Real talk about the city’s economy, federal buildings leases, and telework impacts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does the mayor honestly believe that these folks are coming back? They left to go start families in the suburbs and mid-sized metros. Building 15k micro apartments downtown is not going to convince these people to return. Three bedroom apartments on Capitol Hill might, but they just spent the last decade building nothing but studios and 1-BDs. Just goes to show the risks of designing your economic strategy around a demographic cohort. When the trends turn against you, your economy is in serious trouble.

This may be true but the reason to be really concerned is how unrealistic all of this is. Bowser was lucky to serve as mayor during a strong economic environment that she had nothing to do with. Seems that she thinks all of this is easy. How does she think DCs population is going to growth by 10,000 per year for the next 5 years? That would be record breaking population growth when population growth has been decelerating since 2015. How people can have faith in Bowser I don’t know.

[Anonymous]

Jack Evans predicts a $4 billion budget deficit in FY24.
https://georgetowner.com/articles/2022/10/03/the-coming-d-c-financial-crisis/

Unless a miracle happens, hard choices (and potentially hard times) are ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A bunch of GS 12s getting lunch a few times a week wasn't propping up the economy. DC needs big law and lobbyists working in the office and spending money in the city

Just wait until the bike lanes are built on Connecticut Avenue and the 1000s of Montgomery County big law/lobbying partners are forced to take Metro or work from home more. That’ll be GREAT for the downtown economy.

This comment brought to you by someone who doesn't realize the lawyers and lobbyists who work downtown these days are mostly in their 40s and 50s, Millenials and Gen X, and many would happily free themselves of a car commute and embrace alternate modes of transportation. Also, as high earners, many have traveled extensively outside the US and notice that a lot of the places they enjoy going have extensive rail networks and lots of people on bikes, but do not have nearly as many cars. As people who have been to college and maybe even grad school, and who are required to use basic skills of logic and deduction as part of their jobs, many of them have concluded that investing in transportation infrastructure that preferences multi-modal and non-car methods of transportation is ultimately better for culture, health, the environment, and overall quality of life.

But the PP thinks all lawyers and lobbyists are short-sighted boomers who just want to get to work in their mobile living rooms, then go home in their mobile living rooms, and then die. The times, they are a changing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A bunch of GS 12s getting lunch a few times a week wasn't propping up the economy. DC needs big law and lobbyists working in the office and spending money in the city

Just wait until the bike lanes are built on Connecticut Avenue and the 1000s of Montgomery County big law/lobbying partners are forced to take Metro or work from home more. That’ll be GREAT for the downtown economy.

This comment brought to you by someone who doesn't realize the lawyers and lobbyists who work downtown these days are mostly in their 40s and 50s, Millenials and Gen X, and many would happily free themselves of a car commute and embrace alternate modes of transportation. Also, as high earners, many have traveled extensively outside the US and notice that a lot of the places they enjoy going have extensive rail networks and lots of people on bikes, but do not have nearly as many cars. As people who have been to college and maybe even grad school, and who are required to use basic skills of logic and deduction as part of their jobs, many of them have concluded that investing in transportation infrastructure that preferences multi-modal and non-car methods of transportation is ultimately better for culture, health, the environment, and overall quality of life.

But the PP thinks all lawyers and lobbyists are short-sighted boomers who just want to get to work in their mobile living rooms, then go home in their mobile living rooms, and then die. The times, they are a changing.

I have no comment on economic impact of the bike lanes. However I do have a question about the fiscal impact of increasing income taxes on high wage earners and then immediately spending all the money and more. DC income taxes are far and away the highest in the region. Bowser has already committed to not increasing property taxes. What happens if the predicted massive budget deficits arise? Are they going to increase income taxes even more to compensate? Or what gets cut?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Shaw. Been here nearly 20 years. I’m very worried about the direction the city is going in— which is rapidly into a cesspool of crime, blight and vacancy. I think we can’t undo the remote work. I work in DuPont just two days a week and my spouse with full time. Our neighborhood is loud (constant construction which I now worry will sit empty), motorcycles/atvs, loud engines, etc). This has gotten worse, not better. The bike lines sound like a good idea, but have led to ore rush hour congestion, not less, leaving cars to idle longer in traffic, leading to more pollution exposure.

