Dear Crabby, What’s Up with Amazon?

Dear Crabby, What’s Up with Amazon Making All These American Cities Jump Through Hoops for Them?

Sincerely, Y. Bother

 

Dear Y. Bother,

You’re speaking about Amazon’s search to build their second home of operations. It’s simple, they do it because they can. It’s humiliating to the city and disrespectful to the residents. They offer huge secret incentives and tax breaks – mostly NOT transparent – so the average citizen has no idea what’s being offered. Cities spend tons of money trying to bring their town up-to-speed for Amazon to like them.

Recently, it was announced that Amazon would not be building in New York City (Queens), in part to New York politicians voicing their opposition to the plan. “A number of state and local politicians have made it clear that they oppose our presence and will not work with us to build the type of relationships that are required to go forward with the project we and many others envisioned in Long Island City,” Amazon announced in a statement on its website. Even though a majority of New Yorkers wanted Amazon, because of the amount of jobs the project would create, the project was nixed.

Detroit, as well as some 200 other cities, put in proposals to bring Amazon’s second headquarters to their city. A short list was published in January 2018 and Michigan did not make the cut. Some Michigan people were outranged that the terms and backroom deals were held in mystery and kept from the public. What tax breaks would Michigan have given them? Why were we not chosen? All good questions.

In November of 2018, New York and Arlington were the locations selected to split the project. Now, it appears only Virginia will get Amazon’s “HQ2.” And Virginia is giving them quite a bit in tax breaks, cash, grants, and other incentives (perhaps some politicians will have jobs there one day soon?).

Many say this type of corporate welfare needs to end. Others say it’s part of doing business and bringing jobs to an area that needs it. Amazon doesn’t need the huge incentives and tax breaks – they’re loaded. But most residents are willing to look the other way for the benefits of the jobs such a project would provide. And on a good note, Detroit stepped up it’s game with infrastructure upgrades and self-evaluations (things any community should be doing anyway).

Until EVERY city, state, and country says NO INCENTIVES to such a business, it will continue. Otherwise, the next “Amazon” will do the same thing … because they can … hoops in the air, start jumping!

Sincerely, Dear Crabby