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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If telework is indeed here to stay, my prediction is that the DC area will weather this better than many other cities and states.

If people keep resisting requests/commands to head back to the office and continue to insist they are just as productive at home, at some point corporate leaders will simply offshore those jobs. They did this before with blue collar jobs; they will do it to knowledge workers. Why pay for an accountant/graphic designer/engineer in the US, when you can hire one for a 1/10 of the cost and without pesky employment regulations in Costa Rica or Ghana or India? Even if these employees are (initially) less productive, they will cost so much less that it won't matter. The tax revenue consequences of this will be felt throughout the country.

The safest jobs are going to be jobs that cannot be outsourced: service jobs, professional jobs that require physical interaction (e.g., some doctors), the military, and many government jobs. The latter will make the DC area more offshore-proof than the rest of the country.

In addition, vengeful Republicans will eventually force federal government employees back to the office. They will be delighted at upsetting what they perceive to be lazy government workers. Which will help DC and surrounding areas.

Every time I have been downtown it seems quite busy. Also, I agree that the “vengeful” Republicans are going to force federal workers back into the office. It is only a matter of time.

The House already has a bill introduced by GOP sponsors to end federal telework, as it happens.

Will it pass the Senate? And even if it does, can it reverse or supersede signed bargaining agreements? Not sure it can, on either of those questions.

It’s not likely this will pass the Senate unless it gets included in the debt ceiling package or something like that. The most likely outcome would probably be to lead more agencies to move to the suburbs and that’s likely to happen anyway.

Yep. GSA won't allow my agency to justify new leases or buildings in DC because of the cost savings in PG, Alexandria, and Fairfax.

If more fed agencies move out, wouldn’t that mean a federal city (at least one as big as it is now) is unnecessary? Wouldn’t the exit of more federal agencies bolster DC’s chances of statehood?

Separate issue, but no it wouldn’t. Statehood is a political question totally divorced from everything else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If telework is indeed here to stay, my prediction is that the DC area will weather this better than many other cities and states.

If people keep resisting requests/commands to head back to the office and continue to insist they are just as productive at home, at some point corporate leaders will simply offshore those jobs. They did this before with blue collar jobs; they will do it to knowledge workers. Why pay for an accountant/graphic designer/engineer in the US, when you can hire one for a 1/10 of the cost and without pesky employment regulations in Costa Rica or Ghana or India? Even if these employees are (initially) less productive, they will cost so much less that it won't matter. The tax revenue consequences of this will be felt throughout the country.

The safest jobs are going to be jobs that cannot be outsourced: service jobs, professional jobs that require physical interaction (e.g., some doctors), the military, and many government jobs. The latter will make the DC area more offshore-proof than the rest of the country.

In addition, vengeful Republicans will eventually force federal government employees back to the office. They will be delighted at upsetting what they perceive to be lazy government workers. Which will help DC and surrounding areas.

Every time I have been downtown it seems quite busy. Also, I agree that the “vengeful” Republicans are going to force federal workers back into the office. It is only a matter of time.

The House already has a bill introduced by GOP sponsors to end federal telework, as it happens.

Will it pass the Senate? And even if it does, can it reverse or supersede signed bargaining agreements? Not sure it can, on either of those questions.

It’s not likely this will pass the Senate unless it gets included in the debt ceiling package or something like that. The most likely outcome would probably be to lead more agencies to move to the suburbs and that’s likely to happen anyway.

Yep. GSA won't allow my agency to justify new leases or buildings in DC because of the cost savings in PG, Alexandria, and Fairfax.

If more fed agencies move out, wouldn’t that mean a federal city (at least one as big as it is now) is unnecessary? Wouldn’t the exit of more federal agencies bolster DC’s chances of statehood?

Congress and the president are still located in DC. The federal city insulates them from the pressure of whatever state would otherwise house them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If telework is indeed here to stay, my prediction is that the DC area will weather this better than many other cities and states.

If people keep resisting requests/commands to head back to the office and continue to insist they are just as productive at home, at some point corporate leaders will simply offshore those jobs. They did this before with blue collar jobs; they will do it to knowledge workers. Why pay for an accountant/graphic designer/engineer in the US, when you can hire one for a 1/10 of the cost and without pesky employment regulations in Costa Rica or Ghana or India? Even if these employees are (initially) less productive, they will cost so much less that it won't matter. The tax revenue consequences of this will be felt throughout the country.

