Robert Moses was a powerful New York City developer who shaped the city into what we know today. He was a master builder of the 20th century, creating many new roads, parks, and bridges, as well as public housing projects. Over the course of his career, Moses held 12 top positions in the government, such as parks commissioner and head of the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority.
Despite his many accomplishments, Moses was known for his controversial methods, particularly his tendency to bulldoze neighborhoods to make way for his projects. This provoked fierce opposition from many activists, who eventually succeeded in stopping Moses’ plan for a highway through Washington Square Park. Here we look at who stopped Robert Moses and how.
The Beginning of The Opposition
The massive opposition to Robert Moses arose in the 1950s and 1960s, when he proposed a highway to cut through Washington Square Park, that was located in the middle of Greenwich Village in New York City. At the time, Greenwich Village was a countercultural haven for musicians, artists, and intellectuals, and many of them were outraged at Moses’ plan. Led by Jane Jacobs, a resident of Greenwich Village, opposition began to form against the proposed highway.
The Anti-Moses Activists
The opposition against Robert Moses was led by a group of activists, many of them based in Greenwich Village and composed of artists, activists, and intellectuals. Here are some of the key players in the movement:
• Jane Jacobs: Jane Jacobs was a writer and activist who lived in Greenwich Village and had a passion for architecture and urban planning. She was the leader of the “anti-Moses movement” and wrote extensively about the harm that large-scale urban projects caused to small communities.
• Larry Moss: Larry Moss was a resident of Greenwich Village and a leader of the movement to save Washington Square Park from Moses’ highway.
• Ellen P. Stewart: Stewart was an actress and advocate for the arts who led the effort to keep the park from being bulldozed.
• Margaret Mead: An anthropologist, Mead was an outspoken advocate for the preservation of Washington Square Park.
• Lillian Hellman: Hellman was a playwright and columnist who wrote frequently about urban planning, and was an outspoken opponent of Moses’ plans.
The Tactics Used By The Activists
The activists used a variety of tactics to oppose Robert Moses’ plan, which included:
• Street Protests: The activists organized protests in front of City Hall and other government buildings. They also marched through Greenwich Village to demonstrate their opposition to the plan.
• Public Pressure: The activists wrote letters to the editors of local newspapers, urging them to oppose the plan.
• Court Battles: The activists filed lawsuits against the city, arguing that the proposed plan violated their civil rights.
• Lobbying Government Officials: The activists lobbied members of state and local governments, trying to persuade them to oppose the plan.
The Final Outcome
In the end, the activists were successful in stopping the highway from being built through Washington Square Park. In 1965, New York City Mayor Robert Wagner declared that the park would be spared. While Moses largely got his way with much of his urban development plans, the successful opposition to the Washington Square Park highway was seen as a victory for the activists.
Robert Moses was a powerful force in New York City for decades, reshaping the city for better or for worse. However, the opposition to his plan for the highway through Washington Square Park showed that grassroots activists could stand up to powerful interests. Despite the odds, these activists succeeded in stopping Robert Moses’ plans, showing that with determination, anything is possible.
