Amazon's HQ2 - 20 finalists

It will be either Atlanta or Austin.

Virginia would help make the state solidly blue pretty much for the long haul. Maryland is already blue.

R1, those are the two I thought among the least likely - too hot in the summer - enervating.

No way LA. There's no housing.

DC and Atlanta have major freak outs whenever they get even a dusting of snow so it'll be interesting if one of those sites are chosen.

Unless they are going to build workforce housing most of these cities won't work.

Amazon employees will be pissed if it's Indianapolis, Columbus, etc. They'll be scared they'll be asked to move there.

Bezos has the most expensive home in DC. He owns the Washington Post. DC is too difficult to operate a huge new HQ in - it'll be in VA or MD.

Virginia, Pennsylvania, Florida are all arguably purple.

My guess was always Denver.

While I think it'll be around DC, I wish they'd put it somewhere that needs revitalization and hope - like Raleigh or something. North Carolina's purple.

Commentators are saying Austin or Denver, Those are the most common two mentioned in articles and TV, but I don't think so. Denver is isolated (vs. Boston to Washington corridor), and Austin is too hot and in a hostile state.

R9 Denver is too West. It will be someplace in the East.

The hq is going to ruin any city that wins the bid.

Raleigh is too small. And it has little public transportation.

Thank God Portland, OR IS NOT ON THE LIST.

I think it will be Atlanta.

Bezos is a libertarian is he not? Expect Miami. It wouldn't be on there for any reasons related to cost, labor force, or business culture.

If they put in in Raleigh, would that do something to help that area gravitate towards the Boston to Washington corridor, become more liberal?

R16, he's a libertarian?

Libertarian with a Democratic tilt.

Raleigh is already pretty liberal. The Triangle Area is a an oasis (along with Charlotte) in NC.

[quote] Nothing we know about Bezos suggests that he differs much from the coastal/Acela policy consensus—which is to say he doesn't differ much from the editorial board of the paper he owns now.

Thank goodness.

R19, but would Amazon in NC help spread the "blue dots" further out, potentially merging them with the Acela corridor?

Richmond is as far from Washington as it is from Raleigh. To the extent Richmond and Washington are connected (pretty connected), Raleigh are Richmond are connected and will be increasingly connected with HQ2.

Interesting that NYC is still on the list. The Blaz has been pushing hard for it.

Why has politics been injected into this thread repeatedly? Is Bezos saying that's a consideration in deciding where HQ2 will be? I would assume not.

They should pick Brooklyn, NY

This whole thing is obnoxious. Just pick a fucking city, Bozos.

Sociologically it would be wiser to put somewhere in flyoverstan in an effort to mute this divisive culture of East Coast, West Coast bias, with nothing of value in the middle., It only exacerbates the have/have not mentality that will ultimately destroy this nation. But he may not think that BIG

I'm surprised Dallas isn't on the list.

And Columbus and Indianapolis? Seriously?

Nashville would be ok. No personal income tax.

Boston

I'm shocked Dallas isn't on there, too. I thought it was one of the frontrunners.

R25 Why would he pick the location already when gradually whittling them down on lists like these only gets him better and better incentives and conditions? Let the states and the cities fight it out at the taxpayers' expense. It's a brilliant strategy, really.

Glad my area, Detroit, is not listed.

Jeff Bezos and Amazon are as destructive to the U.S. and its people as Walmart.

3 DC-area locations. Very telling.

This has been my least favorite season of The Bachelor. Has Bezos handed out the final rose yet?

Um, Dallas is on the list, and I expect it's one of the forerunners. Centrally located, big airport, lots of space. Of course, it wouldn't actually be *in* Dallas—but one of the many suburbs.

As for Bezos' politics—his politics are greed. That's it. He's a supervillain who doesn't pay his workers a living wage, and this whole charade doesn't bode well for the future of the country. It's another step towards every level of government bowing to the whims of corporate overlords at the expense of the people.

[quote]But he may not think that BIG

Or he may be thinking of what's best for his business.

As to thinking big, he started the world's largest internet-sales business. What have you done lately?

I would hate for my area to be selected. We don’t need outsiders and Seattle values coming in and ruining everything.

R35, I think that's exactly right. It's just a matter of time before Weyland-Yutani is "building better worlds" while using people up like so many matchsticks.

R37 is Kim Davis.

[quote]Commentators are saying Austin or Denver

Bezos wasted money doing the selection process. He just needed commentators to make the pick.

I think Bezos is considering Kim Davis as a satellite campus.

I wonder what shareholders want...

Austin would make sense as Whole Foods is based there. But the housing prices are already getting too high there.

[quote]I wonder what shareholders want...

A location in a low tax state and no unnecessary employee benefits.

A city proper would be too hard to work with. Volatile politics. DC is out. They want a city in a larger county with technocratic management. Virginia.

Some of theses places don’t have a prayer. Companies do this so that they can extort as much as possible out if the winner. It will cost the chosen city/state multi- billions to land Amazon.

These aren't low-paying warehouse jobs...

Bezos doesn't have a Democratic tilt. He pretends that's so, but he funneled money into Trump's campaign through Amazon.

