Is Brooklyn Leading New York City Out of the Pandemic?

The emptying of Manhattan’s office districts has benefited Brooklyn neighborhoods where residents worked from home, testing the balance of power between the city’s boroughs.

Manhattan has long anchored New York City’s economy, attracting workers and travelers from around the world to its vibrant commercial districts and renowned cultural institutions. But during the worst of the coronavirus pandemic, Manhattan’s strengths became its undoing. Tourists and commuters disappeared from its bustling sidewalks. Two-thirds of New York City’s job losses were concentrated in the borough. As Manhattan struggled, the other boroughs helped to pull the city out of its deep economic hole. And by some measures, Brooklyn has led the way.