Out With The Old, In With The New
How to construct
the perfect city. In order to design a flawless metropolitan one must define a
city. In return, grasp it’s meaning. Following step one, this comprehension
leads to a discovery of social accomplishments within the city’s streets. One
must be conscious of the negative influences that may penetrate a city’s
tradition. As technology increases so does unethical ideologies that pave the
way for the City of Tomorrow. When the City of the Old’s last voice passed,
society’s heart was left unguarded. Capital means produced capital ends. A
perfect city has absolute fairness where the end justifies the means in city
planning. Keep in mind that the major factor concerning the growth and
development of cities is trust. For example, a city once considered the place
to be, the greatest of its time, was Pre-World War II New York City. With the
old stems the new followed by a hope for a balance. One-sided politicians need
to be viewed with caution for they hold all the power.
A city is complex resulting in an array of
interpretations. For the sake of argument, I choose to define a city with a
traditional gist. A city is a home to its people. A city is comprised of
communities where its inhabitants acquire a sense of belonging, the basis of
human endeavors. Cities, regardless of their size and population, generate
positive growth by accommodating those of diverse cultures and economic
limitations. By the end of WWII, New York City started to change socially and economically.
In previous years, the essentials of American life were met. A manufacturing
town, New York City was viewed at the highest point. Men with minimal education
could pass as working class men. Jobs were more guaranteed given the triumphs
of industrialization. Families had the time to be families sparking functional
people to be proud of themselves and of others. The strength of New York City
was its large amount of diverse immigrants. The street was the living room
coexisting in a world where poor people could be happy.
Robert Moses left his mark on New York City soil.
Although deemed a controversial figure in urban planning, Moses looked to the
future. What he envisioned makes New York City the place it is today. The
buildings, roads, and parkways defined his City of Tomorrow, which is enjoyed
and loved to date. Moses was always an onlooker; he never wanted to experience
city life nor saw it fit to live in. Robert Moses was an artist. He saw New
York City as a canvas, one huge wonderful mural, which only he could embody
with promise. The tourist attractions of adored New York City once homed actual
communities, a time when one could use community and neighborhood
interchangeably. The poor no longer wore smiles as the middle class dwindled in
its members creating gaps, economically and physically. With the new replacing
the old a different sense of community emerged fueled with Robert Moses’
influence. I presume, based on Moses’ dehumanization of a once great city, that
he will be remembered as the man who misjudged a contentious ideology; the end
justifies the mean.
Slum living. Once crowded streets are now housed in tall
stories called housing developments. The City of Tomorrow vision caters to
cooperate organizations stationed in the working district. Those who do not
live the city, either commuters for various reasons or sightseers, do not
witness or know the steps that were taken to allow passage throughout the city.
Jersey City, New Jersey took a different approach as far as growth and
development is concerned. Constructors reused abandoned space and vacant
buildings as opposed to demolishing them. No one needed to fear relocation
because of Jersey City’s reclaiming-remodeling objective.
Politicians are powerful. Why? In order to be elected,
one must gain the trust of those voting. With power comes greed that steers
morals in the opposite direction of right. Money clouds ones judgment, leaving
an unbalance in social class opportunities. Moses saw the automobile as the
vehicle toward the City of Tomorrow. However, as technology evolves the car
will slowly become less efficient as transportation becomes faster. New
Yorkers’ trust that life would only get better was their downfall. Laws were
put in place to hinder community life by severing ties to communal scenes. A
little faith goes a long way and as long as those appointed harbor any
misgivings city life is destined to be everything that it is not.
pictures:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Robert_Moses_with_Battery_Bridge_model.jpg http://slckismet.blogspot.com/2012/02/majesty-of-human-condition-in-artist.html