Another vote for Austin -- there's no state income tax in Texas. Property taxes reasonable. Strike against them: traffic and infrastructure that has been struggling to keep up with the massive growth.

Companies feigned distaste at Trump publicly, then quietly donated to his inauguration, Amazon among them.

Are people blind? Dallas is on the list.

Jeff Bezos weighing the options.

Newark, NJ!!!! And Amazon will provide a bodyguard to escort you to your car in the parking garage.

Bezos doesn't like Trump's immigration policy because immigrants are an inexhaustible supply of indentured servants for his warehouses.

Amazon is an evil company, worse than Walmart.

R54 is right. I'm calling if Toronto, girls. Beezoz already employs lots of complains and he loves him some Muslims. Deblowjob could diddle him and maybe get it in N.Y. but methinks s/he will go canada.

Raleigh/Durham is the best choice politically, help turn NC blue.

Agree, R56.

Jeff Bezos doesn't care about turning a state blue. He isn't a Democrat; he's a libertarian.

This is such a scam.

Jeff Bezos watching the cities scramble.

Agreed R55, it'll be Toronto. It's getting too difficult to bring foreign tech talent into the U.S.

Its a grisly spectacle that an Amazon HQ is a "jobs miracle" for a city/state.

Amazon can't pick Canada. It would get too much grief for "taking jobs overseas."

I don't buy from Amazon. I get so much shit for not buying from Amazon. Spectacles like this (and the terrible working conditions) make me feel better about that choice.

Can't be Austin or Dallas -- Amazon has a lot of gay employees and they would absolutely revolt at the idea of Texas, or any other state with no gay legal protections. Rules out Nashville and Atlanta as well.

It will bankrupt whatever state is chosen.

R66, you really think that? I think, net, it'll be a positive for the state.

I've never brought anything from Amazon and I'm proud of that fact. I just hope other people start waking up about these huge greedy corporations. It up to the "people" to hold them accountable for their destruction.

The scuttlebutt is that a high-level Amazon exec has just purchased a house in Austin ahead of today’s announcement.

[quote] I think, net, it'll be a positive for the state.

The city will look nothing like it did and the natives will suffer. Amazon is a terrible company.

The Hoi Polloi embraced Walmart. There is no stopping Amazon. The government won't do jack.

This will be the final death knell for Austin. "Keep Austin Weird" had a great run, but the forces of capital are too strong.

He can't pay his employees a living wage. But he has over $100 billion dollars to his name. Know one needs that kind of money. PERIOD!

Austin real estate is already too expensive. I can't imagine how costly it would get if Amazon were to move there. Then there's Austin's horrible traffic problem. Whoever said that property taxes were reasonable in Austin is crazy.

Dallas is a better choice in every way.

[quote]Dallas is a better choice in every way.

Not to mention, it wouldn't even be Dallas. It would be in Plano or Irving or Richardson or Arlington, a suburb with a VERY pliant municipal government.

Newark, NJ is an interesting choice, to say the least.

R73, he's giving away his money.

R73 Plus he hasn't created that money; it's just been distributed from the smaller booksellers he drove from the market.

The oligarchs really are forming themselves into a totally separate class of people. Once they get their hands on the cure for ageing (and death), we plebs are fucked forever.

[quote]he's giving away his money.

That level of "philanthropy" is 1) a tax dodge and 2) a more efficient way to leverage his power/capital, 3) priceless PR.

Who is this person saying Amazon wants to be in suburbia. Where are you getting that from? Have you seen their Seattle campus? They'd like to replicate that. Not be in some low-rise, car-dependent office park in god-forsaken Frisco or similar.

Christ I hope it's not Atlanta. They have crap school systems, horrible traffic. Just horrible. Poor infrastructure, and a lack of affordable housing. You should see the shit shacks they're selling and all of them overpriced. If it rains there's massive flooding. If it snows the entire region shuts down. All of it. And if there's a little wind, power outages abound. Their minimum wage is shit.

Toronto hunty. Somolians in Canada already a majority of his workers. Lots of open spaces near Toronto too and it has diversity he craves. It will not be a southern us state.

Plus isn't Paul Harvey in Atlanta? Todd Chrisley? They both suck

For fucks sake, Amazon ain't looking for a greenfield.

Hunty they need lots of space to construct their evil capitalistic mecca!

R74 I did. I guess they seem reasonable ($8k on $350k value) compared to what I pay now ($14k on $350k value).

You can drop at least eighteen cities from that list. I'm guessing Austin or Atlanta.

I wonder if this list was deliberately given to the media just to see which cities will cough up even more perks for Bezos and his company.

They just released the list so these cities could compete to fellate Jeff Bezos. First city to legalize child labor wins!

When is the "winner" supposed to be announced?

The shortlist competitors on that list: MD/VA, Toronto (for tech talent that can't get visas), Austin, Atlanta, Denver, Miami (remember, the Bezoses are Cuban)

Why not Detroit? It was an industrial capital that has fallen into ruin. It has infrastructure to support large commercial industry. It's centrally located. And it has reasonable cost of living and home values. Considering that Amazon pays most of its workers a pittance, that money would go further in Detroit.

