Amazon HQ #2 in SA?

[boutons_deux]

San Antonio leaders prepare to compete for Amazon’s $5 billion HQ2 campus

San Antonio has had a tough time attracting and retaining major corporations in the past, and that may be no different here, thanks to the city’s lack of direct flights.

AT&T moved its headquarters to Dallas in 2008 for that reason, said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff.

He also said that was partly to blame on Toyota’s decision to put its North American headquarters in Plano rather than here, where it has a plant on the South Side.

“The shortcoming we have, and everyone knows about it, is the airport,” he said.

“That would be a very big challenge for us to overcome for a corporate headquarters that big.

Other than that, I think we would be in the ballgame.”

http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/local/article/San-Antonio-leaders-prepare-to-compete-for-Amazon-12180410.php

oh well ...

Austin with its airport's superior selection of non-stop flights and much larger corporate/talent population would be a better location.

I expect SA couldn't give Amazon enough tax breaks, property, infrastructure (which almost never are paid back) to win the deal.

[Chinook]

Is Xmas coming back from the dead?

[DarrinS]

Not gonna happen

[boutons_deux]

Dear Amazon, We Picked Your New Headquarters for You


https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/09/09/upshot/where-should-amazon-new-headquarters-be.html?utm_content=bufferea91b&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

[DMC]

Oh yeah, Denver would be great. Flight cancellations all winter would do wonders for them. I intentionally avoid going through Denver on return trips from California in the winter because you know you're likely to be delayed or cancelled. I'd think Phoenix would be better than that, and getting around? Boston? lol... that place is a clusterfuck for traffic. Austin has traffic issues as well but I can be downtown Austin from the Georgetown area at 8am in about 30 - 45m on most days. The airport is just up the toll road. If they put that center out around Parmer between the toll and Samsung they'd have their pick of routes.

[hater]

Fuck amazon

Fuck bezos that ugly gay man

Worst thing thag coukd happen to the world is amazon and we living it

[DMC]

I actually like Amazon and use it all the time. It beats the fuck out of driving all over town and dealing with baby factories with their 12 kids standing in line like it's a hurricane shelter.

[ducks]

Phoenix a amazon headquarters ?

http://www.orionprop.com/topfive/why-phoenix-thinks-its-got-a-shot-at-amazons-5b-2nd-headquarters/

[hater]

I actually like Amazon and use it all the time. It beats the fuck out of driving all over town and dealing with baby factories with their 12 kids standing in line like it's a hurricane shelter.

I know I use it too

But I detest it and am trying to use other online companies now

[rmt]

love Amazon Prime i share the cost with my brother

[boutons_deux]

Cities’ Offers for Amazon Base Are Secrets Even to Many City Leaders

Across the country, the search for HQ2, as the project has been nicknamed, is shrouded in secrecy.

Even civic leaders can’t find out what sort of tax credits and other inducements have been promised to Amazon.

And there is a growing legal push to find out,

because taxpayers could get saddled with a huge bill and have little chance to stop it.

“The only time the public may become aware if the city has promised Amazon incentives is if we win and

then we need to get those incentives passed,” Mr. Evans said.

A primary reason for the information blackout is that, in many cases,

the bids were handled by local private Chamber of Commerce affiliates or economic development groups

that aren’t required to make their negotiations public.

Many of the groups are also not covered by Freedom of Information Act or state open-records requests.

https://static01.nyt.com/images/2018/07/23/business/00AMAZON4/00AMAZON4-superJumbo.jpg?quality=90&auto=webp

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/05/technology/amazon-headquarters-hq2.html


local private Chamber of Commerce affiliates or economic development groups : unelected

[Spurtacular]

Amazon is a shitty employer by all accounts.

[boutons_deux]

Amazon is in advanced talks about putting second headquarters in Northern Virginia, those close to process say

The plane has not been to 11 other finalist cities.

Some of those were considered long shots from the outset, among them Columbus, Ohio; and Indianapolis.
But experts say it could signal disappointment for other cities that were considered strong possibilities (https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/business/amazon-hq2-tech-cities/?utm_term=.cde8ab63315a), such as

Chicago, Atlanta and Austin,

if Bezos did not travel to those places some other way.

They say it is very rare to see a chief executive choose a new headquarters site without looking at it personally, even if he or she is not involved in the early or middle stages of the project.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/amazon-in-advanced-talks-about-putting-hq2-in-northern-virginia-those-close-to-process-say/2018/11/02/9be831d6-d7c0-11e8-aeb7-ddcad4a0a54e_story.html?utm_term=.d0284f9b90bb&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1

Next to St Ronnie's airport for Bezos' $70M Gulfstream G650ER

[DMC]

I hope it doesn't come to Austin. I don't plan on selling my home and don't want higher taxes, or that much more traffic. I get how it would be a big deal for Austin and for Texas overall, but personally I'll give a hard pass.

