Downtown Sacramento is ready to welcome state workers back to their offices | Opinion

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently announced he will follow through on his hybrid telework policy embodied in his Executive Order issued on March 3, 2025. Starting July 1, the policy requires most state workers to return to their offices a minimum of four days per week.

The Downtown Sacramento Partnership, where I serve as executive director, appreciates that the governor recognizes increasing in-office work is an operational necessity. Indeed, we — like the city and county of Sacramento — share Newsom’s view that bringing employees together in an office setting strengthens collaboration, cohesion, efficiency and accountability.

In any case, Sacramento is ready to welcome state employees back to their offices in downtown Sacramento. They will be pleased to discover that the heart of our city is more vibrant and more connected compared to the one they experienced six years ago when the pandemic forced them to work from home.

Sacramento has made significant progress in making downtown cleaner and safer. Various outdoor events take place throughout the week, all of which complement the rhythm of the workday by encouraging people to step outside, recharge and connect with their downtown community.

It is no secret that our downtown has felt the negative impacts of telework since 2020, and that the effects of the pandemic still linger. Pedestrian activity, for example, remains 15% below April 2019 levels, negatively influencing the perception of safety and community vitality. Moreover, occupancy levels in downtown office buildings have reduced property values by an estimated $800 million.

Not surprisingly, cities making the strongest downtown recoveries —notably, San Francisco and Columbus, Ohio — have moved toward primarily in-person work models. Newsom’s “four-day minimum” order is expected to bring approximately 28,000 additional workers each day to Sacramento’s central city, essentially doubling the current weekday in-person workforce.

“With nearly half of downtown Sacramento’s office space occupied by state agencies, bringing more workers back to the office will increase foot traffic and restore energy to our urban core,” Mayor Kevin McCarty recently said. “We are committed to welcoming and supporting state workers as they return to downtown.”

Cities thrive when workspaces are occupied and there is foot traffic. Every person who grabs a coffee before a meeting, attends a downtown event after work or simply spends time in public spaces helps shape the identity of the city.

Some of the most important moments in any workplace rarely happen on a scheduled video call. They happen in hallway conversations, impromptu brainstorming sessions and over coffee with coworkers. For a capital city, this dynamic matters even more because Sacramento is where statewide policies are developed and implemented.

When we renewed downtown’s 102-block management district early this year (supported by a $5.7 million budget), we knew there had to be an emphasis on creating an experience that made residents, visitors, students, businesses and employees want to be downtown.

Street-level infrastructure, including tables, chairs and umbrellas, has been placed throughout key corridors, making public spaces more usable and inviting. Enhanced lighting and increased safety efforts help create comfortable areas for people to make a call or meet with a coworker beyond the office walls.

We are eager to welcome state employees back to the central business district that has been revitalized with them in mind.

Michael Ault is the executive director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership.