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Empty offices, vacant storefronts raise stakes in D.C. mayoral election | The Washington Post

March 26, 2026
  • D.C. Policy Center

On March 23, 2026, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted in The Washington Post:

Even the number of births has declined, from 9,854 in 2016 to 7,898 in 2023, according to a recent D.C. Policy Center report. “We’re losing babies, which is a strong indicator of whether families choose to stay in the city or not,” said Yesim Sayin, the center’s executive director. “There’s no demand for the city. Workers are not coming, businesses are not starting. Our private sector is not functioning.”

Read more: Empty offices, vacant storefronts raise stakes in D.C. mayoral election

Additional reading: Chart of the week: Projecting future births and young children in D.C.

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D.C. Policy Center


Established in 2016, the D.C. Policy Center is a non-partisan research and policy organization committed to advancing policies for a strong and vibrant economy in the District of Columbia. Through rigorous research and collaboration, the D.C. Policy Center develops and tests policy ideas, disseminates its findings, and engages in constructive dialogue and debate.

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