(01-18-2018 06:45 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  It amazes me that these companies always look for cities with miserable weather in the winter. You hear in the news (just last week) of cities in the NE with 2 feet of snow in one day. Sure, the weather might be nice during the spring but not summer with its electrical blackouts from people running their AC on full blast. Then you add the traffic to that.

Amazon is out of Seattle, I don't think they care about weather nearly as much as money. People will go to work for them even if they're in Anchorage simply because they're Amazon, this decision will come down to who offers the most money yet qualifies for what I'm guessing are high standards in city planning and potential site location.

(01-18-2018 06:45 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  It amazes me that these companies always look for cities with miserable weather in the winter. You hear in the news (just last week) of cities in the NE with 2 feet of snow in one day. Sure, the weather might be nice during the spring but not summer with its electrical blackouts from people running their AC on full blast. Then you add the traffic to that.

And when is the last time you read about a Hurricane taking destroying a major cities infrastructure in the North East? Or an earthquake? Or floods / mudslides?

Every area has it's own weather / climate challenges to deal with. I'll take a couple feet of snow once or twice a year over hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, forest fires, floods, or mudslides.

Got two feet of snow? rub some dirt on it and go into the office. Office burnt down by a fire or blown down by a hurricane? well that's a bigger challenge.

Quote:I'm speaking of El Paso.

They want an educated and highly skilled workforce...

Quote:If you say that it's because you're speaking through your big behind.

Says the guy who just used a once a year storm to crap all over Boston?

Quote:Just this week when everyone in the East was snow bound we were complaining because it got to 36 degrees two days

.

And, believe it or not, most people don't care. You can enjoy life at 20 degrees or 100 degrees.

Quote:Sure, we're in the middle of nowhere but aren't there airplanes

Yes, there are also snow plows...

Quote:So the semi-arid desert isn't beautiful to see but have you heard of us having tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards or water line breaking weather? Nope, it's unheard of.

True, you guys have great weather. Unfortunately Amazon is not a tourism company. Being in the middle of nowhere ranks as a far bigger problem then a snow storm here and there.

Quote:If you say there's not enough computer geniuses guess where a lot of computer parts are manufactured?

Does Amazon manufacture parts? that's not really the type of labor they need.

You just don't have the labor force
You're in the middle of nowhere
You don't have the infrastructure for Amazon

But other than that, you're perfect..

(01-19-2018 09:03 AM)Love and Honor Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 06:45 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  It amazes me that these companies always look for cities with miserable weather in the winter. You hear in the news (just last week) of cities in the NE with 2 feet of snow in one day. Sure, the weather might be nice during the spring but not summer with its electrical blackouts from people running their AC on full blast. Then you add the traffic to that.

Amazon is out of Seattle, I don't think they care about weather nearly as much as money. People will go to work for them even if they're in Anchorage simply because they're Amazon, this decision will come down to who offers the most money yet qualifies for what I'm guessing are high standards in city planning and potential site location.

It will come down to which city is the first to allow Amazon to snort lines of coke off of its ass.

(01-19-2018 12:06 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  

(01-19-2018 09:03 AM)Love and Honor Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 06:45 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  It amazes me that these companies always look for cities with miserable weather in the winter. You hear in the news (just last week) of cities in the NE with 2 feet of snow in one day. Sure, the weather might be nice during the spring but not summer with its electrical blackouts from people running their AC on full blast. Then you add the traffic to that.

Amazon is out of Seattle, I don't think they care about weather nearly as much as money. People will go to work for them even if they're in Anchorage simply because they're Amazon, this decision will come down to who offers the most money yet qualifies for what I'm guessing are high standards in city planning and potential site location.

It will come down to which city is the first to allow Amazon to snort lines of coke off of its ass.

For 20,000 jobs at an average wage of 100,000 per year? Yes, that's an extraordinary opportunity for a community.

(01-19-2018 12:20 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(01-19-2018 12:06 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  

(01-19-2018 09:03 AM)Love and Honor Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 06:45 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  It amazes me that these companies always look for cities with miserable weather in the winter. You hear in the news (just last week) of cities in the NE with 2 feet of snow in one day. Sure, the weather might be nice during the spring but not summer with its electrical blackouts from people running their AC on full blast. Then you add the traffic to that.

Amazon is out of Seattle, I don't think they care about weather nearly as much as money. People will go to work for them even if they're in Anchorage simply because they're Amazon, this decision will come down to who offers the most money yet qualifies for what I'm guessing are high standards in city planning and potential site location.

