The Ciliwung River flows through dense urban neighborhoods on 13 April 2019 in Bukit Duri, South Jakarta. The Jakarta administration has introduced its 2019 naturalization program for three reservoirs and two rivers in the city: the Cimanggis Reservoir, Kampung Rambutan and South Sunter, as well as an old section of the Ciliwung River and West Canal.
Jakarta celebrated its 492nd birthday on June 22 and a number of challenges remain for its leaders to meets the expectations of the people.
Jakarta is the country’s center of government, economic and trade activities and culture. This means Jakarta will always attract many people to move to the city in search of a better life. Handling the process of urbanization has long been a challenge, as it involves physical, social and economic aspects. With a population of more than 10.5 million, plus being a center of commercial activity for its surrounding cities, traffic congestion remains a chronic problem in Jakarta.
The Jakarta administration also faces the challenge of providing decent housing, clean water and sanitation for its residents. The city also suffers from deep socio-economic inequality, which brings the potential for social vulnerability. On the other hand, newcomers who are diverse in terms of ethnicity, tribe, religion, education and skills, as well as gender, are a source of Jakarta\'s strength to grow into a better city.
Charles Landry, the inventor of the creative city concept, said that a good city could produce the conditions for people and organizations to think, plan and act with imagination to solve problems and build opportunities.
Therefore, a good city consists of seven elements: it is an anchor, feeling like home, being stable, preserving tradition and being unique; it is a place that offers various possibilities, stimulation and life opportunities; it is a place where people can easily communicate and connect to others, including the outside world, and allows people to feel part of a larger network; it is a place of learning, improving and reflecting; It is inspiring; it has a living culture; and, finally, a good city is united through good city design.
Some Jakartans will remember governor Ali Sadikin, who began the development of a humane Jakarta. Governor Anies Baswedan has different challenges now, including strengthening cohesion among residents. When he revived the tradition of celebrating Jakarta\'s birthday by offering entertainment at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle on Saturday, the aim was to foster interactions among people to build tolerance.
To promote cohesion, the city’s physical infrastructure, such as roads, public transportation, buildings and parks, needs to be mixed with social infrastructure, such as education and health facilities, as well as the activities of resident’s, such as enjoying morning sports on the main streets on Sundays.
Jakarta’s residents want their city to feel like home, to be lively and passionate, and provide a sense of security and hope for a better future. This is a shared responsibility.