Amazon HQ2 thread

[BrownTown]

Probably not the right place for a Political discussion but just wanted to point out how disgusting it is that a huge company like Amazon is going to swoop in and pay no taxes while all the small businesses they compete with pay high taxes. Sure says a lot about our country that we literally tax the small businesses in order to give subsidies to the big ones.

[Atlanta3000]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

i'm a Pizzatarian.

i worship the one and only true Pizza God, Lord Chessus Crust.

I dutifully worship him wherever and however he might deliciously manifest himself.
Pizza be with you!

No offense Steely Dan, but every time I have eaten Chicago style pizza it has given me violent diarrhea. Most recently I had a "CODE BROWN" in my Hertz rental car and they added a nice $750.00 HazMat Clean Up Fee to my bill. Sorry, but Chicago is dead to me and Jeff Bezos if you are reading this please know their pizza is literally killing America: one toilet seat or in my case 2016 Chevrolet Malibu driver seat, floorboard, side door........and roof (don't ask how) at a time....

[twister244]

I cannot believe I just came across this thread today...... golden.

Here's our proposal, which is more subdued

http://www.denverpost.com/2017/10/18/amazon-headquarters-colorado-pitch/

Personally, I say let Chicago/Philly have it. We are already stretched thin as it is with housing availability, high rent, etc. Denver will be just fine with/without Amazon. Although the Pepsi Center / Elitch's site does make the most logistical sense site wise.

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by Atlanta3000

every time I have eaten Chicago style pizza it has given me violent diarrhea.

I've eaten chicago style deep dish pizza roughly 15,000 times (~once per day) and have never gotten diarrhea once.

But I walk as one with our Savior, Lord Cheesus Crust.

I am on the path. You appear to be lost.

I will pray for you.


Our Pizza, Who art in oven
Hallowed be Thy Pan;
Thy kingdom come,
Thy pie be done,
on table as it is in stomach.
Give us this day our daily crust,
and forgive us our gluttony,
as we forgive those who selfishly eat the last slice;
and lead us not into the frozen food aisle,
but deliver us from Pizza Hut. Amen.

[denizen467]

Originally Posted by Atlanta3000

Most recently I had a "CODE BROWN" in my Hertz rental car ... one toilet seat or in my case 2016 Chevrolet Malibu driver seat, floorboard, side door........and roof (don't ask how) at a time....

Okay, first, oversharing.
Second, millions of pies served to tourists from around the world year after year suggests you might have a lactose intolerance problem. Given the amount of cheese. Or a crushed red pepper problem. Or, wash your hands before eating?
Third, there are many styles of pizza available in Chicago, including an addictive and uber-customizable one at the first restaurant outside Italy serving pizza al taglio made by Rome's "Michelangelo of pizza," Gabriele Bonci.

Gabriele Bonci, the founder of the world-famous Italian restaurant — the pizzarium — feels Rome and Chicago share similar urban demographics and that will make his pizza a winner in America; this is Bonci’s first location outside of Italy. Customers in Europe endure long lines seeking Bonci’s Roman-style pizza al taglio, sliced up with scissors and sold by the weight. It’s one of Eater’s Essential Roman restaurants.

Amazon can get a lot of employee overtime mileage from any of these fuels, and can R&D the hell out of droning these slices to hungry urbanites everywhere across the city.

[10023]

Originally Posted by BrownTown

Probably not the right place for a Political discussion but just wanted to point out how disgusting it is that a huge company like Amazon is going to swoop in and pay no taxes while all the small businesses they compete with pay high taxes. Sure says a lot about our country that we literally tax the small businesses in order to give subsidies to the big ones.

Amazon has generated more aggregate wealth than all but a few companies in history. Cities quite rightly want a part of that.

And huge "companies" have essentially run cities for as long as they have existed. They haven't always been limited liability companies (that was a 17th century invention), but there have been trade guilds (such as in the City of London) or wealthy families (such as the Medicis) far longer.

Also, if we are really talking about 50k six-figure jobs, then the winning city will collect plenty of property, sales, and other taxes from Amazon's employees even if they don't pay a dime as a company; not to mention the ancillary businesses that would spring up around Amazon.

[C.]

Only open for a couple days and this thread has literally gone to crap!

[skyscraperpage17]

Originally Posted by 10023

Amazon has generated more aggregate wealth than all but a few companies in history. Cities quite rightly want a part of that.

And huge "companies" have essentially run cities for as long as they have existed. They haven't always been limited liability companies (that was a 17th century invention), but there have been trade guilds (such as in the City of London) or wealthy families (such as the Medicis) far longer.

Also, if we are really talking about 50k six-figure jobs, then the winning city will collect plenty of property, sales, and other taxes from Amazon's employees even if they don't pay a dime as a company; not to mention the ancillary businesses that would spring up around Amazon.

Well said.

In an era where very little capital investment is occurring relative to historical norms, the thirst to land Amazon HQ2 is completely understandable.

[skyscraperpage17]

Originally Posted by Atlanta3000

There are 4 cities (that I aware of) Amazon approached prior to the release of the RFP. Atlanta, Louisville, St Louis and Kansas City and signed non-disclosure agreements that prevent said city from releasing details of their bid publicly.

My understanding (and I, along with the source below, could be wrong) is that every city who submitted a bid is being subjected to a NDA.

https://www.alternet.org/economy/5-reasons-you-should-not-want-amazons-new-headquarters-your-city

I'm not thrilled about it as a taxpayer, but I also understand it's for the benefit of both Amazon (who wants to make an expedited decision) and those cities who want to avoid bidding wars.

[montréaliste]

Originally Posted by 10023

Amazon has generated more aggregate wealth than all but a few companies in history. Cities quite rightly want a part of that.

