New York City faces ghost town future as workers stay away

Figures released this week by United Vans showed people flooding out of the Empire State during the pandemic, as 67pc of all long-distance moves were made by people leaving and only 33pc were by people moving in.

According to a report from New World Wealth and Webster Pacific, the combined wealth in the Big Apple fell by $336bn in the 12 months ending June 30.

Tax collections dropped 46pc in June, even while revenues generated in other parts of the state recovered. 

Politicians have proposed a wealth tax targeting the city’s registered 100 billionaires to help fill an enormous shortfall. However, Governor Andrew Cuomo said he could not support greater taxes on the ultra-wealthy as rich people already have one foot out of New York City and he fears they will leave for good if their taxes go up.

Last month he issued a plea for the super rich to return. “They are in their Hamptons homes, or Hudson Valley or Connecticut. I talk to them literally every day. I say. ‘When are you coming back? I’ll buy you a drink. I’ll cook,’ “ he said.

But the governor has little more than that to offer to lure them back.

Harper, a publisher, said he may never return to New York and if he ever does, it won’t be to Manhattan: “I think the virus has just reframed people’s relationship with the city. 

“Maybe it will never be repaired, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.”