‘The region needs you more than ever’: Dan Berger in an open letter to #dctech

Fearful of what a Donald Trump presidency will mean for D.C. as a city? You’re not alone. After all, nearly 93 percent of the District voted for Hillary Clinton
In an article published on Sunday, the New York Times detailed fears held by various District residents that the city will lose its new and growing “cool” factor under Trump. “I’m worried about people not wanting to come here because of the image they have of the Trump administration,” former D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray told the Times. The piece went on to interview a young graphic designer who expressed her intention to move to New York given the results of the election.
But one #dctech founder, at least, is urging members of D.C.’s creative economy to stay, and continue their work. Dan Berger, CEO of Social Tables, published an open letter to the #dctech community on Medium on Monday — “The region needs you more than ever,” he wrote.
“Thanks, in part, to our community, D.C. is much more than the ‘government town’ it once was,” the letter continues. “We’ve helped enable the city’s growing foodie scene, transform its neighborhoods, and, most importantly, diversify its economy by building new businesses. The renaissance we’ve sparked has only begun and we must carry its momentum forward, regardless of who is residing in the White House.”
So that’s Berger’s plea — stay, #dctech creatives. Stay invested, stay innovative.
And it’s a rousing open letter. Far be it from us to do anything but encourage people to continue bringing their dreams and aspirations to this city. But there’s a point we’d like to consider, in response to both Berger’s letter and the Times piece: people who are actually from D.C. might take issue with the suggestion, however subtle, that D.C. wasn’t a “world-class city” before gentrification made it one.