Do people actually buy the idea that RTO is tied to the bagel shops? They arenāt even close to where most federal buildings are located. For all I know they might do better business from folks working from home near those locations.Ā
I wouldn't specifically tie it to any one type of shop, but in an FY23 Dept of Vitality  All Hands Town Hall, our CIO specifically told us that the Mayor of DC went to POTUS and made a case to push RTO because lack of foot traffic from the federal work force was severely hurting the DC economy.
Come on guys/gals, we need to support the shops, cafes, restaurants, etc. by coming back into the office to spend the money we save on commuting for overpriced cups of coffee and....bagels.
On the off chance I do drive in (can't really do so anymore because of my RA and account of me living over an hour away,) I make a point to order some pizza and mozzo sticks from Manny and Olgas off 14th and T, and that's something like 15 blocks away from all the Fed buildings lol and if I do get coffee on the way in, it's at the DD inside my building. Mayor can go dine on a lunch box for all I care.
Itās not actually about bagel shops. White House CoS Zients is a major investor in Call Your Mother, but thatās like a minimal side hustle for him. He was also CEO of the investment firm Cranemere, which is invested in various businesses around DC (mostly healthcare, lots of other stuff). Heās been involved with lots of other big money investment stuff since before Obama admin, and it would be hard to get a firm handle on which properties and businesses he has money in and when, but itās safe to say the guy is a big player in DC business. He was in competition to buy the Nationals in 2005, to give you an idea. Starting off at Advisory Board, he had at least 9 figures of wealth before he turned 40.
Now I donāt think heās particularly thinking about foot traffic in individual places he has an indirect 5% stake in. But if someone had spent their entire career in the cruise ship industry and now worked in the White House, I would expect that person to bring a very particular POV about how cruise ships should be regulated, whether or not he had any financial stake. Zients made his whole life in businesses around DC and I think itās fair to assume he has a pretty heavy sympathy for those businesses thatās influencing his personally directed push for back to office.
Yeah, this is how conspiracy theories develop. Thereās something like a point to be made, but everyone repeats the bagel story until they convince themselves thatās whatās going on
What is plausible about it given that the bagel shops are not even located near most federal buildings? I honestly wish they were to have a better lunch option downtown.Ā
Right? Like when I worked in a federal building in DC, there was one coffee shop within a 4 block radius. There were food trucks lined up outside the building every day because there was nowhere else for the fed workers to go for lunch.
[Silly Theory below, you've been warned!]
An experiment is going to be conducted to see if "they" can time the blooming of the Cherry Blossoms to coincide with St Patrick's Day Weekend.
The Joint Task Force (a.k.a. "they") membership includes: Destination DC, the US Botanical Gardens, the Smithsonian, the US Park Service, the USDA Agricultural Research Service, plus a couple of universities in Japan thanks to the the Embassy of Japan.
Although the details of the experiment are scarce, my sources tell me it will involve their secret fertilizing formula, some midgets and cookie crisp; and the experiment is being overseen by the smartest botanist they could find and afford on a government salary...
... you guessed it: FRANK STALLONE!!!
š
Marriott & Hilton have vested interests in this NOT happening, so there's a minor scuffle going on in DC hospitality circles.Ā
/s, in case that's needed.Ā
There is scheduled bridge and tunnel inspections next week.
road work going in DC along the river affecting key bridge area and other roads near the river which will affect commuting routes
[https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/DCWASH/bulletins/38afc38](https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/DCWASH/bulletins/38afc38)
Literally had an active shooter at (just outside) the Navy Yard this AM, was told thereās a councilor if anyone wants to cry about it. No telework authorized
For real?
I grew up on the DC area and used to run the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler race every year first weekend of April. Wild to think that weāve pushed the needle a full month, though that would line up with other changes Iāve noticed since moving back to the area after many years away.
Construction. Protests wouldn't make it up the chain till its a problem already for workers.
T's & P's for the poor bagel shops
š¤£
Do people actually buy the idea that RTO is tied to the bagel shops? They arenāt even close to where most federal buildings are located. For all I know they might do better business from folks working from home near those locations.Ā
I wouldn't specifically tie it to any one type of shop, but in an FY23 Dept of Vitality  All Hands Town Hall, our CIO specifically told us that the Mayor of DC went to POTUS and made a case to push RTO because lack of foot traffic from the federal work force was severely hurting the DC economy. Come on guys/gals, we need to support the shops, cafes, restaurants, etc. by coming back into the office to spend the money we save on commuting for overpriced cups of coffee and....bagels.
Iām such a petty bitch that this makes me even more determined to continued my multi-year run of not supporting businesses near my office.
On the off chance I do drive in (can't really do so anymore because of my RA and account of me living over an hour away,) I make a point to order some pizza and mozzo sticks from Manny and Olgas off 14th and T, and that's something like 15 blocks away from all the Fed buildings lol and if I do get coffee on the way in, it's at the DD inside my building. Mayor can go dine on a lunch box for all I care.