[boutons_deux]

If Jeff Bezos Makes Washington the Second Headquarters of Amazon

https://media.newyorker.com/photos/5bd0c3241c618f2c4208dcdd/master/w_1298,c_limit/Nwanevu-Bezos-Primary.jpg

The finished property will have

eleven bedrooms,

twenty-five bathrooms,

five staircases, and

a large ballroom suitable for gatherings of Washington’s notables.

It will be, in the words of the journalist Ben Wofford, “a veritable Death Star of Washington entertaining.”

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/if-jeff-bezos-makes-washington-the-second-headquarters-of-amazon

[Pavlov]

It would be fine in the Austin area if they put it in the right spot, but it sound like they want to be closer to urban centers than would be available. No sour grapes but Austin will be OK without it.

[Spurtacular]

It would be fine in the Austin area if they put it in the right spot, but it sound like they want to be closer to urban centers than would be available. No sour grapes but Austin will be OK without it.

But don't you want jobs for all your illegal alien buddies?

[Pavlov]

But don't you want jobs for all your illegal alien buddies?lol compulsion

[Spurtacular]

lol compulsion

You don't want jobs for your illegal alien buddies?

[Pavlov]

You don't want jobs for your illegal alien buddies?What jobs would illegal aliens get at Amazon HQ2, derp?

Explain.

[DMX7]

What jobs would illegal aliens get at Amazon HQ2, derp?

Explain.

LOL

[Spurtacular]

What jobs would illegal aliens get at Amazon HQ2, derp?

Explain.

That's not the question. Would you want the jobs for your illegal alien buddies?

[Pavlov]

That's not the question. Would you want the jobs for your illegal alien buddies?I don't know any illegal aliens.

lol derp's premises

[Spurtacular]

I don't know any illegal aliens.

lol derp's premises

Semantics aside, do you want jobs for illegal aliens?

[Pavlov]

Semantics aside, do you want jobs for illegal aliens?What jobs would illegal aliens do at Amazon HQ2?

Explain.

[Spurtacular]

What jobs would illegal aliens do at Amazon HQ2?

Explain.

You want American jobs for illegal aliens?

Yes or no.

[Pavlov]

You want American jobs for illegal aliens?

Yes or no.Which jobs are you talking about, derp?

This thread is about Amazon HQ2.

You seem to be going off track again.

[Pavlov]

I mean our unemployment rate is like 2.8% and some construction jobs have been delayed by lack of labor, so I would prefer some new Bracero-type program to keep the economy going.

[Spurtacular]

Which jobs are you talking about, derp?

This thread is about Amazon HQ2.

You seem to be going off track again.

Why is it so hard for you to say whether or not you want jobs for illegal aliens? Clearly, you're not ready for primetime.

[Pavlov]

Why is it so hard for you to say whether or not you want jobs for illegal aliens? Clearly, you're not ready for primetime.Told you my preference. I don't want the jobs to go to illegal aliens. I prefer programs to bring in workers that are needed.

I get that you can't understand my answer. Clearly you're stupid.

[Spurtacular]

Told you my preference. I don't want the jobs to go to illegal aliens. I prefer programs to bring in workers that are needed.


Oh, cool. You must be quite happy about the upgrade from Obama to Trump, then. :tu

[Pavlov]

Now you can answer my question -- what Amazon HQ2 jobs would go to illegal aliens?

[Pavlov]

Oh, cool. You must be quite happy about the upgrade from Obama to Trump, then. :tuIt's not an upgrade and the hiring of illegal aliens hasn't stopped.:tu

lol derp

[Spurtacular]

It's not an upgrade and the hiring of illegal aliens hasn't stopped.:tu

lol derp

Oh, so you're quite mad that illegal aliens are being hired.

[Pavlov]

Oh, so you're quite mad that illegal aliens are being hired.No, it's just that everything with the illegal aliens is about the same since Trump took office except separating families and denying them abortions. Gotta be a stark disappointment to you if you actually paid any attention.

But you never have any idea what is going on.

lol

Now you can answer my question -- what Amazon HQ2 jobs would go to illegal aliens?

[Spurtacular]

No, it's just that everything with the illegal aliens is about the same since Trump took office except separating families and denying them abortions. Gotta be a stark disappointment to you if you actually paid any attention.

But you never have any idea what is going on.

lol

Now you can answer my question -- what Amazon HQ2 jobs would go to illegal aliens?

I'd be disappointed if I believed in your lies.

[Pavlov]

I'd be disappointed if I believed in your lies.You eat up Trump's lies with a ladle.

Now you can answer my question -- what Amazon HQ2 jobs would go to illegal aliens?

[Spurtacular]

You eat up Trump's lies with a ladle.

Now you can answer my question -- what Amazon HQ2 jobs would go to illegal aliens?

