As neighbors, merchants, visitors, and community members we are writing to express our support for the Tompkins Avenue Open Streets and wish to see them continue this summer.
On Sunday afternoons throughout the summer Tompkins Avenue is closed to traffic from Gates to Jefferson and we gather with our neighbors and friends to celebrate, make connections, and support the community. From children's activities, delicious food, music, dancing, and cultural activities, Tompkins Avenue is filled with joy. Tompkins Avenue with its Black women- and women- owned businesses has become known as a center of Black Girl Magic and these events help us to know our neighbors and to support and sustain these local businesses. We know that TAMA Open Streets is an important part of keeping these storefronts and vendors afloat and that Open Streets enables them to employ BedStuy residents.
Weather permitting, there are nine more Open Street celebrations this year and we look forward to coming together for them.
