Introducing “Fights in the Forgotten Borough”

Fights in the Forgotten Borough takes a closer look at what happened when simmering tensions over the migrant crisis boiled over into explosive protests on Staten Island last fall. The island’s history of feeling marginalized and dumped on by the rest of New York City came to the fore as locals clashed over the use of a former Catholic school as an emergency shelter.

Through first-person accounts from residents and community leaders and a deep dive into the borough’s past, including how Staten Island came to house the largest garbage dump the world has ever seen, this series sets the stage for a broader exploration of how local grievances can reflect national divides.

Listen to episode one now wherever you get your podcasts.