Anonymous wrote:I am also one of those "over 45" working fro home and have been for quite some time.

The problem is, we have a whole generation of 20-somethings who need the mentoring, the networking and "water cooler bull sessions" to adjust into what us older folks know as "regular working conditions.

Sure, we were lucky that COViD his and we were all established in our jobs and careers. But for anyone who has graduated from college the last say 6-8 years, it has been very disruptive.

Are "regular working conditions" (aka rat race) something to aspire to? You want this life for your kids? I've never worked for government in any capacity, but I personally don't have an issue with Fed working remote, there are some jobs that just as easily can be done remotely and even better (especially if working across diff time zones). Private sector hires remote workers all the time and hybrid is the best they can manage to do now. I think people should have a choice, having a couple of days a week in the office is nice for what you describe and for some change of scenery and to break down depression that may result from isolation in your house, but doing this daily is nothing but grind and there is no necessity to it given modern technology. Even doctors are doing virtual visits now. Service workers work diff shifts, not 9-5 and have more flexibility with PT jobs too. Full time grind of office work is the past and nobody is buying into this being a necessity anymore.

Now, we can revitalize DT by having mixed work/live spaces and keep offices for hybrid. Some should be converted into housing. People seeking urban living would revitalize the area, and urban areas that have a lot of residential housing are doing fine and did so even during Covid closures. Start with crime first then maybe more people will move in, then open up more charter schools or low cost school coops so that families have choice to remain in the city like they do in NYC.

Anonymous wrote:How is it good for the city if thousands of fed workers are suddenly unemployed? Many of them live in DC.

Maybe Elon will transition some of his operations here... take advantage of empty buildings and existing street grid and metro infrastructure, plus educated workforce with some suddenly unemployed.. Let's hope he follows the footsteps of Bezos

Downtown is packed today and crime stats are back down well within the norm - the whole DC is empty and full of crime is old news

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aww you poor thing. You to stop "working" from home. Grow up and work a 9-5 like normal adults. There are lots of reasons that bowser is a disaster and this isn't one of them. Please do all of us taxpayers a favor and retire.

Funny because I live in Arlington and my $$$ neighborhood is full of very successful private sector employees who WAH at least several days per week including my DH who hasn’t gone into an office (aside from occasional large conferences and events to mentor others) in over a decade. And he makes more than me (plus stock bonuses). Many of them work with colleagues and clients across the globe so they work odd hours at times (with busy and slower seasons) versus the 9-5 butt in seat in some office complex of the Boomer generation.

I will be sure to let them all know they aren’t “normal adults.” Also I’m willing to bet you are at least 45 if not older and have no idea how things work anymore.

DP. So then go get one of those jobs. WAH was a temporary emergency measure during a pandemic and started when schools were closed. It was never, ever, in no way whatsoever meant to be permanent. The fact that people are throwing tantrums about it ending FOUR YEARS LATER is insipid.

But why shouldn’t it be? Why not continue with something that has so many benefits? Or are we now a society that just looks to implement policies meant to make people’s lives harder?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure, let's blame the remote workers instead of the out-of-control crime.



I don't think this is a hot take, but I'm going to avoid places where there's a high rate of crime, which these days seems to be most of DC. I used to go to shows and dinners 2-4 times a week with friends but we've now shifted to doing more things outside of the city. Several friends have also moved outside of DC due to crime. I mean, how many times can your house/car get broken into before you leave, you know? And even with good security/camera systems, the culprits were never caught.

It's the crime, Madam Mayor. It's. The. Crime.

I've been here for 35 years and have never had my car or house broken into. I live and work in the city. I socialize in the city. I love the city. I also don't walk around like I am oblivious with my head in my phone, which I see a lot of!

I've lived in DC for 18 years. I work downtown. I do a combination of biking, walking, driving, and metro-ing. I've had bikes stolen, and an apartment broken into, and a car stolen (and returned). But I feel safe most of the time. I don't walk alone at night and keep my wits about me. You couldn't pay me to move to the suburbs and spend a Saturday night at a restaurant in Tysons. I don't care how safe it is. You're missing out on cultural experiences in the city because of your fear, and it's your loss. I feel badly for you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The assault she’s unleashing on federal workers by solely blaming them for downtown DC not being “vibrant” because of remote work, is just so out of touch. And she’s aligning with the incoming administration? Has she lost her mind? I’m angry at this. I just want to vent. Why are feds always targeted unfairly for everything?

