Jane’s Walk Los Angeles 2017

Welcome to Jane’s Walk Los Angeles 2017!

I’m excited, inspired, and humbled to be the new City Organizer (CO) for Jane’s Walk Los Angeles.

Lisa Bernhauser & Glenn Zucman in front of a large Roy Lichtenstein living room painting at The Broad Museum in Los Angeles
Lisa Bernhauser (stripes), Glenn Zucman (dots) & Roy Lichtenstein (both) at The Broad Museum on Grand Avenue in Los Angeles.

Who’s Jane Jacobs? What’s Jane’s Walk? Great questions! Here’s 2 videos: the 1st will tell you about Jane Jacobs & the 2nd will tell you about Jane’s Walk:

I hope that gave you a taste of Jane Jacobs’ ideas and the legacy that has become Jane’s Walk.

IDK the history of Jane’s Walk Los Angeles. It looks like there was an organizer and some walks for the first time in 2015, and then none last year. So this is a getting started year again.

No Jane’s Walk in a megalopolis like Los Angeles!?!?

Ironically, if you read Jane Jacobs’ masterpiece, The Death & Life of Great American Cities, although she doesn’t say it in so many words, it becomes clear that in all the vast expanse of North America, Los Angeles was Jacobs’ least favorite city.

I’m not offended. I get it. The sprawl that we live in here, the constant car commuting, is hard on developing neighborhoods and communities. Cars are convenient, but they disrupt, rather than create, community.

Still, can you think of a more creative city? Can you think of a more diverse city? Can you think of a more eclectic city with more different cultures slamming up against each other and creating new cultural mashups every day? I was surprised 3 months ago to learn that the 21 January Women’s March had more participants in Los Angeles, about 750,000 than even Washington DC, about 500,000.

So let’s walk!

Jane’s Walks aren’t expert tours. They aren’t tourist tours. They’re just people who love and know a little bit about some part of the city sharing what they know. Walk Leaders try not to talk too much, because walkers know things, and have insights into their neighborhoods too. A Jane’s Walk is a chance to meet other residents, to share a walk, to share ideas, and to celebrate the culture of place.

This year Jane’s Walk Los Angeles is Fri-Sat-Sun, the 5, 6 & 7 of May. You can attend any walk for free. You can sign up to lead a walk of anyplace you know a little about. You can ask me any questions you have about Jane’s Walk.

Jane’s Walk LA ’17 links

What Jane’s Walk will you lead?

  • Grand Avenue Arts District?
  • Santee Alley?
  • Venice Beach from The Rose to The Art Walls?
  • Or just a walk down the street from your place?

Everyone knows some place. Everyone loves some place. Sign up to lead a walk. Share, as Jane Jacobs called it, the intricate sidewalk ballet, with your neighbors.

Give me a shout if you have any questions. I’ll see you at Jane’s Walk Los Angeles!

— Glenn

photo on the march route of the 21 January 2017 Women's March in Los Angeles
Women’s March, Los Angeles, 21 January 2017