Tip-of-The-Top-Hat To Jon Talton: HQ2 New York A No-Go For Amazon

True Confessions: your MesaZona blogger loves Jon Talton, un-abashed as a Columnist.
He's definitely got-a-knack
"In pulling out of plans for HQ2 in the Big Apple, Amazon has met a force it can't overcome. Facing the kind of political opposition and media scrutiny that only comes in New York, New York, the giant folded. . ."
Fuggedaboutit:
Gotham is uniquely positioned to say ‘no’ to Amazon     

Originally published February 14, 2019 at 11:50 am Updated February 14, 2019 at 3:35 pm 

Protesters opposed to Amazon’s proposed New York campus on the steps of City Hall in New York on Jan. 30.

Amazon said on Feb. 14, that it was canceling plans to build its corporate campus in New York. The deal had run into fierce opposition from local lawmakers who criticized providing subsidies to one of the world’s richest companies. Amazon said the deal would have created more than 25,000 jobs. (Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times)

 

 

by Jon Talton            

Special to The Seattle Times

" Amazon’s vagabond shoes were longing to stray.

Right through the very heart of it — for a big talent pool and even bigger incentives from New York, New York.

If Amazon’s bigs could make it there with HQ2, they’d make it anywhere.

But apparently not. . .

This is good news for Seattle, barring some astoundingly destructive policy out of the City Council.
Amazon’s aspirations for a second headquarters, the “full equal” to Seattle that it originally announced, began shrinking months ago. Thus, the announcement in November that HQ2 would be split between the Queens neighborhood of Long Island City and Northern Virginia.
Even so, the move might have represented a long-term risk to Seattle. Now, although Amazon will hire in Virginia and elsewhere, Seattle evidently will remain the unrivaled center of gravity. That matters for attracting talent, generating tax revenue, benefiting vendors and partners, and spinning off startups. Most important: The big decisions involving capital, hiring and innovation will be made here.
And we got this bounty without tax incentives.
The company grew from a suburban house to a global powerhouse organically.

. . . Did Jeff Bezos always want to be in New York City? Probably. But in this case, he miscalculated.

Unlike almost all of the 230 localities that submitted proposals for HQ2 — which originally promised 50,000 well-paid jobs and $5 billion in investment — New York, New York doesn’t really need Amazon.

The city is the unquestioned monarch of finance, corporate headquarters and much of the entertainment sector; home to some of the best universities; host of world-class amenities. King of the hill. Top of the heap. It’s doing fine in tech, as well, and Amazon will no doubt continue to do some hiring there.TALTON'S TAKE-AWAY:
Stopping the incentive madness will require breaking up these quasi-monopolies and cartels. As well as passing laws that prevent major companies from playing states off against each other.
Start spreading the news!
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Source: Seattle Times 14 Feb 2019

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