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From YouTube: Boston Blooms Block Party Announcement - 4/11/22
Description
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is joined by Segun Idowu, Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion; Chris Cook, Executive Director of the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy; and Pam Messenger of the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District (BID) and Friends of Post Office Square for a press conference to promote the Boston Blooms Block Party. Boston Blooms is a day-long block party to welcome workers, visitors, and residents back to Downtown with free coffee, entertainment, a beer garden, food trucks, and community. Boston Blooms programming will take place on Wednesday, April 13 between South Station and Downtown Crossing Station on Summer Street.
A
A
We've
all
watched
over
the
last
couple
years
as
so
much
struggle
and
hardship
has
happened
through
the
pandemic.
It's
been
difficult
on
each
and
every
one
of
our
families.
It's
been
life-changing
for
our
small
businesses
and
we're
still
seeing
the
impacts,
as
people
are
looking
to
make
ends
meet
and
put
the
pieces
back
together.
A
Boston
blooms
connects
to
our
all-inclusive
tourism
campaign
as
well.
We
know
that
so
much
of
our
city
relies
on
visitors
from
all
across
our
neighborhoods
from
across
the
commonwealth
and
beyond,
and
so
we're
looking
to
bring
residents,
workers
and
visitors
back
to
our
businesses
on
wednesday
on
wednesday.
This
will
be
an
all-day
event,
spanning
from
south
station
to
downtown
crossing.
A
I'm
going
to
highlight
a
couple
of
the
things
that
we
you
can
look
forward
to.
If
you
find
your
way
into
work
in
person
or
come
visit,
this
wednesday,
blue
bikes
and
blue
cross
blue
shield
will
provide
free
ride
codes
for
people
looking
to
bike
to
our
event.
Downtown
lyft
is
offering
10
off
annual
membership
through
april
30th.
A
In
the
morning
on
wednesday,
from
7
30
to
10
a.m.
There
will
be
free,
dunkin,
coffee
and
food
there'll,
be
music
by
fabiola,
mendes,
djy
sham
and
defrays
in
the
afternoon
come
outside
for
your
lunch
break,
because
we're
going
to
celebrate
a
food
truck
festival
at
dewey
square
near
south
station
with
mozilla
northeast
of
the
border,
north
american
catering
and
others
who
will
have
special
promotions
as
well.
A
There
will
be
performances
by
junk
music
and
live
mural
by
street
theory
and
we'll
have
free
plant
giveaways
while
supplies
last
and
then
in
the
evening
bring
your
co-workers
meet
your
friends
schedule
some
after
work
fun
as
from
4
to
8
p.m.
We'll
have
a
beer
garden
at
downtown
crossing
with
democracy.
A
We
have
an
opportunity
right
now
in
boston
to
think
about
the
ways
in
which
we
want
to
rebuild
to
match
what's
possible
later
this
week
on
wednesday.
During
the
day,
I
will
officially
be
presenting
our
first
budget
to
the
boston
city
council
as
part
of
that
there
will
be
our
investments
in
keeping
our
city
programs
running
and
making
sure
we're
responding
to
the
needs
and
community
and
we'll
also
be
outlining
our
federal
recovery
package.
A
The
arpa
dollars
from
the
american
rescue
plan
are
going
to
fund
a
couple
key
areas
that
we're
looking
to
transform
what's
possible.
Much
of
that
lines
up
with
what's
happening
here
on
wednesday
too,
so
we'll
be
highlighting
that
34
million
dollars
will
be
proposed
for
economic
opportunity
and
inclusion
to
grow
by
pac-owned.
Businesses,
invest
in
our
main
streets,
expand
a
commercial
rental
rebate
program,
grow,
tuition-free,
community
college
and
workforce
training.
A
We'll
also
be
proposing
20
million
dollars
for
arts
and
culture,
an
unprecedented
investment
in
our
cities,
organizations
and
artists
to
facilitate
place
making
such
as
what
we'll
see
here
on
wednesday
and
strengthen
our
communities
at
the
neighborhood
level
and
city
wide.
There
are
many
other
categories
that
we'll
be
investing
in
from
mental
health
and
behavioral
health,
to
our
schools
and
early
education
and,
of
course,
a
big
big
down
payment
on
what
we
need
towards
our
affordable
housing
and
housing
stability
efforts.
But
just
a
preview
of
that
today.