The lucky mayor of the winning city also gets to be FUCKED by musclestud Jeff Bezos.

R92 I was suprised by that as well. Perhaps part of the considerations is desirability? Detroit is kind of a shithole.

The winning city needs to be able to help fill 50,000 white collar jobs. I think that rules out a couple of smaller cities on that list.

[quote]Why not Detroit?

Quality of workforce a big factor. Falls far short on education and tech skills. Have you seen what the automobile industry puts out lately?

r95 Philadelphia has it hands down. 50,000 white collar jobs you say? There must be at least 50,000 servers, cooks, limousine drivers, etc. in that city of row houses.

R95 Austin has the University of Texas, 60,000+ students. Problem solved.

Where are Ivy and Stanford people willing to live?

[quote]And Columbus and Indianapolis? Seriously?

Hey, when Bill and I were house hunting in New York State, we searched *all* over, including Skaneateles, just outside Syracuse. Upstate NY is beautiful! In the end though we settled for a house in a suburb of NYC *wink wink*

It's going to be Boston. South Boston specifically. Fort Point area.

I wish it would go to Newark. That city has been depressed for a few generations. This would be an amazing uplift for it. Most of the other places are doing fine.

Plus, it's close to NYC, which is good for everyone.

Toronto already has Google's Sidewalk Labs. Doesn't that automatically cross them off the list?

Austin or Denver.

[quote]I get so much shit for not buying from Amazon.

Why does anyone give a fuck where you buy stuff online?

NYC does NOT need Amazon. Too much shit going on here already. Everyone stay the fuck away, please.

All you read about is the number of jobs this will provide. They leave out the part that half of them will be staffed by hourly contractors who get paid much less than actual employees and receive none of the benefits. See: Apple and Facebook.

I'm from Atlanta. Why the hell would Jeff Bezos headquarter his company in a Death Penalty state? And the metro Atlanta area has a lot of gun violence. A lot. Our public school system is awful, and we have the most crooked voting system in the country. Diebold , no paper ballots, the AG resigned they're being sued and they decided to scrub the servers erasing all the evidence. Under our cosmopolitan veneer we are not to far from Mississippi and Alabama in terms of how corrupt and backward. Oh. the Purchasing agent for the City of Atlanta just got convicted of bribery. He's going to prison. Yeah. Hey, Jeff! Atlanta!

[quote]"Keep Austin Weird" had a great run, but the forces of capital are too strong.

Austin hasn’t been “weird” in over a decade. The Austin of 2018 is totally different from the Austin of a dozen years ago.

You are all forgetting one very important factor, the weather. A huge company like that is not going to want anything like a storm to slow down business even for a couple of hours. Boston, Toronto and Denver can have snow storms. Florida and Texas can have hurricanes. The D.C. area is looking more likely.

Suburban Atlanta has a huge opiod/heroin problem; how will that factor in if they're chosen?

The site in northern Virginia is right next to Dulles Airport. I don't see how the area could absorb that kind of traffic, growth.

When do they announce the winning city?

I call Pittsburgh for its WTF-factor.

Raleigh, NC has a lot to recommend it. I would love to see Amazon come here.

1. It's 2 hours by interstate from the port of Wilmington, and that drive is virtually traffic-free. There is very little development on the inner coastal plain.

2. Decent airport at RDU. Not many international flights, just Paris and London, but they do fly nonstop to Seattle.

3. NC has upgraded its interstates over the past several years: I-85, I-95, I-73, and I-40.

4. Three good universities there: Duke, N.C. State, and UNC.

5. Well established research community, so there's a readily available, experienced workforce in addition to the employees Amazon would be bringing with them.

6. N.C. isn't big on unions.

7. Good quality of life, including affordable housing and top tier medical facilities.

I'd like it be Miami as it seems like an odd choice.

No way on Miami. I lived just north of Miami for years. Miami has nothing to offer. Although Coral Gables is beautiful and of course the coastal / beach area

r103 Toronto isn't really on the list. We can't afford to offer enough incentives for them to seriously consider it. We were only put there to look good because we're relatively progressive compared to other places. They want to look like they're considering their employees' quality of life, but in the end it's just money, as always.

I'm surprised they have Los Angeles, even though it make the most sense. Even Business Insider made an article about it.

I think with Bezos living in Virginia, he'll want his HQ2 in the east. Certainly no more than 2 hrs. by plane. So I don't think Austin has a shot, but I do think Raleigh may pull it off.

Most of the employees probably want NYC but how the fuck is that going to happen?

Such much excitement over a company that's basically a huge warehouse that treats it's employees like shit.

The Online Retail Giant already has a presence in, not only the western US, but IN the US; therefore, HQ2 ain't gonna sprout in the US. It'll be Toronto; here's why:

It's an INTERNATIONAL hub, already having the technical and intellectual expertise in place, on an international level, supported by international trade and international capital; it is just waiting for AMZN's picking the best of all from it and all it has and will offer. It also has the infrastructure already in place to support AMZN's HQ2. Additionally, there's no such thing as DACA and Immigration Reform and Visa struggles, with a clown trying to pull the strings behind the scenes to control all. Furthermore, geographically,Toronto is the perfect half-way point between its HQ1 and the UK, the ME, and Asia, and South Africa. Non-stop flights galore out of Toronto to these critically strategic markets.

