Starting decades ago, cities continue to fail at supporting people and businesses. The port cities just held on longer than others.
Economies are built on taking something from the ground (drilling, mining, lumber, agriculture, livestock), taking something from the sea (drilling, fishing), making it into something (manufacturing, fabrication, assembly), or shipping it somewhere else.
There are exceptions such as tourism, research, education, and receiving things shipped from somewhere else and distributing them.
What does Seattle have to offer?
“What does Seattle have to offer?”
coffee and grunge rock
I deal with a major forest products company out of WA state. About seven years ago they moved their corporate headquarters from Federal Way, WA to downtown Seattle.
At first their employees would take the train in and work from home one day/week. Since covid they all have been working remotely. None of them want to return to working in downtown.