Editing Broad Channel, Queens (section)

==History==

=== Early settlement ===
[[File:Gateway National Recreation Area Jamaica Bay Unit map.jpg|thumb|A map of the Jamaica Bay Unit of [[Gateway National Recreation Area]].  The Broad Channel community is depicted in yellow on the largest island located within the [[Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge]] section.]]

Prior to European settlement, the Jameco and Canarsie bands of [[Lenape]] Native Americans frequented this area. During the 17th century, Dutch settlers established a community on the island and began harvesting oysters, clams, shrimp, and fish.<ref name=":0" /> The name "Broad Channel" itself originally referred to a channel in [[Jamaica Bay]], within which the island is located.<ref name="Black1981">{{cite report|last=Black|first=Frederick R.|date=1981|title=Jamaica Bay: A History|url=https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/gate/jamaica_bay_hrs.pdf|url-status=live|publisher=[[United States Department of the Interior]], [[National Park Service]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205130111/https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/gate/jamaica_bay_hrs.pdf|archive-date=February 5, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref>{{Rp|56}}

Until the [[American Civil War]], most of Jamaica Bay's islands east of [[Bergen Island]] and [[Barren Island, Brooklyn|Barren Island]] were not inhabited, including Broad Channel. The boundary line between the towns of [[Flatlands, Brooklyn]], and [[Jamaica, Queens]], ran through Jamaica Bay, cutting through Broad Channel, though the island was mostly part of Jamaica. After 1865, fisheries were developed in the bay, and by the late 1870s, the town of Jamaica indicated that structures had been built in the bay without the town's permission.<ref name="Black1981" />{{Rp|56}}

The [[Long Island Rail Road]] built its [[Rockaway Beach Branch]] across the bay in 1880, cutting through Broad Channel.<ref>{{cite news|date=August 23, 1880|title=To Rockaway|page=4|work=[[Brooklyn Daily Eagle]]|url=https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/50504650/|via=[[Newspapers.com]] {{open access}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=August 26, 1880|title=Developing|page=1|work=[[Brooklyn Daily Eagle]]|url=https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/50504677/|via=[[Newspapers.com]] {{open access}}}}</ref><ref name="opened">{{cite news|date=August 26, 1880|title=Opened|page=4|work=[[Brooklyn Daily Eagle]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]] {{open access}}}}</ref><ref name="route">{{cite news|date=August 29, 1880|title=New Route To Rockaway. Steel Rails And Superior Rolling Stock. Extra Trains To Be Run To-day|language=en-US|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1880/08/29/archives/new-route-to-rockaway-steel-rails-and-superior-rolling-stock-extra.html|url-access=limited|access-date=November 5, 2012|issn=0362-4331|quote=The New-York, Woodhaven and Rockaway Railroad, which began operations on Thursday last, has already grown into popular savor by reason of the comparative shortness of the route and the superior accommodation}}</ref> The presence of the railroad led to the development of fishing villages with shacks, summer homes, boathouses, and stores. As part of the project, some other islands in Jamaica Bay were removed or connected to others.<ref name="Black1981" />{{Rp|56}}

Broad Channel remained a parcel within the town of Jamaica until the [[City of Greater New York]] was created in 1898.<ref name="Black1981" />{{Rp|60}} The northern (and larger) portion of the island is part of [[Gateway National Recreation Area]] and is managed as part of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, the only wildlife refuge managed the [[National Park Service]].<ref>[https://www.nycaudubon.org/events-birding/birding-resources/birding-in-nyc/birding-in-queens/jamaica-bay-wildlife-refuge Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge], [[New York City Audubon]]. Accessed May 30, 2024. "The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is the United States Department of Interior’s only 'wildlife refuge' administered by the National Park Service."</ref> The waters and marsh islands of the refuge entirely surround the community.

