City strives to create a friendly appearance

By Ati Nurbaiti

JAKARTA (JP): For many people living in Jakarta is a matter of survival. People are stressed. Dealing with officials and taking care of business is often frustrating. On the surface, the city seems only to care about building more skyscrapers and anything else profitable.

But there are new, heartening efforts to improve things as city planners and architects feel it is time the city became friendlier. There are many projects underway and planned for this year. Some examples follow.

The beautification of graveyards. Pretty landscapes have replaced the walls.

Walls between buildings on main roads will follow suit as skyscrapers and cemeteries shed their foreboding images.

Several sidewalks have been widened. The one on Jl. Kyai Tapa now has a wide bus stop which contrasts with other stops where passengers wait in long queues in the heat. Some sidewalks even have benches now.

More pavements will be built as Governor Surjadi Soedirdja has said he "will not tolerate" abuse of pavement space.

Jl. Prof. Satrio in Kuningan is to get wide pavements with shelter for pedestrians. Sidewalk cafes and people walking through posh buildings without suspicious security guards will be a feature of at least one road.

The city is building a 17.2-hectare forest area in Srengseng, West Jakarta, to compensate a little for lost vegetation and animal habitat in other areas. Jakartans will find space here for camping, picnics, feeding birds, fishing, boating and jogging.

The rehabilitation of historical sites continues.

These efforts should boost residents' sense of belonging. Most Jakartans are migrants and these efforts should encourage them to care more for their city.

A recent study on the capital's middle class, those with a monthly income of at least Rp 750,000, showed making the city cleaner and more beautiful was low on their list of priorities.

The municipality's efforts in accommodating low income residents, a forever source of critics, should also be noted.

The municipality still insists moving slum dwellers to cheap apartments is the best way to eliminate slums while ensuring the residents stay near where they work, although residents have repeatedly said they cannot afford the apartments. Many have sold their units and moved to new slums or to the city's outskirts. Officials are optimistic resistance to apartment living is temporary.

The housing agency, headed by Ongky Sukasah, is working with academics and novelist La Rose, to meet and talk with apartment dwellers about change.

An economic project to help women get extra income is underway "so families can feel secure they can pay the installments," Ongky said.

In several subdistricts, the municipality has sponsored the establishment of small shops.

This is to provide cheap goods compared to supermarkets.