Cohnhead methods em­phasize the last-minute smear, the appeal to ethnic prejudice, and the judicious use of patronage: “These people are haters. They'll stop at nothing and they're crazy.”

“As in a colony, the Bronx's leadership positions are all held by outsiders (who are also white males), including the office of Democratic county leader, the borough presidency, the office of the district attorney, the Surrogate, and the majority of seats on the Democratic County Exec­utive Committee”

A recent returnee to the borough finds her old home changed, and her relationship to it as well

Community activists and “self-gentrifiers” debate how to improve their borough without becoming part of the problem