===20th century===
[[File:Broad Channel, Queens in 1915.jpg|thumb|Seen in 1915]]

In 1915, the city leased Broad Channel Island, Goose Creek Island, and Raunt Island to Pierre Noel, who subleased it to the Broad Channel Corporation.<ref name="Black1981" />{{Rp|57}} The 30-year lease specified payments of $16.57 per acre for the first three years and a maximum of $33.73 per acre for the last five years of the thirty-year term.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 18, 1916|title=A Loss to City Seen in Lease of Islands; Bureau of Inquiry Says Jamaica Bay Deal Means Millions to Lessee Corporation|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1916/09/18/archives/a-loss-to-city-seen-in-lease-of-islands-bureau-of-inquiry-says.html|access-date=July 12, 2020|issn=0362-4331|page=22}}</ref> The Broad Channel Corporation in turn made 10-year subleases to private individuals for the development of summer bungalows and houses.<ref name=Lorch>{{Cite news|last=Lorch|first=Donatella|date=August 23, 1991|title=Broad Channel Battles On For Its Identity and Wins|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/23/nyregion/broad-channel-battles-on-for-its-identity-and-wins.html|access-date=July 12, 2020|issn=0362-4331|page=B1}}</ref>

There was public criticism of the lease after the public learned about the deal, which Pierre Noel, president of the Broad Channel Corporation, countered by pointing to $180,000 of improvements it had made, including digging a well to supply drinking water, building a power plant, adding landfill to reduce the need for houses on piles, and laying out streets on the island.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Noel|first=Pierre|date=September 25, 1916|title=Work at Broad Channel.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1916/09/25/archives/work-at-broad-channel.html|access-date=July 12, 2020|issn=0362-4331|page=8}}</ref> Residents disputed the quality of these improvements, however, saying that the tap water was brown and not potable, that their houses had no electricity, and that there were no sewers on the island.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 25, 1916|title=Broad Channel Protests; Leaseholders Plan to Fight Rent Increase by Holding Company.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1916/09/25/archives/broad-channel-protests-leaseholders-plan-to-fight-rent-increase-by.html|access-date=July 12, 2020|issn=0362-4331|page=18}}</ref>

The Broad Channel Corporation responded by saying the water was of the same quality as was available in the Rockaways and that it planned to install a filtration device to remove the iron from the tap water. It said that the streets had electric lights, and it said installing sewers was not possible on the island.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 29, 1916|title=Broad Channel Profits; Corporation President Denies Charges Are Excessive.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1916/09/29/archives/broad-channel-profits-corporation-president-denies-charges-are.html|access-date=July 12, 2020|issn=0362-4331|page=14}}</ref>

