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My uncle told me in 2015 that remote work would kill our downtown, and I argued with him for an hour.
He was a city planner in Cincinnati and said if 30% of office jobs went remote, the tax base for public transit would collapse. I thought he was being a doomer, but after the pandemic, we're seeing exactly that happen. Has anyone else's city had to completely rethink funding for things like buses because of the empty offices?
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hollywhite1mo ago
Honestly, something I never see people talk about is the knock-on effect for small city festivals and events. A lot of those were funded by downtown business associations, you know, the ones that office workers paid into. Now that money's gone. Our summer concert series got cut in half because the corporate sponsors pulled out. It's not just buses, it's the stuff that makes a place feel alive.
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roberts.leo1mo ago
Yeah, that "stuff that makes a place feel alive" part... our neighborhood just started a tiny monthly market with local crafters.
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river9521mo ago
Exactly. The little stuff dies first. Our town's fall festival lost its main stage last year because the bank that always sponsored it closed its local branch. No more free pumpkin painting for kids, no cover bands playing in the square. It just becomes a bunch of food trucks in a parking lot. The vibe totally changes when that glue money disappears.
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