Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Dan Doctoroff

The New Jane Jacobs vs. the New Robert Moses?

carter_doctoroff.jpg

New York Magazine talks to Majora Carter:

Janelle Nanos: Part of Moses's legacy is the idea that to get anything done in the city, it needs to be done by fiat. Do you see that happening again now? Majora Carter: Absolutely. Partially, it's a coliseum mentality, that it has to be big or it doesn't matter. The problem with the big projects of Moses and now Doctoroff is that they don't think about what the long-term impacts are of exercising that much power on people who have none. It's the idea that people are in the way.

Nanos: It's interesting that you group Doctoroff and Moses together. Do you think the deputy mayor sees himself as the new Moses?

Carter: Oh, God, yeah. Completely. He thinks he's the man.

But the deputy mayor disagreed during his sit down with the New York Observer:

I don't think that any comparison between the period that Moses was active and today is really that relevant. The biggest difference is the need for community input.

With very few exceptions, we have really made an effort to reach out to local communities and understand their needs. Moses was a believer that it was experts who were able to divine what was best for the community or the city on the whole.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Thursday’s Headlines: Merry Christmas Edition

Day off today, but we'll be back tomorrow.

December 25, 2025

Streetsies 2025: The Best Projects of the Year

Even amid Mayor Adams's bikelash lame-duck era, there were some major bright spots this year.

December 24, 2025

Hey, Insurance Companies, Here’s Some Driver Fraud Hiding in Plain Sight

Insurers don't seem to care, but we've provided a list!

December 24, 2025

Streetsies 2025: The Biggest Failures Of The Year

2025 was rough year to be a cyclist in New York City, now's your chance to vote for what pissed you off the most.

December 24, 2025

Wednesday’s Headlines: See You In Court Edition

President Trump's case against congestion pricing will finally be heard next month. Plus other news.

December 24, 2025

Mamdani Appoints Pro-Labor Lawyer To Run Worker Protection Agency

"My life's work has been about ensuring that money and power cannot trample the rights and dignity of working people," said the incoming DCWP commissioner, Sam Levine.

December 23, 2025
See all posts