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| Please help Jeff Bezos! https://mail.chicagofanatics.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=109388 |
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| Author: | Rod [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:09 am ] |
| Post subject: | Please help Jeff Bezos! |
https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/c ... d=33535992 As city and state officials head into the next phase of their courtship of Amazon and its second headquarters, Mayor Rahm and Governor Rauner are starting to resemble the pitchmen from those Celozzi-Ettleson Chevrolet commercials that appeared on late-night TV back in the 1980s. I half expect R and R to show up in an ad wearing outdated sport coats, waving wads of bills, and asking Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to come on down to Chicago, "where you always save more money." I joke, but the first-round offer submitted on October 16 doesn't give Chicagoans much to laugh about—unless you're tickled by your elected representatives handing over your tax dollars to one of the wealthiest men in the world. The letter sent to Amazon was signed by Emanuel, Rauner, Cook County Board president Toni Preckwinkle, and the four Republican and Democratic leaders of the statehouse, among them house speaker Michael Madigan and senate president John Cullerton. Apparently, the only thing this bunch agrees on is that it's a good idea to give away prime real estate and at least a couple of billion dollars in tax breaks, grants, and other incentives to one of the world's richest corporations. Bezos got things going in early September, when he announced he'd build a second headquarters, dubbed HQ2, for the Seattle-based behemoth online retailer in the North American location that offered him the best deal. Since then, more than 200 cities or states have responded, lured in part by the promise of some 50,000 relatively high-paying jobs. There are two things to remember from similar boondoggles, such as our bid for the 2016 Olympics: 1.) Elected officials tend to overstate the public benefit of such deals. In this case, Chicago hasn't commissioned an independent analysis to see if it's worth spending so much money to bring Amazon to town. 2.) The eventual price tag is almost always higher than the original bid. That's for sure. This sucker is a bidding war largely controlled by Bezos, who's already said there could be two or three rounds before Amazon makes its decision next year. Expect that initial sum of $2.25 billion to go way up. As it is, Rahm and Rauner have already offered Bezos about $1.32 billion in Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) tax credits. This is the program in which the state essentially lets a corporation keep the income tax dollars that its employees would normally pay to the state. For example, say Amazon hires someone at $100,000 to program computers at HQ2. Normally that employee would pay $4,950 to the state for things like road repaving, policing, education, and so forth. With the current tax rate of 4.95 percent, the hipster essentially pays up to $4,950 to his boss at Amazon. I think there should be a legislative hearing to examine why this isn't a form of wage theft in which the state forces an employee to kick back a portion of his salary as a condition of his job. As with the private school tax credits Rauner forced the Democrats to swallow this summer, EDGE tax credits are a great way to cripple government by taking money from programs intended for the common good and turning it over for private consumption. In addition, Rahm and Rauner have offered Amazon a property tax break of at least $60 million. Bezos hasn't even selected a site and he's already getting a break in Amazon's taxes. (Usually he'd have to hire Madigan's or Cullerton's law firm before he was able to cut such a deal.) And we're not talking about bargain-basement land next to a toxic waste dump. In the city and state's bid, Rahm and Rauner have given Bezos his choice of ten sites: eight high-priced properties in and around the Loop and two in the suburbs. Of course, a property tax break for Bezos means a property tax hike for the rest of us schmoes as the government tries to compensate for money it's not getting from some of its most valuable properties downtown. This is regressive taxation as the tax burden shifts from the wealthy to everyone else. Ordinary citizens will pay more so Bezos pays less. What a cop-out by my fellow Democrats. All year long they've been telling us we need more progressivity to wipe out the inequities in education between the Chicagos and Winnetkas of the world. Then in one fell swoop they caved on their principles—just as they caved on the school distribution bill. They say one thing and, under pressure, do something else. And you wonder why working-class voters in swing states like Wisconsin and Michigan fell for Donald Trump's bullshit? It can be hard to trust anything a mainstream Democrat says. By the way, Rahm and Rauner still haven't told us who'll pay to buy this land on which Amazon will settle. I'm pretty sure Bezos will demand that he not pay for it, and I don't think the current owners will give it away. Unless, of course, Amazon decides to settle on the old Michael Reese Hospital site, which is owned by the city. In which case, Rahm would be like, "Take our land, please!" My guess is the acquisition costs will come out of TIF funds, as they generally do in such deals. Amazon required that applicants "provide a timetable for incentive approvals at the state/province and local levels, including any legislative approvals that may be required." And so, to soothe the company's worries that our City Council or state legislature might summon up the gumption to torpedo the deal, Rahm, Rauner, Madigan, et al added this assurance in their letter: "Please know that we are prepared to undertake legislative action as a condition to your selection and look forward to better understanding your timing needs in that regard." Translation: We'll twist their arms into submission! Once again, our leaders seemed determined to take the city's wealth and throw it away. Mayor Richard M. Daley tried the same thing with his pitch for the 2016 Summer Olympics. I can only hope that, as with the Olympics bid, Chicago gets bounced in the first round. |
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| Author: | Brick [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:14 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
The Amazon HQ scam is getting pretty distasteful. I understand businesses will look for a good deal but this is quickly becoming a race to see who can negate almost all the positive effect from getting this HQ by pitting every city against every other city. I'm surprised Illinois hasn't said "Hey Amazon, you like Schaumburg? Well, you can have it for free!". |
