Jane Jacobs' Masterpiece, 50 Years Later

Flint, author of a book on the battle between Jacobs and Robert Moses, says that planners today might benefit more from a dose of Moses' political savvy in addition to Jacobs' ideals:

"Activists who claim the mantle of Jacobs are often simply saying 'not in my backyard.' In Brooklyn, several women donned blond wigs and black-rimmed glasses - the author's signature look - channeling Jacobs to protest rezoning and infill redevelopment plans. Jacobs sought to preserve historical gems but never intended for cities to be frozen in amber. She recognized they needed to evolve, to be places of innovation and change. But many continue to fight battles against environmentally beneficial and well-designed projects as if it were still 1961."