Comic Illustrates the Capitalist Co-option of Jane Jacobs's Teachings

A new illustrate comic strip published by the Nib examines "Jane Jacobs vs. The Power Brokers."

1 minute read

December 10, 2019, 6:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Jane Jacobs

Phil Stanziola / Wikimedia Commons

Illustrators Sarah Mirk and Jackie Roche tackle the history of Jane Jacobs evolving from a "little-known architecture critic" to the "patron saint of progressive urban planning," and how that legacy has evolved as money and gentrification have capitalized on the ideas Jacobs exposed to the world.  

This isn't the first time that the Jacobs vs. power brokers history has been illustrated, though the book Robert Moses: Master Builder of New York City focused on the force on the other side of the equation.

Click through to read the "Jane Jacobs vs. The Power Brokers" comic in full.

Friday, December 6, 2019 in The Nib

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

A Firefighter sprays water from a hose at a tall blaze.

US buildings threatened, destroyed by fires set to triple by 2060

Researchers found a high fire risk for socioeconomically vulnerable neighborhoods in the American West.

6 hours ago - Inside Climate News

People cross a crosswalk in Los Angeles.

LA residents may be allowed to paint their own crosswalks

Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky put out a motion instructing the Los Angeles Department of Public Transportation to study the feasibility of allowing volunteers to paint crosswalks.

7 hours ago - ABC7

Two women walking on the sidewalk in Dallas.

Dallas moves to overhaul its zoning code

The city's zoning reform will allow more multi-family and mixed-use developments.

November 4 - Yahoo News