If you elect a matinee idol mayor, you’re going to have a musical comedy administration.
Meaning of the quote
This quote means that if you choose a mayor who is famous and popular like a movie star, they will run the city like a silly and amusing musical play instead of a serious government. The quote suggests that electing someone famous but not qualified for the job will lead to the city being run in a lighthearted and entertaining way, rather than being managed properly.
About Robert Moses
Robert Moses was an influential urban planner and public official who transformed the New York metropolitan area with his grand infrastructure projects. Despite never being elected to office, he held various powerful positions and created semi-autonomous public authorities to fund and oversee his ambitious development plans, which both benefited and divided the city.