I knew Robert Moses was thickheaded but didn’t know he was like that his whole life. Some call him thick headed but I might look at it as his determination. If he can’t have what he wants, he will not compromise. He would rather quit than submit to the higher ups. What happened with the swimming team and the public office can show his resolve to not submit to those above him just because they told him to do something.
Robert Moses’ case shows that words without the power to back them up can be futile. It is honestly very sad to that although he means well, a corrupt government stood before him. It resulted in him losing his job with a family to support. I am quite surprised on how he was able to get back up from that. I read a book about Jane Jacobs before and Robert Moses was depicted as an enemy to her ideals. Although people may believe in Jane Jacobs’ ideals, they should respect in Robert Moses’ attitude towards his work.
Even though I knew Robert Moses was the creator of many famous structures such as the Van Wyck Expressway, it is amazing how much he has done. The structures he had constructed are all over New York from beaches to bridges. It is no wonder that he is forever memorialized with his own parks and dams. He did so much for the city that his legacy could never be forgotten, even without memorials.
If I was interested in obtaining mass of amounts I wish I got to know Robert Moses. Although I kid about this, it is quite impressive how many people he has helped and what kind of people he has helped as well. Bankers obviously have a reason to interact with Robert Moses to help deal with financing but to think a hot dog seller was able to have his lifestyle change completely is unbelievable. I wonder what he did that made Robert Moses think to help him.
My opinion of Robert Moses has changed greatly now. I read from Jane Jacobs perspective of the type of neighborhood was best and saw Robert Moses as an enemy to her ideals. However, Robert Moses had the government against his ideals as well during his career. He is not necessarily an enemy to Jane Jacobs for he did what he did for his beliefs just like her. He had the same amount of grit if not more and I respect him for what both Jane Jacobs and he have done for this city.
