PAPER 1
Robert Moses: Master Builder in New York City
New York is often referred to as “The Melting Pot” is also considered as one of the capitals of the world. One of the terms used to describe this great city is that it’ never sleeps’. Its’ vibrant city lights, Broadway, Wall Street(it’s financial capital) influences the economy of great countries worldwide .It is a city of magic, that captures the heart of those that visit as well as those that reside there as well. I believe Frank Sinatra describes it best in his song, “New York New York I want to wake up in a city that never sleeps number one” says so much of what embodied New York, and the ways New Yorker and visitors feel about this great city.
One of the essences of New York is its regally designed bridges, the beautiful architectural design of the sky scrapers and the rich cultural involvement in the detail of its development, the design of its highways, playgrounds, beaches and other infrastructures. One of the people who was most instrumental in building and design these beautiful bridges and highways that made our commute around the city easier was Robert Moses.
Robert Moses was born on December 18, 1888 in New Haven Connecticut to Emmanuel and Bella Moses. He was the second of three children. After retiring from a department store, his father moved his family to New York City. In 1909, after he graduated from Yale, Robert Moses attended Oxford University where he received a master’s degree. In 1911, he then went on to Colombia University where he received his PhD (NPS, 2013)”. With his of educational background, he was ready for the political world in New York City. His first job was working for the municipal as a researcher with a nonprofit organization. It was there, he met his wife Mary Louis Sims. They were married in the year 1918. The marriage produced two daughters, Barbara and Jane. (KIOLI, 2010) Moses played an important role in shaping the physical environment of New York State in the 21st century. He was considered New York’s master builder; although, he was not an architect, a planner, a lawyer, or a politician, he contributed to the change of the face of New York City.
According to Paul Goldberger, “Robert Moses played a larger role in shaping the physical environment of New York State in the 20th century.” He changed the landscape of New York through his visionary work; he built 658 playgrounds, 416 miles of parkways and 13 bridges”, yet critics of Mr. Moses, reported that Mr. Moses was inequitable in the way he disenfranchised communities in his quest to realize his vision of a city that was futuristic, but unfortunately many suffered as he was allowed to ignored the values of New Yorkers.
According to (Gibberd, 2008) he squandered working class neighborhoods and disposed a quarter million people for the building of bridges and expressways. He was criticized for promoting highways over mass transit; he focused his public works projects on increasing suburbanizing and the use of automobile over mass transit. He built acres of sterile public housing towers, parks and play grounds for the rich and comfortable, and highways to accommodate the wealthy.
“In 1923, Moses designed a system of state parks on Long Island that would be linked together, bringing New York City closer by broad parkways. The plan included appropriation of land from the estates of wealthy, influential families whom opposed his plans vigorously. Nevertheless, he prevailed and by 1930 he had built 9,700 acres of parks on Long Island, including the extraordinarily popular Jones Beach. For access to the beach, he built two highly landscaped parkways that became models for transportation planners. Jones Beach Park established Moses’ national reputation when it opened in 1929 (Goldberg, 2010). Moses vision extended beyond Long Island and in 1923, he drafted A State Park Plan for New York laying out his ideas for a state parks system throughout New York. He recommended the legislature to authorize a referendum for a $15 million parks bond to implement his plans. The plan was unprecedented in both its scale and its emphasis on development rather than land acquisition.
His first great achievement was the erection of Jones Beach, for which he took an almost unused sandbar and at vast expense transformed it into an elaborate seaside Xanadu for the masses, complete with bathhouses, restaurants and a tower inspired by a Venetian bell tower. There was vast opposition to the products in the surrounding area, but Mr. Moses was not deterred. The Jones Beach that Mr. Moses built was extravagant in its appointments, vast in its scale and conservation in its design. Before Jones Beach, bathhouses were generally shacks beside the sea; Moses decided that he wanted enormous sandstone and brick palaces. (Goldberg, 2008)
Later in 1923, Governor Smith was persuaded by Moses to request the legislature to pass legislation establishing a State Council of Parks and to authorize the $15 million bond referendum. The proposal was enthusiastically hailed and endorsed by both the public and the press. When the legislation was passed by a unanimous vote in both houses, he was appointed Chair of the Commission. Again, Moses had drafted the legislation to ensure that all the State Park Commission's extensive powers were vested in its chairman (Caro, 1970, Rosenweig& Balckmar, 1992)
In 1930’s and 1940’s the planners blamed Moses for the destruction of many neighborhoods in order to make way for the development of the expressways, however Moses felt that it was a motorized civilization and would be good for the automobile industry. He saw the automobile as a force that was bound to revolutionize the landscape and he wanted to guide the process. It was seen as the most lavishly praised public works project of the decade, heralded for its vast expanse of beaches, its enormous parking lots. Jones Beach tastefully designed bath houses and restaurants, its workers neat sailor’s uniforms, and its scrupulously clean boardwalk; it displaced Coney Island as New York’s most famous seaside resort.