The safest jobs are going to be jobs that cannot be outsourced: service jobs, professional jobs that require physical interaction (e.g., some doctors), the military, and many government jobs. The latter will make the DC area more offshore-proof than the rest of the country.

In addition, vengeful Republicans will eventually force federal government employees back to the office. They will be delighted at upsetting what they perceive to be lazy government workers. Which will help DC and surrounding areas.

Every time I have been downtown it seems quite busy. Also, I agree that the “vengeful” Republicans are going to force federal workers back into the office. It is only a matter of time.

The House already has a bill introduced by GOP sponsors to end federal telework, as it happens.

Will it pass the Senate? And even if it does, can it reverse or supersede signed bargaining agreements? Not sure it can, on either of those questions.

It’s not likely this will pass the Senate unless it gets included in the debt ceiling package or something like that. The most likely outcome would probably be to lead more agencies to move to the suburbs and that’s likely to happen anyway.

Yep. GSA won't allow my agency to justify new leases or buildings in DC because of the cost savings in PG, Alexandria, and Fairfax.

If more fed agencies move out, wouldn’t that mean a federal city (at least one as big as it is now) is unnecessary? Wouldn’t the exit of more federal agencies bolster DC’s chances of statehood?

Congress and the president are still located in DC. The federal city insulates them from the pressure of whatever state would otherwise house them

I get that but there is an argument to be made in reducing the size of the federal city to the area closer to the Mall.

Ultimately I wonder if statehood would attract more business to DC. I’m not fully versed in how DC operates but seems like the fed govt plays a middleman role that comes with a cost. Remove the middleman and maybe the area becomes more attractive?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If telework is indeed here to stay, my prediction is that the DC area will weather this better than many other cities and states.

If people keep resisting requests/commands to head back to the office and continue to insist they are just as productive at home, at some point corporate leaders will simply offshore those jobs. They did this before with blue collar jobs; they will do it to knowledge workers. Why pay for an accountant/graphic designer/engineer in the US, when you can hire one for a 1/10 of the cost and without pesky employment regulations in Costa Rica or Ghana or India? Even if these employees are (initially) less productive, they will cost so much less that it won't matter. The tax revenue consequences of this will be felt throughout the country.

The safest jobs are going to be jobs that cannot be outsourced: service jobs, professional jobs that require physical interaction (e.g., some doctors), the military, and many government jobs. The latter will make the DC area more offshore-proof than the rest of the country.

In addition, vengeful Republicans will eventually force federal government employees back to the office. They will be delighted at upsetting what they perceive to be lazy government workers. Which will help DC and surrounding areas.

Every time I have been downtown it seems quite busy. Also, I agree that the “vengeful” Republicans are going to force federal workers back into the office. It is only a matter of time.

The House already has a bill introduced by GOP sponsors to end federal telework, as it happens.

Will it pass the Senate? And even if it does, can it reverse or supersede signed bargaining agreements? Not sure it can, on either of those questions.

It’s not likely this will pass the Senate unless it gets included in the debt ceiling package or something like that. The most likely outcome would probably be to lead more agencies to move to the suburbs and that’s likely to happen anyway.

Yep. GSA won't allow my agency to justify new leases or buildings in DC because of the cost savings in PG, Alexandria, and Fairfax.

If more fed agencies move out, wouldn’t that mean a federal city (at least one as big as it is now) is unnecessary? Wouldn’t the exit of more federal agencies bolster DC’s chances of statehood?

Congress and the president are still located in DC. The federal city insulates them from the pressure of whatever state would otherwise house them

I get that but there is an argument to be made in reducing the size of the federal city to the area closer to the Mall.

Ultimately I wonder if statehood would attract more business to DC. I’m not fully versed in how DC operates but seems like the fed govt plays a middleman role that comes with a cost. Remove the middleman and maybe the area becomes more attractive?

Then what do you do with DC? There is no political will to make it a state and Maryland doesn't want it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If telework is indeed here to stay, my prediction is that the DC area will weather this better than many other cities and states.

