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| Re: A Transit Robert Moses Guy (385258) | |||
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Re: A Transit Robert Moses Guy |
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Posted by Michael549 on Sun Feb 11 17:45:16 2007, in response to Re: A Transit Robert Moses Guy, posted by GP38/R42 Chris on Sun Feb 11 16:47:43 2007. While there is a great debate about Robert Moses, one should also look at the era in which he thrived. During the 1940's, 50's and 60's there were very powerful real estate and construction interests who were his champions because they were able to make money through these kinds of public investments. As new roadways opened up new suburbs, and made other areas accessible - that meant new housing, new schools, new stores, and a whole set of industries that would provide what was needed. After WW2 - the GI Bill and FHA, and VA mortgages allowed people to afford real honest homes unlike those offered in central city areas. Overtime a new set of factories, and industries would move out of central city areas because they needed the space for expansion due to low cost land. These people of course are not interested in cities, city people or city problems. Of course class bias would come into play - those who could afford to move were seen as "better" than those who could not.Some of these beloved tenements of yesterday were simply not the best places to live, even if not expensive. If for only $89 dollars one could make a down-payment on a free-standing newly built home in a new suburb with trees, grass, new stores, and low traffic, but you would need a car - would you take it? YES - The economics and assistance of the times, the 1940's and 1950's through the GI-Bill, FHA, VA made such choices - a no brainer. Subways in the city were private companies that had been limited to the farebox for their funds. This meant that there was little money for expansion, new cars or services. Look at the history of the Low-V's, R-1, R-10, R-15, and similar older cars. Why were they in service for so long? The subways had little money to buy new, the expense of operating the subways were high. This is why the systems began to be consolidated in the 1940's-50's - the private owners went bankrupt. That is why mass transit is a public service today there's no profit in it. If given a choice would you choose to drive your car from your new home located in a suburb with trees and grass, no liitle noise or crowds -- or choose to continue to live in a crowded dirty tenement to take crowded noisy dirty elevated and subway trains to work? Robert Moses did not invent the American Dream of a home of one's own, a car, raising your family in a healthy environment, with people who look like you. Robert Moses did not invent racial segregation, racial housing covenants, and a set of prejudices that were not always below the surface. Slum clearance was not just about old tenements and poor housing - wholesale industries, factories, good housing and community were removed, displaced and uprooted. While many may love the Lincoln Center complex, the Hispanic residents who have to be moved out for its construction may have a different opinion. Robert Moses was a man of his times. There are times when "we" want a democratic means to getting "things" done (even if messy) but sometimes an autocratic ruler is simply able to get "things" done that the "public" (kinda wants) but can not agree upon. Look at how many here (and on similar forums) have their grand designs for subway lines, highway lines and other transit matters, etc. One difference is that Robert Moses had, sought and used the massive streams of funds to achieve his ends, and in the process a great deal of power. In order to make an omelete one has to crack an egg, meaning a lot set of decisions have to be made. Robert Moses was a man of his times. Michael Sherrell |
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