Cities seduce tech giant after canceling Queens plans

"After learning of the decision to withdraw from the chosen seat, I contacted the Amazon and Newark City stakeholders directly, continuing a constant dialogue that preceded my term as governor," he said. Governor Phil Murphy in a statement to NorthJersey.com. "New Jersey is open to business and, more than ever, Newark is the obvious choice as a new presence for Amazon's corporate offices. Amazon now has the opportunity to join Newark's story of a booming city. "

With the Audible head office, an Amazonian company, in Newark, some have argued that the city would be a good location for Amazon to create a hub. The mayor of the city, Ras Baraka, said his community "has been and will continue to be engaged" with Amazon.

"Given the strengths of the city and the state – an important talent pool, a diversified technology base, unparalleled infrastructure and a highly accessible location – we are ready to welcome Amazon in case they want to relocate. all or part of the HQ2 portion located in New York. "Baraka told NorthJersey.com.

The Bakara office did not respond to a request for comment.

Miami

Like Newark, Miami was a finalist in the HQ2 extravaganza of Amazon. Mayor Carlos Gimenez spoke of the announcement of the company's decision to withdraw from New York City as an opportunity to re-present South Florida as a viable destination for its headquarters.

"I understand that Amazon has decided not to seek additional seat, yet," Gimenez wrote to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. "However, I would be careless if I did not take this opportunity to reopen the lines of communication because Miami, without a doubt, has the talent, technology and low taxes to meet Amazon's needs."

Gimenez also invited Bezos and Amazon to return to Miami "to discuss how Amazon and Miami can continue to grow together," he wrote in the letter.

Gimenez's office refused to comment further than the letter.

On November 7, 2018, a waterfront view of Long Island City in Queens, NY, along the East River. Amazon has recently decided to cancel its new headquarters in New York. (Photo11: EMMERT DON, AFP / Getty Images)

Chicago

Another of Amazon's QG2 finalists, Chicago, has also tried to woo the tech giant.

Mayor Rahm Emmanuel and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker took the opportunity to try to convince Amazon, writing a letter to the company about why she should reconsider Chicago.

The Emmanuel office has not responded to a request for comment.

Warren, Michigan

Warren, Michigan, was not a finalist for Amazon's HQ2 research process – but that did not stop Mayor Jim Fouts from contacting the technology giant.

After learning of Amazon's decision to withdraw from New York City, Fouts had "a spontaneous inspiration" to write a letter to the company.

"If you leave New York, it means that they can go anywhere … I said," Why not Warren? ", Said Fouts at USA TODAY. "So, I went on Facebook and I wrote why I thought Warren would be good."

Fouts tried to persuade Amazon with several attributes of Warren, such as a population of highly skilled workers fired by General Motors or the attraction of Cadillac's global headquarters.

"Amazon, please consider dynamic Warren as your headquarters!" Fouts wrote. "You will not be disappointed!"

West Palm Beach, Florida

West Palm Beach had originally submitted a joint bid for Amazon's head office with Miami and Broward County. Apart from calling on Amazon, West Palm Beach has been running a campaign in the northeast to attract businesses to the area, according to Mayor Jeri Muoio.

Muoio said she wrote a letter to Bezos to "remind her that we are here and that we have a lot of great things to offer," she told USA TODAY.

"Recently nicknamed" The South Wall Street "by Newsweek, West Palm Beach has quietly attracted businesses in New York and the Northeast in recent years," reads the letter.

Muoio told the US TODAY that she had written this letter to "tell people that West Palm Beach is a great place to do business".

Localities in New York

Despite the loss of Amazon by New York City, other parts of the state have contacted the tech giant.

Rockland County Director Ed Day has written a joint letter with the city of Haverstraw, the city of Orangetown, the city of Ramapo and the village of Suffern in Bezos to express his interest.

"We are convinced that we can offer Amazon all that it needs: airports in neighboring countries, a business-friendly environment and a multitude of transport and infrastructure options," says the letter. . "We have already applied as part of your Q2 head office selection process and feel that we are offering a prime location near New York, but with development opportunities.

Although Day knows that Amazon said that it would not choose a new location for HQ2, "we also found how far plans can change quickly," said Lyon today, John Lyon, spokesman for Day.

Rochester, New York, also plans to try to impress Amazon. In 2017, Rochester submitted a joint application with Buffalo to become the destination of Amazon's headquarters.

"We are going to do our best to take a second step," said Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren at Rochester's Democrat and Chronicle.

Warren's office did not respond to a request for comment.

TO CLOSE

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio blamed Amazon for withdrawing plans to create a head office in the city, saying the decision surprised him. (February 14th)
AP

Contribution: USA TODAY, network reporters Melanie Anzidei, North Jersey Record, and Brian Sharp, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.