Rockaway Beach was once a popular seaside resort with a small permanent population. Shortly after World War Ii, large parts of this narrow peninsula between the ocean and the bay became one of New York City's worst slums. This book is an illuminating account of this transformation, exploring issues of race, class, and social policy and offering a significant revision of the larger story of New York City's development. In particular, some of the negative assessments of Robert Moses, suggesting that the "Power Broker" was responsible for many positive initiatives affecting Rockaway.