It will come down to which city is the first to allow Amazon to snort lines of coke off of its ass.

For 20,000 jobs at an average wage of 100,000 per year? Yes, that's an extraordinary opportunity for a community.

I agree. I wonder if Apple will make it a national contest to win its new corp headquaters?

(01-18-2018 05:13 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 03:25 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  We should be honored here in Houston (not). If Stinkfest is right and they end up in Nashville, I'm going to try to convince my oldest daughter to go to Vanderbilt even more.

I just can't imagine how Austin could handle that many more people.

Houston is a great city, but it has a negative cool factor nationally. I guess that knocked Baltimore out too. Every city that got picked has a positive or neutral cool factor with the exception of Pittsburgh. I think Amazon really likes Pittsburgh, but I don't think they could handle it either. They are adding a new HQ because Seattle with 3.8 million can't handle any more.

The problems in Houston are

1) Local transport problems
2) HERO repeal

(01-19-2018 12:06 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  

(01-19-2018 09:03 AM)Love and Honor Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 06:45 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  It amazes me that these companies always look for cities with miserable weather in the winter. You hear in the news (just last week) of cities in the NE with 2 feet of snow in one day. Sure, the weather might be nice during the spring but not summer with its electrical blackouts from people running their AC on full blast. Then you add the traffic to that.

Amazon is out of Seattle, I don't think they care about weather nearly as much as money. People will go to work for them even if they're in Anchorage simply because they're Amazon, this decision will come down to who offers the most money yet qualifies for what I'm guessing are high standards in city planning and potential site location.

It will come down to which city is the first to allow Amazon to snort lines of coke off of its ass.

Yup... It's why the Twin Cities were so quickly taken off the list. Governor Mumbles told Amazon that we would not give them any treats to come.

Heck for that number of good jobs he should have offered them 0% state taxes for the next decade or so.

(01-19-2018 12:26 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 05:13 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 03:25 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  We should be honored here in Houston (not). If Stinkfest is right and they end up in Nashville, I'm going to try to convince my oldest daughter to go to Vanderbilt even more.

I just can't imagine how Austin could handle that many more people.

Houston is a great city, but it has a negative cool factor nationally. I guess that knocked Baltimore out too. Every city that got picked has a positive or neutral cool factor with the exception of Pittsburgh. I think Amazon really likes Pittsburgh, but I don't think they could handle it either. They are adding a new HQ because Seattle with 3.8 million can't handle any more.

The problems in Houston are

1) Local transport problems
2) HERO repeal

Yea, #2 not so much.

(01-19-2018 12:55 PM)Bull_Is_Back Wrote:  

(01-19-2018 12:26 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 05:13 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 03:25 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  We should be honored here in Houston (not). If Stinkfest is right and they end up in Nashville, I'm going to try to convince my oldest daughter to go to Vanderbilt even more.

I just can't imagine how Austin could handle that many more people.

Houston is a great city, but it has a negative cool factor nationally. I guess that knocked Baltimore out too. Every city that got picked has a positive or neutral cool factor with the exception of Pittsburgh. I think Amazon really likes Pittsburgh, but I don't think they could handle it either. They are adding a new HQ because Seattle with 3.8 million can't handle any more.

The problems in Houston are

1) Local transport problems
2) HERO repeal

Yea, #2 not so much.

Sure, sure. Watch the other candidates come out against Raleigh on that particular issue (not that its really Raleigh's fault). And I would imagine that Indianapolis and Nashville have some liabilities when it comes to Trans issues as well.

(01-19-2018 01:03 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(01-19-2018 12:55 PM)Bull_Is_Back Wrote:  

(01-19-2018 12:26 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 05:13 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 03:25 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  We should be honored here in Houston (not). If Stinkfest is right and they end up in Nashville, I'm going to try to convince my oldest daughter to go to Vanderbilt even more.

I just can't imagine how Austin could handle that many more people.

Houston is a great city, but it has a negative cool factor nationally. I guess that knocked Baltimore out too. Every city that got picked has a positive or neutral cool factor with the exception of Pittsburgh. I think Amazon really likes Pittsburgh, but I don't think they could handle it either. They are adding a new HQ because Seattle with 3.8 million can't handle any more.

The problems in Houston are

1) Local transport problems
2) HERO repeal

Yea, #2 not so much.

