Wrestling with Moses : how Jane Jacobs took on New York's master builder and transformed the American city

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To a young Jane Jacobs, Greenwich Village epitomized the ideal city neighborhood, with its cobblestone streets and vibrant diversity. Her deep affection for this community influenced her landmark work, The Death and Life of Great American Cities. However, power broker Robert Moses viewed neighborhoods like Greenwich Village as ripe for urban renewal, often at great human cost. His ambitious projects had never been thwarted by political leaders, making Jacobs's grassroots opposition particularly remarkable. The intense rivalry between Jacobs and Moses unfolded as they battled for the city's future, marking a pivotal moment in American history. In Wrestling with Moses, Anthony Flint chronicles this compelling David-and-Goliath narrative, highlighting the origins of a nationwide movement advocating for residents' rights in urban planning. Jacobs rallied public support and political influence to challenge Moses's plans, successfully opposing destructive projects like the Lower Manhattan Expressway, which threatened to displace countless families and businesses. This story resonates with the significance of local activism, illustrating how Jacobs's fight against Moses reshaped Americans' perceptions of urban life and inspired citizens nationwide to stand against harmful developments in their own neighborhoods.