A certain international CEO already has a dwelling on the US East Coast, which is mere minutes away from Toronto on an 8-passenger G650ER.

P.S. Remember, AMZN's focus is GLOBAL dominance; not US dominance.

I bet they've already made their decision and this list is just for media attention.

I would say the DC area as well.

They mentioned Md, Va and DC proper so that's a definite possibility.

I read articles about the retired folks that would live in their campers while working at the warehouses, WTF??

Those were just seasonal workers?

So they want a gigantic office space? White-collar workers? I can be an accountant.

It won't be Austin unless they miraculously fix the traffic problem

Newark - it's close to NYC(on the list), a lot of highly educated people in NY, NJ, CT and PA and as a state has experience with housing HQ's for big business and it's in between the DC area and Boston two other places on the list.

Sorry, r123. It won't be Toronto. If only for optics, Bezos has to set up HQ2 in the US. Cheeto is already constantly threatening to make his life miserable because of the Washington Post. If HQ2 is in Toronto, that may be a huge PR win for Cheetolini.

R129- That actually makes a stronger case for Toronto. I doubt that Bezos gives a shit about Trump's "threats". Why would a man with a net worth of 80 billion care what Trump says? Bezos can counter that he wanted to have the HQ2 in the US, however because of Trump's immigration and visa nightmare, he has to go outside the country. He can point out that Trump is causing a massive brain drain in the US and how Toronto was just branded "Silicon Valley North" because of all the active tech start-ups.

People refer to existing employees moving to HQ2, but Amazon said no diminishment in HQ1. Won't most of HQ2 staff be new hires?

r128 I would say yes to that except salaries are historically lower in the south, so I'm guessing it will be a southern city.

Why do people say it will turn the area blue? Are tech workers liberal?

LMAO at all the know it alls on this thread, with their specious logic.

It's going to be Boston. Bezos has already stated his requirements for the site and Boston is the only location that meets them all. Amazon is already scouting locations where 1M in office space is available for a temporary headquarters in Southie. Then they will build a permanent, bespoke headquarters after that. Google it.

[quote] I'm surprised they have Los Angeles, even though it make the most sense. Even Business Insider made an article about it

Please not Los Angeles!!! The last thing L.A. needs is an incentive to attract more low-skilled workers to the area for low-paying jobs. The region has trouble keeping current residents fully-employed and desperately needs programs to train a more highly-skilled workforce. Besides, L.A.'s cost of housing is careening out of control and cost of living is skyrocketing.

[quote]Austin hasn’t been “weird” in over a decade.

That was my point.

Again -- Can't be Austin or Dallas. Can't be in a state without any protection for gays. Too many gays at Amazon's highest levels. And, no way most gay talent would ever move to a state like Texas.

Atlanta is only a possibility because Bezos is also interested in a state where his workforce can change politics. Raleigh and Columbus offer the best chance of that. Tens of thousands of new liberals moving into either Ohio or NC can swing an election.

Toronto is, however, the first choice, people in the know say. The only issue there is, would Amazon face charges of hurting the US economy. That's a big factor, and it's the only reason why Toronto may not win.

Oddly, according to insiders, Philadelphia has the best shot of the eastern cities, they say.

I really hope it's not Philadelphia, because I love Philadelphia. The character of whichever city is chosen will be ruined.

Where's the expose on how Amazon paid to have all of Seattle's homeless population shipped out of town and down to California?

Time says HQ2 will go to Philadelphia.

No!! Get the fuck away from Philly, Jeff!!

So would this HQ2 be just warehouse workers or everything, higher ups and all?

R142 It's not warehouse, it's admin/executive

[quote]Where's the expose on how Amazon paid to have all of Seattle's homeless population shipped out of town and down to California?

That is hardly a Washington thing. Most US states have paid and shipped their homeless people (including New York who would ship entire homeless families) to California in the last ten years. Is it any surprise 60% of the California homeless community come from outside the state?

R144, what? I didn't know that was happening. It does explain a lot though.

r138 Philly and 50,000 new employees? That provincial, backwater city could never handle it.

[quote]I call Pittsburgh for its WTF-factor.

Go stillers

Among betters, Boston is currently the favorite.

Who will pay to subsidize the pathetic wages? Is that the states responsibility or the feds?

People crack me up when they think they are getting a good deal through amazon. They have the highest prices of you compare to brick and mortar. And then you have to pay extra for prime.

Not to mention your tax money going to pay the rest of amazons wages.

How is that a deal?

Smh

people need to get real about overseas labor and the horror that is life for child aged workers.

You’re not getting a deal, you’re taking 25 years off the life of someone overseas. It’s not really worth it in the end.

I don’t want any item that was assembled by a slave. It’s bad karma.

R149 These are white collar jobs, not low level warehouse jobs. They will work you to death, but at least it pays well.