If people keep resisting requests/commands to head back to the office and continue to insist they are just as productive at home, at some point corporate leaders will simply offshore those jobs. They did this before with blue collar jobs; they will do it to knowledge workers. Why pay for an accountant/graphic designer/engineer in the US, when you can hire one for a 1/10 of the cost and without pesky employment regulations in Costa Rica or Ghana or India? Even if these employees are (initially) less productive, they will cost so much less that it won't matter. The tax revenue consequences of this will be felt throughout the country.

The safest jobs are going to be jobs that cannot be outsourced: service jobs, professional jobs that require physical interaction (e.g., some doctors), the military, and many government jobs. The latter will make the DC area more offshore-proof than the rest of the country.

In addition, vengeful Republicans will eventually force federal government employees back to the office. They will be delighted at upsetting what they perceive to be lazy government workers. Which will help DC and surrounding areas.

Every time I have been downtown it seems quite busy. Also, I agree that the “vengeful” Republicans are going to force federal workers back into the office. It is only a matter of time.

The House already has a bill introduced by GOP sponsors to end federal telework, as it happens.

Will it pass the Senate? And even if it does, can it reverse or supersede signed bargaining agreements? Not sure it can, on either of those questions.

It’s not likely this will pass the Senate unless it gets included in the debt ceiling package or something like that. The most likely outcome would probably be to lead more agencies to move to the suburbs and that’s likely to happen anyway.

Yep. GSA won't allow my agency to justify new leases or buildings in DC because of the cost savings in PG, Alexandria, and Fairfax.

If more fed agencies move out, wouldn’t that mean a federal city (at least one as big as it is now) is unnecessary? Wouldn’t the exit of more federal agencies bolster DC’s chances of statehood?

Congress and the president are still located in DC. The federal city insulates them from the pressure of whatever state would otherwise house them

I get that but there is an argument to be made in reducing the size of the federal city to the area closer to the Mall.

Ultimately I wonder if statehood would attract more business to DC. I’m not fully versed in how DC operates but seems like the fed govt plays a middleman role that comes with a cost. Remove the middleman and maybe the area becomes more attractive?

This is going to need an explanation because I have no clue what you are referring to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If telework is indeed here to stay, my prediction is that the DC area will weather this better than many other cities and states.

If people keep resisting requests/commands to head back to the office and continue to insist they are just as productive at home, at some point corporate leaders will simply offshore those jobs. They did this before with blue collar jobs; they will do it to knowledge workers. Why pay for an accountant/graphic designer/engineer in the US, when you can hire one for a 1/10 of the cost and without pesky employment regulations in Costa Rica or Ghana or India? Even if these employees are (initially) less productive, they will cost so much less that it won't matter. The tax revenue consequences of this will be felt throughout the country.

The safest jobs are going to be jobs that cannot be outsourced: service jobs, professional jobs that require physical interaction (e.g., some doctors), the military, and many government jobs. The latter will make the DC area more offshore-proof than the rest of the country.

In addition, vengeful Republicans will eventually force federal government employees back to the office. They will be delighted at upsetting what they perceive to be lazy government workers. Which will help DC and surrounding areas.

Every time I have been downtown it seems quite busy. Also, I agree that the “vengeful” Republicans are going to force federal workers back into the office. It is only a matter of time.

The House already has a bill introduced by GOP sponsors to end federal telework, as it happens.

Will it pass the Senate? And even if it does, can it reverse or supersede signed bargaining agreements? Not sure it can, on either of those questions.

It’s not likely this will pass the Senate unless it gets included in the debt ceiling package or something like that. The most likely outcome would probably be to lead more agencies to move to the suburbs and that’s likely to happen anyway.

Yep. GSA won't allow my agency to justify new leases or buildings in DC because of the cost savings in PG, Alexandria, and Fairfax.

If more fed agencies move out, wouldn’t that mean a federal city (at least one as big as it is now) is unnecessary? Wouldn’t the exit of more federal agencies bolster DC’s chances of statehood?

Congress and the president are still located in DC. The federal city insulates them from the pressure of whatever state would otherwise house them

I get that but there is an argument to be made in reducing the size of the federal city to the area closer to the Mall.

Ultimately I wonder if statehood would attract more business to DC. I’m not fully versed in how DC operates but seems like the fed govt plays a middleman role that comes with a cost. Remove the middleman and maybe the area becomes more attractive?

