Lindsay came into office vowing to reinvent city government.  His policy statements emphasized racial equality, decentralization, elevation of design and planning, increased and more effective government services, and the reinvigoration of the city’s life. He launched a broad array of reforms that touched virtually every aspect of city operations and created whole new areas of government endeavor.

However, many of his policies quickly became polarizing, frequently inciting the rancor of white working-class New Yorkers and straining the city’s budget. Critics charged that his reforms favored some groups of New Yorkers over others and did not deliver the services that they promised. Explore here the initiatives of the Lindsay administration and their consequences.