[quote]You’re not getting a deal, you’re taking 25 years off the life of someone overseas. It’s not really worth it in the end.

sent from my iPhone :(

Yeah this is a corporate headquarters. Tons of highly paid jobs that will be created (and then various supporter staff jobs that will need to be filled as well).

That is the problem. Some places (like Raleigh for instance) if they got this would see their cost of living dramatically increase due to the huge influx of highly paid professionals.

The still use government money to build and expand. Amazon is one long welfare train paid by taxpayers. From top to bottom.

Every time you click on that toxic company’s website you send anothe child laborer to his early death.

Good luck with that.

I would like to support local businesses. But the last time I went to my local pet supply store, they were out of my dog's food (he is on a special diet and few places carry it). So I can either wait for them to order more, or I can get it delivered next day from Amazon for cheaper.

My local housewares boutique doesn't carry French Onion soup crocks or English Muffin rings. Again, Amazon to the rescue.

The mom and pop pharmacy nearest me doesn't sell Boy Butter....

So, I've tried. Get off your high horse, R156.

The child who made your phone is suffering, IF he is still alive. So is his family. He has no future. Only work. Then death.

TRY HARDER

You are literally murdering children with your clicks.

That’s on you.

Your dog has a better life than those children. Pat yourself on the back.

Wow, I blocked the TRY HARDER troll and like every other post is gone

R160 For real? Let me try. The insufferable idiot is coo-coo.

[quote]Raleigh, NC has a lot to recommend it.

NC has turned into a Republican shithole. I'm surprised it is on the list at all.

[quote]NC has turned into a Republican shithole.

This isn't a demerit for Bezos, it might be a plus for him.

I hope it won't be Boston because my commute sucks enough already.

pittsburgh

All the cities that get crippled by weather won't get it, Atlanta (snow) Miami, Texas and coastal cities (hurricanes).

I think Raleigh or Denver will get it.

If I was Bezos I'd tell Lindsey Graham to convert and he gets Amazon

Look. If Atlanta is really in the race the only conceivable reasons would be first, Georgia Tech, and a real pool of skilled Techies. Secondly, cheap land and cheap labor. The cost of living in Atlanta metro area is surprisingly high for a southern city, but the pay scales are really low. People don't earn a lot of money.

R147 Go Iggles

[quote]The cost of living in Atlanta metro area is surprisingly high for a southern city, but the pay scales are really low. People don't earn a lot of money. People don't earn a lot of money.

That won't be any deterrent to people who need work and want to say they worked for Amazon. Don't forget that this is just the HQ of massive corporation. They can still recruit whoever they want in the world and have as many satellite operations as they want. They've got the money.

A lot of these cities barely even begin to meet all the criteria that has been set. Washington, D.C. area makes the most sense, although Boston would be good too. On the other hand, Bezos may want his HQ people to be in touch with the middle America that buys his stuff, and that would leave those two cities out.

[QUOTE]People crack me up when they think they are getting a good deal through amazon. They have the highest prices of you compare to brick and mortar. And then you have to pay extra for prime.

^^THIS^^

Amazon is for lazy, entitled assholes with no social conscience.

I don't understand the Amazon pricing for books. I found a paperback at my local bookstore for $11 and on Amazon it was $13. The Kindle version was $9 and the hardcover on Amazon was $10. Why would I pay $9 for a Kindle version if I could spend $1 extra and get a hardcover that I could loan out to friends?

[quote]If I was Bezos I'd tell Lindsey Graham to convert and he gets Amazon

Unfortunately, there are no cities in his state on the list.

[quote] If Atlanta is really in the race the only conceivable reasons would be first, Georgia Tech, and a real pool of skilled Techies. Secondly, cheap land and cheap labor. The cost of living in Atlanta metro area is surprisingly high for a southern city, but the pay scales are really low. People don't earn a lot of money.

I read almost the exact thing somewhere else but with a slight modification:

If Raleigh is really in the race the only conceivable reasons would be first, UNC, and a real pool of skilled Techies. Secondly, cheap land and cheap labor...

They're looking at the political angle.

Chicago must have some advantages. Why does all the speculation skew to Northeast/Southeast?

Chicago is a non-starter. Traffic is already crazy as the population migrates away from suburbs and towards the city center. Still perplexed by omission of Detroit. Other than climate it has everything Amazon needs.

r179 Detroit was only a candidate because they needed it not because they were better equipped.

R174 convenience, dear

To the posters who keep saying “Texas gets hurricanes,” please go look at a map of Texas. Locate Dallas, then Austin, then think a while.

[quote]Who will pay to subsidize the pathetic wages?

The same people who do now -- the American taxpayer. Companies like Walmart pay their employees next to nothing and give them terrible benefits or nothing at all, so the employees have to subsidize their lives with government programs or go to the emergency room. The company's benefit is your burden.

And now the companies are getting a huge tax break too. What a country!

[quote]Considering that Amazon pays most of its workers a pittance

These are tech jobs, not warehouse jobs. Amazon pays their tech workers very well.

[quote]They have the highest prices of you compare to brick and mortar.

You really don't know what the fuck you're talking about.

[quote]Again -- Can't be Austin or Dallas. Can't be in a state without any protection for gays. Too many gays at Amazon's highest levels. And, no way most gay talent would ever move to a state like Texas.

