Heroin Floods Bronx Street; Resembles NY of the ’80’s

Despite its lovely name, Valentine Ave. in the Bronx is one of the worst drug spots in the city, so notorious that the U.S. drug czar brought along six bodyguards when he visited in June.

A two-block stretch of Valentine, just steps from the historic cottage where Edgar Allan Poe lived, has come to resemble Washington Heights 20 years ago.

The summer brought relentless stabbings, gunfire, street robberies and gang activity to the avenue and surrounding streets.