Robert Moses

Robert Moses (December 18, 1888 – July 29, 1981) was the master builder of 20th century New York City and its suburbs. As the shaper of a modern city, one of his few peers is Baron Haussmann of Second Empire Paris, and he was easily the most polarizing figure in the history of urban planning. Although he never held elective office, Moses was arguably the most powerful person in New York City government from the 1930s to the 1950s. Moses literally changed shorelines, built roadways in the sky, and transformed vibrant neighborhoods forever. His decisions favoring highways over public transport formed the modern suburbs of Long Island and influenced a generation of engineers, architects, and urban planners who spread his philosophies across the nation. Moses was not without his critics, however. These critics have pointed to many things that they say taint Moses' legacy. The most common criticisms of Moses include the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people in New York City, contributing to the ruin of the South Bronx and the amusement parks of Coney Island, the departure of the Brooklyn Dodgers, and the decline of public transport. On the other hand, Moses' projects were also considered by many to be necessary for the region's development, and Moses participated in the construction of two huge World's Fairs, one in 1939 and the other in 1964. To Moses' critics, however, he will always be remembered for believing that "cities are for traffic," and "if the ends don't justify the means, what does?"

Early life and rise to power

Robert Moses, "the very flower of New York City reform movement," was born on December 18, 1888 to assimilated German-Jewish parents in New Haven, Connecticut. Moses' father was a successful department store owner and real estate speculator; his mother was a forceful and brilliant woman, active in the settlement movement, with her own love of building.

Related Topics:
German - Jew - New Haven, Connecticut - Real estate

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After graduating from Yale and Wadham College, Oxford and earning Ph.D. at Columbia, Moses became attracted to New York City reform politics. Moses at this time was an idealist, and hatched several plans to get rid of patronage hiring in New York City. None went very far, but Moses, due to his intelligence, did catch the notice of Belle Moskowitz, a friend and trusted advisor of Al Smith.

Related Topics:
Yale - Wadham College - Oxford - Columbia - Reform - Politics - Idealist - Belle Moskowitz - Al Smith

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Rising to power with Al Smith, Moses received numerous jobs which he did extraordinarily well, such as the development of Jones Beach as a public park. Moses knew the law better than most lawyers and quickly was known as "the best bill drafter in Albany", and he knew engineering better than most engineers. At a time when the public was used to Tammany Hall corruption and incompetence, Moses was seen as a savior of government. Shortly after President Franklin Roosevelt's inauguration, the federal government had millions of New Deal dollars to spend, but states and cities had few projects ready. Moses was one of the only people to have plans prepared.

Related Topics:
Jones Beach - Law - Lawyer - Albany - Engineering - Tammany Hall - President - Franklin Roosevelt - Federal government - New Deal

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