Sure, sure. Watch the other candidates come out against Raleigh on that particular issue (not that its really Raleigh's fault). And I would imagine that Indianapolis and Nashville have some liabilities when it comes to Trans issues as well.

Amazon is surely a SJW fun house, but at the end of the day this decision will be made entirely on money...

(01-18-2018 10:24 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 10:15 PM)chess Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 06:45 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  It amazes me that these companies always look for cities with miserable weather in the winter. You hear in the news (just last week) of cities in the NE with 2 feet of snow in one day. Sure, the weather might be nice during the spring but not summer with its electrical blackouts from people running their AC on full blast. Then you add the traffic to that.

If these CEOs were as smart as they think that they are they should look at places with really inexpensive housing, beautiful (more than 300 days of sunshine a year) a workforce that is just aching for high paying jobs in their city, etc. I'm speaking of El Paso. Please don't come in here with your "fake" posts about there's being nothing to do here. If you say that it's because you're speaking through your big behind. Just this week when everyone in the East was snow bound we were complaining because it got to 36 degrees two days. Now, tell me we're not pampered by our weather. Today it was 57 degrees (brrrrrr) and tomorrow it'll be 67.

Sure, we're in the middle of nowhere but aren't there airplanes, trucks and railroads plus the internet? So the semi-arid desert isn't beautiful to see but have you heard of us having tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards or water line breaking weather? Nope, it's unheard of. If you say there's not enough computer geniuses guess where a lot of computer parts are manufactured? Just right across from us in J-town. We have a bunch of people and they're mostly bi-lingual, with a Medical School and a 4 year university and LOTS of land.

Chicago is a transportation hub that is rarely shut down because of weather.

But Chicago is a shithole.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

It is?

(01-19-2018 01:08 PM)Bull_Is_Back Wrote:  

(01-19-2018 01:03 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(01-19-2018 12:55 PM)Bull_Is_Back Wrote:  

(01-19-2018 12:26 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 05:13 PM)bullet Wrote:  Houston is a great city, but it has a negative cool factor nationally. I guess that knocked Baltimore out too. Every city that got picked has a positive or neutral cool factor with the exception of Pittsburgh. I think Amazon really likes Pittsburgh, but I don't think they could handle it either. They are adding a new HQ because Seattle with 3.8 million can't handle any more.

The problems in Houston are

1) Local transport problems
2) HERO repeal

Yea, #2 not so much.

Sure, sure. Watch the other candidates come out against Raleigh on that particular issue (not that its really Raleigh's fault). And I would imagine that Indianapolis and Nashville have some liabilities when it comes to Trans issues as well.

Amazon is surely a SJW fun house, but at the end of the day this decision will be made entirely on money...

Yep, Amazon won't give a rat's a$$ about that other stuff. In the end, it will be all about the $$$$$$$

So what if Amazon is a SJW fun house. In El Paso the Demons (unfortunately) run government so nothing will change there.

(01-18-2018 11:01 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  My money is on Nashville.

Nashville will be one of the first ones cut in the next "round." It's the cute thing to include them now - they're the up & comer, the "anti-Austin," but they don't have the infrastructure, public transit, or the population to handle it, no matter what the hipsters would have you believe.

I'm sure they already have it down to 3-5 options. I think it'll be Denver, DC, or Atlanta.

(01-19-2018 04:37 PM)tigergreen Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 11:01 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  My money is on Nashville.

Nashville will be one of the first ones cut in the next "round." It's the cute thing to include them now - they're the up & comer, the "anti-Austin," but they don't have the infrastructure, public transit, or the population to handle it, no matter what the hipsters would have you believe.

It'll be Denver, DC, or Atlanta.

Nashville has a liability albeit one not of its own choosing. The state of Tennessee has legalized discrimination in healthcare for LGBT persons.

Also, Tennessee creates extreme hurdles (only matched by Ohio, Idaho, and Kansas) for Trans persons.

Surprisingly, Dallas, at least for the next couple of years, is going to be okay with those issues. They have protections and the state has not yet intervened.

Bezos is VERY strong on LGBT issues. VERY strong. Now, its possible that the amount of money that a community throws at his company might be controlling (along with the fact that the particular localities within those areas bidding all vote pro-LGBT), but it will be a factor.

Either way, I'm not sure that Indy, Columbus, Raleigh or Nashville really have the population base to handle such an investment.

I wouldn't be surprised if it went to Toronto. Or Newark.