This is going to need an explanation because I have no clue what you are referring to.

Doesn’t Congress technically run DC? At present doesn’t it delegate *some* authority to the DC council? At any time couldn’t it take back delegated authority? Aren’t some decisions made for fear that Congress may take away that authority? Again … not fully versed in how DC operates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If telework is indeed here to stay, my prediction is that the DC area will weather this better than many other cities and states.

If people keep resisting requests/commands to head back to the office and continue to insist they are just as productive at home, at some point corporate leaders will simply offshore those jobs. They did this before with blue collar jobs; they will do it to knowledge workers. Why pay for an accountant/graphic designer/engineer in the US, when you can hire one for a 1/10 of the cost and without pesky employment regulations in Costa Rica or Ghana or India? Even if these employees are (initially) less productive, they will cost so much less that it won't matter. The tax revenue consequences of this will be felt throughout the country.

The safest jobs are going to be jobs that cannot be outsourced: service jobs, professional jobs that require physical interaction (e.g., some doctors), the military, and many government jobs. The latter will make the DC area more offshore-proof than the rest of the country.

In addition, vengeful Republicans will eventually force federal government employees back to the office. They will be delighted at upsetting what they perceive to be lazy government workers. Which will help DC and surrounding areas.

Every time I have been downtown it seems quite busy. Also, I agree that the “vengeful” Republicans are going to force federal workers back into the office. It is only a matter of time.

The House already has a bill introduced by GOP sponsors to end federal telework, as it happens.

Will it pass the Senate? And even if it does, can it reverse or supersede signed bargaining agreements? Not sure it can, on either of those questions.

It’s not likely this will pass the Senate unless it gets included in the debt ceiling package or something like that. The most likely outcome would probably be to lead more agencies to move to the suburbs and that’s likely to happen anyway.

Yep. GSA won't allow my agency to justify new leases or buildings in DC because of the cost savings in PG, Alexandria, and Fairfax.

If more fed agencies move out, wouldn’t that mean a federal city (at least one as big as it is now) is unnecessary? Wouldn’t the exit of more federal agencies bolster DC’s chances of statehood?

Congress and the president are still located in DC. The federal city insulates them from the pressure of whatever state would otherwise house them

I get that but there is an argument to be made in reducing the size of the federal city to the area closer to the Mall.

Ultimately I wonder if statehood would attract more business to DC. I’m not fully versed in how DC operates but seems like the fed govt plays a middleman role that comes with a cost. Remove the middleman and maybe the area becomes more attractive?

This is going to need an explanation because I have no clue what you are referring to.

Doesn’t Congress technically run DC? At present doesn’t it delegate *some* authority to the DC council? At any time couldn’t it take back delegated authority? Aren’t some decisions made for fear that Congress may take away that authority? Again … not fully versed in how DC operates.

There is a system called “Home Rule” that allows DC to operate more or less independently with the potential for some Congressional intervention from time to time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If telework is indeed here to stay, my prediction is that the DC area will weather this better than many other cities and states.

If people keep resisting requests/commands to head back to the office and continue to insist they are just as productive at home, at some point corporate leaders will simply offshore those jobs. They did this before with blue collar jobs; they will do it to knowledge workers. Why pay for an accountant/graphic designer/engineer in the US, when you can hire one for a 1/10 of the cost and without pesky employment regulations in Costa Rica or Ghana or India? Even if these employees are (initially) less productive, they will cost so much less that it won't matter. The tax revenue consequences of this will be felt throughout the country.

The safest jobs are going to be jobs that cannot be outsourced: service jobs, professional jobs that require physical interaction (e.g., some doctors), the military, and many government jobs. The latter will make the DC area more offshore-proof than the rest of the country.

In addition, vengeful Republicans will eventually force federal government employees back to the office. They will be delighted at upsetting what they perceive to be lazy government workers. Which will help DC and surrounding areas.

Every time I have been downtown it seems quite busy. Also, I agree that the “vengeful” Republicans are going to force federal workers back into the office. It is only a matter of time.

The House already has a bill introduced by GOP sponsors to end federal telework, as it happens.