:lol Only an idiot (or sociopath partisan) thinks Obama was the same as Trump in quelling illegal immigration.

[Pavlov]

:lol Only an idiot (or sociopath partisan) thinks Obama was the same as Trump in quelling illegal immigration.OK, what's the number of illegal immigrants in the US now, derp?

0?

7?

Give a number.

Also answer the first question you dodged: What Amazon HQ2 jobs would go to illegal aliens?

[Millennial_Messiah]

I hope it doesn't come to Austin. I don't plan on selling my home and don't want higher taxes, or that much more traffic. I get how it would be a big deal for Austin and for Texas overall, but personally I'll give a hard pass.

Sell the house and commute from a nearby suburb.

[DMC]

Sell the house and commute from a nearby suburb.

I don't plan on selling my home.

[Spurtacular]

Also answer the first question you dodged: What Amazon HQ2 jobs would go to illegal aliens?

It was apparently gonna be harder under Trump than it would have been during the Obama years.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/amazon-in-advanced-talks-about-putting-hq2-in-northern-virginia-those-close-to-process-say/ar-BBPifD9?ocid=spartandhp

[Millennial_Messiah]

I don't plan on selling my home.

Why not? If you could net $100,000 profit off selling that and buying a similar house (similar square feet, amenities etc) say, 20 miles away, how could you not?

[DMC]

Why not? If you could net $100,000 profit off selling that and buying a similar house (similar square feet, amenities etc) say, 20 miles away, how could you not?

Suburb home prices have actually climbed faster than Austin home prices. There's no profit in selling stock and buying it back at the same price. You have to pay brokerage fees. Same with homes and closing costs.

[Millennial_Messiah]

Suburb home prices have actually climbed faster than Austin home prices. There's no profit in selling stock and buying it back at the same price. You have to pay brokerage fees. Same with homes and closing costs.

Brokerage fees is 7.5% total... 3% to seller's, 3% to buyer's, and 1.5% to title company.

[Pavlov]

If he could afford the taxes, why bother? Regardless, it's not like the city isn't going to grow without HQ2, just not comically fast.

[Spurtacular]

If he could afford the taxes, why bother? Regardless, it's not like the city isn't going to grow without HQ2, just not comically fast.

Illegals gonna keep coming if your Rob Bob has anything to say about it.

[Pavlov]

Illegals gonna keep coming if your Rob Bob has anything to say about it.They're still coming under Trump and wasting your tax money with the troops will do nothing to stop it.

Sorry you're so gullible, derp.

[Spurtacular]

They're still coming under Trump and wasting your tax money with the troops will do nothing to stop it.

Sorry you're so gullible, derp.

:lol Troops protecting our border triggers you.

[Pavlov]

:lol Troops protecting our border triggers you.How much is it costing per day, derp?

You're so proud of it, show us the price tag.

[Spurtacular]

How much is it costing per day, derp?

You're so proud of it, show us the price tag.

It's bringing costs down. Thanks for asking.

[Pavlov]

It's bringing costs down. Thanks for asking.You didn't answer the question, derp.

How much is it costing per day?

[Spurtacular]

:cry I hate bottom lines that shit on me :cry

:lmao

[Pavlov]

:lmao
You didn't answer the question, derp. You put up a fake quote white flag.

How much is it costing per day?

[Spurtacular]

You didn't answer the question, derp. You put up a fake quote white flag.

How much is it costing per day?

:lmao Compulsively asking worthless questions.
:lmao Par.
:lmao Today's sociopath.

[Pavlov]

:lmao Compulsively asking worthless questions.
:lmao Par.
:lmao Today's sociopath.:lol it's just so easy to shut you down.

You said it's bringing costs down.

Prove it.

[Spurtacular]

:lol it's just so easy to shut you down.

You said it's bringing costs down.

Prove it.

Deterring / stifling illegal immigration cuts down school / health costs as well as helps wages to grow and thereby increase tax dollars. I gave the overarching statement on this and you threw a tantrum.

:lmao "shut you down"
:lmao Sociopath's truth

[Pavlov]

Deterring / stifling illegal immigration cuts down school / health costs as well as helps wages to grow and thereby increase tax dollars. I gave the overarching statement on this and you threw a tantrum.

:lmao "shut you down"
:lmao Sociopath's truth:lol fantasy cost savings.

It cost over a billion dollars the last time that many troops were sent, and that number has to be added to the 2000 national guard troops already there.

So show us the amount of money you pwomise will be saved.

lol derp

[Spurtacular’s doctor]

Deterring / stifling illegal immigration cuts down school / health costs as well as helps wages to grow and thereby increase tax dollars. I gave the overarching statement on this and you threw a tantrum.

:lmao "shut you down"
:lmao Sociopath's truth
The lithium must not be working. Time to increase the dosage.

