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Residents and business owners urge city support after successful Belmont Pride event
Summary
Organizers and local business owners told the council that a June 7 Pride event drew visitors, boosted downtown sales and made LGBTQ+ residents feel welcome; speakers asked the city to consider official support when the council reviews future events.
Organizers and downtown business owners told the Belmont City Council on July 7 that the city’s first Pride event on June 7 drew substantial local and out‑of‑town participation and deserves formal city backing in future years.
Michelle Rosardo, who said she co‑organized the event, told council members the parade and activities involved 13 downtown businesses and numerous visiting groups, and that geo‑tracking data showed increased economic activity: “Beaumont Prime was a huge success…countless people came up to us thanking us for putting this event on,” Rosardo said.
The event drew broad praise from other speakers. Molly Halbrook, a local therapist and small business owner, said supporting Pride “sends a message that Belmont is a place where everything matters,” and urged council members to consider how city endorsement affects residents’ sense of safety and belonging. Talia Simons, who represented a downtown business that participated, said the day produced strong, positive customer feedback and drove downtown visitation. Jonathan Katharine of Primal Brewery complimented organizers on logistics and said the weekend created significant foot traffic for local merchants.
Speakers also asked the council to respond to online criticism from a council member. Rosardo singled out Councilman Hill’s social‑media post, saying he characterized organizers as new residents and removed supportive comments while leaving hateful remarks; she urged him to reconsider his online tone. No council response to that specific complaint was recorded during public comment.
Why it matters: Organizers argued the event generated both economic benefits and community connections that warrant city cooperation, including logistical and promotional support. Council members did not take an immediate vote on city sponsorship during public comment; the remarks will be part of council records as staff and members weigh future event support and permitting.
The council moved from public comment to hearing items scheduled on the agenda; no formal action on Pride sponsorship was taken at the July 7 meeting.
