Racism of Robert Moses and Jones Beach

Robert Moses is believed to have deliberately kept the overpasses on his parkways too low for buses to pass under, sparking a debate over whether this was a standard practice. Moses designed Jones Beach to cater to a specific demographic, making people feel uncomfortable, especially poor and black individuals. He strategically placed black lifeguards at far reaches of the beach to direct black bathers there subtly. Moses kept the water in the pool cold under the impression that black people dislike cold water. When complaints arose, President Roosevelt initiated an investigation, which found Moses discouraging black people from using the parks, but no further action was taken due to Moses' significant value. Despite a backlash over raising parking fees at the parks, Roosevelt backed down from confronting Moses, indicating his importance. Ultimately, Roosevelt vetoed a bill against park fees to avoid a public dispute with Moses, emphasizing his popularity during the 1932 presidential election campaign.