THE CITY

Thursday, May 26, 2023

The City

All those people living so close to each other. I love the city. I was born in Brooklyn, NY and lived in the New York City Area for 31 years. I moved to San Francisco and have stayed for 61 years. I love the freedom of the city. I freely choose my friends. My neighbors known and unknown leave me alone. Yet in an emergency I know I can get immediate help. People do that.

People have “eyes on the sidewalk” to use *Jane Jacobs’ expression.

I came home from work one day and got out of my VW. My 6 year daughter was playing on the sidewalk. I came over to her and knelt down to chat. Suddenly I felt someone behind me. I stood up and turned. The woman said, “Oh it’s you. I was afraid it was a stranger.” I did not know this neighbour.

 

Good neighborhoods are diverse neighbourhoods. Mixed use, residential and business, is found in the Noe Valley 24th Street stretch from Church to Castro Streets. Restaurants, Groceries, Real Estate offices, clothing shops, banks, Liquor stores, spas, Yoga studios and antique shops file along the way. The mix of races, Asian, Black, White. Languages Parsi, French, German, Tagalog, Spanish, Irish brogues, drawls and even English, astonish.

I personally would like to see more diversity. More stores on street corners especially for seniors to shop. There are many long blocks of residences before  a store emerges. Note the blocks between 18th Street to 24th Street and Dolores between 18th Street to Caesar Chavez there are almost no stores.

Cities are concrete jungles. Yes, lots of concrete and bricks pave the city. But there are jungles of green trees, blue flowers, red roses, bushes and plants in front yards, between buildings and hanging from lamp pots and doorways. There are lush parks with blue skies above. The meridians between lanes on major streets are filled with green, red and blue flowers and plants.

City people are nosey but not prying. We are interested in the behaviour of our neighbors. That lends to cheery gossip and good communications. Generally we don’t spend much time trying to judge behaviour unless it is threatening or bordering on illegal.

One can walk in cities. I have walked New York, London, Paris and Munich.  My wife loves country walks, long hikes and even treks. I like urban walks where I can see people, admire store windows, walk into shops and get bite to eat. We walk together along the promenade at the end of Golden Gate Park above the beach and the Pacific Ocean. Blustery fresh air and the smell of the ocean delight.

Eating is the heart of the city. We can easily walk to Mexican, Asian, Guatemalan, Peruvian, Greek and Italian restaurants. Short drives take us to French, Japanese, Philippine, Beef and Argentinian venues. Food and drink is everywhere. Pizza counters, espresso stores, bakeries, bars and grills, luncheonettes and fast food joints delight our tastes. Food is nourishment and it is also entertainment. We chat, meet new people and whine and complain.

Part of city life is to be critical. We love to moan  and groan about the police, public transportation, taxis, schools, the mayor, politicians and taxes. Our frail human nature leads us to see the bad stuff, often forgetting to be thankful for all the good stuff that happens to us every day, living in the city.

Our city planners teach us to see that city living is the most efficient way to save the planet, clear the air, save water and keep the ocean clean. City living uses less airiable land. Three families live in one building on a piece of land. In the suburbs one family lives on the  same size piece of land. 

Cars are less needed for commuting. Improving public transportation will make cars less important. Water is saved by not watering pools, lawns and huge gardens. Programs limiting plastics use are organised in cities will help clean the oceans and preserve sea life.

The city nourishes me. I feel close to people but free from their demands. Everything I need is in walking distance. I feel safe in the city. Hospitals, doctors, dentists, medicine and care givers are close by. I can depend on my close family and friends and the many others with eyes on the sidewalk.

* The Death and Life of the Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs