The re are no new problems in Jakarta. Traffic jams, flooding, pollution, disorderly public transportation, disappearing open green spaces, minimal public facilities, ineffective garbage disposal, the list goes on. Improvements that the government has tried to make have had little success. Fortunately there are still many initiatives by the people of Jakarta to improve life in the city. If there is anything new on Jakarta’s 484th anniversary it is the success of the initiatives of Jakarta residents to find solutions that actually improve life in the city.