Residents of Queens and the Bronx are voicing growing frustration with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, saying she has become increasingly disconnected from the local community that elected her.
According to several constituents, basic services at her district offices have become difficult to access. One office is only open one day a week, the other is closed on Fridays, and phone calls often go unanswered. Locals say they’re asked to make appointments just to speak with someone about issues that matter to them—ranging from public safety to jobs and local traffic.
Town halls, once a monthly occurrence, are now rare, and when held, some say they’re brief and impersonal. At a recent event in Jackson Heights, attendees said Rep. Ocasio-Cortez took only six questions before leaving early. The event had already been postponed once due to illness.
Many constituents feel that she has shifted focus to national issues, leaving local concerns behind. Some point to a perceived lack of support after Hurricane Ida and ongoing pandemic challenges in New York City, while also noting that she previously gained national attention for raising funds for Texans affected by a winter storm in 2021.
More recently, residents say her response to the federal government’s decision to cancel $200 million in climate resilience funding—which would have supported flood protection in parts of Queens—was minimal.
Some community members also raised concerns about her recent public support for causes outside her district, while their own local problems remain unaddressed.
“She’s more focused on the spotlight than on us,” said one longtime resident. “We just want her to show up and listen.”
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