What inspired me to become an investigative journalist? Reading Caro's 1,300+ pages detailing the methodical, brutalist reshaping of NYC and LI by Robert Moses. 1975's The Power Broker is not some 'woke fantasy' about 'racist highways.' It's documented, devastating history.

(2)
A few highlights for those who haven't read it:
• Moses created the South Bronx & its requisite challenges by literally plowing the Cross Bronx Expressway through established neighborhoods
• Moses tried the same thing in Greenwich Village in his final act

(3)
• Robert Moses was at first benevolent & brilliant, but "power corrupts & absolute power corrupts absolutely"
• Mayors cowered in his presence because he could not be fired from his many jobs & had his own massive revenue stream as chair of the TriBorough Bridge Authority

(4)
• The nightmares of 20th century public housing in NYC can be directly traced to Moses' actions
• Parks, highways, public spaces were designed to keep out non-white residents
• He was never elected to any position and was unaccountable to the people

Let me explain further that I decided to become a journalist at age 14. I was a news photographer, a reporter, a TV anchor. Later in my career, I was inspired to become an investigator, to hold the powerful accountable, to unearth systemic an institutional failures.