[Spurtacular]

:lol fantasy cost savings.

It cost over a billion dollars the last time that many troops were sent, and that number has to be added to the 2000 national guard troops already there.

So show us the amount of money you pwomise will be saved.

lol derp

Apparently, you don't know the meaning of the word deterrent.

[Pavlov]

Oy Gevalt, another alt.

[Pavlov]

Apparently, you don't know the meaning of the word deterrent.It cost over a billion dollars the last time that many troops were sent, and that number has to be added to the 2000 national guard troops already there.

So show us the amount of money you pwomise will be saved.

Or just show us the cost savings from the last time.

lol derp

[Spurtacular]

It cost over a billion dollars the last time that many troops were sent, and that number has to be added to the 2000 national guard troops already there.

So show us the amount of money you pwomise will be saved.

Or just show us the cost savings from the last time.

lol derp

You obviously need to learn how much illegal immigration costs us. Are you unaware of the costs?

[Pavlov]

You obviously need to learn how much illegal immigration costs us. Or are you unaware?So show us the amount of money you pwomise will be saved.

Or just show us the cost savings from the last time.

[Spurtacular]

So show us the amount of money you pwomise will be saved.

Or just show us the cost savings from the last time.

You don't have to worry about the real costs of illegal immigration; you've decided it has no adverse bearing on your disability check.

[Pavlov]

You don't have to worry about the real costs of illegal immigration; you've decided it has no bearing on your disability check.So show us the amount of money you pwomise will be saved.

Or just show us the cost savings from the last time.

[Spurtacular]

So show us the amount of money you pwomise will be saved.

Or just show us the cost savings from the last time.

Your disability check is in the mail. Those illegals gonna vote for your entitlements. I get it. :lmao

[Spurtacular’s doctor]

You don't have to worry about the real costs of illegal immigration; you've decided it has no adverse bearing on your disability check.
I’ve been signing off on your disability check for years.

[Pavlov]

Your disability check is in the mail. Those illegals gonna vote for your entitlements. I get it. :lmaoSo show us the amount of money you pwomise will be saved.

Or just show us the cost savings from the last time.

Quit stalling.

[Spurtacular]

So show us the amount of money you pwomise will be saved.

Or just show us the cost savings from the last time.

Quit stalling.

:lmao Chump continuing to beg to be educated.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUU2iWxrH2M&t=11s

[Pavlov]

:lmao Chump continuing to beg to be educated.I didn't ask for a Tucker Carlson video.

Show us the amount of money you pwomise will be saved.

Or just show us the cost savings from the last time.

Quit stalling.

[Spurtacular]

I didn't ask for a Tucker Carlson video.

Show us the amount of money you pwomise will be saved.

Or just show us the cost savings from the last time.

Quit stalling.

:lmao Demands to be educated.
:lmao Refuses to be educated.
:lmao Today's sociopath.

[Pavlov]

:lmao Demands to be educated.
:lmao Refuses to be educated.
:lmao Today's sociopath.I asked for you to show us the amount of money you pwomise will be saved.

Or just show us the cost savings from the last time.

Quit stalling.

I can prove how much a similar deployment costs easily.

[Spurtacular]

:cry You got to spend money to make money is not a thing. :cry

:lmao Yesterday's Obama disability recipient.

[Pavlov]

:lmao Yesterday's Obama disability recipient.:lol a second fake quote white flag.

I asked for you to show us the amount of money you pwomise will be saved.

Or just show us the cost savings from the last time.

Quit stalling.

[Spurtacular]

:lol a second fake quote white flag.

I asked for you to show us the amount of money you pwomise will be saved.

Or just show us the cost savings from the last time.

Quit stalling.

Watch the video. Post notes. You won't do it because you can't bring yourself to shame the Democrats like that. I mean, your disability check is not worth fucking with at the end of the day. :lmao

[Pavlov]

Watch the video. Post notes. You won't do it because you can't bring yourself to shame the Democrats like that. I mean, your disability check is not worth fucking with at the end of the day. :lmaoI asked for you to show us the amount of money you pwomise will be saved.

Or just show us the cost savings from the last time.

Your answer is Tucker Carlson in a Prager U. video.

:rollin

[Spurtacular]

:cry I won't watch a five minute video :cry
:cry Even if I do/did, it's not helping my disability check :cry

:lmao

[Pavlov]

:lmao:lol three fake quote white flags.

I asked for you to show us the amount of money you pwomise will be saved.

Or just show us the cost savings from the last time.

If you can't prove your claim, just say so, derp.

You have never proved any of your claims in the past, so it's nothing new.

lol

[Spurtacular]

:lol three fake quote white flags.

I asked for you to show us the amount of money you pwomise will be saved.

Or just show us the cost savings from the last time.

If you can't prove your claim, just say so, derp.

