I suppose Robert Moses is the wrong man to bring up, though maybe my argument is flawed and should be totally ignored. I take it that you're taking that approach. Given the direction this argument is heading, perhaps urban planning could be simplified, pedestrian only neighborhoods with nearby parking garages provide a great incentive for people to shop at local small businesses instead of supermarkets being a one stop shop with everything from fresh starbucks to factory made bread. The French subsidize their local businesses and from what I hear, their communities are better for it. Naturally so many factors go into urban planning, and how to live in a dense community is something that will always be considered to be unexamined.

Ehh little bit of both, no? He made bad decisions but he also made some of those for corrupt reasons like obeying his rich friends. And if you believe The Power Broker, by the apex of his power, he was effectively running the old state patronage system. Sure the main reason you'll hear about Moses these days would be his racist, aggressive, destructive urban planning, but the grift definitely didn't help.