Sidewalk Safety

Sidewalk Safety in New York In her seminal work, Death and Life in the Great American Cities, New Yorker Jane Jacobs articulated her concerns with how the forces of suburbanization are destroying the vitality that has always been associated with great cities such as New York. Though many people believe that suburbanization results in clean and tree-lined sidewalks, Jacobs has found that the suburbanization process has simply increased the number of safe sidewalks in the City. I have observed Jacob's argument firsthand in my own Brooklyn neighborhood in Canarsie.

On the surface, 101st street between Avenues N. And M. present a pretty picture of the multicultural residents living harmoniously on a tree-lined sidewalk. The residents of this street include people of all ages. We have long-term Italian and Irish residents living next door to new immigrants from the West Indies. A casual observer would probably classify 101st street as a typical New York neighborhood. It is important to note, however, that 101st street only looks this way during the busy day hours.

At night, there is no one on the street to marvel at the modern architectural designs of our two and single-family housing units, our canopy of trees or our street lamp fixtures. Indeed, at night, Brooklyn's "beautiful residential area" turns into a deserted neighborhood. Because the street was created for dwelling rather than business units, 101st street assumes a new character when the sun sets. Jacobs pointed out that "a deserted street is apt to be unsafe," a fact that feels true for 101st street at night.

The canopy of trees that provide shade during the day and the dim streetlamps that enhance the suburban ambiance also provide good cover for crime. As a woman, I feel very vulnerable walking along this street at night. The lack of pedestrian activity makes the street feel like a natural setting for crimes such as hold-ups or sexual assaults.

Though much thought obviously went into designing a living space that was visually pleasing, planners obviously did not take into consideration how the same space could also be the site of crime. One day, I watched helplessly as a young intruder robbed one of my elderly neighbors. Though neighbors ideally keep an eye out for one another, residents of our multi-ethnic neighborhoods feel very isolated from one another.

Many of us leave our homes for work all day, adding to the feeling of isolation from one another in our own neighborhoods. There are no public places to congregate, no businesses to meet and form daily associations with one another. This isolation gives rise to potential conflicts, as residents remain suspicious of each other's motives. Like Jacobs, I believe that living in a residential neighborhood, where people "mind their own business," does not result in a safer or friendlier atmosphere.

In fact, in the relatively small area of 101st street, the opposite is true. Despite the picture perfect architecture, the lamps and.