New York City: An Island of Vice?
Friday 21 September, 2012
6:30pm, $0
The Cooper Union
41 Cooper Square, Rose Auditorium
In the 1890s, New York was notorious for rampant crime: robbery, prostitution, and illegal gambling flourished under the eyes of a corrupt police force. But in 1895, a vigorous new Police Commissioner, Theodore Roosevelt (who had recently been defeated for Mayor of New York by Cooper Union's own Abram S. Hewitt), was determined to clean up the city and its cops. Along with muckracking photographer Jacob Riis, Roosevelt launched a massive effort to reform New York.
On Friday, September 21, Richard Zacks will discuss his new book, "Island of Vice" about Roosevelt's campaign. Find out whether NYC was reformed once and for all time.
On Friday, September 21, Richard Zacks will discuss his new book, "Island of Vice" about Roosevelt's campaign. Find out whether NYC was reformed once and for all time.