Will it pass the Senate? And even if it does, can it reverse or supersede signed bargaining agreements? Not sure it can, on either of those questions.

It’s not likely this will pass the Senate unless it gets included in the debt ceiling package or something like that. The most likely outcome would probably be to lead more agencies to move to the suburbs and that’s likely to happen anyway.

Yep. GSA won't allow my agency to justify new leases or buildings in DC because of the cost savings in PG, Alexandria, and Fairfax.

If more fed agencies move out, wouldn’t that mean a federal city (at least one as big as it is now) is unnecessary? Wouldn’t the exit of more federal agencies bolster DC’s chances of statehood?

Maybe, if you're willing to allow Republicans to choose the new national capital, which would probably be West Palm Beach. I think DC's statehood just means becoming Washington, MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If telework is indeed here to stay, my prediction is that the DC area will weather this better than many other cities and states.

If people keep resisting requests/commands to head back to the office and continue to insist they are just as productive at home, at some point corporate leaders will simply offshore those jobs. They did this before with blue collar jobs; they will do it to knowledge workers. Why pay for an accountant/graphic designer/engineer in the US, when you can hire one for a 1/10 of the cost and without pesky employment regulations in Costa Rica or Ghana or India? Even if these employees are (initially) less productive, they will cost so much less that it won't matter. The tax revenue consequences of this will be felt throughout the country.

The safest jobs are going to be jobs that cannot be outsourced: service jobs, professional jobs that require physical interaction (e.g., some doctors), the military, and many government jobs. The latter will make the DC area more offshore-proof than the rest of the country.

In addition, vengeful Republicans will eventually force federal government employees back to the office. They will be delighted at upsetting what they perceive to be lazy government workers. Which will help DC and surrounding areas.

Every time I have been downtown it seems quite busy. Also, I agree that the “vengeful” Republicans are going to force federal workers back into the office. It is only a matter of time.

The House already has a bill introduced by GOP sponsors to end federal telework, as it happens.

Will it pass the Senate? And even if it does, can it reverse or supersede signed bargaining agreements? Not sure it can, on either of those questions.

It’s not likely this will pass the Senate unless it gets included in the debt ceiling package or something like that. The most likely outcome would probably be to lead more agencies to move to the suburbs and that’s likely to happen anyway.

Yep. GSA won't allow my agency to justify new leases or buildings in DC because of the cost savings in PG, Alexandria, and Fairfax.

If more fed agencies move out, wouldn’t that mean a federal city (at least one as big as it is now) is unnecessary? Wouldn’t the exit of more federal agencies bolster DC’s chances of statehood?

Congress and the president are still located in DC. The federal city insulates them from the pressure of whatever state would otherwise house them

I get that but there is an argument to be made in reducing the size of the federal city to the area closer to the Mall.

Ultimately I wonder if statehood would attract more business to DC. I’m not fully versed in how DC operates but seems like the fed govt plays a middleman role that comes with a cost. Remove the middleman and maybe the area becomes more attractive?

DC would need a draw other than the federal government or your new state would end up like Detroit after the auto industry left. If government and lobbying are not going to happen in DC, then what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If telework is indeed here to stay, my prediction is that the DC area will weather this better than many other cities and states.

If people keep resisting requests/commands to head back to the office and continue to insist they are just as productive at home, at some point corporate leaders will simply offshore those jobs. They did this before with blue collar jobs; they will do it to knowledge workers. Why pay for an accountant/graphic designer/engineer in the US, when you can hire one for a 1/10 of the cost and without pesky employment regulations in Costa Rica or Ghana or India? Even if these employees are (initially) less productive, they will cost so much less that it won't matter. The tax revenue consequences of this will be felt throughout the country.

The safest jobs are going to be jobs that cannot be outsourced: service jobs, professional jobs that require physical interaction (e.g., some doctors), the military, and many government jobs. The latter will make the DC area more offshore-proof than the rest of the country.

In addition, vengeful Republicans will eventually force federal government employees back to the office. They will be delighted at upsetting what they perceive to be lazy government workers. Which will help DC and surrounding areas.

Every time I have been downtown it seems quite busy. Also, I agree that the “vengeful” Republicans are going to force federal workers back into the office. It is only a matter of time.

The House already has a bill introduced by GOP sponsors to end federal telework, as it happens.