And huge "companies" have essentially run cities for as long as they have existed. They haven't always been limited liability companies (that was a 17th century invention), but there have been trade guilds (such as in the City of London) or wealthy families (such as the Medicis) far longer.

Also, if we are really talking about 50k six-figure jobs, then the winning city will collect plenty of property, sales, and other taxes from Amazon's employees even if they don't pay a dime as a company; not to mention the ancillary businesses that would spring up around Amazon.

One convenient reply.

I wonder about the ancillary businesses this 2nd establishment will generate. Inasmuch as Amazon creates in a tech progressive response to demand, the end result may be more damaging to the business landscape than the advent of prior landmarks in automation. Cities depleted from smaller businesses that indeed pay high rents and taxes may suffer "another side of the coin syndrome" when all is said and done. Let's see.

[C.]

Originally Posted by montréaliste

One convenient reply.

I wonder about the ancillary businesses this 2nd establishment will generate. Inasmuch as Amazon creates in a tech progressive response to demand, the end result may be more damaging to the business landscape than the advent of prior landmarks in automation. Cities depleted from smaller businesses that indeed pay high rents and taxes may suffer "another side of the coin syndrome" when all is said and done. Let's see.

If your small business involves buying in bulk at a Costco and reselling at an inflated price... yeah, you probably need to rethink another business plan.

If your small business has a good or service that may be of benefit to 50,000 new residents with very high disposable incomes, you might do well with HQ2 coming to your city.

[skyscraperpage17]

Originally Posted by CIA

If your small business involves buying in bulk at a Costco and reselling at an inflated price... yeah, you probably need to rethink another business plan.

If your small business has a good or service that may be of benefit to 50,000 new residents with very high disposable incomes, you might do well with HQ2 coming to your city.

Worst case? There's always plenty of affordable space in the suburbs!

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by skyscraperpage17

My understanding (and I, along with the source below, could be wrong) is that every city who submitted a bid is being subjected to a NDA.

https://www.alternet.org/economy/5-reasons-you-should-not-want-amazons-new-headquarters-your-city

I'm not thrilled about it as a taxpayer, but I also understand it's for the benefit of both Amazon (who wants to make an expedited decision) and those cities who want to avoid bidding wars.

Of course they are.

[Kevicky]

You can add Pittsburgh to that list. They have a website up and you can view the video they submitted called Future Forged For All. But you can't get any details about the actual proposal. Mayor Bill Peduta stated in a media briefing that they signed a confidentiality agreement. He also said as expected Amazon will release a shortlist at some point. He also hinted that Pittsburgh would be one of the finalists.

[chris08876]

Originally Posted by skyscraperpage17

Well said.

In an era where very little capital investment is occurring relative to historical norms, the thirst to land Amazon HQ2 is completely understandable.

The impact to the local economy alone is worth it. 50,000+ jobs long-term wise is a great asset. The impact towards the local businesses, the potential housing that may be built as a result of it. It all starts to add up.

Suppose the move long-term caused an increase in the local GDP by 2%, that alone is worth the bidding.

Which is why I'd like to see more cities becoming competitive and offer perks to allocate space from the suburbs into the core. Speaking generally here.

[chris08876]

I think some may look at the tax benefits or bids that will allow tax incentives, and think, why does Amazon, a very rich company need tax breaks to begin with?

The way I look at it, the long-term economic gain will make those incentives worth it.

[skyscraperpage17]

Originally Posted by chris08876

The impact to the local economy alone is worth it. 50,000+ jobs long-term wise is a great asset. The impact towards the local businesses, the potential housing that may be built as a result of it. It all starts to add up.

Suppose the move long-term caused an increase in the local GDP by 2%, that alone is worth the bidding.

Which is why I'd like to see more cities becoming competitive and offer perks to allocate space from the suburbs into the core. Speaking generally here.

Not just 50,000 jobs either, but 50,000 good-paying jobs (in many cities, $100,000 is upper middle class).

And then you have to account for the children and partners they'll bring along with them, which will boost consumer demand in the local economy further and lead to more spinoff development to meet said demand.

[Xing]

Originally Posted by Atlanta3000

No offense Steely Dan, but every time I have eaten Chicago style pizza it has given me violent diarrhea. Most recently I had a "CODE BROWN" in my Hertz rental car and they added a nice $750.00 HazMat Clean Up Fee to my bill. Sorry, but Chicago is dead to me and Jeff Bezos if you are reading this please know their pizza is literally killing America: one toilet seat or in my case 2016 Chevrolet Malibu driver seat, floorboard, side door........and roof (don't ask how) at a time....

Try the thinner southside pizza. It's less filling.

[denizen467]

50000 highly paid professionals also will generate something people aren't considering enough -- new businesses, in their next jobs after working for Amazon. The city ecosystem will be infused with highly skilled and ambitious people launching any number of spinoffs, competitors, or entirely new businesses in a range of fields. So, having Amazon would be a little like plopping a Carnegie Mellon or MIT or Wharton right into your city.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by Atlanta3000

No offense Steely Dan, but every time I have eaten Chicago style pizza it has given me violent diarrhea. Most recently I had a "CODE BROWN" in my Hertz rental car and they added a nice $750.00 HazMat Clean Up Fee to my bill. Sorry, but Chicago is dead to me and Jeff Bezos if you are reading this please know their pizza is literally killing America: one toilet seat or in my case 2016 Chevrolet Malibu driver seat, floorboard, side door........and roof (don't ask how) at a time....

I once had pizza in Atlanta and I had foul smelling diarrhea for 9 DAYS.

I then had a near death experience and lost 3 toes.

Atlanta style pizza: Dangerous for your health!