Anonymous wrote:She does have a point about underutilized office space that could be converted to housing, but I’m guessing that the government won’t shed office space until it’s time to renegotiate leases, while private sector business will shed office space when it makes economic sense. So it’s probably just a matter of time.

Our agency is already returning office space to GSA, but we're in Virginia not DC

Anonymous wrote:She does have a point about underutilized office space that could be converted to housing, but I’m guessing that the government won’t shed office space until it’s time to renegotiate leases, while private sector business will shed office space when it makes economic sense. So it’s probably just a matter of time.

She either wants to government to hand over office space currently under lease for free or for the government to hand over office buildings they own to developers for free. Why should Federal taxpayers foot the bill to support DCs prolifigate budget? If this is so important, why doesn’t DC cut spending so that they can provide these freebies? They could sublease the federal office space from GSA and then give it away. Or they could give away DC property to developers.

There is no problem that DC is currently facing that is any different than many other cities across the country. She just wants to set up an excuse to blame the Federal government for her own failures.

Anonymous wrote:Metro is a mess. The roads are more congested than ever (and they just announced plans for 100s more speed cameras in case going down major arteries like 16th wasn't painful enough). And crime is worse than ever. Maybe Bowser should focus on ways to make it easier for people to get downtown, rather than forcing them to do it against their will.

Exactly! make it more attractive for people to want to come in. She has been bashing commuters, taking parking spaces away, creating more and more bike lanes, cameras, etc for years. Where the hell does she think feds can afford to live? It's not an easy bike ride to work.

Anonymous wrote:Most of the fed buildings in DC are federally owned, not leased. The big HQ buildings (State, Federal Reserve, DOI, USDA, IRS, Treasury, HHS, etc) on the mall will never be housing or apartments, so that's a pipe dream.

Yes, there are some federally owned buildings, but tons of agencies have leased space. DOJ for example leases in several office buildings outside Main Justice. I believe State does as well.

Most of the fed buildings in DC are federally owned, not leased. The big HQ buildings (State, Federal Reserve, DOI, USDA, IRS, Treasury, HHS, etc) on the mall will never be housing or apartments, so that's a pipe dream.

Metro is a mess. The roads are more congested than ever (and they just announced plans for 100s more speed cameras in case going down major arteries like 16th wasn't painful enough). And crime is worse than ever. Maybe Bowser should focus on ways to make it easier for people to get downtown, rather than forcing them to do it against their will.

She does have a point about underutilized office space that could be converted to housing, but I’m guessing that the government won’t shed office space until it’s time to renegotiate leases, while private sector business will shed office space when it makes economic sense. So it’s probably just a matter of time.

She is delusional.

Anonymous wrote:Why doesn't bowser reach out to the heads of all major DC law firms? Those folks still telework also (often even more than feds) and have tons more discretionary income.

This right here. At this point, most feds can't afford to buy lunch or dinner in DC on a regular basis.

Bowser needs to get those law firms and lobbyists back in their offices.

GSA has been selling off and consolidating fed office space for years now.

She needs to stay in her lane

Oh, hell naw.

Why doesn't bowser reach out to the heads of all major DC law firms? Those folks still telework also (often even more than feds) and have tons more discretionary income.

Why would the Biden administration need to respond to Bowser’s request? Seems naive.

In any event, currently the President has no power to force workers back because they have issued guidance that allows each agency or department to make those decisions independently.

In addition, the ship has sailed for Bowser and DC as OPM has now issued official guidance for “Remote Work” as distinguished from “Telework”.

Bowser is going to need to figure out how to deal with DC’s problems without a Federal bailout and its a bit unnerving that the city keeps running back to the Federal government for a bailout every time they get themselves into trouble.

Has anyone from the Biden administration acknowledged or commented on this?



https://thehill.com/homenews/3796406-dc-mayor-urges-biden-to-end-telework-policies-for-federal-workers/

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called for the Biden administration to end work-from-home policies for federal government employees Monday, highlighting office buildings left empty by the remote work policies as opportunities for affordable housing.

Washington D.C., like many other major U.S. cities, has seen a rise in vacant office buildings as work-from-home protocols remain in place across multiple sectors. Bowser leaned on the Biden administration to drop the policies in her inauguration address for her third term in office on Monday.

As Bowser attempts to attract 100,000 new residents to the city, she explained that it is time for the federal government to refill the spaces with government employees or take advantage of the opportunity to attract and house more residents.

“We need decisive action by the White House to either get most federal workers back to the office most of the time or realign their vast property holdings for use by the local government, by nonprofits, by businesses and by any user willing to revitalize it,” Bowser said.

“Converting office space into housing is the key to unlocking the potential of a reimagined, more vibrant downtown,” Bowser said.