Robert Moses is widely recognized as one of the most powerful and controversial figures in the history of New York. Maybe someone should have tweeted that to King Bloomberg before he compared himself to the legendary “master builder”? While it’s true that Moses was responsible for completing many of the largest public works projects ever devised, he was also defined by an uncanny ability to steamroll anyone who opposed him, isolating the poor, and facilitating the middle class’ white flight to Long Island. In addition to carving up the South Bronx with unsightly expressways, the scenic parkways he built in the suburbs were equally offensive. If you’ve ever traveled out east and wondered why the bridges are so low, well there’s a perfectly good reason: they kept out buses.
The ones that city folk would have had to hop on to enjoy Jones Beach and the other less crowded paradises dotting the South Shore back during Moses’ heyday. But the more affluent, car-driving residents had no problem, pleasurably cruising the smooth parkways and sailing under the vertically challenged overpasses. |NewYorker|
Bucky, you're so on the money with this post. I'm guessing you read the book, "The Power Broker", if not pick it up. Robert Moses was an never-elected political gangster and closet racist. He had his way in this town till a nice little old lady from the Village (Jane Jacobs?) kicked his ass and drove him from the public scene. The authorities he created were the original political slush funds, something Bloomberg doesn't need anymore since he's a billionaire. History indeed will always teach us about the future. Thanks for reminding us all.