Minneapolis’s empty downtown has struggled due to the continuation of remote work.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is trying a unique strategy to get remote workers to return downtown: insulting them.
“I don’t know if you saw this study the other day,” Frey told an audience of 1,000 at Minneapolis Downtown Council’s annual meeting on Wednesday. “What this study clearly showed … is that when people who have the ability to come downtown to an office don’t — when they stay home sitting on their couch, with their nasty cat blanket, diddling on their laptop — if they do that for a few months, you become a loser!”
The comment was a “complete joke” and the study was made-up, the Minneapolis mayor’s office told Fortune, but there are serious facts to back up Frey’s worry about the impact of remote work on Minneapolis’ downtown economy.
The comment was a “complete joke” and the study was made-up, the Minneapolis mayor’s office told Fortune
Ah yes the typical "what? It was just a joke, why's everyone mad at me?" reaction to saying something only an asshole would say, fuck this guy. So sorry rich people are going to make less money off of their real estate investments, boo fucking hoo, how about adapting to technological and cultural changes better? 🤷♂️
People just don’t want to spend what little time we have on this earth commuting, paying $10 for a shitty Subway sandwich for lunch, and listening to Elderly Manager Brian talk about his glory days to a captive audience.
Yeah.... No. The real losers are the asshats that have to get up, shower, get lunch together, drive to a factory, inhale shit all day, fantasize about unrealistic things like unicorns, homeownership, and retirement, and then drive home.
Source: Me. Am loser, driving, breathing shit, and all with no cat blanket...
Man, if you become a loser in a few months what does that make me since I've been fully remote for six years, and more than 50% remote for eleven years.
Also, here's the problem as defined by Minneapolis:
Gen Z prefers laptop diddling and nasty cat blankets to going out
What does "going out" entail? Visiting a bar and overpaying for drinks in a noisy bar? Overpaying at a restaurant that doesn't even have plates?
Gen Z doesn't have any money. Going out requires money. So unless they're gonna subsidize meals at restaurants, people will stay home and diddle on their laptops because at least that doesn't cost money.
I can't read this article, but I've seen (and posted) other articles about this. Governor Walz responded with "I guess I'm a nasty cat blanket person then". The DFL isn't a sack of shit, but Mayor Frey sure is. And he got re elected last time because he's about as conservative as can win here and the downtown businesses threw a bunch of money in his campaign.
Working remotely has let me support local businesses more than before. I'm helping out a community I want to live in, not one I'm forced to commute to and just work in.
Oh, the loser who was on the Minneapolis city council for years before becoming mayor and then doing shit-all for a couple years before multiple cops in his city murdered George Floyd? The city that had so many civil rights violations that they're now operating under a consent decree? Why should I care what that guy says?
..and run companies from home, we are nurses, doctors, lawyers, customer service, support techs, and logistics. We work 8, 10, 12+ hours to help build companies we will never benefit from. Jacob, we don't give two fucks about you either. What's your point?
I've been a loser my whole life but so has everyone else. It's time for use to steer the ship. 🚢 ⚓
Ways to get me to support your downtown economy: insulting me? Lol. I live in a red state and recently got a remote job... so glad I can spend less money on the local economy by staying at home. Instead of being forced to spend money at local businesses, I spend it on people/businesses near or far away that share my world views, who I -want- to support. No longer who I -have- to support. Screw the conservative economy.
these guys who criticize typically have always had the choice to remote work in their entire careers, have nice corner offices, can just meet with executive all career looking and do fun things. etc
I'm more of a dog person, and I'm diddling myself. Besides that I'm still way more productive than my colleague that enjoys excessive socializing at the office coffee machine.
While still a stupid thing to say, I am concerned that this quote was mildly taken out of context. It was made at a business luncheon, where he was addressing downtown business owners. I believe "you" in "you become a loser" meant "if people work from home, you downtown business owners become the losers here." But yeah, "nasty cat blanket" is a classist and elitist statement from someone who has a stereotype image in their head.
Link to that part of the speech, sorry it's from a FOX affiliate.
The comment was a “complete joke” and the study was made-up, the Minneapolis mayor’s office told Fortune, but there are serious facts to back up Frey’s worry about the impact of remote work on Minneapolis’ downtown economy.
Really now? It's all bullshit, but its really real too you know!
When it comes to capitalism, I'm happy to be a loser. Proud, even. What you don't see, very often, however, is people actually firing themselves like this guy just did...