For years, the only way to reach the island was by ferry or railroad,<ref name= Lorch/><ref>{{Cite news|date=October 5, 1924|title=Boulevard in Bay Soon to Be Opened; Ceremonies Over Completion of Rockaway Causeway to Be Held Saturday.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1924/10/05/archives/boulevard-in-bay-soon-to-be-opened-ceremonies-over-completion-of.html|access-date=July 12, 2020|issn=0362-4331|page=E1}}</ref> but in 1925, the North Channel Bridge opened, connecting the island to Howard Beach.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55209096/|title=Bridge Opening Set|work=New York Daily News|date=October 2, 1925|page=2|access-date=July 12, 2020|via=newspapers.com {{open access}}}}</ref> The [[Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge|Cross Bay Parkway Bridge]] also opened in 1925 (replaced in 1939, and again in 1970), connecting to the Rockaways.<ref>{{Cite news|date=June 3, 1939|title=Parkway Finished in the Rockaways; Moses to Preside at Ceremony Marking Completion of the $10,000,000 Improvement|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1939/06/03/archives/parkway-finished-in-the-rockaways-moses-to-preside-at-ceremony.html|access-date=July 12, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The railroad trestle across Jamaica Bay experienced around 30 fires between 1942 and 1950.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|title=PRR Chronology, 1950|url=http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR1950%20Dec%2004.pdf|access-date=July 13, 2020|archive-date=May 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510133907/http://www.prrths.com/Hagley/PRR1950%20Dec%2004.pdf|url-status=dead}}&nbsp;{{small|(50.5&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]])}}, December 2004 Edition</ref><ref name="Raskin-RoutesNotTaken-2013">{{Cite Routes Not Taken}}</ref><ref name="BklynEagle-LIRRFireJunkRkwy-1950">{{cite web|date=May 31, 1950|title=L.I.R.R. Proposes Junking Trestle Ruined by Fire|url=https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/53870238/?terms=rockaway%2Bfire|access-date=September 22, 2015|page=4|via=[[Newspapers.com]] {{open access}}|newspaper=[[Brooklyn Daily Eagle]]}}</ref> One such fire, between [[The Raunt (LIRR station)|The Raunt]] and [[Broad Channel (LIRR station)|Broad Channel]] stations on May 7, 1950, cut service on the middle section of the railroad line.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book|last=Seyfried|first=Vincent F.|url=http://digitalarchives.queenslibrary.org/vital/access/services/Download/aql:339/SOURCE1?view=true|title=The Long Island Rail Road A Comprehensive History: Part Five (New York, Woodhaven & Rockaway Railroad; New York & Rockaway Beach railway; New York & Long Beach Railroad; New York & Rockaway railroad; Brooklyn rapid transit operation to Rockaway; Over L.I.R.R)|year=1966|location=Garden City}}</ref> The LIRR, then bankrupt, could not afford to repair the trestle, and the city of New York purchased the line in 1952,<ref name=":02" /><ref name="ERA-LIRRRkwy-Feb2006">{{cite journal|last1=Linder|first1=Bernard|date=February 2006|title=Rockaway Line|url=https://issuu.com/erausa/docs/2006-02-bulletin/3|journal=New York Division Bulletin|publisher=Electric Railroader's Association|volume=49|issue=2|pages=3–4|access-date=August 27, 2016}}</ref> and it reopened as the [[New York City Subway]]'s [[IND Rockaway Line]] in 1956.<ref name="NYTimes-INDRkwyOpen-1956">{{cite web|last1=Freeman|first1=Ira Henry|date=June 28, 1956|title=Rockaway Trains to Operate Today|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1956/06/28/84703811.pdf|access-date=June 29, 2015|website=The New York Times|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="Rockawave-INDRkwyOpen-June281956">{{cite news|date=June 28, 1956|title=First Train On Rockaway Line Runs This Afternoon|pages=[http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201956%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201956%2520-%25200350.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2F43c772ea5053ba7a2fe1850240ed52cd#page=1 1], [http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201956%2FRockaway%2520Beach%2520NY%2520%2520Wave%2520Of%2520Long%2520Island%2520%25201956%2520-%25200355.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2F6b6ee609a1895c1f89ff0c622e5b3813#page=1 6]|work=[[Wave of Long Island]]|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=June 28, 1956|title=TA's New Line To Rockaways Begins Today: Fifty Piece Band To Play as Special Train Makes First Run|page=1|work=The Leader-Observer|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252023%2FForest%2520Parkway%2520NY%2520Leader%2520Observer%2FForest%2520Parkway%2520NY%2520Leader%2520Observer%25201955-1957%2FForest%2520Parkway%2520NY%2520Leader%2520Observer%25201955-1957%2520-%25200650.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2F8150b004ade0565d32aa4d88b21d2892#page=1|access-date=August 16, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=June 29, 1956|title=To Rockaways: Beach Trains In Operation|page=2|work=Greenpoint Weekly Star|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252023%2FBrooklyn%2520NY%2520Greenpoint%2520Daily%2520Star%2FBrooklyn%2520NY%2520Greenpoint%2520Daily%2520Star%25201956-1957%2FBrooklyn%2520NY%2520Greenpoint%2520Daily%2520Star%25201956-1957%2520-%25200241.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2F147cd4c4e78bb11637387bbb8e8e3a06#page=1|access-date=August 16, 2016}}</ref>