I feel like this is dire. We need big ideas to realign downtown that doesn’t bank on feds and k street suits coming back. We need to get enforcem no public camping and address violent crime with more police and get rid of this woke Coincil. How about converting buildings into live/work loft spaces, with a good number of affordable units. Incentives for small businesses, cafes, etc. destroy ugly, outdated and vacant buildings for green space? Make some core thoroughfares into pedestrian malls with semi permanent outdoor markets and streeteries?

Was just in Paris which was thronging with tourists, tons of restaurants, cafe, markets and small businesses. Besides their culture, what other things do they do to ensure their cities remain vibrant? I noticed street cleaning trucks out everyday picking up litter and washing the streets literally.

Paris is a real world class city, which DC never was. Cities like NY and Paris have tourists and hoarded of people who want to live there regardless of employment.

DC is a company town. Very few people would ever aspire to live here if they won the lottery. There has always been limited high end shopping and entertainment. The mayor and local government made a huge mistake going all in on Covid. While it was nice to go against and hurt Trump, they ended up only hurting themselves. Remote work to a certain extent is here to stay and it will likely take DC decades to recover.

I saw the writing on the wall during the protests and sold my property in DC. A city does not have a great future if it’s allowing that kind of behavior while keeping schools closed and punishing small businesses.

Sounds like you never Lived in the city, just owned property there.

As for Paris, doesn’t it do the opposite of US cities and push the poor, immigrants and minorities to the burbs? Is t discrimination in Paris what led to all the riots/fires a number of years ago?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC has never felt the need to actually do anything to attract businesses or residents. They have simply relied on the federal government to do it for them. The DC government has developed no competency in this area, i.e. they are completely inept. DC schemes revolved around finding ways to tax the commuter populations. I imagine speeding ticket revenue is down as well. Here's some critical thinking at work:

https://www.washingtonian.com/2022/03/24/dc-mayor-hopes-to-triple-the-number-of-traffic-enforcement-cameras/

Tax the remaining citizens more.

DC leadership never imagined the political appointees and career SES in the fed gov would embrace remote work and even push GSA to move their agencies out to MD/VA. They can afford to live in DC but choose not to and don't want to commute into the city.

Really? When I moved here in the 90s/2000s, the hype was about moving x% of agencies out of DC bc concentrating givernment there made us vulnerable to attack without being able to recover quickly.

[Anonymous]

If they are able to buy that property and convert to residential property units, but the price is too exorbitant, they will remain vacant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in Shaw. Been here nearly 20 years. I’m very worried about the direction the city is going in— which is rapidly into a cesspool of crime, blight and vacancy. I think we can’t undo the remote work. I work in DuPont just two days a week and my spouse with full time. Our neighborhood is loud (constant construction which I now worry will sit empty), motorcycles/atvs, loud engines, etc). This has gotten worse, not better. The bike lines sound like a good idea, but have led to ore rush hour congestion, not less, leaving cars to idle longer in traffic, leading to more pollution exposure.

I feel like this is dire. We need big ideas to realign downtown that doesn’t bank on feds and k street suits coming back. We need to get enforcem no public camping and address violent crime with more police and get rid of this woke Coincil. How about converting buildings into live/work loft spaces, with a good number of affordable units. Incentives for small businesses, cafes, etc. destroy ugly, outdated and vacant buildings for green space? Make some core thoroughfares into pedestrian malls with semi permanent outdoor markets and streeteries?

Was just in Paris which was thronging with tourists, tons of restaurants, cafe, markets and small businesses. Besides their culture, what other things do they do to ensure their cities remain vibrant? I noticed street cleaning trucks out everyday picking up litter and washing the streets literally.