A
B
B
But
it
you
know
running
a
city
is
obviously
not
easy
and
and
it
can
get
complicated
to
meet
everyone's
needs,
but
I
think
that
at
least
for
downtown
crossing
and
beacon
hill,
it's
gone
very
smoothly
and
we
look
forward
to
a
new
chapter.
You
know,
I
have
to
say
also
I'm
quite
proud
to
have
an
asian
in
the
office.
I
I'm
asian
and
I
used
to
check
it
off
in
my
application.
B
So
I
thought
that
I'm
asian
and
I
am
asian,
but
at
any
rate
it's
it's
wonderful
to
as
a
persian
as
an
asian
who
celebrates
spring
say
that
with
spring
comes
a
new
beginning
and
our
mayor
has
certainly
set
the
stage
for
this
spring
to
become
our
new
beginning
for
downtown
crossing
and
the
city
of
boston.
I
also
want
to
thank
tremendously
the
downtown
bid
organization
which
has
made
everything
possible
in
downtown
crossing
through
the
pandemic.
Cleaning
keeping
security
up
and
I
know,
will
persevere
ultimately,
and
I
can't
thank
them
enough
either.
C
I
just
want
to
say
a
couple,
quick
thank
yous
and
acknowledge
and
appreciate
bob
and
many
of
the
business
owners
in
this
area
who
have
done
everything
they
can
to
keep
their
businesses
operating
and
moving
along
keeping
folks
employed,
giving
reasons
for
people
to
continue
coming
down
here
to
the
downtown
area,
but
also
want
to
thank
other
leaders
who
are
standing
behind
me,
pam
and
anita
and
rose
and
michael
at
the
boston,
downtown
boston
bid.
I
want
to
thank
chris
cook
and
rachel
lake
at
the
rose
kennedy
greenway.
C
I
want
to
thank
so
many
of
the
other
leaders
who
are
here
with
us
today,
our
ambassadors
in
the
downtown
for
the
downtown
boston
bid,
who
are
here,
who
have
been
here
throughout
covid,
making
sure
that
everyone
is
heading
in
the
right
direction
getting
where
they
need
to
be,
but
also
want
to
thank
members
of
the
city
hall
team.
You
know
this.
This
is
not
something
that
we
put
together
overnight.
C
I
know
here
at
city
hall,
where
we're
back
in
the
office
being
able
to
stop
inside
someone's
office
to
ask
a
quick
question.
Instead
of
sending
an
email
setting
up
a
zoom
meeting
for
later
that
day
and
then
trying
to
do
the
same
thing,
all
over
again
has
been
really
helpful
to
getting
some
work
done
in
an
efficient
way.
C
This
is
truly
a
cross-cabinet
cross-collaborative
effort
to
make
sure
that
we
are
focused
on
revitalizing
this
downtown
area,
but
taking
those
different
policies
and
initiatives
that
we
put
into
place
to
spread
across
the
rest
of
this
city,
so
that
all
of
our
neighborhoods
are
working
together
to
bring
our
folks
back
and
turn
our
neighbors
into
tourists
and
I'll
just
add
one
last
piece
to
this.
Last
week.
C
Actually,
last
tuesday,
we
were
sitting
on
the
third
floor
of
city
hall,
talking
about
the
phase
two
of
the
all-inclusive
campaign,
which
is
also
a
piece
of
revitalizing,
our
downtown
area
and
revitalizing,
the
rest
of
our
neighborhoods,
showing
the
rich
cultural
and
ethnic
diversity
of
our
city
and
showcasing
many
of
our
businesses
who
add
to
the
vibrancy
of
our
neighborhoods
in
this
area.
So
again,
I
want
to
thank
all
of
our
partners.
I
want
to
thank
all
of
you
who
are
here
today
and
thank
you
mayor
wu
for
this
opportunity
and
bring
us
all
together.
D
D
This
has
been
an
important
first
step:
it's
not
the
end-all
be-all,
and
it's
not
the
only
thing
that
we'll
all
be
doing,
but
this
is
the
room
where
it's
gonna
happen
right
here:
downtown
crossing
for
free
coffee
on
wednesday
morning,
thanks
to
duncan
and
democracy
brewing,
boston's,
downtown
boston's
own
microbrewery
is
going
to
be
setting
up
a
beer
garden
here
at
four
o'clock
on
wednesday
will
be
live
music
here
throughout
the
day.
