Obviously jaywalking should be illegal
You can "legalize" crossing in the middle of the block or against the light if you want, but a human body will always lose in a collision with an automobile.
Every good parent teaches their child an important lesson: Look both ways before crossing the street. This is not because of mindless obedience to the state, but because we love them and want them to be safe. We know the danger an automobile represents and the kind of damage two thousand pounds of steel, fiberglass, plastic and glass will do to a human body - especially a little one.
While efficient movement of traffic is important for the economic health of a city, safety is a key component of traffic policy. The laws protect both people traveling by foot and people traveling by car. That is why jaywalking has been illegal for nearly 100 years. That is why we have red lights, crosswalks with pedestrian right-of-way, roundabouts and speed limits. The goal is not to restrict "freedom of movement," but to ensure that traffic moves in a safe and orderly manner.
New York City has now decriminalized jaywalking. It will be interesting to see what happens to traffic that is already often snarled and chaotic in the Big Apple, but I cannot imagine that it will be better. In fact, it could wind up being worse, and is likely to lead to more traffic fatalities. You can "legalize" crossing in the middle of the block or against the light if you want, but a human body will always lose in a collision with an automobile.
Is it true that jaywalking laws are enforced disproportionately against Blacks? It is not 1920. I very much doubt there are "racist" police officers singling out Blacks. The question is not whether Blacks get more tickets, but who is actually jaywalking in these cities where Democrats have monopoly control over city government. Is it true that police sometimes use jaywalking laws to harass people? There will always be people who abuse their authority to bully and harass others needlessly, or throw their weight around. The answer is not to make traffic less safe, but to hire better officers.
Granted, the law should protect everyone. Far too many drivers do not respect pedestrian right-of way, including walk signals. I have been bumped by someone who did not respect my right of way, and I have nearly been hit on multiple occasions by drivers who do not respect my legal right of way. Law enforcement should be reasonable about ticketing, and especially about the use of force. But the answer is not making everyone less safe by introducing more anarchy into traffic. That makes things worse, not better.