You have never proved any of your claims in the past, so it's nothing new.

lol

:lmao Bean counting
:lmao Blather
:lmao Triggered sociopath

[Pavlov]

The truth is the last time we committed this number of troops, the growth of the illegal population continued to rise unabated until the economic crash reduced it to the level where it remains today.

It was a waste of money under Bush and Obama.

Now Dennison wants to triple down as a midterm stunt.

lol derp

[Spurtacular]

The truth is the last time we committed this number of troops, the growth of the illegal population continued to rise unabated until the economic crash reduced it to the level where it remains today.

It was a waste of money under Bush and Obama.

Now Dennison wants to triple down as a midterm stunt.

lol derp

:lmao Sociopath Truth: Troops on the border equals more illegal immigration.

[Pavlov]

:lmao Sociopath Truth: Troops on the border equals more illegal immigration.That is exactly what happened in 2006.

And :lol at you for ignoring the largest source of illegal immigrants.

Sorry to burst your bubble.

[Spurtacular]

That is exactly what happened in 2006.

And :lol at you for ignoring the largest source of illegal immigrants.

Sorry to burst your bubble.

:lmao Sociopath and his false correlations (if not outright lies).

[Pavlov]

:lmao Sociopath and his false correlations (if not outright lies).Sorry, it's the truth.

http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/FT_17.04.17_unauthorized_update_2015-1.png

Feel free to show your numbers and correlations, derp.

[Spurtacular]

Sorry, it's the truth.

http://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/FT_17.04.17_unauthorized_update_2015-1.png

Feel free to show your numbers and correlations, derp.

:lol Pew

[Pavlov]

The other truth is that about 600,000 is added to the number of illegals here each year with zero border issues and nothing the troops could possibly prevent.

[Pavlov]

:lol PewFeel free to show your numbers and correlations, derp.

You won't.

You'll just cry and whine.

[DMC]

Brokerage fees is 7.5% total... 3% to seller's, 3% to buyer's, and 1.5% to title company.

I'm not planning on selling my home.

This is the entire point. If I was planning on selling, increasing the selling price would be desirable.

[Spurtacular]

Feel free to show your numbers and correlations, derp.

You won't.

You'll just cry and whine.

:lol Thanks for proving that Pew is full of shit (not that this was not already known).

[Pavlov]

:lol Thanks for proving that Pew is full of shit (not that this was not already known).You're crying and whining, derp.

Feel free to show your numbers and correlations, derp.

You won't.

You'll just cry and whine.

[Spurtacular]

You're crying and whining, derp.

Feel free to show your numbers and correlations, derp.

You won't.

You'll just cry and whine.

:lmao Feel free to talk you out of your sociopath truth.

[Pavlov]

:lmao Feel free to talk you out of your sociopath truth.I know you have no numbers and can't counter any argument I make with any facts or figures.

You can only cry and whine.

lol derp

[Pavlov]

The last deployment of this size did nothing to quell the growth of the illegal immigrant population and such deployments completely ignore the largest source of new illegal immigrants every year.

That's all.

[Spurtacular]

^^^

:lmao Sociopath truth

[Pavlov]

^^^

:lmao Sociopath truthOK, show your numbers.

Prove your claims.

You seem to find that task impossible and fail to do it every time.

[vy65]

But don't you want jobs for all your illegal alien buddies?


What jobs would illegal aliens get at Amazon HQ2, derp?

Explain.

[Spurminator]

Amazon Plans to Split HQ2 Evenly Between Two Cities
https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-plans-to-split-hq2-evenly-between-two-cities-1541446552?mod=hp_lead_pos1


Amazon is in advanced talks with multiple cities but hasn’t made a final decision on which two locations it will pick, according to people familiar with the matter. The Wall Street Journal on Sunday reported that Amazon was in late-stage discussions with Crystal City in Virginia, Dallas and New York City.

A decision and announcement could come as soon as this week, according to people familiar with the matter.

[Winehole23]

David Dayen: Amazon just scammed 236 cities by scraping their non-public information for free.


the biggest suckers on HQ2 aren’t New York and Virginia; it’s the other 236 cities that bid on a headquarters they were never going to get. Those bids didn’t just include the size of the bribe; they included a wealth of important data about plans for transportation, housing, education and workforce development. Amazon now has a treasure trove of non-public information (https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article197282424.html) about America’s future, in addition to knowing how much cash cities are willing to part with to land an Amazon facility. And it got all that, along with a giant PR benefit from the bidding war, for free.


If you knew a city was going to build a road in a particular place, you could make a lot of money buying up the real estate there. Imagine that on a national scale and you can see how Amazon will grow far wealthier from the data it collected than even the raw dollars extracted from HQ2’s big winners. In fact, this was the real reason Amazon orchestrated the whole charade.