So
please
come
out
and
play
everybody.
Thank
you.
A
E
This
is
the
harpy
to
boston.
This
is
downtown
all
right,
we're
right
between
america's
first
park
and
america's
most
contemporary
park.
The
rose
kennedy
greenway.
This
is
the
heartbeat
of
boston
and
what
happens
here?
Matters
it
matters
here
because
of
the
jobs
that
are
provided
by
downtown
boston
and
that's
why
we
as
a
community,
have
to
get
back
down
and
support
all
these
business
owners
have
been
having
such
a
tough
couple
of
years
and
support
these
restaurants
and
make
sure
that
the
people
who
are
employed
by
these
businesses
stay
employed
so
mayor.
E
We
can't
thank
you
enough
for
prioritizing
this.
Thank
you.
I'm
also
very
grateful
to
chief
ito
and
for
everything
his
cabinet's
doing,
including
planning
of
this
event
and
very
grateful
to
be
here
in
downtown
crossing.
You
know
it's
hard
to
be
here
without
thinking
of
someone
who
prioritized
this
space
every
single
day,
and
that
was
rosemary,
sansone
downtown
crossing
is
great
because
rosemary
sansone
was
great
and
so
she'd
be
so
happy
right
now.
E
If
she
knew
we
were
going
to
be
throwing
a
big
party
to
welcome
all
these
workers
back
and
that's
what
we're
going
to
do.
So
as
far
as
the
greenway,
the
greenway
is
all
about
connections.
I
mean
think
about
this.
We
used
to
have
a
highway
infrastructure,
separate
our
neighborhoods
from
its
own
waterfront.
Instead,
now
we
connected
through
this
beautiful
green
space
and
that's
what
we're
going
to
do
here
on
wednesday
we're
going
to
be
connecting
people
back
to
downtown.
E
A
Just
to
say,
come
on
back,
come
on
back,
we'll
make
it
fun
we're
going
to
do
everything
we
can
to
make
it
fun,
but
we
also
know
we
have
to
make
it
easier,
more
convenient
and
more
possible
for
every
one
of
our
families
to
balance
commuting
and
being
in
person
as
well.
So
the
city's
hard
at
work
on
taking
down
barriers
for
child
care,
affordability
and
making
sure
we're
citing
those
locations.
A
We
saw
so
much
of
what
was
lost
during
the
pandemic
when,
when
I
I
don't
know
if
anyone
else
came
downtown
at
certain
moments
and
just
shocked
at
how
quiet
it
was
everywhere,
it
is
so
important
not
just
for
our
companies
and
residents
who
are
in
this
area,
but
for
residents
throughout
our
city
and
across
the
region
to
have
a
thriving
commercial
center.
That
is
deeply
connected
to
our
neighborhood
business
districts
as
well.
A
So
there's
been
a
lot
of
feedback
from
business
owners
throughout
the
years,
even
before
the
pandemic,
that
we
needed
to
have
more
focus,
more
resources
and
intentionality
about
downtown
and
particularly
downtown
crossing.
The
bid
has
been
instrumental
in
bringing
that
vibrancy
and
vitality
with
our
ambassador
program
with
music
with
with
something
for
everyone
here,
but
we
are
looking
very
intentionally
at
what
sorts
of
space
needs
there
are.
A
Are
there
places
that
need
to
be
subdivided
or,
as
the
chief
mentioned,
are
there
places
where
we
can
work
with
the
property
owner
to
think
about
conversions
to
residential
space?
There
are
many
needs
that
we
want
to
address
in
this
moment
of
not
just
challenge
but
also
opportunity.
Child
care,
for
example,
is
much
needed.
Downtown
too.
A
So
the
goal
of
having
programming
in
our
city,
that
is,
that
is
out
outside
and
bringing
people
together
across
a
wide
swath
of
downtown,
is
that
it
will
be
safe
for
everyone.
Of
course,
we
want
to
continue
to
make
sure
that
everybody
is
aware
of
where
our
case
numbers
are.
We
are
at
just
over
five
percent
right
now
in
terms
of
community
positivity,
it's
about
5.4
percent
city-wide,
and
we
want
to
stay
vigilant
and
encourage
anyone
who
is
more
comfortable
wearing
a
mask
to.
