As Oakland awaits employees’ return to office, businesses feel downtown drought

As Oakland awaits employees’ return to office, businesses feel downtown drought

OAKLAND — Those walking by the 17th Street parking garage on Friday morning might have noticed a lonely sandwich board out front that reads, “Welcome Back!” The sign was intended to advertise exclusive parking discounts through May 30 for Oakland City Hall employees returning to the historic downtown building and surrounding offices, a planned end to an era of remote work that dated back to the COVID-19 pandemic’s outset. But the Rotunda Garage’…