# Amazon HQ2 Deadline Tonight **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 20, 2017, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-hq2-deadline-tonight/799374 "2017-10-20T17:24:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-hq2-deadline-tonight/799374/21 "2017-10-22T04:20:08Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Just about every city that qualifies (and some that do not – like Madison, WI) have applied > Forbes says Atlanta, Austin, Toronto, Pittsburgh and Boston are their top 5 Just as an FYI, very little of what is on Forbes’ website is actually from Forbes. They decided some years ago to basically allow themselves to be used by every blogger with a keyboard under the term “Forbes contributor” without any editorial oversight. This column wasn’t created through Forbes magazine’s ties to the business community but rather because some lady culled it from other lists. That said, since she pretty much just took the average top five from other lists, she’s likely as accurate in this case as anyone. Just the a warning about how Forbes sold out their credibility on the web and people should be cautious about attributing stuff to them. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-hq2-deadline-tonight/799374/22 "2017-10-23T13:46:29Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Yeah, but every city that put in a bid said the same thing. You don’t really expect them to say “We’re offering a pro forma bid and an incentive package that is only pretty good.” In this case, I believe the government officials. I think GA put together a bid package like no company has ever seen. I don’t know if it GA win the prize, but it won’t be for lack of incentives. Hell, one potential site has offered to rename the area around HQ2 “Amazon, GA”. Imagine the address labels: Amazon, Inc 1 Amazon Way Amazon, GA That ought to feed some egos… ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-hq2-deadline-tonight/799374/23 "2017-10-23T13:58:14Z")
Damn, I missed the deadline. And my backyard would have been perfect, too! ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-hq2-deadline-tonight/799374/24 "2017-10-23T14:49:00Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > In this case, I believe the government officials. I think GA put together a bid package like no company has ever seen. I don’t know if it GA win the prize, but it won’t be for lack of incentives. > > Hell, one potential site has offered to rename the area around HQ2 “Amazon, GA”. Imagine the address labels: > > Amazon, Inc > 1 Amazon Way > Amazon, GA > > That ought to feed some egos… It is not uncommon for a major headquarters of company to get the road it is on named after it. The mailing area may be a bit harder, but it doesn’t really matter if the zip code is the same. You could send a letter to the completely wrong named mailing area, and if the zip is right, it’ll still make it. That is certainly the least expensive incentive, but yeah, it does help with the egos. > [@John\_Mace](#): > > Damn, I missed the deadline. And my backyard would have been perfect, too! [It may end up right in my backyard.](http://www.fox19.com/story/36625250/cincinnati-newport-liberty-twp-among-amazon-hq2-contenders) Given the growth and demographics of the area, and the fact that it has access to not one, but two int’l airports, and is in a centralized location that is only a few hours away from the entire east coast, I think it has a good chance of ending up in liberty. Don’t know if I’d really want it, at least not until I’ve secured a commercial property, as it seems dropping it in will cuase rent and property prices around here to skyrocket. I may be biased, but out of all the locations that I’ve seen offered, this is the nicest. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-hq2-deadline-tonight/799374/25 "2017-10-23T17:34:18Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > I love Amazon and shop there all the time but I would have loved one city or state to tell Bezos to F himself. Using tax breaks to bribe companies just transfers tax burdens from companies (that use a huge amount of resources and infrastructure) to workers. Sometimes it might, and sometimes it might not. It’s absurd to take an absolute stance like that. If a city figures out that it’s better off with the new facility than without it, even if they have to offer tax incentives, then it would be foolish to turn it down “on principle”. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-hq2-deadline-tonight/799374/26 "2017-10-23T18:19:21Z")
Nashville’s thrown their hat into the ring, with a plan for a huge mass-transit improvement, which is a real weak spot for Music City. StG ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-hq2-deadline-tonight/799374/27 "2017-10-23T18:36:39Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Nashville’s thrown their hat into the ring, with a plan for a huge mass-transit improvement, which is a real weak spot for Music City. Will the car dealer and the Koch brothers fight this plan too? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-hq2-deadline-tonight/799374/28 "2017-10-23T19:16:36Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Sometimes it might, and sometimes it might not. It’s absurd to take an absolute stance like that. If a city figures out that it’s better off with the new facility than without it, even if they have to offer tax incentives, then it would be foolish to turn it down “on principle”. There’s little research in this area but what there is have found that the number of jobs it creates are small and you can in most cases argue the jobs would have been created without the Tax breaks anyway since the company needed to open the office for a business reason in the first place. There was a lot of discussion about this in my local media last year because my Governor (Christie) gave Tax incentives away like candy with very little to show for it. And the fact does remain, if the corporation is being absolved of their Tax burden, the money has to come from somewhere and the workers who live in the area are what is left. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2017, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-hq2-deadline-tonight/799374/29 "2017-10-23T21:35:39Z")
