Hot Vax Summer Starts Now! 👙☀

In probably the biggest news of the past two weeks (oh heck, who are we kidding? – of the entire last 14 months!), the CDC announced relaxed mask guidance last week for vaccinated individuals. After an expeditious public vaccination roll-out earlier this year, numbers are dropping across the board; not only for infections and hospitalizations, but for the number of folks getting vaccinated. Numerous places have reported a goal of 70% vaccination, but we’re far from reaching herd immunity. What does all of this mean?  It definitely means we’re in for an interesting couple of months ahead, and the rumors and fears of (massive STI outbreaks), #hotvaxsummer may be coming to a town near you soon.

– Your Bright Brothers Team

It’s no secret that there’s a serious imbalance between open positions and an apparent paucity of workers to fill them. The April jobs report came in with some disappointing results; having added only 266,000 jobs nationally – way shy of the one million payroll adds anticipated. Some leaders blame the extension of benefits and a $300 weekly supplement. But many analysts say the situation is much more complex than simply dollar signs. “It’s the pandemic, stupid.” Shifting attitudes and reevaluation of life priorities seem to be playing a larger role in decisions not to return to thankless service positions dealing with the general public for less than a living wage. Who can blame them? The toughest position deficits are in bar/resto, hotel/hospitality and gig workers like delivery and rideshare drivers. Rideshare leaders Uber and Lyft are struggling to keep up with increased demand, and turning to enhanced benefits, bonuses, vaccinations and payment guarantees to lure workers back into the driver’s seat – while also dealing with policy changes that directly impact their burgeoning business models. Buckle up for a wild ride ahead.

Photo credit: Robert Anasch, Unsplash

Many downtowns are flagging physical signals of economic fatigue with vacant storefronts and shuttered businesses due to the devastating effects of the pandemic on street-level commerce, decreased parking & ped counts, and WFH policies wonking out our districts. One solution we really love hails from the Lone Star State. Leaders in Downtown Austin are piloting a crafty solution to activate empty storefronts while supporting creative economy workers with spaces, funding and extensions of the busking program. Executive Director Molly Alexander was quoted as saying something we can all relate to, “Vacant storefronts are costly to everyone in the community because people walk by it and it’s not engaging you,” she said. “We know in Austin a lot of people for a lot of years have been trying to crack the nut of finding affordable spaces for artists, musicians and the creative class. We wanted to start the conversation around having this issue of the pandemic and make it work by figuring out what it looks like from the property owners’ side.”  By programming unleased and interim-leased spaces, the program connects two communities with aligned interests, that collectively serve to support the entire downtown. Applause, please!

Photo credit: Matt Seymour, Unsplash

With pandemic-era restrictions ending, many downtowns, districts, retail centers and destinations are looking to amp their placemaking game with outstanding activations, events and public engagement tactics. While lighting and illumination have been trending big time for the past few years in placemaking spheres, one of the most impressive we’ve seen to date is called “Ghost Ship” by a clever pair out of Romania who go by Biangle Studio. The interactive art duo have customized their captivating water + projection concept in cities worldwide to create an eerie, awe-inspiring and unforgettable experience for those who view it. Bright Brothers has been collaborating with these European wunderkinds in an effort to bring more amazing art installations stateside, so if you’re looking for something that will really put your district ahead of the herd, give us a shout and well gladly make an intro!

Photo credit: Biangle Studio

Many of us who live in cities have adapted to car-free lifestyles, or sharing vehicles, and with Transit Oriented Development, plus bike and ride shares growing in popularity, the 15 Minute City is becoming a real possibility. We’re taking a tiny cue from a program in Germany called “Flotte Berlin”. Flotte means fleet and this FREE cargo bikeshare model now boasts nearly 9,000 registered users, who use the boxed-out bikes to move anything and everything from furniture to lumber to Christmas trees or big grocery hauls. Can you imagine what your Target run would look like with one of these fascinatingly practical wheeled-wonders doing the heavy lifting for ya?  What’s your take – could this work in the States?

Photo credit: Flotte Berlin

In another ambitious move, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced last week that by the end of next year, a massive footprint covering seven of the city’s core arrondissements would be verboten to cross-city vehicular traffic. While local residents, professionals, public transportation, taxis and tradespersons will be permitted to circumnavigate the city center, the announcement is the latest move in Paris’ efforts to create a more liveable city – with reduced air and noise pollution, and a commitment to healthier modes of transportation like cycling or walking. How the ban would actually be implemented, tracked and enforced remains to be seen, but it’s another progressive step out of Europe which inspire many of us here in the America. New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio announced a new slow streets initiative last week. And Etienne Krug, a Director at the World Health Organization (WHO), supports giving streets back to the people. Countering common complaints from traffic-reliant businesses, several automobile-absent/pedestrian pilot studies around the U.S. have actually shown an increase in commercial activity in car-free zones. Can you envision a future for your district, where people, not vehicles rule the roads?

Photo credit: Berke Halman, Unsplash