(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
The long, exhausting, soul-sucking and expensive commute, along with random acts of terrifying violence, are keeping workers from returning to their offices. In the ongoing tug-of-war battle over companies pushing people to come back into major cities, such as Manhattan, business executives conveniently gloss over these real issues and pretend they don't exist.
If you are commuting into the Big Apple from one of the boroughs, Westchester, Long Island, the suburbs of Connecticut or New Jersey, your commute can easily take two-plus hours door-to-door roundtrip. The timing is generous, as it doesn’t include the daily frustrations of train delays, constant work being done on the tracks, problems with the bus where everyone needs to depart and they are left stranded on the side of the road until another bus can pick them up.
A rain storm, snow or a traffic accident will add up to a couple of extra hours to the already-too-long trip. To add to the misery, the highways are strewn with potholes, making for a bumpy ride. The roads and parkways are dilapidated and overcrowded, as they’ve been built in a bygone era and are not wide enough to cater to the massive growth in population.
By the time you arrive in New York City, you're already worn out by the ordeal. For many, once you’re in the City, there’s a need to take a subway to your office. There’s a wait time because, of course, your train is delayed and you’re stressing out over missing a crucial meeting. If you decide to walk the 10 long city blocks, good luck in the oppressive, sweltering August heat or the freezing cold and blizzards in January and February.
Meanwhile, the big-shot executives who reside in posh luxury apartment buildings at exclusive addresses, get a company car to whisk them into the office. Most of them don’t have any comprehension or empathy for their workers who have to schlep back and forth every day, which wears you out. When you come home, you're tired and burned out. There is only enough time to wolf down dinner, chat a little with the family, plop on the couch, mindlessly watch a Netflix series or your favorite sports team, then go to bed, only to get back on the hamster wheel the next day.
Random Acts Of Senseless Violence And Mayhem
If this wasn’t bad enough, you also have to worry about your physical safety. New York City can be a dangerous place. According to recent data from the New York City police department, “crime increased by 34.2% in April 2022,” compared to the same period last year. There has been a “43.5% increase in grand larceny” and “burglaries also increased by 39.4%,” compared to last year, which was high to begin with.
In April alone, there were 1,261 robberies, 2,044 felony assaults, 3,867 instances of grand larceny and 105 shootings. These represent the reported acts, and the number of unreported incidents is likely much higher.
In a real-life scene that felt like it was lifted from a dystopian horror movie, on April 12, Frank James, riding on the N train coming from Brooklyn into Manhattan, started shooting passengers in the train cars. The brutal attack left 29 people injured, while 10 commuters were shot. Adding to the terror, James set off smoke bombs before attacking the innocent train riders.
Regarding gun violence, the New York Times reported, “With the number of shootings in New York City still at heightened levels, Mayor Eric Adams is expected to appoint a ‘gun violence czar’ just as the summer’s traditional spike in firearm-related violence looms.” The situation is so dire that the “Adams administration has also considered declaring a state of emergency related to the surge in gun violence.”
A Quinnipiac University New York City poll shows that “crime tops the list as the most urgent issue facing New York City.” The respondents include “voters of all political parties, races, genders, age groups and boroughs.” The poll found “nearly 50% of voters say crime is the most urgent issue, followed by affordable housing and homelessness.
CBS News reported, “On the last day of AAPI Heritage Month, there's troubling data on hate crimes against the community,” of which “many cases are not getting prosecutorial attention.” The piece profiled Eva Zhao, who said, "I want justice," begging for law enforcement to do something about her husband, Zhiwen Yan, who was “shot and killed while delivering food in Forest Hills.” She stated, "I feel scared that if we do not catch this criminal, if he murders someone again. I really don't want to see another family go through the same kind of pain."
Only 8% Of New York City Workers Are In The Office
The Partnership for New York City, a nonprofit organization that promotes New York City’s standing as a global center of economic opportunity and innovation, surveyed more than 160 major employers during the time period between April 21 and May 4 to find out how many people are returning to their respective offices.
The group found that on a typical weekday only 8% of Manhattan office workers are in the office five days a week. The study shows that 11% are in four days per week, 17% three days out of the workweek, 21% are in two days, 14% are in one day per week and 28% of Manhattan office workers are fully remote.
The nonprofit concluded, “Remote work is here to stay, with 78% of employers indicating a hybrid office model will be their predominant post-pandemic policy, up from just 6% pre-pandemic.”
With the high costs of commuting, especially with gas prices soaring, coupled with the hours of your life wasted stuck in traffic, along with the fear of being attacked or assaulted in New York City, it is understandable that many people prefer to remain working at home.