If she really wanted Federal Workers to return to office, maybe thinking about how they might get to the office will help.
Rock Creek closing Beech Drive
CT Ave - it is bad enough that you no longer have the additional lane but adding in the restaurant taking over the lane
Losing lanes to bike lanes (some that are barely used) has lead to gridlock
Changing some streets to one way etc etc etc

Everyone in my office takes Metro or the MARC train, except for one person who drives.

The bike racks are full, too.

My company has free garage parking at our downtown DC office, or employees can opt for free metro rides instead. Almost everyone drives, including lots of young people who live in DC. People really only take public transportation if parking is very expensive.

I don’t think the federal govt has ever offered free parking. There are also many BigLaw firms that don’t provide it…but lawyers get paid lots of $$$s so wouldn’t be surprised if many pay for monthly parking on their own nickel.

I get free parking at my federal building in Chintatown/Judiciary Sq.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The assault she’s unleashing on federal workers by solely blaming them for downtown DC not being “vibrant” because of remote work, is just so out of touch. And she’s aligning with the incoming administration? Has she lost her mind? I’m angry at this. I just want to vent. Why are feds always targeted unfairly for everything?

If she really wanted Federal Workers to return to office, maybe thinking about how they might get to the office will help.
Rock Creek closing Beech Drive
CT Ave - it is bad enough that you no longer have the additional lane but adding in the restaurant taking over the lane
Losing lanes to bike lanes (some that are barely used) has lead to gridlock
Changing some streets to one way etc etc etc

DC transportation policy shouldn’t cater to your car addiction. In fact, it should wean you off your car addiction. The metro area has a great public transport network. I’d recommend familiarizing yourself with it.

Compared to London, Paris, and other capital cities in the Western World, the DC Metro is incredibly small and incredibly unsafe. Asking people to give up their cars to risk their safety on an unsafe, paltry Metro network years is ridiculous. Maybe build some more Metro lines and make it less stabby and THEN ask for people to get out of their cars to use it.

Every single time our local governments try to make public transport and micro-mobility better and faster - bus lanes on Georgia Ave, the Purple Line, various bike lanes etc. - the car addicts and NIMBYs rise up to delay, disrupt, and sometimes outright destroy the proposal. And then they claim that because public transport sucks and micro-mobility is unsafe, they have no option other than to drive.

Did you know that your constant whiny and name calling makes you look like a child?

Well, if you could kindly leave your name here, we can refer to you directly by that and not descriptions like “NIMBY” and “car addict” that apparently offend you so much.

And you’re Raging Bike Nut.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The assault she’s unleashing on federal workers by solely blaming them for downtown DC not being “vibrant” because of remote work, is just so out of touch. And she’s aligning with the incoming administration? Has she lost her mind? I’m angry at this. I just want to vent. Why are feds always targeted unfairly for everything?

If she really wanted Federal Workers to return to office, maybe thinking about how they might get to the office will help.
Rock Creek closing Beech Drive
CT Ave - it is bad enough that you no longer have the additional lane but adding in the restaurant taking over the lane
Losing lanes to bike lanes (some that are barely used) has lead to gridlock
Changing some streets to one way etc etc etc

Everyone in my office takes Metro or the MARC train, except for one person who drives.

The bike racks are full, too.

My company has free garage parking at our downtown DC office, or employees can opt for free metro rides instead. Almost everyone drives, including lots of young people who live in DC. People really only take public transportation if parking is very expensive.

Prepare for that to change as the roads become increasingly congested with people coming back in to the office.

LOL. Keep dreaming, bub.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aww you poor thing. You to stop "working" from home. Grow up and work a 9-5 like normal adults. There are lots of reasons that bowser is a disaster and this isn't one of them. Please do all of us taxpayers a favor and retire.

Funny because I live in Arlington and my $$$ neighborhood is full of very successful private sector employees who WAH at least several days per week including my DH who hasn’t gone into an office (aside from occasional large conferences and events to mentor others) in over a decade. And he makes more than me (plus stock bonuses). Many of them work with colleagues and clients across the globe so they work odd hours at times (with busy and slower seasons) versus the 9-5 butt in seat in some office complex of the Boomer generation.

I will be sure to let them all know they aren’t “normal adults.” Also I’m willing to bet you are at least 45 if not older and have no idea how things work anymore.

DP. So then go get one of those jobs. WAH was a temporary emergency measure during a pandemic and started when schools were closed. It was never, ever, in no way whatsoever meant to be permanent. The fact that people are throwing tantrums about it ending FOUR YEARS LATER is insipid.

It’s DC you have no choice.

How many years will you vote for Eleanor Holmes Norton or mythologize Marion Barry.

It wasn’t a question. 🙄