Sorry, but you're incorrect. Austin has been a high-tech hub for quite a few years now and they've had no problem attracting gay and liberal talent. Austin itself is very blue.

The other criticism of Amazon is how they're hurting small business and local businesses. But Amazon has been very good about developing local businesses as suppliers to fill orders and has helped other web based businesses as well. YOU can be a distributor for Amazon . Next time you;re thinking about buying a book or some article of clothing or furniture. Look at the number of ways available to purchase the item. A lot of Amazon's stuff comes from non Amazon distributors. In fact Amazon has increased their traffic.

I live in suburban Detroit and I'm pissed off that Detroit was dropped. It's true we don't have subways or mass transit, bu we are developing a light rail system as we speak. The Amazon HQ2 would have been a great incentive to move that project forward faster. As for talent? We have the University of Michigan, Michigan State, Wayne University, and Oakland University; all great schools, and all within the metro area. And the fact that something like Amazon was going to locate in this region would have been a magnet to attract talent from not only Michigan but from Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. We were more realistic that fucking Indianapolis which is a true shithole in a solidly Red State and Columbus fucking Ohio.

[quote]I think Raleigh or Denver will get it.

Raleigh gets worse ice/snow than Atlanta.

As a Michigander transplanted to NYC, I do have to say, the rap on the talent pool there sucks. In fact, Michigan educates some of best and brightest. Who graduate and promptly move to Chicago or New York City in droves. If nothing else, housing stock is plentiful and dirt cheap in Detroit.

I'm the guy that worked for Amazon Studios and was mocked at another thread for explaining to them why the shows were cancelled and why Transparent wasn't the failure they claim it to be based on some online article. It has been talked about for years now that Amazon would settle their headquarters in Los Angeles to integrate with Amazon Studios. I'd safely bet on Los Angeles. Amazon Studios is the only real vanity project from Bezos so I'd wage on that.

R189 strongly disagree with you. Having two headquarters on the West Coast makes no sense at all.

What part of Los Angeles do you think they'll settle on, R189? I know multiple cities out here put in bids.

In this day and age of telecommuting I don't know why having 2 west coast offices matters, so long as they're not so close to be competing for the same talent pool. An HQ will be mostly people tapping out at computers.

Alternatively, an east coast office allows Bezos to play journalist in DC.

R191 Amazon Studios were located in Santa Monica, but they have relocated to Culver City recently, where they shot Gone with the Wind. It was supposedly merging with the so-called LA headquarters. All I know about that.

LA is definitely getting something connected to their studio, but would it be their HQ2? I don't know.

Yeah there is no reason a Amazon corporate headquarters and their studio needs to be in one, that is a lot more to Amazon than Amazon Studios.

R193, this might be for another thread, but does Amazon Studios really read script submissions for series and movies? Has a complete nobody ever signed a deal to get their project made?

I think LA is more of a contender than people give credit. If Bezos was super smart he’d put in somewhere in riverside; that area is becoming one of the largest inland ports in the us and is well connected to the ports of LA and Long Beach. East LA would be the more hipstery option.

R197 except this is NOT A WAREHOUSE, so a port is moot.

I really hope it's not Pittsburgh. Traffic is a nightmare on a good day. Infrastructure and public transportation suck and neither could handle a 10%+ increase in population. Housing is cheap mainly because most of the houses are old and in disrepair. A move in ready house goes quickly and isn't cheap. Pittsburgh isn't showing its bid and the feeling is because they offered Amazon the world at the taxpayers expense.

Amazon is a distribution network, as well as a studio. Some of their stuff is bankrolled by specifically by them, for them. But a lot of it is just produced independently and sold on the market, shopped at any distribution channel they can put it in front of: Amazon, Hulu, Netflix, HBO, Showtime, AMC, CBS… Whoever signs a contract slaps an "exclusive" or "original" on the pre-made product. (And also, sometime they toss some money and share production costs with another outlet, often channel outside the USA, so they can have exclusive North American rights.

[Quote]It has been talked about for years now that Amazon would settle their headquarters in Los Angeles to integrate with Amazon Studios. I'd safely bet on Los Angeles. Amazon Studios is the only real vanity project from Bezos so I'd wage on that.

After Los Angeles, more film and television production takes place in Toronto than anywhere else in North America, with a deep pool of talent to draw upon (and pay just $0.80 on the dollar for). So another reason why it could go to that city.

Look at the clusters. That will tell you which areas are higher priorities than others. For instance Indianapolis and Chicago aren't that far apart. neither is Northern VA, D.C. and Maryland. Then there's Raleigh Atlanta and Nashville, and you can probably add Florida locations to that cluster.

Columbus Ohio and Pittsburgh, and Philly are another cluster but through the Pa locations they link to the eastern ones like Newark, NY and Boston. I'm just trying to get an idea of the thinking that went behind these choices. Because some of them are so linked geographically, you have to believe they will try to get the one in each cluster that is most economically feasible to gain prominence as the search is whittled down.

Philly is a lot closer to DC than it is to Ohio and Pittsburgh, r202.

R201 Most Amazon shows are taped in Los Angeles, not in Canada and are oversaw by a production company named Picrow.

R196 Yes. Amazon reads every single pitch bible and script they get. Bezos has this dream of discovering new talent in the common folk. Amazon Studios was originally conceived to be a collaborative effort that went south quickly due to the immense amount of bad writing (specially non English and foreign submissions) they had to wade through in order to get to the good stuff.

They still read everything. They hire readers exclusively to do that. They do give the same regular treatment any studio would give to a slush pile. If you want to have a shot, make sure to write a decent logline -- they decide right there if they'll read the script based on the logline.

You should also follow their Matrix sample and write a 1-page summary/outline of your story, that's the second thing the reader will look for. Then, they'll commence the first 5 pages, then 10 and so on, like a regular studio would. Never submit a kids bible without a script.

As for whether they had produced things submitted through their sites, yes they did option a lot of kids stuff from the site, including 2 animation pilots and Gortimer Gibbons was also submitted there, though its writer had an MFA in screenwriting from UCLA and was a pro writer working as a kindergarten teacher. When I was there, they also optioned a dark comedy cartoon about a man who committed suicide and was forced to help other do the same [can't remember the name] and a kids program submitted by a first time writer who had a successful small business toy brand and wrote a pitch bible to sell their toys with them. Hope it helps.

OMG r171 My father and I were discussing where Amazon would locate their new HQ2, and I said "The mayors are all probably playing Kay Starr's "Wheel of Fortune."

[quote]and are oversaw by a production company named Picrow.

Oh, DEAR!

R206 suck my fat dick, grammar nazi. No one gives a fuck about your queer pet peeves.

Thanks R204.

When will they decide?

If Georgia passes anti immigration legislation they can kiss Amazon good-bye.

Rahm's gonna pull it in for Chicago.

MD resident here. I don't want my tax dollars going towards some stupid perk Amazon doesn't need, our housing market is already too expensive, traffic is already a nightmare, and we have plenty of white collar jobs.

Unless I can get same day prime. Then hell yeah.

Amazon will not be paying r202 for his thinking. Columbus + Pittsburgh + Philadelphia is nothing like DC+ Arlington + Bethesda.

Columbus and Pittsburgh are not even close to Philly. Philly is much closer to DC...like a couple of hundred miles closer.

I love how so many twits here think they know what Bezos is going to do. YOU DON'T KNOW JACK SHIT. So stop embarrassing yourselves.

Now they're saying Raleigh.. WTF.

Your own article doesn't say that r216.

[quote]Amazon is still considering the Triangle for its huge HQ2 project, and downtown Raleigh is where the ecommerce giant is most likely to build what would be a massive complex if North Carolina’s capital is the winner

The word they use is "considering", not likely, not probable, just considering. Also to point out that obvious that is a Raleigh-publication.

Oddsmakers think it's VA. I want to bet...

Oddsmakers...

Yeah most people are convinced it is going to be in the DC suburbs of VA. Easy to get why that seems the obvious choice.

You can make 2x your money on VA.

Dear Lord, please tell Amazon not to come to Atlanta!

Genius

Raleigh is ascending

R224, it's not going to be Raleigh. It's Northern Virginia. Come back and mock me if I'm wrong.

r223 Incredible. And this will probably happen more and more in the future; corporations playing states and cities against each other to dismantle as much regulation and social safety as possible.

If they keep this up for another year or so, I swear one city is going to just scrap all regulations governing labour.

"Prime" is going to become a thing. How high on the Prime scale are you? PrimeFresh? Etc.

It's definitely going to be in Virginia, especially with the news that Apple wants to open a new campus in Virginia.

I couldn't be happier because that state needs to be reliably blue and their elections last year were a defining moment for the resistance. Virginia should be an unofficial Westcoaster .

Amazon is the XXI century version of the southern plantation.

That American cities are jonesing for this toxic corporation is just tragic.

Virginia is already reliably blue now. 2016 proved that. The Dems lost the electoral college, and lost many swing states, but VA still went blue by 5 points.

Actually most say Raleigh will get new Apple Headquarters

It was Austin or Boston for a while. Knew it couldn't be either.

[quote]Actually most say Raleigh will get new Apple Headquarters

North Carolina still exists ???

I'm fine with North Carolina getting this stuff, they need to get bluer.

Hmmm, you do make a good point R234, we only lost them by 3%.... but then again look at Georgia? The film industry didn't make them more liberal.

Georgia has been such a disappointment. The film industry should just move to Virginia.

Jeff Bezos' bio dad.

R233, you realize North Carolina has more people moving to it than any other state not named Florida, Texas, or Arizona, largely from New York and the northeast?

North Carolina is attainable. Its elections are close

Good God why don't you know nothings just sit down. Not a one of you know one thing.

Raleigh is looking like a pretty good candidate for Apple's new campus. It's also in the final five for the Army's Futures Command.

Apple loves Raleigh-Durham. Tim Cook has been all over the area lately, and spoke at Duke graduation. He always compliments the area profusely.