Will it pass the Senate? And even if it does, can it reverse or supersede signed bargaining agreements? Not sure it can, on either of those questions.

It’s not likely this will pass the Senate unless it gets included in the debt ceiling package or something like that. The most likely outcome would probably be to lead more agencies to move to the suburbs and that’s likely to happen anyway.

Yep. GSA won't allow my agency to justify new leases or buildings in DC because of the cost savings in PG, Alexandria, and Fairfax.

If more fed agencies move out, wouldn’t that mean a federal city (at least one as big as it is now) is unnecessary? Wouldn’t the exit of more federal agencies bolster DC’s chances of statehood?

Congress and the president are still located in DC. The federal city insulates them from the pressure of whatever state would otherwise house them

I get that but there is an argument to be made in reducing the size of the federal city to the area closer to the Mall.

Ultimately I wonder if statehood would attract more business to DC. I’m not fully versed in how DC operates but seems like the fed govt plays a middleman role that comes with a cost. Remove the middleman and maybe the area becomes more attractive?

DC would need a draw other than the federal government or your new state would end up like Detroit after the auto industry left. If government and lobbying are not going to happen in DC, then what?

Which is kinda where DC is now if a large proportion of the fed workforce remains WFH. Why not reduce the footprint of the federal city, free the rest of the city from Congressional oversight and make it a (new) city-state.

It’s just an out of the box idea — not sure about its viability. But maybe something like that will emerge. It just seems that some decisions for DC that may not prioritize making a better city. Maybe things are prioritized for federal benefit to the detriment of some city aspect. I dunno. Again just throwing out an idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If telework is indeed here to stay, my prediction is that the DC area will weather this better than many other cities and states.

If people keep resisting requests/commands to head back to the office and continue to insist they are just as productive at home, at some point corporate leaders will simply offshore those jobs. They did this before with blue collar jobs; they will do it to knowledge workers. Why pay for an accountant/graphic designer/engineer in the US, when you can hire one for a 1/10 of the cost and without pesky employment regulations in Costa Rica or Ghana or India? Even if these employees are (initially) less productive, they will cost so much less that it won't matter. The tax revenue consequences of this will be felt throughout the country.

The safest jobs are going to be jobs that cannot be outsourced: service jobs, professional jobs that require physical interaction (e.g., some doctors), the military, and many government jobs. The latter will make the DC area more offshore-proof than the rest of the country.

In addition, vengeful Republicans will eventually force federal government employees back to the office. They will be delighted at upsetting what they perceive to be lazy government workers. Which will help DC and surrounding areas.

Every time I have been downtown it seems quite busy. Also, I agree that the “vengeful” Republicans are going to force federal workers back into the office. It is only a matter of time.

The House already has a bill introduced by GOP sponsors to end federal telework, as it happens.

Will it pass the Senate? And even if it does, can it reverse or supersede signed bargaining agreements? Not sure it can, on either of those questions.

It’s not likely this will pass the Senate unless it gets included in the debt ceiling package or something like that. The most likely outcome would probably be to lead more agencies to move to the suburbs and that’s likely to happen anyway.

Yep. GSA won't allow my agency to justify new leases or buildings in DC because of the cost savings in PG, Alexandria, and Fairfax.

If more fed agencies move out, wouldn’t that mean a federal city (at least one as big as it is now) is unnecessary? Wouldn’t the exit of more federal agencies bolster DC’s chances of statehood?

The people objecting to DC's statehood by citing the number of government jobs in the city aren't arguing in good faith. They object to DC statehood because the city votes for Democrats by a 80 point margins. Their stated reasoning is merely intellectual window dressing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If telework is indeed here to stay, my prediction is that the DC area will weather this better than many other cities and states.

If people keep resisting requests/commands to head back to the office and continue to insist they are just as productive at home, at some point corporate leaders will simply offshore those jobs. They did this before with blue collar jobs; they will do it to knowledge workers. Why pay for an accountant/graphic designer/engineer in the US, when you can hire one for a 1/10 of the cost and without pesky employment regulations in Costa Rica or Ghana or India? Even if these employees are (initially) less productive, they will cost so much less that it won't matter. The tax revenue consequences of this will be felt throughout the country.

