New York Gov. Cuomo Having a Moses Moment

Robert Moses, that is—Gov. Cuomo is looking to the planning icon for inspiration in a package of infrastructure proposals announced this week.

1 minute read

January 6, 2016, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"Gov. Andrew Cuomo made his annual pre-State of the State pilgrimage to Long Island to announce 'ambitious access proposals' — including a potential car tunnel to Connecticut — that he said will lay the groundwork for this year," reports Jimmy Vielkind. Another proposal would build a third track for the Long Island Railroad between Floral Park and Hicksville.

Gov. Cuomo made the announcement to the Long Island Association, and promised more details and a proposed budget for release next week. As for the Robert Moses angle, Vielkind explains that during his remarks, "Cuomo lamented that government doesn't 'think big' and spoke almost wistfully of Robert Moses…"

Here's Gov. Cuomo's own words channeling Moses: "Somewhere along the way, we lost our daring. We got consumed by the opposition and consumed by the bureaucracy, and we don't think big anymore, and we don't think we're capable of doing big anymore, and we don't think government is a vehicle for doing big any more. And that, my friends, will condemn any dream, if that's how we start…"

Tuesday, January 5, 2016 in Politico New York

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