With a campaign announcement seemingly imminent, Boston’s acting mayor Kim Janey announced a $2.5 million, largely digital ad campaign designed to plant the seeds of economic recovery in the city’s tourism and hospitality industries by boosting local neighborhoods away from downtown.
Janey and the "All Inclusive Boston" creators said Monday the video will showcase the city’s diversity and contribute to changing perceptions of the city. The announcement is an example of how Janey, who is widely expected to be a mayoral candidate, benefits from the work of the Walsh administration, which commissioned the project six months ago, as All Inclusive Boston account executive Colette Phillips noted during the announcement.
“For the first time, I see our city promoting itself in a way that I feel seen,” said Janey at the unveiling. “I think this is a powerful way to showcase all that is amazing about our city that is already here, that has been changing over time.”
Officials said All Inclusive Boston will be promoted regionally and as far as Connecticut, New Jersey and New York, for now. After the pandemic it could play across the U.S. and internationally.
In the midst of the City Hall press conference, John Barros, Walsh’s former economic development chief who is also running for mayor, took credit for the campaign in an email to the press.
“I’m very proud to have led the creation of the All Inclusive Boston tourism campaign over the past year, and I’m proud to see it moving forward,” said Barros in a statement. “I hope to see further investment in this campaign in the immediate future.”
The statement could foreshadow a dynamic that could play out between the former Walsh aid and the city council president who inherited the balance of Walsh’s term.
If Janey fulfills expectations and announces this week, political professionals will focus on campaign funds raised to date.
Janey last month raised about $187,000 in March and has a total of $248,000 in the bank.
As of March, Barros has banked $228,000.
Janey’s cash on hand lags those of fellow candidates Andrea Campbell, who has nearly $975,000 in the bank; Michelle Wu, who has about $941,000; and Annissa Essaibi-George, who has about $426,000, but collected more than $200,000 within the last 30 days.
