The below blog is posted on behalf of my Visitor Services colleague, Eric Ursol, who's having a few issues with his log-in info. Eric's here every weekend with me, at the front desk and gift shop, and is a recently graduated History major at St. Francis here in Brooklyn Heights- so his thoughts on the history texts we carry at the BHS gift shop are pretty informed!
Robert Moses is one of the most important figures in New York City history. His reign as Parks Commissioner is mired in both fame and infamy. The decades you've lived in will probably determine your opinion on Robert Moses. To people who lived during his tenure he was viewed as barbaric and power hungry. He destroyed community identities to cold build asphalt roads for the city's infrastructure. For current generations, his achievements in creating miles of roads to link the city seem a complete necessity. His roads are the lifeblood to the city in which now we reap the rewards.
No matter what your opinion on Robert Moses is, you cannot deny that he got results. His power over the city is mind-boggling in today’s society. No one person could ever again achieve the all-encompassing power that Moses had over the city. When Moses left office it marked the end of the expansion of New York infrastructure, and since that time there have been no other major roadways created - rather just repairs and additions to Moses’ plan.
Many people know the results of Moses’ efforts, but many do not know the how and why to his actions. Robert A. Caro, a Pulitzer Prize winning author, examined Moses' backstory. He examines his accomplishments, his defeats, and his rise to power. The book he wrote is called The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York. The book is not a short read, rather an in depth analysis of the life and impact of Robert Moses. This book is a perfect gift for anyone who lived during Moses’ reign, benefited from his works, or is interested in urban or New York City history.
The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York is available at the Brooklyn Historical Society gift shop along with many other literary pieces that can quench everyone’s inquisitive nature about our favorite borough.
This blog post reflects the opinions of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of Brooklyn Public Library.
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