Amazon can now go back to every city that put in a bid and offer a warehouse or data center or satellite office for one of its 16 subsidiary companies (https://www.amazon.jobs/en/business_categories/subsidiaries). The company will have significant leverage in those negotiations, because the other side has already made an initial offer. Just as important, Amazon can set up operations with the foreknowledge of what cities have divulged to them. It can build its convenience stores or bookseller outlets where cities have planned rapid development and population growth. It can locate its warehouses where a new highway expansion is imminent. It can shift knowledge jobs to areas where universities will soon be built and high-tech education projects funded.


It can even potentially sell this data to other companies who long for similar deals (https://www.wsj.com/articles/cities-hawk-their-amazon-pitches-to-other-companies-1526290200?mod=djemwhatsnews), or at least start up a new business line in negotiating deals between companies and municipal governmentshttp://inthesetimes.com/article/21571/the-hq2-scam-how-amazon-used-a-bidding-war-to-scrape-cities-data

[Winehole23]

Former Amazon employees squeal: Amazon uses retailer data to favor its own private label products.

Essentially, it's alleged that Amazon competes with the third party sellers it hosts.

https://thecapitolforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Amazon-2018.11.05.pdf

[Winehole23]

Amazon got land previously set aside for affordable housing in Long Island City:


Plaxall, which owns land around the Anable Basin, was prepared to ask New York City for permission to build up to 4,995 new homes on a 14.7-acre site on the East River (https://www.anablebasinlic.com/), 1,250 of which developers would have set aside for low- and middle-income New Yorkers. Most of that site will now be subsumed into Amazon’s office campus.


A small portion of it — about two acres — can still be used for housing because it won’t be part of Amazon’s campus. But Plaxall hasn’t decided if it wants apartments or office space there, and either way, it won’t be able to accommodate nearly as many homes as originally planned.


Meanwhile, another developer, TF Cornerstone, was poised to build 1,000 apartments on a neighboring site owned by the city’s Economic Development Corporation (https://www.nycedc.com/press-release/new-york-works-nycedc-announces-plan-bring-first-its-kind-industrial-commercial), of which 250 units would have been affordable. That site, too, will be part of Amazon’s office campus.
https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2018/11/15/amazon-deal-will-disrupt-plans-for-affordable-housing-on-long-island-city-sites-700784

[Pavlov]

I'm glad Austin didn't get too caught up in the great Amazon giveaway, but the state and county governments did manage to giveaway tens of millions to the most cash-rich company on earth.

So that's something....


Apple is in line to receive as much as $25 million in taxpayer-funded grants for the new Austin campus from the state’s deal-closing Texas Enterprise Fund, based on investment and job creation at the site. It also is seeking a 15-year property tax abatement from Williamson County, where the project is located just over the line from Travis County, that could be worth tens of millions of dollars over the life of the deal, although specific numbers weren’t available Wednesday.

https://www.statesman.com/news/20181213/apple-plans-new-1-billion-austin-campus-5000-more-jobs

That's after they got $36 million from state and local governments in 2012.

5000 new employees, maybe another 10,000 later.

[Winehole23]

once upon a time, corporations were considered to be subsidiary to the states, now they call the shots.

[boutons_deux]

https://www.statesman.com/news/20181213/apple-plans-new-1-billion-austin-campus-5000-more-jobs (https://www.statesman.com/news/20181213/apple-plans-new-1-billion-austin-campus-5000-more-jobs)

That's after they got $36 million from state and local governments in 2012.


The Texas Legislature took away $118 million in pre-K funding. Now districts are scrambling.

https://www.texastribune.org/2018/03/27/texas-schools-lost-pre-k-funding-districts-scrambling/

[Pavlov]

Looks like it might be another chunk of Robinson Ranch since they say it's in WillCo. Parmer Lane just got busier.

[CosmicCowboy]

*

[boutons_deux]

"Along with the 6,200 employees that Apple already has in the city,

its new 133-acre development is expected to make it the largest private employer in Austin.

Apple expects the new campus to accommodate 5,000 employees at first,

though it will ultimately have a total capacity of 15,000.

The new Austin campus will handle tasks ranging from engineering to customer support for the company."

https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/13/18139009/apple-billion-dollar-austin-campus-us-expansion

[DMX7]

"Along with the 6,200 employees that Apple already has in the city,

its new 133-acre development is expected to make it the largest private employer in Austin.

Apple expects the new campus to accommodate 5,000 employees at first,

though it will ultimately have a total capacity of 15,000.

The new Austin campus will handle tasks ranging from engineering to customer support for the company."

https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/13/18139009/apple-billion-dollar-austin-campus-us-expansion




There's a big difference between customer support jobs and engineering jobs. Hopefully, it's more of the latter that come to Austin.

