LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the birth
of Jane Jacobs, journalist, author and urban design advocate, on May 4,
2016

WHEREAS, From time to time we take note of certain individuals whom we
wish to recognize for their valued contributions and to publicly
acknowledge their endeavors which have enhanced the lives of others; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the
100th Anniversary of the birth of Jane Jacobs, journalist, author and
urban design advocate, on May 4, 2016; and
WHEREAS, Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on May 4, 1916, Jane Jacobs
moved to New York in the midst of the Great Depression and was imme-
diately drawn to the New York City neighborhood of Greenwich Village due
to its divergence from Manhattan's traditional street grid; and
WHEREAS, Jane Jacobs became a devoted advocate for the preservation of
Greenwich Village's unique character while working as a journalist for
Architectural Forum; and
WHEREAS, Jane Jacobs boldly stood up to the planning establishment of
the 1950s and 1960s, penning her first major essay "Downtown Is For
People" for FORTUNE magazine in 1958 to oppose plans for urban renewal
that failed to account for the human dimension of neighborhood life in
lower Manhattan; and
WHEREAS, Jane Jacobs then published her seminal work THE DEATH AND
LIFE OF GREAT AMERICAN CITIES in 1961, forever altering accepted dogma
in the field of urban planning and practice by offering people-centered
alternatives to urban renewal; and
WHEREAS, Jane Jacobs set an example for civic activism and leadership
by chairing the Joint Committee to Stop the Lower Manhattan Expressway
and organizing neighbors to successfully oppose a transportation
proposal by Robert Moses that would have torn through Washington Square
Park and decimated 14 blocks of Greenwich Village; and
WHEREAS, Jane Jacobs not only left an imprint on the streets and
skyline of New York City, but also originated ideas that have had an
impact in cities across the world; this remarkable woman died on April
25, 2006, at the age of 90; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to congratulate all
those concerned citizens who, like Jane Jacobs, work to sustain and make
vibrant New York's communities for future generations; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Jane Jacobs, journal-
ist, author and urban design advocate, on May 4, 2016, recognizing and
paying tribute to her legacy.