Parks Commissioner [[Robert Moses]] announced his intention to build a park on the island in 1938; he planned recreation on the shore with a wildlife sanctuary on the north end of the island.<ref name="Baldwin 2007"/> The next year, the Broad Channel Corporation declared bankruptcy, and the city acquired the island's property titles.<ref name="Black1981" />{{Rp|58}}<ref>{{Cite news|date=October 3, 1939|title=Broad Channel Lease Recaptured by City; Way Thus Is Paved for Moses Improvement Plans|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1939/10/03/archives/broad-channel-lease-recaptured-by-city-way-thus-is-paved-for-moses.html|access-date=July 12, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In May 1944, Broad Channel's 4,000 residents, collectively living in 1,260 homes, secured an injunction that would prevent the city from evicting them by April 30, 1948.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1944-05-12|title=Home Owners Push Broad Channel Plea; 300 Before Estimate Board Win Respite on Impending Ousting|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1944/05/12/archives/home-owners-push-broad-channel-plea-300-before-estimate-board-win.html|access-date=2020-07-12|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Later in 1944, the [[New York City Board of Estimate]] indicated that it would give residents the right to purchase the land under their houses.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1944-08-18|title=Estimate Board to Approve Sale Of Home Sites at Broad Channel; Plan to Let Building Owners Buy the Land They Have Been Renting From City Is Sent to Wilkinson for Preparation|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1944/08/18/archives/estimate-board-to-approve-sale-of-home-sites-at-broad-channel-plan.html|access-date=2020-07-12|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> However, this right was denied for many years. The city made many attempts to alter the island's purpose, but the local community resisted them all. Proposed changes included the construction of a commercial port and the extension of [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]].<ref name="Baldwin 2007" />

Rumors of high [[hepatitis]] rates spread in 1967 because of the island's bad sewage system. At the time, several homes still dumped sewage into the bay, causing activities like clamming, wading, and swimming to be banned.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lorch|first=Donatella|date=1991-08-23|title=Broad Channel Battles On For Its Identity and Wins|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/23/nyregion/broad-channel-battles-on-for-its-identity-and-wins.html|access-date=2020-07-12|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The health hazards prompted the city to again attempt eviction proceedings against Broad Channel's residents,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Perlmutter|first=Emanuel|date=1967-05-02|title=City Refuses to Renew Leases To Broad Channel Residents; Health Hazards in the Region Called a Serious Threat to Metropolitan Area.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1967/05/02/archives/city-refuses-to-renew-leases-to-broad-channel-residents-health.html|access-date=2020-07-12|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> which prompted them to protest,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Roberts|first=Steven V.|date=1967-05-05|title=Eviction Fears Lash an Island in the Bay; City's Health Study of Broad Channel Stirs Residents|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1967/05/05/archives/eviction-fears-lash-an-island-in-the-bay-citys-health-study-of.html|access-date=2020-07-12|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and the Board of Estimate ordered the residents' leases to be renewed the following year, despite the real estate commissioner's protests.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1968-04-30|title=Broad Channel Lease Renewal Ordered by Board; But City Realty Chief Calls Five-Year Term Illegal Cariello Sees Taxpayer Suit to Force Extension of Pacts|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1968/04/30/archives/broad-channel-lease-renewal-ordered-by-board-but-city-realty-chief.html|access-date=2020-07-12|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The government of New York City finally granted Broad Channel residents the right to purchase their property in 1982.<ref name="Baldwin 2007">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/realestate/04livi.html|title=Close to Nature, and the Airport|last=Baldwin|first=Deborah|date=November 4, 2007|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 13, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The [[Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge]] replaced the dilapidated North Channel Bridge in 1993.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Finder|first=Alan|date=1989-12-27|title=Despite Perception, New York City Is on the Mend|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/27/nyregion/despite-perception-new-york-city-is-on-the-mend.html|access-date=2020-07-12|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

===21st century===
In 1998, Broad Channel's Labor Day parade received negative media attention after video of a float that parodied the [[James Byrd Jr.|racially motivated dragging death of an African American man]] was made public. Three white participants on the float, all city emergency workers, were later fired from their jobs as a result of the parade incident.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://writ.news.findlaw.com/colb/20030716.html|url-status=dead|title=The New York Racist Float Case: How the First Amendment Does - and Does Not - Protect Racist Cops and Firemen|website=[[FindLaw]]|date=July 16, 2003|archive-date=2003-10-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031004084131/http://writ.news.findlaw.com/colb/20030716.html|author-last1=Colb|author-first1=Sherry F. }}</ref> They sued the city for wrongful termination, and their claims were upheld in federal district court in 2003,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kilgannon|first=Corey|date=2003-06-26|title=Ruling in '98 Blackface Case Finds Favor in the Community|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/26/nyregion/ruling-in-98-blackface-case-finds-favor-in-the-community.html|access-date=2020-07-12|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> but the firings were upheld upon appeal in 2006.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cardwell|first=Diane|date=April 28, 2006|title=Court Upholds City Firings Over Racial Insult at Parade|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/28/nyregion/28float.html?ref=robert_steiner|access-date=August 29, 2010}}</ref>

