The Daily

The Most Empty Downtown in America

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.

28:17

Creator website

Episode guests

Emma Goldberg

Conor Dougherty

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

The Rise and Fall of Yelp

00:43

The Rebirth of a City

00:35

Intro

2min

Reimagining Downtown: San Francisco's Post-Pandemic Transformation

11min

The Economic Cycle and Its Consequences in San Francisco

2min

Frustration Over Displacement in San Francisco

2min

Downtown Transformation: The Impact of Remote Work

12min

Updates on Global Crises and Surveillance Tactics

2min

For the past decade, San Francisco has worked hard to turn its downtown into a vibrant hub, providing a model that other cities in the United States looked to emulate.

In the wake of the pandemic, however, many buildings and offices in the center of the city have remained empty.

What went wrong?

Guest: Conor Dougherty, an economics reporter at The New York Times and author of “Golden Gates: The Housing Crisis and a Reckoning for the American Dream.”; and Emma Goldberg, a reporter covering the future of work for The Times.

Background reading:

What lessons does San Francisco have for the future of downtowns in America?

For more information on today’s episode, visit

nytimes.com/thedaily

. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

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