Amazon is looking for a second HQ. Why not, Pittsburgh? (Austin: foods, building)

[WhoIsStanwix?]

Originally Posted by Katarina Witt

My point is that Walmart often negotiates to not pay property taxes for a certain number of years and other incentives. Yet they are reviled for it, while Amazon doing the same thing is considered beneficial.

OT, but I think the most common answer to the question "why do you hate Walmart?" is it has the highest rate of employees needing social services/welfare of any large national employer. I don't think subsidies for building stores often come into the picture, at least on a national scale. The issue is more of the strain their employment practices cause.

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by Katarina Witt

My point is that Walmart often negotiates to not pay property taxes for a certain number of years and other incentives. Yet they are reviled for it, while Amazon doing the same thing is considered beneficial.

Why not ask this to yourself and try thinking it through? What do you think are the possible differences between a large retail outlet and a large corporate center? What do you think are the factors that might be considered for why a city or community might welcome one or the other?

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by OyCrumbler

Why not ask this to yourself and try thinking it through? What do you think are the possible differences between a large retail outlet and a large corporate center? What do you think are the factors that might be considered for why a city or community might welcome one or the other?

In both cases, they want the business. You tell me why Amazon, which has about the same rep as Walmart re: how it treats employees, is "different".

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by Katarina Witt

In both cases, they want the business. You tell me why Amazon, which has about the same rep as Walmart re: how it treats employees, is "different".

I think it’s better if you complete the exercise. Are you having difficulties figuring out the differences between opening up an outlet of a large retail chain and the opening of a large corporate operation for a tech company?

[gg]

Originally Posted by Katarina Witt

In both cases, they want the business. You tell me why Amazon, which has about the same rep as Walmart re: how it treats employees, is "different".

Um, I wouldn't know where to begin with this. We are talking about high paying jobs and real consumers with Amazon. People that can afford $500K homes. You can't compare some Walmart opening to Amazon. Walmart isn't getting any breaks in a city other than lower rent from a landlord because of them being an anchor store. The city isn't going to care if they come or go much. Someone will take their place. Amazon? Um, no one is filling those shoes.

As I was watching the local news there was a story on E. Musk's hyper loop to Chicago. That tube can haul cargo. Hmmm, I see a nice situation here many years from now. Do people know there is a feasibility study going on? I am not saying we will see this hyper loop, but keeping an open mind on its possibilities in making Pittsburgh a bigger player if connected to Chicago. I could use some better food options.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by gg

Um, I wouldn't know where to begin with this. We are talking about high paying jobs and real consumers with Amazon. People that can afford $500K homes. You can't compare some Walmart opening to Amazon. Walmart isn't getting any breaks in a city other than lower rent from a landlord because of them being an anchor store. The city isn't going to care if they come or go much. Someone will take their place. Amazon? Um, no one is filling those shoes.

As I was watching the local news there was a story on E. Musk's hyper loop to Chicago. That tube can haul cargo. Hmmm, I see a nice situation here many years from now. Do people know there is a feasibility study going on? I am not saying we will see this hyper loop, but keeping an open mind on its possibilities in making Pittsburgh a bigger player if connected to Chicago. I could use some better food options.

The city to the east of mine waived Walmart's property taxes for 25 years! I'd say the city cared very much that Walmart come. And truth be told, unlike the "urban legendry", WM did bring other retailers to a town that had no downtown left when it came to shopping.

[gg]

Originally Posted by Katarina Witt

The city to the east of mine waived Walmart's property taxes for 25 years! I'd say the city cared very much that Walmart come. And truth be told, unlike the "urban legendry", WM did bring other retailers to a town that had no downtown left when it came to shopping.

I realize you are stuck out in CO, but there is no way Pittsburgh is giving anything to Walmart. Why do you compare some little rinky-dink city to a powerhouse like Pittsburgh? There are "cities" and then there are players. That is like comparing "the city of Franklin, PA" to Pittsburgh. Please.

I see no point in your posts. All I see is you venting about some situation in CO on a Pittsburgh forum. Giving away things to an Amazon is a completely different matter. Did you see I mentioned the hyper loop? Imagine if Amazon had that going on at their 2nd headquarters? Pittsburgh is in the running on that as well. We have been voted "most livable" for a very long time and most people would agree, Pittsburgh is great, so long as you are hard working and making money. (city life requires it) If you are living off taxpayers and receiving a lot of help as a lifestyle, then I suspect you are going to complain no matter what. That kind of life was never supposed to be "forever", unless of course you are helpless.

[szug-bot]

^^^^ rep!

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by Katarina Witt

The city to the east of mine waived Walmart's property taxes for 25 years! I'd say the city cared very much that Walmart come. And truth be told, unlike the "urban legendry", WM did bring other retailers to a town that had no downtown left when it came to shopping.

While I personally would welcome both Amazon & a Walmart into the city, you’re comparing apples to oranges in your statements. An Amazon corporate headquarters is comparable to Walmart’s presence in Bentonville, AR only, (in both incentives & economic gain) - some random store of theirs in CO is completely irrelevant to the discussion.

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by Yinzerburgh21

Amazon won’t come to Pittsburgh, because of the politics and community groups. It will have nothing to do with anything else.

Imagine Amazon saying they choose a place in the city limits to place their HQ. Then look at the community groups suing and protesting in east liberty. Folks that is one neighborhood and a few hundred techies moving in.

Good lord if Amazon chose the city there would be so many lawsuits and fights it would never get built. Bezos would tire of the protests and sitting in commonwealth court. By that token it would be stupid of him to even consider the city. Every community group and their brother would be suing for a piece of the pie

There's going to be a degree of local backlash to Amazon in virtually any of the candidate cities. I'm going to take a wild guess and say the backlash in Boston of all the places would probably be greatest rather than in Pittsburgh.