In August 2011, Broad Channel faced its first mandatory evacuation due to [[Effects of Hurricane Irene in New York|Hurricane Irene]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gothamist.com/news/nyc-starts-mandatory-evacuation-of-all-new-yorkers-in-zone-a|title=NYC Starts MANDATORY EVACUATION Of All New Yorkers In Zone A|last=staff/garth-johnston|date=August 26, 2011|website=Gothamist|language=en|access-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113015558/https://gothamist.com/news/nyc-starts-mandatory-evacuation-of-all-new-yorkers-in-zone-a|archive-date=January 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/hurricane-irene-preparations-prompt-new-york-city-evacuations-low-lying-areas-article-1.951574|title=Hurricane Irene preparations prompt New York City to begin evacuations of low-lying areas|last=MARTINEZ|first=JOSE|website=nydailynews.com|date=August 27, 2011 |access-date=January 13, 2020}}</ref> In the aftermath, two homes on Church Road between East 12th and 14th Road collapsed into Jamaica Bay due to the high storm tide.<ref name="Stelloh 2011">{{cite web|url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/31/irene-tosses-aside-a-100-year-old-queens-bungalow/|title=A Bungalow Frozen in Time, Till the Storm Washed It Away|last=Stelloh|first=Tim|date=August 1, 2011|website=City Room|access-date=January 13, 2020}}</ref> In October 2012, Broad Channel faced another mandatory evacuation due to [[Hurricane Sandy]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/gearing-hurricane-sandy-article-1.1193309|title=Storm-hardened residents of Broad Channel and Rockaway gear up for another round with nature|last=Colangelo|first=Lisa L.|website=nydailynews.com|date=October 29, 2012 |access-date=January 13, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203880704578084701930663668|title=Parts of New York City Evacuated for Hurricane Sandy|last=Saul|first=Michael Howard|date=October 28, 2012|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=January 13, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> It sustained heavy damage with widespread flooding affecting most homes in the area,<ref>[http://www.timesledger.com/stories/2012/44/broadchannel_all_2012_11_01_q.html Heavy flooding wrecks Broad Channel island] - Times Ledger, November 2, 2012</ref> and in subsequent days, widespread prolonged power cuts and shortages of food and water were reported.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130216162901/http://queensnyc.com/2012/11/broad-channel-also-abused-by-hurricane-sandy/ Broad Channel also abused by Hurricane Sandy] - NYC, Queens in Context, November 3, 2012</ref>

Press reports indicated that at least parts of the neighborhood were flooded from time to time by high tides.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/10/nyregion/debate-over-cost-and-practicality-of-protecting-part-of-queens-coast.html|title=Where Streets Flood With the Tide, a Debate Over City Aid|last=Gregory|first=Kia|date=July 9, 2013|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 4, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The city proposed steps such as raising the streets and sidewalks by three feet. The street raising and new sea walls, installation of which were ongoing {{As of|2017||df=|lc=y}}, serve to stop street flooding.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ny.curbed.com/2017/10/12/16462790/queens-climate-change-jamaica-bay-flooding-photos|title=In Queens, chronic flooding and sea-level rise go hand in hand|last=Kensinger|first=Nathan|date=October 12, 2017|website=Curbed NY|access-date=December 4, 2019}}</ref> Broad Channel remains as one of the New York City neighborhoods most vulnerable to flooding, and had the highest proportion of repeated flood-related insurance claims {{As of|2018||df=|lc=y}}.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/07/nyregion/new-york-city-flood-maps-fema.html|title=In New York, Drawing Flood Maps Is a 'Game of Inches'|last=Chen|first=David W.|date=January 7, 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 13, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>