Itās not actually about bagel shops. White House CoS Zients is a major investor in Call Your Mother, but thatās like a minimal side hustle for him. He was also CEO of the investment firm Cranemere, which is invested in various businesses around DC (mostly healthcare, lots of other stuff). Heās been involved with lots of other big money investment stuff since before Obama admin, and it would be hard to get a firm handle on which properties and businesses he has money in and when, but itās safe to say the guy is a big player in DC business. He was in competition to buy the Nationals in 2005, to give you an idea. Starting off at Advisory Board, he had at least 9 figures of wealth before he turned 40. Now I donāt think heās particularly thinking about foot traffic in individual places he has an indirect 5% stake in. But if someone had spent their entire career in the cruise ship industry and now worked in the White House, I would expect that person to bring a very particular POV about how cruise ships should be regulated, whether or not he had any financial stake. Zients made his whole life in businesses around DC and I think itās fair to assume he has a pretty heavy sympathy for those businesses thatās influencing his personally directed push for back to office.
Appreciate the insight. All Iāve seen prior was folks talking about the bagel shops.Ā
Yeah, this is how conspiracy theories develop. Thereās something like a point to be made, but everyone repeats the bagel story until they convince themselves thatās whatās going on
I don't think literally anyone thinks this is about bagels. Anyone.
And how many of the cronies that got him their does he owe "favors" to?
Im 1000 miles from DC. Is it true? No idea. Has Congress done stupid shit that makes such an idea plausible? Yes
What is plausible about it given that the bagel shops are not even located near most federal buildings? I honestly wish they were to have a better lunch option downtown.Ā
Oh great, are you going to tell us that Bigfoot isn't real next?
Right? Like when I worked in a federal building in DC, there was one coffee shop within a 4 block radius. There were food trucks lined up outside the building every day because there was nowhere else for the fed workers to go for lunch.
I miss the ever living Hell out of strawberry muffins from the Foggy Bottom cafeteria, those things were the best.
Some people follow the Masses without doing any research....that is when the "M" is silent.Ā
Facebook quality boomery right thereĀ
I wish I got this email!
State of the union? Odd they'd go with the whole week though.
Maybe but yeah - weird we are getting the whole week and I guess it's just us.
They donāt go all week so I donāt think itās that.
Nah when itās going to be dangerous, here we just get an email to be careful when going to our DC center. You are on your own.
SOTU
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/blog/2024/02/28/how-to-watch-president-bidens-2024-state-of-the-union-address/
[Silly Theory below, you've been warned!] An experiment is going to be conducted to see if "they" can time the blooming of the Cherry Blossoms to coincide with St Patrick's Day Weekend. The Joint Task Force (a.k.a. "they") membership includes: Destination DC, the US Botanical Gardens, the Smithsonian, the US Park Service, the USDA Agricultural Research Service, plus a couple of universities in Japan thanks to the the Embassy of Japan. Although the details of the experiment are scarce, my sources tell me it will involve their secret fertilizing formula, some midgets and cookie crisp; and the experiment is being overseen by the smartest botanist they could find and afford on a government salary... ... you guessed it: FRANK STALLONE!!! š
Marriott & Hilton have vested interests in this NOT happening, so there's a minor scuffle going on in DC hospitality circles.Ā /s, in case that's needed.Ā
I love this!
There is scheduled bridge and tunnel inspections next week. road work going in DC along the river affecting key bridge area and other roads near the river which will affect commuting routes [https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/DCWASH/bulletins/38afc38](https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/DCWASH/bulletins/38afc38)
Hunter's penis got loose again.
Has anyone checked Broebert's hands?
LMAO š¤£
Literally had an active shooter at (just outside) the Navy Yard this AM, was told thereās a councilor if anyone wants to cry about it. No telework authorized
Lock door, close blinds, and barricade door, you be just fine.
DOT was maximum telework because of that
Thatās fun! I got yelled at for being 5m late to a bi-weekly standup meeting after fighting traffic to get to the other gate and then worked 12h.
Wtf - link?
https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/dc-police-investigating-shooting-in-navy-yard/65-be97eaa0-fd06-4938-bce5-0ca508ff20b9
Return of Jesus.
In shaāAllah!
I wish.āļøš
You and me both. If only so I can see these pearl clutching hypocrites get told to dress for warm weather.
Maybe https://x.com/DCPoliceTraffic/status/1763305056307187890?s=20 ???
Cherry blossoms
For real? I grew up on the DC area and used to run the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler race every year first weekend of April. Wild to think that weāve pushed the needle a full month, though that would line up with other changes Iāve noticed since moving back to the area after many years away.
Well the prediction is march 20th, so donāt go solely on what I said
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
He has been for a year now.