[boutons_deux]

once upon a time, corporations were considered to be subsidiary to the states, now they call the shots.

iow, the oligarchy own and operates America, not elected govts, who themselves have been corrupted and compromised by the oligarchy.

then add in that the oligarchy is also SUPRA-national, sloshing its $Ts around the globe chasing higher returns while hiding $Ts from tax authorities.

[Pavlov]

There's a big difference between customer support jobs and engineering jobs. Hopefully, it's more of the latter that come to Austin.It's a pretty good mix of both for them in Austin currently.

[boutons_deux]

Amazon Is Reportedly Sick of Hawking You Cheap 'Crap' That Doesn't Make It Any Money (https://gizmodo.com/amazon-is-reportedly-sick-of-hawking-you-cheap-crap-tha-1831134097)

e-commerce behemoth is moving away from selling products apparently known internally as known as

“CRaP,” or Amazon-speak for “Can’t Realize a Profit.”

These are products typically tagged at $15 or under, like snack foods and bottled drinks, the Journal said.

“CRaP,” the Journal reported, are typically “heavy or bulky and therefore costly to ship—characteristics that make for thin or nonexistent margins.”

While it may ultimately cost brands money, Amazon has the power (https://gizmodo.com/how-one-little-amazon-error-can-destroy-the-internet-1792828399#_ga=2.71411987.1887662432.1544648753-710048129.1536672815) to dictate the terms of the sales on its site.

focused on increasing its incredibly bloated bottom line as

its own employees continue to protest (https://gizmodo.com/hundreds-march-on-amazon-fulfillment-center-in-minnesot-1831113246) for humane working conditions and union contracts.

https://gizmodo.com/amazon-is-reportedly-sick-of-hawking-you-cheap-crap-tha-1831134097

[boutons_deux]

"You're Worth $1 Trillion. Why Do You Need Our $3 Billion?" Angry New Yorkers Confront Amazon Execs at City Council Meeting

The online retail giant has said its new headquarters in New York will create 25,000 jobs for residents—a claim one protester derided as "smoke and mirrors"

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/13/youre-worth-1-trillion-why-do-you-need-our-3-billion-angry-new-yorkers-confront

[rmt]

"You're Worth $1 Trillion. Why Do You Need Our $3 Billion?" Angry New Yorkers Confront Amazon Execs at City Council Meeting

The online retail giant has said its new headquarters in New York will create 25,000 jobs for residents—a claim one protester derided as "smoke and mirrors"

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/13/youre-worth-1-trillion-why-do-you-need-our-3-billion-angry-new-yorkers-confront





So why are they blaming Amazon? All Amazon did was accept the best deal offered. Isn't it their state and city officials who offered and brokered this deal?

The HQ2 deal was brokered by state and city officials including Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio, and the Economic Development Corporation, headed by James Patchett. The officials bypassed public land use reviews which would have required the input of the City Council, including member Jimmy Van Bramer, who represents Long Island City's 68,000 residents.

[boutons_deux]

the protest was as the CITY COUNCIL that was also object of their protest

AMAZON knew it would be taking land intended for affordable housing, but predatory assholes like wannabe- Space Cowboy Bezos don't GAF about people.

GFY if you think Amazon is naively innocent and of good faith.

[rmt]

the protest was as the CITY COUNCIL that was also object of their protest

AMAZON knew it would be taking land intended for affordable housing, but predatory assholes like wannabe- Space Cowboy Bezos don't GAF about people.

GFY if you think Amazon is naively innocent and of good faith.

Amazon isn't taking anything that wasn't offered and authorized by some government official. Where's your blame for Cuomo, DeBlasio and Patchett who did the offering.

[rmt]

Amazon is not the one who is elected and paid to do its best for its constituents - that'd be New York government officials.

[boutons_deux]

Amazon is not the one who is elected and paid to do its best for its constituents - that'd be New York government officials.

GFY if you think Amazon is naively innocent and of good faith.

[rmt]

GFY if you think Amazon is naively innocent and of good faith.

That would be you - for not blasting the New York government officials and putting the blame on Amazon. Amazon is doing what's best for Amazon - it has no responsibility to current NY/Long Island residents - all those other cities made their offers and Amazon took the best one.

[boutons_deux]

Amazon boss tells City Council the company will oppose unionization bids in New York City

Amazon indicated Wednesday it will oppose attempts to unionize among its workers in New York City —

drawing the ire of local politicians and putting unions supporting their Long Island City development in an awkward spot.

The question comes as Amazon plans to locate half of its second corporate headquarters in Long Island City — and

after it has opened a massive warehouse in Staten Island where workers have already sought to unionize.
“Would you agree to neutrality if workers at Amazon wanted to unionize?” Council Speaker Corey Johnson asked during an at-times heated Council hearing on the finances of the Amazon deal.

“No, sir,” Amazon Vice President Brian Huseman said.



