Jacobs had no professional training in the field of city planning, nor did she hold the title of planner. She instead relied on her observations and common sense to illustrate why certain places work, and what can be done to improve those that do not. Together with William H. Whyte, Jacobs led the way in advocating for a place-based, community-centered approach to urban planning, decades before such approaches were considered sensible.

we sure need someone like that here in SA

Perhaps you could grow your own?? Jacobs was just an "ordinary" person... not an academic or highly educated person. There are a LOT of good, common-sense ideas on the Jane' s Walk website that might be a starting point.

/egs