seven others, and a woman on the next block was witnessed offering sex for $60.
Fox News Digital even recorded an alleged sex worker and her client emerging from a well-known brothel that has been raided at least twice in recent weeks. The rally took place just feet from that location.
WATCH: Democrat politician chased away in AOC’s district after backing police crackdown on open-air prostitution
“The Roosevelt Avenue Corridor was under criminal siege where various organized crime entities, drug rings, human traffickers, pimps, prostitutes, and shoplifting syndicates operated with impunity. Roosevelt Avenue had become an Urban Crime Zone,” the group said in a press release.
The rally came just days after Monserrate was chased out of a public square in the neighborhood while he was speaking to the press while a demonstration in favor of prostitution and illegal vending was taking place.
“Understand this, organized crime is running a multimillion-dollar operation of human and drug trafficking,” Monserrate said. “That is what we have here on Roosevelt Avenue! 911 Alert to all governing. We will tirelessly defend this community and call out those who oppose a better and safer community for all.”
The Roosevelt Avenue strip is represented by “Squad” member Ocasio-Cortez and fellow Democrat Rep. Grace Meng. Ocasio-Cortez and Meng did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the rally. Monserrate said neither Meng nor Ocasio-Cortez have responded to his requests to attend rallies to clean up the streets of Roosevelt Avenue.
Protesters are holding signs against prostitution. (Provided by Hiram Monserrate)
The battle between sex workers and illegal vendors on one hand, and law and order proponents on the other, has been brewing in the neighborhood for years.
Many sex workers and illegal vendors who operate in the area are migrants. With limited English and difficulty accessing legitimate work, they say they are forced onto the streets to survive and maintain that what they do does not hurt anybody.
WATCH: Curtis Sliwa, local activist blast rampant prostitution on NYC streets, AOC’s district:
Other residents say that conditions have deteriorated, and their neighborhood is almost unrecognizable.
Ramses Frías, a local activist and city council candidate, said locals have the right to live in a safe neighborhood without the fear of crime and prostitution.
“It all has to end, this area is built on the backs of strong families. Individuals, immigrants that came here, did things correctly and are fighting now to make sure that we are safe and we are good.”
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Boston, MA
Duck parades, outdoor drinking, and Gronk in a kilt. Here’s how Friday’s World Cup festivities unfolded. – The Boston Globe
Despite concerns about transportation and crowd management, the region’s biggest World Cup day yet appeared to unfold largely without major problems.
Morocco fans, many of whom celebrated on Shirley Avenue in Revere, rejoiced after their win against Scotland.
“We’re going to go very far in this World Cup,” predicted David Lalou, a Moroccan fan from Casablanca who saw the game live.
Here’s how Friday’s festivities unfolded.
The drinks continued flowing
Mayor Michelle Wu announced Thursday that in two zones in the city – the Temple Place Social District and the Union-Marshall Street district – it would be legal for patrons to consume alcohol outdoors.
The measure took effect Friday, and by game time the two zones had quickly become lively block parties, complete with live music and hearty Scottish accents.
Zachary Lobel, 22, of Newton, and Ruairidh Davidson, 24, of Inverness, Scotland, independently brought their bagpipes to Union Street. The pair found each other, and a crowd of people gathered to watch them play.
George Comeau, a senior event manager with the Downtown Boston Alliance, organized the outdoor alcohol consumption zone on Temple Place. He estimated at 6:30 p.m. that 4,000 fans were watching the Scotland-Morocco game from the party there.
On the Common, a free watch party attracted fans of every competing team.
Stan Abraham, 38, of Jamaica Plain, came with friends to support Haiti in its match against Brazil.
“I just got to be around my people, around the energy,” he said.

Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey, who is up for reelection this year, shook hands and posed for pictures with gleeful Scottish fans outside The Dubliner, the popular Government Center bar.
“I would’ve said it was impossible to drink Boston dry, but clearly [the Scots] are here and they are testing the capacity of the city to serve them,” Markey said. “It’s just a happy week.”

In the Boston Public Market, which extended its hours for FIFA Fan Fest, thirsty Scottish fans did just that, lining up through the narrow Boston Beer Alley, their arms filled with as much alcohol as they could carry.
“I don’t think we’ll last all night,” said owner Dawa Sangpo.
Also in the Public Market were Moroccan fans, many of whom frequented Mo’Rockin Fusion, a fast-casual restaurant where the food is inspired by owner Morad Bouzidi’s childhood in Morocco.
“It’s 100 percent the Moroccan experience,” Bouzidi said.
Yes, the World Cup is in Boston, but, like, not actually in Boston.
As was the case before last week’s game, South Station was packed, but some fans reported an easier commuting experience this time and Globe reporters observed a quick-moving queue.
“I had a pretty smooth experience,” said James Pennie, who is visiting from Vancouver but is originally from Scotland.
Near 3 p.m., as a final few fans jogged through the queue to enter South Station, MBTA employees yelled out encouragement.
“No Scotland, no party!” they said.
Richard Sullivan, the Transit Police superintendent, said the fans were “a very orderly crew.” The MBTA sold over 19,000 tickets to and from Foxborough as of 3 p.m. Friday.
“The queues were very minimal,” said Phil Eng, the MBTA’s general manager. “We got everyone through.”
But not everyone took the commuter rail. A Globe photographer witnessed a convoy of 12 school buses, packed to the brim with Scottish fans, pulling into South Bay to pick up online alcohol orders, before going on to Foxborough.
A duck ? Leading a parade? And what was that about Gronk?
Patriots legends Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman appeared on Fox’s pregame show wearing kilts, accompanied by a man playing bagpipes.
Edelman and Gronkowski applauded the Scots’ drinking prowess after they drank some Boston bars out of beer over the last week.
“The last time it happened was after we won the Super Bowl in 2015 against the Seattle Seahawks,” quipped Gronkowski.
And in Providence, a famous duck named Dawn led Scottish fans on a very orderly march. In a video shared on Dawn’s Tiktok page, the little creatures waddles forwards, a small Scottish flag on its back, while leagues of kilted men with bagpipes march behind it.
Jessica Rinaldi, Omar Mohammed, and Amin Touri of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Globe correspondents Ariela Lopez, Aayushi Datta, Lauren Albano, Audrey Tomlin, Jaden Perry, and Emily Spatz also contributed.
Truman Dickerson can be reached at truman.dickerson@globe.com.
Pittsburg, PA
Analysis: Most Pittsburgh‑area communities are losing residents — here’s why that might be OK
Connecticut
Diesel fuel spill shuts two lanes on I-91 north in Wethersfield
WETHERSFIELD, Conn. (WFSB) – A tractor trailer’s diesel fuel saddle tank ruptured on I-91 north between exits 25 and 27, state police said.
Approximately 25 to 30 gallons of fuel was released to the road surface, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. No ground soil or waterways were involved, DEEP said.
The two right lanes were closed, according to the state Department of Transportation.
No other vehicles were involved and no injuries were reported, state police said.
Wethersfield Fire Department solidified the diesel fuel on the ground surface with Speedy Dry, DEEP said. An environmental cleanup contractor was en route for cleanup.
Copyright 2026 WFSB. All rights reserved.
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