As head of the Triborough Bridge Commission which charged bridge tolls, and of state and city park agencies that raised money from user fees, Moses had revenue streams to support the sale of bonds to fund his building programs without answering to the legislative bodies which normally controlled patronage. By eliminating the need for political patronage, he could hire elite professional staff. (Rosenweig& Balckmar, 1992) The Triborough Bridge Authority became known as the fourth branch of government. Its records were closed to the public, its policies and plans were decided not by voters or elected officials but solely by Moses, and it was an immense economic force directing pressure on labor unions, on banks, on all the city's political and economic institutions, on the press, and on the church.
In 1924, Moses was appointed to the president of long island state park commission and the building of Jones Beach State Park began. From 1924 to 1968, Moses built parks, highways, bridges, playgrounds, housing, tunnels, beaches, zoos, civic centers, exhibition halls and the 1964-65 New York World’s Fairs at Flushing Meadow Park. (Goldberg, 1981)
In his later years, he became very regimented in his views on communal resistance, according to the article, and was unwilling to change his opinion, and in 1974, he made a statement ‘I raise my stein to the builder who can remove ghettos without removing people as I hail the chief who can make omelets without breaking the eggs.” (Goldberg, 1981)
References
Caro Robert A. (1970) The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Gibberd, B. (2008, September 12). Writing the Myth of Moses. In New York Times. Retrieved June 26, 2013
Goldberger, P. (1981, July 30). Robert Moses, master is dead at 92. New York Times. Retrieved June26, 2013 from www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/1218.html
Robert Moses Biography (n.d.). In National Park Service. Retrieved June 26, 2013
Rosenberg, Roy, and Elizabeth Blackmar (1992) The Park and the People: A History of Central Park, Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press.
Who was Robert Moses? (2010, September). Keep It On Long Island, 1-4. Retrieved June 26, 2013, from www.kioli.org/longisland/interest/all-about-robert-moses
New York is often referred to as “The Melting Pot” is also considered as one of the capitals of the world. One of the terms used to describe this great city is that it’ never sleeps’. Its’ vibrant city lights, Broadway, Wall Street(it’s financial capital) influences the economy of great countries worldwide .It is a city of magic, that captures the heart of those that visit as well as those that reside there as well. I believe Frank Sinatra describes it best in his song, “New York New York I want to wake up in a city that never sleeps number one” says so much of what embodied New York, and the ways New Yorker and visitors feel about this great city.
One of the essences of New York is its regally designed bridges, the beautiful architectural design of the sky scrapers and the rich cultural involvement in the detail of its development, the design of its highways, playgrounds, beaches and other infrastructures. One of the people who was most instrumental in building and design these beautiful bridges and highways that made our commute around the city easier was Robert Moses.
Robert Moses was born on December 18, 1888 in New Haven Connecticut to Emmanuel and Bella Moses. He was the second of three children. After retiring from a department store, his father moved his family to New York City. In 1909, after he graduated from Yale, Robert Moses attended Oxford University where he received a master’s degree. In 1911, he then went on to Colombia University where he received his PhD (NPS, 2013)”. With his of educational background, he was ready for the political world in New York City. His first job was working for the municipal as a researcher with a nonprofit organization. It was there, he met his wife Mary Louis Sims. They were married in the year 1918. The marriage produced two daughters, Barbara and Jane. (KIOLI, 2010) Moses played an important role in shaping the physical environment of New York State in the 21st century. He was considered New York’s master builder; although, he was not an architect, a planner, a lawyer, or a politician, he contributed to the change of the face of New York City.
According to Paul Goldberger, “Robert Moses played a larger role in shaping the physical environment of New York State in the 20th century.” He changed the landscape of New York through his visionary work; he built 658 playgrounds, 416 miles of parkways and 13 bridges”, yet critics of Mr. Moses, reported that Mr. Moses was inequitable in the way he disenfranchised communities in his quest to realize his vision of a city that was futuristic, but unfortunately many suffered as he was allowed to ignored the values of New Yorkers.
