Readers Respond to Amazon’s HQ2 move
Almost three out of four respondents to the latest HBSDealer poll question showed agreement with Amazon’s decision to back out of a plan to build a headquarters in Long Island City, N.Y., after a vocal minority of opposition emerged.
HBSDealer asked: “What’s your take on Amazon’s decision to cancel its plans for a New York City headquarters?”
Here are the results after more than 260 votes:
A little background: Last year, Seattle-based Amazon launched a coast-to-coast search for a second headquarters. The company’s well-documented journey led to two winners: Long Island City in the Queens borough of New York, and Crystal City, Va. But Amazon pulled out of its Long Island City bid, causing intense discussion about the relationship between the public and private sectors, and the extents to which cities should lure companies within their borders.
“While polls show that 70% of New Yorkers support our plans and investment, 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 says in the blog post. (Read the blog post here.)
If the deal went through, there were 25,000 jobs to be gained for New York. But opposition rallied around the idea that $3 billion in government incentives were too generous.
The poll question is on the right side of the screen (or scroll down your mobile device). HBSDeaeler encourages extended comments — just click on the comment tab below.
HBSDealer asked: “What’s your take on Amazon’s decision to cancel its plans for a New York City headquarters?”
Here are the results after more than 260 votes:
- 73% voted for “Good move for Amazon. There are plenty of cities that would be thrilled to have them.
- 20% voted for “Good move for New York. $3 billion in breaks and benefits is too much.”
- 7% voted for “This topic doesn’t interest me.”
A little background: Last year, Seattle-based Amazon launched a coast-to-coast search for a second headquarters. The company’s well-documented journey led to two winners: Long Island City in the Queens borough of New York, and Crystal City, Va. But Amazon pulled out of its Long Island City bid, causing intense discussion about the relationship between the public and private sectors, and the extents to which cities should lure companies within their borders.
“While polls show that 70% of New Yorkers support our plans and investment, 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 says in the blog post. (Read the blog post here.)
If the deal went through, there were 25,000 jobs to be gained for New York. But opposition rallied around the idea that $3 billion in government incentives were too generous.
The poll question is on the right side of the screen (or scroll down your mobile device). HBSDeaeler encourages extended comments — just click on the comment tab below.