The safest jobs are going to be jobs that cannot be outsourced: service jobs, professional jobs that require physical interaction (e.g., some doctors), the military, and many government jobs. The latter will make the DC area more offshore-proof than the rest of the country.

In addition, vengeful Republicans will eventually force federal government employees back to the office. They will be delighted at upsetting what they perceive to be lazy government workers. Which will help DC and surrounding areas.

Every time I have been downtown it seems quite busy. Also, I agree that the “vengeful” Republicans are going to force federal workers back into the office. It is only a matter of time.

The House already has a bill introduced by GOP sponsors to end federal telework, as it happens.

Will it pass the Senate? And even if it does, can it reverse or supersede signed bargaining agreements? Not sure it can, on either of those questions.

It’s not likely this will pass the Senate unless it gets included in the debt ceiling package or something like that. The most likely outcome would probably be to lead more agencies to move to the suburbs and that’s likely to happen anyway.

Yep. GSA won't allow my agency to justify new leases or buildings in DC because of the cost savings in PG, Alexandria, and Fairfax.

If more fed agencies move out, wouldn’t that mean a federal city (at least one as big as it is now) is unnecessary? Wouldn’t the exit of more federal agencies bolster DC’s chances of statehood?

The people objecting to DC's statehood by citing the number of government jobs in the city aren't arguing in good faith. They object to DC statehood because the city votes for Democrats by a 80 point margins. Their stated reasoning is merely intellectual window dressing.

Perhaps. But politics aside, the strongest argument against statehood is that DC has not sufficiently proven that it can govern itself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If telework is indeed here to stay, my prediction is that the DC area will weather this better than many other cities and states.

If people keep resisting requests/commands to head back to the office and continue to insist they are just as productive at home, at some point corporate leaders will simply offshore those jobs. They did this before with blue collar jobs; they will do it to knowledge workers. Why pay for an accountant/graphic designer/engineer in the US, when you can hire one for a 1/10 of the cost and without pesky employment regulations in Costa Rica or Ghana or India? Even if these employees are (initially) less productive, they will cost so much less that it won't matter. The tax revenue consequences of this will be felt throughout the country.

The safest jobs are going to be jobs that cannot be outsourced: service jobs, professional jobs that require physical interaction (e.g., some doctors), the military, and many government jobs. The latter will make the DC area more offshore-proof than the rest of the country.

In addition, vengeful Republicans will eventually force federal government employees back to the office. They will be delighted at upsetting what they perceive to be lazy government workers. Which will help DC and surrounding areas.

Every time I have been downtown it seems quite busy. Also, I agree that the “vengeful” Republicans are going to force federal workers back into the office. It is only a matter of time.

The House already has a bill introduced by GOP sponsors to end federal telework, as it happens.

Will it pass the Senate? And even if it does, can it reverse or supersede signed bargaining agreements? Not sure it can, on either of those questions.

It’s not likely this will pass the Senate unless it gets included in the debt ceiling package or something like that. The most likely outcome would probably be to lead more agencies to move to the suburbs and that’s likely to happen anyway.

Yep. GSA won't allow my agency to justify new leases or buildings in DC because of the cost savings in PG, Alexandria, and Fairfax.

If more fed agencies move out, wouldn’t that mean a federal city (at least one as big as it is now) is unnecessary? Wouldn’t the exit of more federal agencies bolster DC’s chances of statehood?

The people objecting to DC's statehood by citing the number of government jobs in the city aren't arguing in good faith. They object to DC statehood because the city votes for Democrats by a 80 point margins. Their stated reasoning is merely intellectual window dressing.

Perhaps. But politics aside, the strongest argument against statehood is that DC has not sufficiently proven that it can govern itself.

And Mississippi has? Please . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If telework is indeed here to stay, my prediction is that the DC area will weather this better than many other cities and states.

If people keep resisting requests/commands to head back to the office and continue to insist they are just as productive at home, at some point corporate leaders will simply offshore those jobs. They did this before with blue collar jobs; they will do it to knowledge workers. Why pay for an accountant/graphic designer/engineer in the US, when you can hire one for a 1/10 of the cost and without pesky employment regulations in Costa Rica or Ghana or India? Even if these employees are (initially) less productive, they will cost so much less that it won't matter. The tax revenue consequences of this will be felt throughout the country.

