The Daily The Most Empty Downtown in America
38 snips
Feb 9, 2023 
Conor Dougherty, an economics reporter and author, joins Emma Goldberg, a reporter on the future of work, to discuss San Francisco's downtown crisis post-pandemic. They explore how remote work has left many offices empty, stunting the city's recovery efforts. The duo questions the roles of tech companies and rising housing costs in shaping urban dynamics. Listeners will also hear about the personal impacts on local business owners like Maria, highlighting the need for innovative solutions to revitalize communities and address inequities.
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San Francisco's Tech Bet
- San Francisco bet on tech to revive its economy after the 2008 recession.
- This led to a tech boom, with companies like Yelp, Twitter, and Salesforce establishing headquarters downtown.
Maria's Story
- Maria Saros Mercado, a San Francisco native, built her career managing restaurants catering to office workers.
- Her experience at Special Tees cafe exemplifies the bustling downtown ecosystem.
The San Francisco Model
- San Francisco's tech-centric model became a national example for other cities.
- The idea was to attract workers downtown, creating an economic cycle supporting service workers.
