I would like to comment on the ongoing loss of businesses in downtown oakland and suggest some meaningful actions the city might consider. As we all know the pandemic has changed the world and ushered in a new era of work from home/remote work. However, it has come with some significant side effects which have effected our City. As a downtown office worker I have witnessed the transformation of one of the most exciting Cities/economies on the west coast transform to a ghost town of empty office buildings and shuttered restaurants. One of my favorite coffee shops, Modern Coffee, a women owned business, had to close due to lack of foot traffic and the neverending wait of office workers coming back post pandemic. Add it to the long list, including the most painful, the loss of Le Cheval.
I ask the City to to consider taking the lead and bring back its office workers back to the office and put an end to ineffective remote work and workers who do not significantly contribute to the health of our Cities economy. It would also help boost transit use, which needs the help.
While we can't expect tech companies and for profit companies to look out for the interest of our local businesses, we should expect it from our City, State, Utility and federal offices who occupy the most prime real estate in our City. These buildings still remain mostly vacant and are a drain on the downtown as they serve as vacant buildings that house remote work computers.