Jane Jacobs and Terrorists

Ann Althouse reflects on the news regarding the t-shirt vendor who spotted something amiss and reported a car bomb in New York City's Times Square. Ann discusses Jane Jacob's definition of a well-used city street downtown (from the book The Death and Life of Great American Cities) and its components, namely: 1) a clear definition of public and private space, 2) people looking at the street, and 3) an active sidewalk. Obviously, all of these components make Times Square an active street. Now we understand that an active street can provide some early warning for possible terrorism.