Moses used publicity tours to recast seized land as public park

Evidence

But the Appellate Division agreed to hear the appeal—at its fall term—and invalidated Strong’s injunction until then. The troopers returned to the property and, during the summer, Moses took reporters on trips to “Deer Range Park,” and the reporters rhapsodized about the families enjoying its facilities. In the fall, the Appellate Division upheld Pollack’s appeal and ordered a new trial. — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker, 942

Categorization

• SEED: The pattern — seize land illegally, then deploy PR tours of families ‘enjoying’ it to legitimize the fait accompli — is a vivid case study in how publicity manufactures legitimacy for power grabs. Could anchor an essay on the role of image-making in entrenching illegal seizures.
• XREF: connects to: A deserted millionaire estate became Moses’s template for public recreation land — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the…, 722; Moses could seize private land but needed voter approval for township-owned land — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the…, 897; Moses collected park land piecemeal through charm and personal persuasion. — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the…, 1658 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Moses collected park land piecemeal through charm and personal persuasion. #qualifies (0.85) — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker, 1658
• Moses withheld land-taking powers inside what sponsors assumed were routine park bills #complicates (0.80) — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker, 787