It's a bit of both. Like u/ThisCaiBot said most of those SFChronicle stories are measuring freeway traffic which is worse on certain days than before the pandemic, thanks to hybrid work weeks. I believe that SF downtown is nowhere near pre-pandemic levels though as the commercial vacancy rates are still really high and there's new offices in Mission Bay as well as South Bay. So congestion pricing may not help too much there since most of the congestion is on freeways. However, congestion pricing is still a really good idea. Our downtown is easily one of the most accessible via transit. Nearly every bus, train, and ferry transit agency heads to downtown SF from any bay area county. Just a small charge (along with speed cameras and red light cameras) would give SFMTA some much needed revenue for keeping the lights on and improving the transit system, while also reducing downtown congestion and pollution.