I don’t live far from you (Shaw/Meridian Hills). It’s really a collective effort. I constantly see people dropping trash, takeout boxes and bottles on sidewalks and the streets without a second thought, as well as refusing to pick up their dog poop, which is grotesque to me. Then those same people complain and show up to council hearings and complain. Yes there should be more trash collection, but there also has to be effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A bunch of GS 12s getting lunch a few times a week wasn't propping up the economy. DC needs big law and lobbyists working in the office and spending money in the city

Just wait until the bike lanes are built on Connecticut Avenue and the 1000s of Montgomery County big law/lobbying partners are forced to take Metro or work from home more. That’ll be GREAT for the downtown economy.

Didn’t we just get a dissertation that working in offices is for dinosaurs and there is no one going back to the office?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A bunch of GS 12s getting lunch a few times a week wasn't propping up the economy. DC needs big law and lobbyists working in the office and spending money in the city

Just wait until the bike lanes are built on Connecticut Avenue and the 1000s of Montgomery County big law/lobbying partners are forced to take Metro or work from home more. That’ll be GREAT for the downtown economy.

Didn’t we just get a dissertation that working in offices is for dinosaurs and there is no one going back to the office?

Those people are dinosaurs who have come back to the office, most often by car. It stands to reason that if you make some place harder to get to by car then fewer people will drive there. Before I reduced car capacity I would want to be sure that bikes or transit would make up for less car travel. It doesn’t seem likely that it will in the next few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Shaw. Been here nearly 20 years. I’m very worried about the direction the city is going in— which is rapidly into a cesspool of crime, blight and vacancy. I think we can’t undo the remote work. I work in DuPont just two days a week and my spouse with full time. Our neighborhood is loud (constant construction which I now worry will sit empty), motorcycles/atvs, loud engines, etc). This has gotten worse, not better. The bike lines sound like a good idea, but have led to ore rush hour congestion, not less, leaving cars to idle longer in traffic, leading to more pollution exposure.

I feel like this is dire. We need big ideas to realign downtown that doesn’t bank on feds and k street suits coming back. We need to get enforcem no public camping and address violent crime with more police and get rid of this woke Coincil. How about converting buildings into live/work loft spaces, with a good number of affordable units. Incentives for small businesses, cafes, etc. destroy ugly, outdated and vacant buildings for green space? Make some core thoroughfares into pedestrian malls with semi permanent outdoor markets and streeteries?

Was just in Paris which was thronging with tourists, tons of restaurants, cafe, markets and small businesses. Besides their culture, what other things do they do to ensure their cities remain vibrant? I noticed street cleaning trucks out everyday picking up litter and washing the streets literally.

Paris is a real world class city, which DC never was. Cities like NY and Paris have tourists and hoarded of people who want to live there regardless of employment.

DC is a company town. Very few people would ever aspire to live here if they won the lottery. There has always been limited high end shopping and entertainment. The mayor and local government made a huge mistake going all in on Covid. While it was nice to go against and hurt Trump, they ended up only hurting themselves. Remote work to a certain extent is here to stay and it will likely take DC decades to recover.

I saw the writing on the wall during the protests and sold my property in DC. A city does not have a great future if it’s allowing that kind of behavior while keeping schools closed and punishing small businesses.

Sounds like you never Lived in the city, just owned property there.

As for Paris, doesn’t it do the opposite of US cities and push the poor, immigrants and minorities to the burbs? Is t discrimination in Paris what led to all the riots/fires a number of years ago?

Could you explain the difference between living in a city and what you think is “living” in a city? I need to know if I am doing it right.

Also, how is the socio-economic geography of Paris any different than NYC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Shaw. Been here nearly 20 years. I’m very worried about the direction the city is going in— which is rapidly into a cesspool of crime, blight and vacancy. I think we can’t undo the remote work. I work in DuPont just two days a week and my spouse with full time. Our neighborhood is loud (constant construction which I now worry will sit empty), motorcycles/atvs, loud engines, etc). This has gotten worse, not better. The bike lines sound like a good idea, but have led to ore rush hour congestion, not less, leaving cars to idle longer in traffic, leading to more pollution exposure.