The safest jobs are going to be jobs that cannot be outsourced: service jobs, professional jobs that require physical interaction (e.g., some doctors), the military, and many government jobs. The latter will make the DC area more offshore-proof than the rest of the country.

In addition, vengeful Republicans will eventually force federal government employees back to the office. They will be delighted at upsetting what they perceive to be lazy government workers. Which will help DC and surrounding areas.

Every time I have been downtown it seems quite busy. Also, I agree that the “vengeful” Republicans are going to force federal workers back into the office. It is only a matter of time.

The House already has a bill introduced by GOP sponsors to end federal telework, as it happens.

Will it pass the Senate? And even if it does, can it reverse or supersede signed bargaining agreements? Not sure it can, on either of those questions.

It’s not likely this will pass the Senate unless it gets included in the debt ceiling package or something like that. The most likely outcome would probably be to lead more agencies to move to the suburbs and that’s likely to happen anyway.

Yep. GSA won't allow my agency to justify new leases or buildings in DC because of the cost savings in PG, Alexandria, and Fairfax.

If more fed agencies move out, wouldn’t that mean a federal city (at least one as big as it is now) is unnecessary? Wouldn’t the exit of more federal agencies bolster DC’s chances of statehood?

The people objecting to DC's statehood by citing the number of government jobs in the city aren't arguing in good faith. They object to DC statehood because the city votes for Democrats by a 80 point margins. Their stated reasoning is merely intellectual window dressing.

Perhaps. But politics aside, the strongest argument against statehood is that DC has not sufficiently proven that it can govern itself.

And Mississippi has? Please . . .

The government of Mississippi hasn’t been taken over by the Feseral government since reconstruction. So objectively yes, they have a longer track record of successful self-government than DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If telework is indeed here to stay, my prediction is that the DC area will weather this better than many other cities and states.

If people keep resisting requests/commands to head back to the office and continue to insist they are just as productive at home, at some point corporate leaders will simply offshore those jobs. They did this before with blue collar jobs; they will do it to knowledge workers. Why pay for an accountant/graphic designer/engineer in the US, when you can hire one for a 1/10 of the cost and without pesky employment regulations in Costa Rica or Ghana or India? Even if these employees are (initially) less productive, they will cost so much less that it won't matter. The tax revenue consequences of this will be felt throughout the country.

The safest jobs are going to be jobs that cannot be outsourced: service jobs, professional jobs that require physical interaction (e.g., some doctors), the military, and many government jobs. The latter will make the DC area more offshore-proof than the rest of the country.

In addition, vengeful Republicans will eventually force federal government employees back to the office. They will be delighted at upsetting what they perceive to be lazy government workers. Which will help DC and surrounding areas.

Every time I have been downtown it seems quite busy. Also, I agree that the “vengeful” Republicans are going to force federal workers back into the office. It is only a matter of time.

The House already has a bill introduced by GOP sponsors to end federal telework, as it happens.

Will it pass the Senate? And even if it does, can it reverse or supersede signed bargaining agreements? Not sure it can, on either of those questions.

It’s not likely this will pass the Senate unless it gets included in the debt ceiling package or something like that. The most likely outcome would probably be to lead more agencies to move to the suburbs and that’s likely to happen anyway.

Yep. GSA won't allow my agency to justify new leases or buildings in DC because of the cost savings in PG, Alexandria, and Fairfax.

If more fed agencies move out, wouldn’t that mean a federal city (at least one as big as it is now) is unnecessary? Wouldn’t the exit of more federal agencies bolster DC’s chances of statehood?

The people objecting to DC's statehood by citing the number of government jobs in the city aren't arguing in good faith. They object to DC statehood because the city votes for Democrats by a 80 point margins. Their stated reasoning is merely intellectual window dressing.

Perhaps. But politics aside, the strongest argument against statehood is that DC has not sufficiently proven that it can govern itself.

And Mississippi has? Please . . .

The government of Mississippi hasn’t been taken over by the Feseral government since reconstruction. So objectively yes, they have a longer track record of successful self-government than DC.

Mississippi is a ward of the state. It receives way more tax dollars that it pays. It cannot even provide portable drinking water to the citizens of its largest city. The Feds had to step in