I think Robert Caro’s overall assessment may be a bit lacking. What Robert Moses did for New York as far as infrastructure is concerned is in part commendable. He shaped the city and literally made New York the well-loved city it is today.
However, Caro is undeniably right in that we cannot simply remember Moses as an ideal man. Moses manipulated and threatened people, and paid millions to get his way. He said he wasn’t a politician, but certainly played politics. He never forgave anyone who tried to cross him. Most importantly, in order to create his empire he took down homes of more than 250,000 people- which unsurprisingly were homes of minority groups. He tore apart neighborhood and, by effect, ruined lives of generations. When he did build housing for poor and underprivileged communities, he made bleak and cheap buildings. While Robert Moses did wonders for NY’s infrastructure, he does not deserve is to be remembered an ideal man because he wasn’t one. While his creation is a marvel, the actions he took to get there cannot be dismissed and their effects cannot be minimized.
