Whether or not Robert Moses’ actions were an asset or an impairment to New York, and the rest of the United States, is a question that has no right answer. In some ways, he ruined people’s lives; he displaced the poor and is the cause of the ubiquitous congestion that exudes from New York City. Although people were nervous and afraid of taking advantage of his creations at first, it is obvious that as time passes, the population is further and further separated from Moses’ influence. His name will always be remembered, whether on signs or in textbooks, and I believe that his evils are forgivable. Not because he was right for amassing such an incredible amount of power and using it for personal, and often selfish, gains, but because ultimately, his changes to New York have allowed it to flourish as a city. Perhaps the people of New York have not flourished in the way that they may have without him, but his highways, parks, and buildings have truly established New York as the metropolitan city. Robert Moses did not care about the people, but about himself and the physical influence he could exert. But isn’t anyone in great power the same way? His accomplishments may not have been an asset for the citizens of New York, but they were for the city itself.
