Office-occupancy rates are stuck around 50%, even as more companies demand that workers come back to offices. That’s according to the Wall Street Journal. Workers and employers are at loggerheads over the idea, with workers complaining about everything from ubiquitous, loathsome, tech style, open concept layout of newish offices to quality of life concerns. While employers moan about the loss of so called office culture and productivity. Both have valid concerns and it's no surprise that neither side is listening to the other because well Americans aren’t good at that these days. At stake here is the billions of dollars of investment in offices and adjacent businesses and in some cases whole downtowns that are likely circling the drain. Among the most pointed and utterly fascinating responses in the Wall Street Journal’s article was from Merrick Wright of Miami who said quote “It is not my responsibility to save downtown by going back to the office. The average worker should not be in charge of something that just costs us time and money.” Yes, Merrick is right. On all accounts.These investments by and large are not yours or mine or Merrick’s. We will not see direct profit from them but there are several questions that must be posed about Merrick's conclusion. If it is not our responsibility to save downtowns, whose is it? And frankly, if these areas aren’t saved what happens next? Because I honestly don’t know. But what I do know is whether we save our downtowns ourselves, or not, we all have to live with the consequences.Reach me at [email protected] or [email protected]. Or leave me a message at 1-585-484-0339 This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamesbrowntv.substack.com/subscribe

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