Jane Jacobs, Social Critic Who Redefined and Championed Cities, Is Dead at 89 - New York Times

One of my heroes died today. What a loss for she was an incredible thinker and mentor. I quoted her work so many times in so many circumstances...she was an inspiration on how to live and how to think.

I used her examples of healthy city life even when I raised my daughter: she wasn't allowed to go to shopping malls or play in public parks. Instead she had to play on street corners, this the advice of Jane Jacobs who said, your neighbours and store owners are part of your extended caregivers. We used to live at 414 Jarvis in Boystown Toronto, near Maitland where transvestite hookers worked, and Jane Jacobs words were put into action. I always knew my daughter was safe because all the trannies knew her and her schedule and that I was her parent. The working girls always said hello to her and asked how school was going and monitored her trips to the corner store. I seem to recall Jacobs was against one way streets too...but Toronto is riddled with them and they offer speedways to drivers now.

I worked across the street from Jacobs in the 90's and knew her as a neighbour to say hi and chat with...she never knew what a groupie I really was, I was in such awe of her I could never fess up.

We lost a great mind today.