can't download to downloads folder

when trying to download from safari to my downloads folder i get: You do not have permission to save to the “(null)” folder.

I recently got this computer about 2 weeks ago and restored it from a time machine back up. then i recently updated to tahoe just a few days ago. Please help fix my downloads folder. Also when I delete from the downloads folder have to put in my password. I think i somehow restored my entire downloads folder from a time machine backup trying to recover files in it. Not sure what exactly I did, but have been having issues since then.