The 1980s crack cocaine epidemic swept through New York City like a destructive storm, leaving devastation in its wake.
While all five boroughs felt the impact, Southside Queens bore a uniquely harsh brunt of the epidemic.
Growing up in this area during that tumultuous time, I witnessed firsthand the swift and deadly transformation that crack cocaine wrought on my community.
What once felt like a vibrant, promising neighborhood rapidly descended into chaos, turning Southside Queens into what could only be described as a war zone.