Building on speculation that Apple is eyeing North Carolina's "Triangle" corridor as the potential site of a new U.S. campus, a report on Thursday claims the company will soon make an announcement officially naming the development as its selection.

[quote]Tim Cook has been all over the area lately, and spoke at Duke graduation. He always compliments the area profusely.

Tim Cook is a Duke alum and worked at the IBM campus in NC. He has strong ties to there.

[quote] It's also in the final five for the Army's Futures Command.

I just realized Los Angeles made the list.....Muahahaha our quest for world domination begins !!!!

Why is PG county excluded from this list. Racist.

No large attractive sites

As someone who has lived in Seattle for 15+ years, and worked at Amazon's HQ here for 7, be careful what you wish for. Douche tech bros everywhere, soaring house prices, and Amazon burns people out fast (average shelf life is 18 months) and all the young, full-of-hustle drop-outs sweep up all the other tech jobs in town.

Soon your traffic will be so damn bad, you won't want to leave your house, so you order more crap off of Amazon. All the places you love to go? That hiking spot that never has any people? Your favorite breakfast place? The dive bar down the street? They'll be crawling with blue-badgers. Enjoy it while you can.

I like tech bros with hot bods.

When is Amazon going to announce its decision?

Bump

Tim Cook is an Auburn Graduate from Robertsdale Alabama. He could also build in Huntsville next to Boeing NASA Mazda and Facebook's newly announced project. Tim Cook could shut Jeff Sessions down forever with even one small incubator in Alabama.

Alabama is a lot further from becoming a swing state than NC is

Atlanta is rebuilding MARTA and about to rename it and developers are building thousands yes thousands of new apartments and homes all over the city. It is insane unless an Amazon type company is about to land.

Yeah I don't know what this

[quote]Tim Cook could shut Jeff Sessions down forever with even one small incubator in Alabama.

is supposed to mean.

Apple building a campus in Alabama with a few thousand employees (which isn't happening, but just as a hypothetical) would have no real effect on the state.

With all due respect r254 but to have Apple land in Alabama with an Auburn graduate at the helm who is NOT part of the University of Alabama country club political Machine bringing jobs and hope to people would be huge. A CEO that does not care about sexual orientation or color providing jobs in a state with a history of rage anger and hate would be huge. If you live in Alabama you understand and if you don't then you are a very lucky person.

Yes but it wouldn’t make Alabama into a swing state

Goodness no I've never lived in Alabama. I get why that would be personally exciting to you, I was just saying the effect on the state politics would be a drop in the bucket.

Remind me again: why exactly does any company need a second hq, especially one with 50,000 employees? I realize duplication has some benefits, like if the main hq is in some natural disaster, but 50,000 employees just seems waaayyyy extreme.

"Research Triangle Park straddles Wake and Durham counties. Apple's focus is on sites on the Wake County side, according to a different source with direct knowledge of the search. The largest parcels of undeveloped land in RTP are in Wake County. The Research Triangle Foundation, the nonprofit entity that manages Research Triangle Park, declined to comment on the prospects of Apple moving into the park. The foundation has five undeveloped parcels of land on the Wake County side that are available, clustered near the area where Davis Drive crosses I-540, according to RTF's website."

Amazon right now is growing behemoth. That is what successful companies do, they invest back in themselves. The want to boost their AI and research and development teams, so they need more software engineers.

Amazon already owns 20% of the prime office space in Seattle. They have already saturated the market there a lot, so they want to expand into a fresh area.

I'll bet it's one (or more) of the DC locations.

I have never ordered anthing from amazon and have only been to Wal-Mart once in 15 years. I don't participate on any social media sites e.g. The Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Am I un-American?

A Netflix Exec says ATLANTA will be THE Chosen City.

Shouldn't it be down to 10 or 5 by now??

Where is the excitement?

Hmmmm

I agree with -261- it will be in the Washington D.C. metro area.

[quote]A Netflix Exec says ATLANTA will be THE Chosen City.

And Netflix is in the KNOW?

ok. great for Atlanta. They have CNN as well.

Just Announced Developer that has developed property for Amazon previously just purchased Atlanta site pinpointed for Amazon.

Yay! Atlanta!

Breaking! Atlanta TV station reports @Amazon said it will take about 2 more months to narrow the #HQ2 auction to about 3 cities (i.e., classic technique of multiple stages to maximize subsidy $ pressure) @P4WF @jwjnational @GoodJobsFirst @ilsr @iteptweets

I see no reference to what r269 claimed.

Atlanta Biz has one sentence in the real estate section

Amazon is going to take a couple more months before whittling it down to three cities?

Man, they are dragging this announcement out.

This was just published about Raleigh’s chances. They took the Seattle-basedGeekWire article as a very good sign.

A lot of business and techie media are hyping Raleigh

Raleigh.

It is the 'Silicon Valley of the East Coast'; it has a very culturally diverse workforce (particularly upper-management women / minorities); its labor market's compensation is comparatively lower; its housing prices are comparatively lower; Raleigh-Dunham International: Asia, UK, US); and its a comfortable GV ride away from all.

But Raleigh is also going to be the home of a large Apple site. There is NO WAY Raleigh can absorb both.

Yay, NoVA!