Amazon has announced they received [238](https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=17044620011&tag=gizmodoamzn-20&ascsubtag=a15592bcd1e90d72b54d975475dc398f537b0ac8&rawdata=%5Br%7Chttps%3A%2F%2Fgizmodo.com%2F%5Bt%7Clink%5Bp%7C1819780492%5Bau%7C5876237249236384217%5Bb%7Cgizmodo) proposals. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-hq2-deadline-tonight/799374/30 "2017-10-24T17:11:36Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > I love Amazon and shop there all the time but I would have loved one city or state to tell Bezos to F himself. Using tax breaks to bribe companies just transfers tax burdens from companies (that use a huge amount of resources and infrastructure) to workers. [San Antonio sorta did that](https://www.sacurrent.com/the-daily/archives/2017/10/12/san-antonio-drops-from-race-to-become-amazons-second-headquarters). The mayor sent an [open letter](http://www.mysanantonio.com/file/247/8/2478-Wolff%20Nirenberg%20letter.pdf) saying that giving away the farm wasn’t their style and, while San Antonio would be a great place for Amazon, they weren’t going to beg for it. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-hq2-deadline-tonight/799374/31 "2017-10-24T17:44:51Z")
“Given this, it’s hard to imagine that a forward-thinking company like Amazon hasn’t already picked its preferred location. And, if that’s the case, then this public process is, intentionally or not, creating a bidding war among states and cities.” A little weasely with the “intentionally or not” (of course it was intentional, Ron), but he has a point: Amazon likely is 95% confident where they are placing this thing and the entire public bidding “process” is a shameless ploy by the company to wrest even more money from the citizens. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-hq2-deadline-tonight/799374/32 "2017-10-24T17:54:55Z")
Who the hell is Ron? Or in other words, what is the source of the quoted first sentence in your post? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-hq2-deadline-tonight/799374/33 "2017-10-24T18:00:37Z")
Sorry, Ron Nirenberg, the Mayor of San Antonio and signatory on the letter. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-hq2-deadline-tonight/799374/34 "2017-10-24T18:04:33Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > “Given this, it’s hard to imagine that a forward-thinking company like Amazon hasn’t already picked its preferred location. And, if that’s the case, then this public process is, intentionally or not, creating a bidding war among states and cities.” > > A little weasely with the “intentionally or not” (of course it was intentional, Ron), but he has a point: Amazon likely is 95% confident where they are placing this thing and the entire public bidding “process” is a shameless ploy by the company to wrest even more money from the citizens. I’m not sure I agree. Once Amazon decided on a second headquarters, why should they bother to do all the legwork, make a decision, and only then put out the request for proposals? Better to put out the request and let all those cities do the research for them; saves a few hundred man-hours. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-hq2-deadline-tonight/799374/35 "2017-10-24T18:17:39Z")
They would “bother” because it’s what responsible companies do. You don’t make billion dollar decisions based solely on the advice of biased outsiders, you have your team on it as well. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-hq2-deadline-tonight/799374/36 "2017-10-24T18:24:50Z")
Except the “biased outsiders” aren’t deciding anything. They’re just offering proposals that will then be judged by Amazon employees (and possibly hired consultants). ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-hq2-deadline-tonight/799374/37 "2017-10-24T19:00:16Z")
Correct, but with 238 proposals, Amazon is likely tossing 230 of them and focusing on the cities they’ve already decided to focus on. I mean, seriously… how much attention do you really think they giving to the bid from, say, Rochester NY? Or Akron, OH? Naw, it’ll be: San Jose/SF, NYC, Atlanta, Dallas, Miami… cities of that caliber. Big airports. Lots of sports, expensive restaurants. Relatively cheap and available land (which might kick out SF, but the city has other attractions). Business-friendly environment (both city and state). The ability to give the company 10-figures in tax breaks (which requires a sizable population) and municipal investments. Easy to get in/out of. Plenty of entertainment options, from symphonies to sports to theater… etc. Naw, the Mayor had it right: Amazon likely knows where it will put HQ2 and, at the worst, has a short list of acceptable cities. But the idea that each city has a shot and that Amazon isn’t already predisposed to some locations? Not buying that. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2018, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-hq2-deadline-tonight/799374/38 "2018-01-18T15:33:34Z")
Lay down your money and take your chances: 1. Toronto, ON 2. Columbus OH 3. Indianapolis IN 4. Chicago IL 5. Denver, CO 6. Nashville TN 7. Los Angeles, CA 8. Austin TX 9. Dallas TX 10. Miami FL 11. Atlanta GA 12. “Northern Virginia” 13. Montgomery County MD 14. Raleigh NC 15. Philadelphia PA 16. Pittsburgh PA 17. Newark NJ 18. New York NY 19. Boston MA 20. Washington DC Seems Los Angeles has few advantages geographically over Washington State. One earthquake could take them both out. Denver is nice. Not the best transport connections, IIRC. Texas. Chicago is on the uptick, superior rail links, good central location. Much like Indianapolis or Columbus. Washington/Montgomery County/NoVa are really only one entry. I would bet on this. I suppose a facility in Washington DC would not be too expensive given the still-decayed areas. Gay-friendly, good railroads, three airports, educated workforce. Yep would bet on this one. Philadelphia has a good location, midway between NYC and Washington. Good port, good railroads, underused airport. Pittsburgh is a very nice town. Lots of college kids. Atlanta? Nah. **Your thoughts?** ---
**Author:** ![The\_Niply\_Elder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@The\_Niply\_Elder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Niply_Elder)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2018, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-hq2-deadline-tonight/799374/39 "2018-01-19T04:17:16Z")
It’s going to be LA. An earthquake would cause less disruption than a single snowstorm that hits 75% of the cities on the list every other week all winter long on all of the winters. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2018, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-hq2-deadline-tonight/799374/40 "2018-01-19T04:47:38Z")
Montgomery County just lost Discovery. The campus probably isn’t big enough by itself, but there’s sure to be new construction springing up along the new rail line they’ve just started building. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-hq2-deadline-tonight/799374.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-hq2-deadline-tonight/799374.md?page=3)