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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel pretty resentful about the federal shift to telework without any plan in place for how this will impact DC's economy. The federal properties in downtown DC have always been a liability because they don't pay taxes to the city, but the flip side was that it was a steady and reliably workforce that came into the city daily and spent money, creating an entire support economy around them.

But if those office buildings are empty, it's a massive burden. I support Bowser's initiative to try and force the feds to convert those buildings because just leaving them empty indefinitely will strangle the city. It's not a real option, but the federal government is going to move as slowly as possible to do anything about it because that's their whole deal.

I also think it's shortsighted because while I'm a huge supporter of flexible and remote work, I think some agencies and departments are going to discover that they need more face time than they are currently mandating. But the city can't sit around waiting for them to figure that out. Ideally I think each office would reconceive their office structure in a way that requires a certain amount of face time but allows workers a lot of freedom in arranging it. But again, it's the feds, they are terrible at this kind of pivot, it won't happen quickly enough to save downtown. So I support Bowser and anyone else who wants to force the feds to either put those buildings to use or sell/convert them. We can't have half the commercial district sitting empty and still have a function retail/restaurant economy. It will not work.

It's odd that the DC council and bowser don't take on private landlords as well who hike rent so that commercial property sits empty as tax write offs. This is such blight up and down Wisconsin and Connecticut avenues (and other places). Why just go after 'the Feds'?

[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.

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.

[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.

Lol, give it a week and the street cleaners/garbage collectors will be on strike.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

It is incredible arrogance that they think people will continue to put up with this.

“The District fines its residents more than any other city in the country—including for parking and traffic-related infractions—at a rate of $261 per resident.”

At some point they are going to need to realize that people, whether it’s suburban commuters or residents, don’t like being treated as revenue streams to be exploited. And at that point it’s going to be too late.

They’ve gotten so used to not having to do anything to support the economy that they don’t understand what it takes. The city has a long way to go.

[Anonymous]

The fines give incentives to everyone to drive safely. If DC could tax income like every other city, everything would change. As it is, suburbanites who prefer big lots are free-riding on DC taxpayers--many of whom choose smaller lots for the convenience of being close...

[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.

It is incredible arrogance that they think people will continue to put up with this.

“The District fines its residents more than any other city in the country—including for parking and traffic-related infractions—at a rate of $261 per resident.”

At some point they are going to need to realize that people, whether it’s suburban commuters or residents, don’t like being treated as revenue streams to be exploited. And at that point it’s going to be too late.

They’ve gotten so used to not having to do anything to support the economy that they don’t understand what it takes. The city has a long way to go.

There's a super-easy way to avoid being fined for illegal parking, illegal speeding, and illegal failing to stop at stop signs and red lights. Maybe you can guess what it is.

[Anonymous]

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.

Agree. DC pretends to be a real city but the truth is that they rely on federal govt hand outs, and revenue from traffic cameras!! They've done nothing so far to create new jobs, foster innovation or attract investment. Don't expect a bail out!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It is incredible arrogance that they think people will continue to put up with this.

“The District fines its residents more than any other city in the country—including for parking and traffic-related infractions—at a rate of $261 per resident.”

At some point they are going to need to realize that people, whether it’s suburban commuters or residents, don’t like being treated as revenue streams to be exploited. And at that point it’s going to be too late.

They’ve gotten so used to not having to do anything to support the economy that they don’t understand what it takes. The city has a long way to go.

There's a super-easy way to avoid being fined for illegal parking, illegal speeding, and illegal failing to stop at stop signs and red lights. Maybe you can guess what it is.

Here’s a question for you: do you think that DC residents are uniquely less law abiding than people in any city, anywhere else in the country?

And a related question, do you think such an aggressive approach to fining restaurants helps or hurts to create a civic culture of respect for law and order?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It is incredible arrogance that they think people will continue to put up with this.

“The District fines its residents more than any other city in the country—including for parking and traffic-related infractions—at a rate of $261 per resident.”

At some point they are going to need to realize that people, whether it’s suburban commuters or residents, don’t like being treated as revenue streams to be exploited. And at that point it’s going to be too late.

They’ve gotten so used to not having to do anything to support the economy that they don’t understand what it takes. The city has a long way to go.

There's a super-easy way to avoid being fined for illegal parking, illegal speeding, and illegal failing to stop at stop signs and red lights. Maybe you can guess what it is.

Here’s a question for you: do you think that DC residents are uniquely less law abiding than people in any city, anywhere else in the country?

And a related question, do you think such an aggressive approach to fining restaurants helps or hurts to create a civic culture of respect for law and order?

Are restaurants failing to stop at stop signs? That's terrible.

[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.

This is an excellent point. Even if someone in DC did win the lottery, it’s unlikely they would stay and if they did stay it’s 50/50 they would live in the city or suburbs.

DC however does do a decent job of attracting tourists, but because the city has never itself had to work to attract investment, it does a very bad job catering to them. After the museums there’s not enough fun stuff for tourists to do in the city. It’s emblematic of a city that’s used to and expects everything handed to it.

[Anonymous]

Telework seems here to stay.

Most people disagree with your premise

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Telework seems here to stay.

Most people disagree with your premise

Citation?

[Anonymous]

DC has been pushing Federal agencies out of the city center into NE and SE, to areas where there are no restaurants or retail shops (and often, no transit nearby). While this was intended to gentrify those areas, in fact it just encouraged Feds to brown bag their lunch and to telework as much as possible even pre-covid.

Office space has also been massively overbuilt in the larger DMV area, for probably 10 years pre-covid. (Not converting those to in-person school spaces in 2020 was a huge missed opportunity.)

Feds may be a convenient scapegoat, but even if you could bring every DC-based Federal employee into the city every day it would not reverse these long-term issues.