A
A
Well,
I
will
just
say
all
of
this
will
be
presented
on
wednesday
in
greater
detail
and
through
many
more
conversations
with
the
boston
city
council,
as
our
colleagues
on
the
council
have
allocated
allocating
authority,
but
I'll
bring
the
chief
up
to
talk
about
his
dreams
and
vision
for
how
these
dollars
are
allocated.
So
we
can
make
our
case.
C
So
the
the
question
for
those
who
may
not
have
heard
is
around
but
the
budget
and
how
we're
going
to
be
using
those
dollars
to
bring
folks
back
to
the
downtown
area.
And
again,
as
the
mayor
said,
we
won't
go
too
much
into
figures
as
that
will
be
released
on
wednesday.
But,
as
mentioned
earlier,
you
know,
there's
a
five-part
strategy
of
getting
folks
back
down
here.
We
know
that
employers
want
to
encourage
folks
to
come
back
down
here,
which
is
the
meat
of
the
foot
traffic
that
come
down
to
the
downtown
area.
C
C
Yes,
and-
and
so
one
other
piece
you
know
like
I
mentioned
before,
you
know
what
we're
doing
in
the
downtown
area
is
not
just
going
to
be
downtown.
This
is
our
pilot.
This
is
our
incubator
for
our
ideas,
where
we'll
be
able
to
expand
them
across
the
city,
and
so
one
of
the
major
investments
that
this
mayor
committed
to
on
the
campaign
trail
and
now
as
mayor,
is
in
investing
more
significantly
in
our
main
streets
program.
A
The
question
was
about
raising
the
minimum
wage.
We
have
seen
just
how
much
the
cost
of
living
in
boston
has
gone
up
and
it's
been
harder
and
harder
to
afford
to
stay
here
and
so,
whether
that's
on
the
city
side,
as
we're
thinking
through
the
jobs
that
19
000
jobs
that
the
city
has
or
throughout
our
small
businesses.
Having
that
pay
equity
and
having
a
livable
wage
is
really
important.
F
A
Well,
the
inclusive
boston
campaign
is
really
highlighting
boston's
ethos
as
a
city
that
is
full
of
not
only
history
and
a
legacy
of
being
connected
to
to
this
country's
democracy,
but
also
a
vibrant
home
to
the
many
diverse
communities
that
make
up
our
incredible
city
today.
That
will
be
reflected
in
what
we
see
on
wednesday,
as
well,
in
in
the
performances
and
in
the
small
businesses
that
we
are.
G
G
A
You
so
this
is
an
important
point,
because
we
want
to
be
able
to
connect
all
of
our
communities,
but
that
means
that
our
basics
to
be
able
to
drive
or
to
be
able
to
get
there
has
to
work.
So
this
has
been
a
really
hard
season
for
potholes,
very
hard,
potholes
form
and
I'll.
Just
take
a
slight
diversion.
A
Then
we'll
go
back
to
any
questions,
potholes
form
when
the
temperature
goes
below
freezing
and
then
back
up
and
up
and
down
and
up
and
down,
because
the
water
gets
in
it
freezes,
it
expands
all
the
pavement
and
then
it
melts,
and
then
it
makes
holes
and
then
more
water
gets
in.
So
when
you
see
things
where,
like
it's
snowing
and
hailing
and
then
it's
hot
again
and
then
it's
snowing
again,
that
always
translates
into
a
really
hard
time
catching
up
with
the
potholes
that
are
forming.
A
G
F
A
Yeah,
so
the
question
was
on
receivership
in
the
boston
public
schools.
We
continue
to
work
collaboratively
with
the
state
they
the
week
of.
Let's
see.
Last
week,
the
state
deci
staff
were
in
various
boston,
public
schools.
The
district
has
worked
to
provide
a
very
comprehensive
set
of
data
and
information
and
metrics
that
outline
the
progress.
A
That's
been
made
over
the
last
two
years,
as
well
as
areas
for
continued
need
and
we'll
continue
working
with
them
as
they
update
their
report
and
recommendations,
but
as
of
this
point,
still
feeling
very
empowered
about
the
path
forward
for
the
boston,
public
schools,
with
our
superintendent
search
and
I'll
continue
to
have
conversations
with
school
leaders
and
educators
and
our
young
people
about
how
we
keep
building
on
that.
Thank
you.
Everyone.