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

[Anonymous]

The District of Columbia’s fiscal condition is facing serious headwinds and should be at the forefront of the agenda for the mayor and Council. It should concern everyone that neither the mayor nor the Council seem to be lending this issue the level of seriousness it deserves.

There is a predictable budget gap that will occur when the Federal stimulus funds run out and there has yet to be any evidence that there is any planning for this eventuality. In fact it seems like the opposite, as more and more spending programs are being introduced.

It is hard not to conclude that there is some denial afoot or at the worst, negligence. DC was presented with a once-in-a-generation opportunity and it is hard not to come to the conclusion that they not only whiffed but backslided by wasting this significant Federal infusion. It’s a shame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The District of Columbia’s fiscal condition is facing serious headwinds and should be at the forefront of the agenda for the mayor and Council. It should concern everyone that neither the mayor nor the Council seem to be lending this issue the level of seriousness it deserves.

There is a predictable budget gap that will occur when the Federal stimulus funds run out and there has yet to be any evidence that there is any planning for this eventuality. In fact it seems like the opposite, as more and more spending programs are being introduced.

It is hard not to conclude that there is some denial afoot or at the worst, negligence. DC was presented with a once-in-a-generation opportunity and it is hard not to come to the conclusion that they not only whiffed but backslided by wasting this significant Federal infusion. It’s a shame.

The city is overwhelmingly populated by people who believe in confiscatory taxation so just raise taxes on residents until you get enough money. The whole area is living on tax money from the USA so just tax it all back into the government.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The District of Columbia’s fiscal condition is facing serious headwinds and should be at the forefront of the agenda for the mayor and Council. It should concern everyone that neither the mayor nor the Council seem to be lending this issue the level of seriousness it deserves.

There is a predictable budget gap that will occur when the Federal stimulus funds run out and there has yet to be any evidence that there is any planning for this eventuality. In fact it seems like the opposite, as more and more spending programs are being introduced.

It is hard not to conclude that there is some denial afoot or at the worst, negligence. DC was presented with a once-in-a-generation opportunity and it is hard not to come to the conclusion that they not only whiffed but backslided by wasting this significant Federal infusion. It’s a shame.

The mayor most definitely is paying attention to this:

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/01/20/bowser-biden-federal-workers-washington-dc-00078677

The Council, meanwhile, has decided to add an annual $42 million to the budget for free buses, plus hundreds of millions of dollars for other frivolities, because they apparently think it's still 2012. But hey, maybe we can speed-camera our way out of the problem (note: if Maryland and Virginia residents don't have to pay those tickets, and DC residents only have to pay those tickets in certain circumstances, then no, we can't speed-camera our way out of the problem).

[Anonymous]

The Council candidates that ran on fiscal responsibility were soundly defeated. We can't tax our way out of this. If we offer too many freebies, DC will just become a mecca for those who want to live on the street. DC has been an awesome place to live and raise kids in the 30+ years I've been here. Let's not throw it down the tubes,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The District of Columbia’s fiscal condition is facing serious headwinds and should be at the forefront of the agenda for the mayor and Council. It should concern everyone that neither the mayor nor the Council seem to be lending this issue the level of seriousness it deserves.

There is a predictable budget gap that will occur when the Federal stimulus funds run out and there has yet to be any evidence that there is any planning for this eventuality. In fact it seems like the opposite, as more and more spending programs are being introduced.

It is hard not to conclude that there is some denial afoot or at the worst, negligence. DC was presented with a once-in-a-generation opportunity and it is hard not to come to the conclusion that they not only whiffed but backslided by wasting this significant Federal infusion. It’s a shame.

The mayor most definitely is paying attention to this:

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/01/20/bowser-biden-federal-workers-washington-dc-00078677

The Council, meanwhile, has decided to add an annual $42 million to the budget for free buses, plus hundreds of millions of dollars for other frivolities, because they apparently think it's still 2012. But hey, maybe we can speed-camera our way out of the problem (note: if Maryland and Virginia residents don't have to pay those tickets, and DC residents only have to pay those tickets in certain circumstances, then no, we can't speed-camera our way out of the problem).

Did you read the article? It is well reported and balanced, but it literally points out that the mayor’s goal for 100,000 residents downtown is un-serious, calling it “far-fetched” and concludes that “banking on federal workers is probably not a long-term strategy” for the city.

