The Death and Life of Great American Cities, by Jane Jacobs

An other misbelieve by city reformers
is that people hanging
around the street corners increases
the street insecurity.
“ ...If these people had decent
homes and more private
or bosky outdoor places, they
wouldn‘t be on the streets.”
According to the author this is
a terrible misunderstanding of
cities.
Insecurity can‘t be salved by
spreading people more thinly.
Gathering areas are important
for cities, they bring together
strangers, and there comes up
a feeling of “community”, a presence
of casual public trust.
Ahmedabad