(01-19-2018 04:37 PM)tigergreen Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 11:01 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  My money is on Nashville.

Nashville will be one of the first ones cut in the next "round." It's the cute thing to include them now - they're the up & comer, the "anti-Austin," but they don't have the infrastructure, public transit, or the population to handle it, no matter what the hipsters would have you believe.

I'm sure they already have it down to 3-5 options. I think it'll be Denver, DC, or Atlanta.

I could see any of those.....but why discount Nashville that will offer more for less.....

their hub center is solid .... their livability is solid ..... expansion is there for the taking...

again, I won't be surprised if another choice is made.....however, I still put my money on those guys....

(01-19-2018 01:30 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  So what if Amazon is a SJW fun house. In El Paso the Demons (unfortunately) run government so nothing will change there.

I doubt that it is. They work em hard in the warehouses. In the office you better produce. Amazon isn't a startup with guys hanging out playing ping pong. Amazon is a global monster.

(01-19-2018 04:37 PM)tigergreen Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 11:01 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  My money is on Nashville.

Nashville will be one of the first ones cut in the next "round." It's the cute thing to include them now - they're the up & comer, the "anti-Austin," but they don't have the infrastructure, public transit, or the population to handle it, no matter what the hipsters would have you believe.

I'm sure they already have it down to 3-5 options. I think it'll be Denver, DC, or Atlanta.

With Seattle at 3.8 million and groaning from the burden of Amazon's growth, the only metros on the list larger are NYC (no way), LA (no way), Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, DC, Boston, Atlanta and Miami.

(01-19-2018 04:41 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(01-19-2018 04:37 PM)tigergreen Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 11:01 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  My money is on Nashville.

Nashville will be one of the first ones cut in the next "round." It's the cute thing to include them now - they're the up & comer, the "anti-Austin," but they don't have the infrastructure, public transit, or the population to handle it, no matter what the hipsters would have you believe.

It'll be Denver, DC, or Atlanta.

Nashville has a liability albeit one not of its own choosing. The state of Tennessee has legalized discrimination in healthcare for LGBT persons.

Plays 0 role in Amazon's decision. It's all about the $$$ Tom. An

Contrary to your opinion, the world does not revolve around peoples sexuality.

(01-19-2018 01:24 PM)chess Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 10:24 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 10:15 PM)chess Wrote:  

(01-18-2018 06:45 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  It amazes me that these companies always look for cities with miserable weather in the winter. You hear in the news (just last week) of cities in the NE with 2 feet of snow in one day. Sure, the weather might be nice during the spring but not summer with its electrical blackouts from people running their AC on full blast. Then you add the traffic to that.

If these CEOs were as smart as they think that they are they should look at places with really inexpensive housing, beautiful (more than 300 days of sunshine a year) a workforce that is just aching for high paying jobs in their city, etc. I'm speaking of El Paso. Please don't come in here with your "fake" posts about there's being nothing to do here. If you say that it's because you're speaking through your big behind. Just this week when everyone in the East was snow bound we were complaining because it got to 36 degrees two days. Now, tell me we're not pampered by our weather. Today it was 57 degrees (brrrrrr) and tomorrow it'll be 67.

Sure, we're in the middle of nowhere but aren't there airplanes, trucks and railroads plus the internet? So the semi-arid desert isn't beautiful to see but have you heard of us having tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards or water line breaking weather? Nope, it's unheard of. If you say there's not enough computer geniuses guess where a lot of computer parts are manufactured? Just right across from us in J-town. We have a bunch of people and they're mostly bi-lingual, with a Medical School and a 4 year university and LOTS of land.

Chicago is a transportation hub that is rarely shut down because of weather.

But Chicago is a shithole.

It is?

All depends what part of town you're looking at. Anything in the west or south parts of the city aside from an oasis neighborhood or two? Sure. But most of the proposed sites are in areas already well developed. Chicago's strategy is not to hand over the farm like Newark ($7B), but offer a substantial sum ($2.2B) and tout the relatively low cost of living compared to most of the list while showing off the educated workforce, public transportation, and cultural amenities. Of course, you have to deal with the toxic political situation but the city will probably get on their knees for any problems if they eventually decide here.

Personally I'm opposed to this dog and pony show on principle, playing favorites and pitting cities against each other isn't my cup of tea even if the ends probably justify the means. But that's why I'm not in city government I guess - if Chicago ends up winning I might try investing in some property with a friend who's in real estate so in that sense I hope we win.