Yes they are. Visit DC or SF. It's like 10% of what it used to be

I mean yes they are. Manhattan is having the same issues. I go to the Financial District often for work and once in a while go to Midtown... both places are pretty empty compared to what they were back in the pandemic.

Hell, I was just in Midtown for a random social event last month and when I left at 2 in the morning, the streets were extremely empty... this is a part of the region that is and was the most 24 hours area of the city (when I say city here, I include urban Jersey as well).

Newark had a much more active downtown office scene back before the pandemic. You saw them out and about during lunch alot, especially near Halsey. Now the only area of downtown that is pretty much at pre-pandemic foot traffic is the university areas.

Will it come back, maybe... I do not know if companies will go fully remote, but I can see many companies pushing for more in person work as we start to see the pandemic come to an end...maybe not full 5 days a week, but more around 3 to 4 days in the office and one or two days from home.