I feel like this is dire. We need big ideas to realign downtown that doesn’t bank on feds and k street suits coming back. We need to get enforcem no public camping and address violent crime with more police and get rid of this woke Coincil. How about converting buildings into live/work loft spaces, with a good number of affordable units. Incentives for small businesses, cafes, etc. destroy ugly, outdated and vacant buildings for green space? Make some core thoroughfares into pedestrian malls with semi permanent outdoor markets and streeteries?

Was just in Paris which was thronging with tourists, tons of restaurants, cafe, markets and small businesses. Besides their culture, what other things do they do to ensure their cities remain vibrant? I noticed street cleaning trucks out everyday picking up litter and washing the streets literally.

Paris is a real world class city, which DC never was. Cities like NY and Paris have tourists and hoarded of people who want to live there regardless of employment.

DC is a company town. Very few people would ever aspire to live here if they won the lottery. There has always been limited high end shopping and entertainment. The mayor and local government made a huge mistake going all in on Covid. While it was nice to go against and hurt Trump, they ended up only hurting themselves. Remote work to a certain extent is here to stay and it will likely take DC decades to recover.

I saw the writing on the wall during the protests and sold my property in DC. A city does not have a great future if it’s allowing that kind of behavior while keeping schools closed and punishing small businesses.

Sounds like you never Lived in the city, just owned property there.

As for Paris, doesn’t it do the opposite of US cities and push the poor, immigrants and minorities to the burbs? Is t discrimination in Paris what led to all the riots/fires a number of years ago?

Could you explain the difference between living in a city and what you think is “living” in a city? I need to know if I am doing it right.

Also, how is the socio-economic geography of Paris any different than NYC?

I keep reading on DCUM that DC is not NYC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Shaw. Been here nearly 20 years. I’m very worried about the direction the city is going in— which is rapidly into a cesspool of crime, blight and vacancy. I think we can’t undo the remote work. I work in DuPont just two days a week and my spouse with full time. Our neighborhood is loud (constant construction which I now worry will sit empty), motorcycles/atvs, loud engines, etc). This has gotten worse, not better. The bike lines sound like a good idea, but have led to ore rush hour congestion, not less, leaving cars to idle longer in traffic, leading to more pollution exposure.

I feel like this is dire. We need big ideas to realign downtown that doesn’t bank on feds and k street suits coming back. We need to get enforcem no public camping and address violent crime with more police and get rid of this woke Coincil. How about converting buildings into live/work loft spaces, with a good number of affordable units. Incentives for small businesses, cafes, etc. destroy ugly, outdated and vacant buildings for green space? Make some core thoroughfares into pedestrian malls with semi permanent outdoor markets and streeteries?

Was just in Paris which was thronging with tourists, tons of restaurants, cafe, markets and small businesses. Besides their culture, what other things do they do to ensure their cities remain vibrant? I noticed street cleaning trucks out everyday picking up litter and washing the streets literally.

Paris is a real world class city, which DC never was. Cities like NY and Paris have tourists and hoarded of people who want to live there regardless of employment.

DC is a company town. Very few people would ever aspire to live here if they won the lottery. There has always been limited high end shopping and entertainment. The mayor and local government made a huge mistake going all in on Covid. While it was nice to go against and hurt Trump, they ended up only hurting themselves. Remote work to a certain extent is here to stay and it will likely take DC decades to recover.

I saw the writing on the wall during the protests and sold my property in DC. A city does not have a great future if it’s allowing that kind of behavior while keeping schools closed and punishing small businesses.

Sounds like you never Lived in the city, just owned property there.

As for Paris, doesn’t it do the opposite of US cities and push the poor, immigrants and minorities to the burbs? Is t discrimination in Paris what led to all the riots/fires a number of years ago?

Could you explain the difference between living in a city and what you think is “living” in a city? I need to know if I am doing it right.

Also, how is the socio-economic geography of Paris any different than NYC?

So … you’re a colonist from the burbs who settled in the city?

[Anonymous]

Let’s cut to the chase and talk about schools. DC bleeds its high earning and middle class families every year due to crappy schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let’s cut to the chase and talk about schools. DC bleeds its high earning and middle class families every year due to crappy schools.

This problem is not unique to DC.