Boston’s push for a vibrant nighttime economy
Writer: Andrea Teran
August 2024 — Boston‘s nightlife is about to get a major boost as Mayor Michelle Wu and the Office of Nightlife Economy announced the 42 recipients of the inaugural “Wake Up the Night Grant.”
The grant, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, awards up to $10,000 to 42 individuals and organizations to support “nighttime activations.” This initiative aims to invigorate the city’s nightlife with 50 events across 13 neighborhoods, all free and open to the public. The program has attracted 198 applications from residents, nonprofits, and businesses, showcasing the community’s enthusiasm for revitalizing Boston’s night scene.
“The Wake Up the Night grants are a critical effort to revitalize our nighttime economy and create opportunities for residents to enjoy activated spaces through the rest of the year,” said Mayor Michelle Wu in a press release. “I’m thrilled to announce these awardees from across the city. Their creative programming highlights our communities and supports residents and businesses in their efforts to make all of our neighborhoods safe and enjoyable.”
The funded events cover various categories, including youth programming, accessible programming, cultural expression, intergenerational programming, spirit-free programming, and weekday activations. “The Wake Up the Night Grants are a crucial part of our strategy to bring new energy to Boston’s nightlife,” said Corean Reynolds, director of the Office of Nightlife Economy. “By amplifying community-lead solutions and supporting diverse and inclusive events across our neighborhoods, we aim to create a thriving nighttime economy that benefits all residents.”
Boston’s nightlife has been criticized for its restrictive policies and regulations, which many argue contribute to the city’s struggle to retain young residents. According to a 2023 survey by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Foundation, 25% of 20-to-30 year olds are planning to leave the city within the next five years, with top factors including high costs and to some extent limited night entertainment options.
Simultaneously, the Massachusetts Senate is pushing a legislative proposal to bring back happy hour, banned since 1984 due to concerns over drunk driving. The amendment was introduced by Senator Julian Cyr, a Provincetown Democrat, whose standalone bill to restore drink specials was killed earlier this session. He made the case during the economic bill debate that the measure would boost businesses statewide. Cyr highlighted that allowing local governments to decide on drink specials would give communities the flexibility to determine what works best for them.
Cyr argues that lifting the ban could help combat the state’s reputation for being expensive and uninteresting, particularly for younger residents. He notes that other states have successfully reinstated happy hour without an increase in alcohol-related accidents, pointing to changes in technology and behavior, such as the prevalence of ride-hailing services, which reduce the risk of drunk driving.
However, the proposal faces opposition from some lawmakers and the Massachusetts Restaurant Association (MRA). The MRA warns that happy hours could lead to increased liquor liability insurance costs and unfair competition among establishments. In the past, similar amendments were killed during these negotiations, often facing veto threats from former Governor Charlie Baker. Governor Maura Healey’s stance remains unclear, according to the boston globe her spokesperson stated that the governor would “review any legislation that reaches her desk.”
“It’s been tremendously challenging for restaurants, for bars, for other small businesses in our downtowns,” Cyr, testified at the committee hearing as reported by NBC. “We need to be thinking about, after they’re done with work, how do we get people out of their homes and back to Main Streets, back to downtowns, patronizing these businesses? I think a local option happy hour is one way to do it.”
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