My view is that the mayor needs to lead and so far she seems to be in as much denial as the Council. Making pie-in-the-sky proposals is not any more comforting than proposing and passing more and more entitlements that the mayor also signed off on.

The mayors failure to lead is also reflected in the article in urgency of the matter. It reports that the Federal government is a quarter of the workforce and a third of the office space representing at least a quarter of DC’s economy. It points out, that with low unemployment, liberal Federal government WFH policies allow it to be competitive. It points out that Bowser’s return to office proposal aligns her with Congressional Republicans and how it is inconsistent with her own WFH policies that only requires “frontline workers” to be in the office 3 days a week. It reiterates multiple times that Federal workers are hired to perform a specific job function and not serve as economic fodder for DC’s economy. It outlines the serious risks facing the city from the negative feedback loop caused by lower revenue from sales and CRE property taxes and how that can cascade to further population decline.

It’s clear that her economic development head understands all of this because much of it he is quoted as saying himself. It is not clear how much of this Bowser has truly come to grips with and the Council unfortunately is just moving forward unabated with their fingers in their ears singing la, la, la, la…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The District of Columbia’s fiscal condition is facing serious headwinds and should be at the forefront of the agenda for the mayor and Council. It should concern everyone that neither the mayor nor the Council seem to be lending this issue the level of seriousness it deserves.

There is a predictable budget gap that will occur when the Federal stimulus funds run out and there has yet to be any evidence that there is any planning for this eventuality. In fact it seems like the opposite, as more and more spending programs are being introduced.

It is hard not to conclude that there is some denial afoot or at the worst, negligence. DC was presented with a once-in-a-generation opportunity and it is hard not to come to the conclusion that they not only whiffed but backslided by wasting this significant Federal infusion. It’s a shame.

The mayor most definitely is paying attention to this:

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/01/20/bowser-biden-federal-workers-washington-dc-00078677

The Council, meanwhile, has decided to add an annual $42 million to the budget for free buses, plus hundreds of millions of dollars for other frivolities, because they apparently think it's still 2012. But hey, maybe we can speed-camera our way out of the problem (note: if Maryland and Virginia residents don't have to pay those tickets, and DC residents only have to pay those tickets in certain circumstances, then no, we can't speed-camera our way out of the problem).

Did you read the article? It is well reported and balanced, but it literally points out that the mayor’s goal for 100,000 residents downtown is un-serious, calling it “far-fetched” and concludes that “banking on federal workers is probably not a long-term strategy” for the city.

My view is that the mayor needs to lead and so far she seems to be in as much denial as the Council. Making pie-in-the-sky proposals is not any more comforting than proposing and passing more and more entitlements that the mayor also signed off on.

The mayors failure to lead is also reflected in the article in urgency of the matter. It reports that the Federal government is a quarter of the workforce and a third of the office space representing at least a quarter of DC’s economy. It points out, that with low unemployment, liberal Federal government WFH policies allow it to be competitive. It points out that Bowser’s return to office proposal aligns her with Congressional Republicans and how it is inconsistent with her own WFH policies that only requires “frontline workers” to be in the office 3 days a week. It reiterates multiple times that Federal workers are hired to perform a specific job function and not serve as economic fodder for DC’s economy. It outlines the serious risks facing the city from the negative feedback loop caused by lower revenue from sales and CRE property taxes and how that can cascade to further population decline.

It’s clear that her economic development head understands all of this because much of it he is quoted as saying himself. It is not clear how much of this Bowser has truly come to grips with and the Council unfortunately is just moving forward unabated with their fingers in their ears singing la, la, la, la…

They won't take schools seriously. How much of the population loss was due to people moving for schools, or not opting to come in the first place for schools? DC is an awesome place to live. I would never leave if I didn't have to. But my kid has to be educated. School principals (not naming names) who openly discuss gutting learning for the sake of "equity" need to be fired. High achievement needs to be embraced, not treated as anathema.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Council candidates that ran on fiscal responsibility were soundly defeated. We can't tax our way out of this. If we offer too many freebies, DC will just become a mecca for those who want to live on the street. DC has been an awesome place to live and raise kids in the 30+ years I've been here. Let's not throw it down the tubes,

It’s very telling that a many prominent voices in the city, including Councilmembers that should know better, are preoccupied with e-bike subsidies. It seems well timed to distract negative attention from the criminal code veto override. It’s hard not to feel sad and pessimistic for the future of DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Council candidates that ran on fiscal responsibility were soundly defeated. We can't tax our way out of this. If we offer too many freebies, DC will just become a mecca for those who want to live on the street. DC has been an awesome place to live and raise kids in the 30+ years I've been here. Let's not throw it down the tubes,

It’s very telling that a many prominent voices in the city, including Councilmembers that should know better, are preoccupied with e-bike subsidies. It seems well timed to distract negative attention from the criminal code veto override. It’s hard not to feel sad and pessimistic for the future of DC.