According to (Gibberd, 2008) he squandered working class neighborhoods and disposed a quarter million people for the building of bridges and expressways. He was criticized for promoting highways over mass transit; he focused his public works projects on increasing suburbanizing and the use of automobile over mass transit. He built acres of sterile public housing towers, parks and play grounds for the rich and comfortable, and highways to accommodate the wealthy.
“In 1923, Moses designed a system of state parks on Long Island that would be linked together, bringing New York City closer by broad parkways. The plan included appropriation of land from the estates of wealthy, influential families whom opposed his plans vigorously. Nevertheless, he prevailed and by 1930 he had built 9,700 acres of parks on Long Island, including the extraordinarily popular Jones Beach. For access to the beach, he built two highly landscaped parkways that became models for transportation planners. Jones Beach Park established Moses’ national reputation when it opened in 1929 (Goldberg, 2010). Moses vision extended beyond Long Island and in 1923, he drafted A State Park Plan for New York laying out his ideas for a state parks system throughout New York. He recommended the legislature to authorize a referendum for a $15 million parks bond to implement his plans. The plan was unprecedented in both its scale and its emphasis on development rather than land acquisition.
His first great achievement was the erection of Jones Beach, for which he took an almost unused sandbar and at vast expense transformed it into an elaborate seaside Xanadu for the masses, complete with bathhouses, restaurants and a tower inspired by a Venetian bell tower. There was vast opposition to the products in the surrounding area, but Mr. Moses was not deterred. The Jones Beach that Mr. Moses built was extravagant in its appointments, vast in its scale and conservation in its design. Before Jones Beach, bathhouses were generally shacks beside the sea; Moses decided that he wanted enormous sandstone and brick palaces. (Goldberg, 2008)
Later in 1923, Governor Smith was persuaded by Moses to request the legislature to pass legislation establishing a State Council of Parks and to authorize the $15 million bond referendum. The proposal was enthusiastically hailed and endorsed by both the public and the press. When the legislation was passed by a unanimous vote in both houses, he was appointed Chair of the Commission. Again, Moses had drafted the legislation to ensure that all the State Park Commission's extensive powers were vested in its chairman (Caro, 1970, Rosenweig& Balckmar, 1992)
In 1930’s and 1940’s the planners blamed Moses for the destruction of many neighborhoods in order to make way for the development of the expressways, however Moses felt that it was a motorized civilization and would be good for the automobile industry. He saw the automobile as a force that was bound to revolutionize the landscape and he wanted to guide the process. It was seen as the most lavishly praised public works project of the decade, heralded for its vast expanse of beaches, its enormous parking lots. Jones Beach tastefully designed bath houses and restaurants, its workers neat sailor’s uniforms, and its scrupulously clean boardwalk; it displaced Coney Island as New York’s most famous seaside resort.
As head of the Triborough Bridge Commission which charged bridge tolls, and of state and city park agencies that raised money from user fees, Moses had revenue streams to support the sale of bonds to fund his building programs without answering to the legislative bodies which normally controlled patronage. By eliminating the need for political patronage, he could hire elite professional staff. (Rosenweig& Balckmar, 1992) The Triborough Bridge Authority became known as the fourth branch of government. Its records were closed to the public, its policies and plans were decided not by voters or elected officials but solely by Moses, and it was an immense economic force directing pressure on labor unions, on banks, on all the city's political and economic institutions, on the press, and on the church.
In 1924, Moses was appointed to the president of long island state park commission and the building of Jones Beach State Park began. From 1924 to 1968, Moses built parks, highways, bridges, playgrounds, housing, tunnels, beaches, zoos, civic centers, exhibition halls and the 1964-65 New York World’s Fairs at Flushing Meadow Park. (Goldberg, 1981)
In his later years, he became very regimented in his views on communal resistance, according to the article, and was unwilling to change his opinion, and in 1974, he made a statement ‘I raise my stein to the builder who can remove ghettos without removing people as I hail the chief who can make omelets without breaking the eggs.” (Goldberg, 1981)
References
Caro Robert A. (1970) The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Gibberd, B. (2008, September 12). Writing the Myth of Moses. In New York Times. Retrieved June 26, 2013
Goldberger, P. (1981, July 30). Robert Moses, master is dead at 92. New York Times. Retrieved June26, 2013 from www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/1218.html
Robert Moses Biography (n.d.). In National Park Service. Retrieved June 26, 2013
Rosenberg, Roy, and Elizabeth Blackmar (1992) The Park and the People: A History of Central Park, Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press.
Who was Robert Moses? (2010, September). Keep It On Long Island, 1-4. Retrieved June 26, 2013, from www.kioli.org/longisland/interest/all-about-robert-moses