New York City mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa has issued a sharp warning that prostitution and sex trafficking could spread throughout the city if Zohran Mamdani wins the upcoming election. He pointed to Roosevelt Avenue in Queens, often described by locals as the city’s “red-light district,” as proof of what could happen under looser law enforcement.

Sliwa, who leads the Guardian Angels and is running a tough-on-crime campaign, said the growing issue on Roosevelt Avenue is already out of control. According to him, open-air prostitution has become common, with brothels operating behind storefronts and little visible police action. He argued that without strong leadership, “this problem will spread to all 350 neighborhoods in New York City.”

He blamed landlords and pimps for fueling the crisis, saying many property owners knowingly rent space to illegal operations. “They should lose their buildings,” Sliwa said, calling for public exposure of anyone who profits from the sex trade. “We must lock up and shame the johns — that’s how you stop this.”

The Queens community has long raised concerns about the situation on Roosevelt Avenue, where residents report an increase in human trafficking, street solicitation, and safety issues at night. Business owners say the problem hurts local commerce and has made the area unsafe for families.

Sliwa argues that Mamdani’s record shows he would make things worse. As a state assemblyman, Mamdani supported measures that would decriminalize aspects of sex work, a position Sliwa claims would only embolden traffickers and exploiters.

Mamdani, however, has pushed back, saying his goal is to help vulnerable women, not to protect criminals. He says his approach would focus on human-trafficking prevention, economic aid, and social services — not criminalization of sex workers themselves.

The issue took center stage during a recent debate between Mamdani, Sliwa, and Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent. Cuomo stressed the need for balanced law enforcement, while Mamdani emphasized reform and Sliwa called for aggressive crackdowns.

Sliwa also reminded voters of his long history battling street crime, referencing his Guardian Angels work from the 1980s and 1990s. “We cleaned up Times Square once — we can clean up Roosevelt Avenue again,” he said.

Many New Yorkers remain divided. Some back Sliwa’s zero-tolerance approach, saying safety must come first. Others believe heavy policing would only harm the city’s most vulnerable people. Still, both sides agree Roosevelt Avenue has become a symbol of deeper issues tied to public safety, poverty, and leadership.

As election day approaches, the debate is intensifying. Sliwa’s warning that “New York could become a red-light city” has struck a nerve — and could become one of the defining issues in the mayoral race.