Mayors fear long-lasting effects of COVID-19

This year, 45% of mayors foresee “dramatic” cuts to school budgets, while 38% expect big cuts to parks and recreation and 35% to mass transit.

“Only around one-third expect small businesses that closed due to the COVID-19 economy will be quickly replaced by new ones,” according to a news release.

The mayors paint a bleak outlook for city centers, with 60% anticipating a permanent reduction in in-person retail shopping and the same percent saying that downtown office buildings will become “less desirable.”