That set the tone for the rest of the hearing — with Johnson grilling Economic Development Corp. President James Patchett, asking whether the de Blasio administration was “comfortable” with that answer.

“You know the mayor is an enormous supporter of union rights in the city,” Patchett said, to laughter in the crowd of spectators.

https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-pol-amazon-city-council-union-workers-20190130-story.html

[Pavlov]

Google leasing room for another 5000 employees in the heart of commie Austin.

1091092101767544833

No word on incentives. Site is the last parcel of the old water treatment plant; redevelopment plan approved in 2008.

[BD24]

Google leasing room for another 5000 employees in the heart of commie Austin.

1091092101767544833

No word on incentives. Site is the last parcel of the old water treatment plant; redevelopment plan approved in 2008.
Shit, might need to move up to Austin to work for them mofos soon. Had an opportunity with them last year and ended up turning it down for personal reasons.

[boutons_deux]

Amazon reconsidering due to opposition

[Pavlov]

Kind of a shitty plan to begin with, but of course AOC is going to get the headlines.

[Winehole23]

Kind of a shitty plan to begin with, but of course AOC is going to get the headlines.It was the NY Senate that tapped the brakes: https://buffalonews.com/2019/02/08/new-york-senate-democrats-cuomo-amazon/

[Winehole23]

Who could have guessed people would object to a deal with a trillion dollar company conducted in secret.

[Winehole23]

when Texas Enterprise Fund recipients emend their employment promises -- and many of them do -- the renegotiation is never made public.

Texas also gives the companies the right to redact public records requests.


Although companies were partially successful in limiting our requests, primarily in getting certain parts of their proposals redacted, the governor’s office ultimately provided us with a complete list of companies that had some amendment to their contracts.

To our surprise, over a quarter of companies in the program – or 46 – had renegotiated their incentive deals with the state. These deals weren’t announced by the governor’s office nor were they reported anywhere online.

Our public records request is still unfolding and we still haven’t received the contracts for roughly two-thirds of these companies. For the 63 companies whose contracts we received, 29 had amendments to the original.
https://theconversation.com/amazon-hq2-texas-experience-shows-why-new-yorkers-should-be-skeptical-111137

[Winehole23]

We found that companies that had renegotiated their contracts were much more likely to have challenged our public records request, at almost double the rate.

This pattern is consistent with companies using public records laws (https://equitablegrowth.org/working-papers/whos-afraid-of-sunlight-explaining-opposition-to-transparency-in-economic-development/) to hide their non-compliance with their job creation promises.

The finding, even if limited to a single state, is troubling. If companies can not only secretly renegotiate the deals but also make sure that public records laws shield them from revealing that they did, then the contracts are meaningless. And we would argue that politicians are at the very least complicit with these private deals.

In the cases of New York and Virginia – the other state that received a new Amazon location as a part of its “HQ2” bidding process – the agreements they signed requires them to notify the online retailer (https://www.fastcompany.com/90279607/report-new-york-will-give-amazon-a-heads-up-to-any-foia-requests) of any public records requests in order to give it the opportunity to legally challenge them.

More broadly, secrecy pervades the entire process of economic development. For example, during the many months-long competition to win HQ2, Wisconsin officials purposely routed their Amazon bid through agencies not subject to public records requests, emails show (https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2018/01/25/state-emails-show-wisconsins-effort-to-keep-amazon.html). And cities like Austin and Los Angeles submitted their bids (https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2018/oct/15/amazon-hq2-why-denied/) through non-public entities like the Chambers of Commerce as a way to shield them from public scrutiny.

[boutons_deux]

Who could have guessed people would object to a deal with a trillion dollar company conducted in secret.

and not by elected officials

[boutons_deux]

"secrecy pervades the entire process of ... "

... the rigged economy.

Oligarchy buys politicians and judges who in turn enable/enrich/protect the oligarchy.

Neoliberalism for the oligarchy, austerity for the non-oligarchy.

[Winehole23]

and not by elected officialsAndrew Cuomo is an elected official, is he not?

[boutons_deux]

Andrew Cuomo is an elected official, is he not?

Look up everybody else who was negotiating with Amazon, the majority were not elected, and very probably expecting to get paid, somehow, for landing Amazon.

[Winehole23]

Arlington approves incentive plan:


Arlington officials have unanimously approved an incentive package offered to lure Amazon to the county, after hearing impassioned public testimony both for and against the tech giant’s “HQ2” plans.

The vote (https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/arlington-approves-amazon-hq2-performance-agreement/) clears the way for the company to officially begin developing the site as early as this year.
https://www.arlnow.com/2019/03/16/breaking-county-board-approves-amazon-incentive-package/

[Winehole23]

1356651506414608387

[ChumpDumper]

Frank Gehry found a buyer for his rejected Dairy Queen HQ plans.