Debates over the visions of Robert Moses and Jane Jacobs are a diversion from broader truths about New York City's history and present-day challenges.

We just marked the 50th anniversary of the publication of The Power Broker, the epic urbanist history that has helped generations of New Yorkers understand the warring visions of Robert Moses and Jane Jacobs.

Both Moses, the “master builder” of the urban renewal era, and Jacobs, the grassroots champion of small-scale urbanism, have left deep and lasting imprints on our city. But today, the debate over their visions is a diversion from broader truths about New York City’s history and present-day challenges.

Why? The Moses-Jacobs clash occurred during the only period in history—going back centuries!—when New York City’s population was not growing.

Read more in City Limits.

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The Road Toward the City of Yes

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Citywide Zoning Changes and the Land Use Process

“That premise [of the petition to pause the public review process] is pretty insidious because it is not just a way to slow down this project, but it makes it pretty much impossible to update the zoning citywide,” Howard Slatkin said.
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First Airing of City of Yes at Public Hearing

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