It’s almost as if electing a city council comprised completely of “community activists” may not be a great idea after all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Council candidates that ran on fiscal responsibility were soundly defeated. We can't tax our way out of this. If we offer too many freebies, DC will just become a mecca for those who want to live on the street. DC has been an awesome place to live and raise kids in the 30+ years I've been here. Let's not throw it down the tubes,

It’s very telling that a many prominent voices in the city, including Councilmembers that should know better, are preoccupied with e-bike subsidies. It seems well timed to distract negative attention from the criminal code veto override. It’s hard not to feel sad and pessimistic for the future of DC.

Yes, definitely there's no way the D.C. Council can legislate on multiple topics at once, including both an e-bike subsidy that isn't taking up a lot of money in the aggregate and is only controversial among a handful of opponents and also dealing with the criminal code.

[Anonymous]

[quoteIt’s very telling that a many prominent voices in the city, including Councilmembers that should know better, are preoccupied with e-bike subsidies. It seems well timed to distract negative attention from the criminal code veto override. It’s hard not to feel sad and pessimistic for the future of DC.
Why are you so dismissive of ebike subsides? Have you ever considered that you YOURSELF may benefit from such a subsidy and get one? Or is it easier to just be cynical?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Council candidates that ran on fiscal responsibility were soundly defeated. We can't tax our way out of this. If we offer too many freebies, DC will just become a mecca for those who want to live on the street. DC has been an awesome place to live and raise kids in the 30+ years I've been here. Let's not throw it down the tubes,

It’s very telling that a many prominent voices in the city, including Councilmembers that should know better, are preoccupied with e-bike subsidies. It seems well timed to distract negative attention from the criminal code veto override. It’s hard not to feel sad and pessimistic for the future of DC.

Yes, definitely there's no way the D.C. Council can legislate on multiple topics at once, including both an e-bike subsidy that isn't taking up a lot of money in the aggregate and is only controversial among a handful of opponents and also dealing with the criminal code.

I don’t disagree that they are capable of multi-tasking. However they have not shown the ability to do so. I would be happy to be wrong but, but if you could point me to where they have taken up economic development, revitalization if downtown and fiscal sustainability in this session I am all ears.

People prioritize what’s important to them. I’m The priorities of this Council this far has been the criminal code veto override and e-bike subsidies.

No one who reads that article should come away with anything but the sense of how urgent the situation is and looking at the Council agenda, they don’t share that urgency.

As a result, figuring out how DC can economically thrive while losing a quarter of its economy takes a back seat to more handouts and entitlements.

[Anonymous]

Aren’t many DC govt employees still WFH or hybrid? Why doesn’t she start there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t many DC govt employees still WFH or hybrid? Why doesn’t she start there

Yes. DC only requires what it designates as “frontline workers” to be in person and even then it’s only 3 days per week. The rest can WFH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It’s very telling that a many prominent voices in the city, including Councilmembers that should know better, are preoccupied with e-bike subsidies. It seems well timed to distract negative attention from the criminal code veto override. It’s hard not to feel sad and pessimistic for the future of DC.

Why are you so dismissive of ebike subsides? Have you ever considered that you YOURSELF may benefit from such a subsidy and get one? Or is it easier to just be cynical?

Do you believe that e-bike subsidies economically revitalize downtown?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It’s very telling that a many prominent voices in the city, including Councilmembers that should know better, are preoccupied with e-bike subsidies. It seems well timed to distract negative attention from the criminal code veto override. It’s hard not to feel sad and pessimistic for the future of DC.

Why are you so dismissive of ebike subsides? Have you ever considered that you YOURSELF may benefit from such a subsidy and get one? Or is it easier to just be cynical?

Do you believe that e-bike subsidies economically revitalize downtown?

You could set up speed cameras and ...