Mayor Taveras Speaks of Importance of Cities at Netroots Nation

Providence mayor taking active role as host of national conference of progressive bloggers and activists.

Delivering a welcoming address today to thousands of progressive bloggers, political activists, labor leaders, grassroots organizers and journalists in Providence for Netroots Nation's annual conference, Providence Mayor Angel Taveras spoke of the crucial importance of Providence and all cities to America's future.

"Cities matter. They matter mightily. And here in Providence, we are fighting to save our state's capital city," said Mayor Taveras, speaking at the opening session of the conference of progressive bloggers and activists.

"Cities define America and they define the American dream," Mayor Taveras continued. "Young men and women today find their path to opportunity in our cities: a college education, a first job, a place to raise a young family. Cities matter. Cities have always been the heartbeat of economic, social and cultural activity. Whether it was connecting a railroad from San Francisco to New York City in years past, or connecting bloggers from Providence to the world through the technology of the present, it's the great American city that has always been our foundation for growth and prosperity."

Nearly 3,000 people have gathered in Providence for Netroots Nation 2012, one of the nation's most important political events of the year. Nobel Prize-winning economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman will deliver the keynote address for the conference, which will also feature Elizabeth Warren, the Democratic Party's US Senate hopeful from Massachusetts; the AFL-CIO's Rich Trumka; the Agenda Project's Erica Payne; and Ai-jen Poo - the director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance who Time magazine recently named as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2012.

Mayor Taveras is taking an active role as Providence hosts Netroots Nation 2012. On Friday, June 8, Mayor Taveras will walk the convention floor to greet conference attendees. Later in the evening, the Mayor and US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse will host a Netroots Nation block party at Local 121, a farm-to-table restaurant at the corner of Washington and Mathewson Streets in downtown Providence.

A Waterfire will be held on Saturday, June 9, and Mayor Taveras has invited Netroots' attendees to explore the city and enjoy Providence's world-class restaurants and cultural venues, as well as an enormous selection of special events and after-parties occurring during this week.