BOSTON – Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn filed a hearing order to review the City of Boston’s decision-making and permitting process for approval of a block party in South Boston. Last week, residents reported posts on Instagram where someone issued an open invitation to over 125,000 followers, and well beyond the surrounding neighborhood, to attend a City of Boston funded block party, while promoting local small businesses and free food and coffee giveaways to the first 50 individuals that show up at certain times.

Although this was approved by various City of Boston departments last week, there was no signage notifying neighbors at a minimum of 48 hours in advance of the block party. Residents raised concerns on the historical precedent of a potential city street closure being promoted online by a for-profit business, and after being approved by the Mayor’s office without the proper public notice or community input under the expectation of a block party.

Neighbors also highlighted the use of public funds to potentially promote commercial interests, for-profit business, and ensuring that individuals do not use City of Boston grants for private gain. Concerns remain about how this could have potentially gone far beyond the spirit of what a regular neighborhood block party has been historically, the public safety implications if this became a much larger gathering in terms of crowd control, the need for police details and additional public funding, and accessibility for first responders with large crowds and the possibility of illegal and double parking.

“We all love a good neighborhood block party – but an open invitation to 125,000 followers, and the use of public funds potentially aiding in personal gain and to increase social media engagement – is far beyond the scope and purpose of what they have historically been intended for with surrounding neighbors,” said Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn. “It’s important for the City Council to review the permitting and public notification process for block parties, including what measures are in place to ensure public safety, first responder accessibility, and quality of life for neighbors.”

For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 and [email protected].