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| Author: | KDdidit [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:15 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
Maybe they'll give him the land where the Lucasfilm museum was going to go as a goodwill gesture. |
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| Author: | Hatchetman [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:17 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
Chicago should blackmail them with some sort of potential racism smear if they choose a red state. |
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| Author: | Chus [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:17 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
JORR hates job creators. |
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| Author: | leashyourkids [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:19 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
And you wonder why working-class voters in swing states like Wisconsin and Michigan fell for Donald Trump's bullshit? It can be hard to trust anything a mainstream Democrat says. Steak dinner, boom! |
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| Author: | Terry's Peeps [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:26 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
leashyourkids wrote: And you wonder why working-class voters in swing states like Wisconsin and Michigan fell for Donald Trump's bullshit? It can be hard to trust anything a mainstream Democrat says. People want leadership, and in the absence of genuine leadership, they'll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone. They want leadership. They're so thirsty for it they'll crawl through the desert toward a mirage, and when they discover there's no water, they'll drink the sand. |
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| Author: | Bootstraps Max [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:33 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
If a stat cuts Bezos a sweatheart deal then its' cause of harde work. Fuckin libtards just expect handouts. Your gotta earn it. |
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| Author: | Rod [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:33 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
And if you want to talk about character, Hillary, you'd better come at me with more than a phony koi pond story and piles of other fake news. If you want to talk about character and American values, fine. Just tell me where and when, and I'll show up. This is a time for serious people, Hillary, and your fifteen minutes are up. My name is Donald J. Trump, and I AM THE PRESIDENT! |
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| Author: | rogers park bryan [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:35 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
Amazon has an iPhone and nice shoes, why are they begging? Get a job. |
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| Author: | Terry's Peeps [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:38 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
Joe Orr Road Rod wrote: And if you want to talk about character, Hillary, you'd better come at me with more than a phony koi pond story and piles of other fake news. If you want to talk about character and American values, fine. Just tell me where and when, and I'll show up. This is a time for serious people, Hillary, and your fifteen minutes are up. My name is Donald J. Trump, and I AM THE PRESIDENT! 
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| Author: | Rod [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:41 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
rogers park bryan wrote: Amazon has an iPhone and nice shoes, why are they begging? Get a job. Reagan was right. Ten $25 million dollar homes and this guy shows up in a brand new Tesla to collect his welfare check. |
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| Author: | ToxicMasculinity [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:43 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
I'm sure Jeff Bezos is into some weird sex stuff |
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| Author: | Bagels [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:48 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
I heard Bedford Park has good water |
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| Author: | Big Chicagoan [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:49 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
It's going to Atlanta. Book it. Funny watching these others cities that they would never consider dance around like monkeys, though. |
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| Author: | donspiracy [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 12:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
Taxation is theft. |
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| Author: | Baby McNown [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 12:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
Joe Orr Road Rod wrote: And if you want to talk about character, Hillary, you'd better come at me with more than a phony koi pond story and piles of other fake news. If you want to talk about character and American values, fine. Just tell me where and when, and I'll show up. This is a time for serious people, Hillary, and your fifteen minutes are up. My name is Donald J. Trump, and I AM THE PRESIDENT! 
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| Author: | Baby McNown [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 12:13 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
Bagels wrote: I heard Bedford Park has good water Also close to transportation. Although Bezos may want to consider the fact that his business will take off in Wheeling. |
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| Author: | Regular Reader [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 10:01 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
leashyourkids wrote: And you wonder why working-class voters in swing states like Wisconsin and Michigan fell for Donald Trump's bullshit? It can be hard to trust anything a mainstream Democrat says. Steak dinner, boom! Hard to disagree |
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| Author: | Psycory [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 10:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
Hell, even my county put in for the amazon HQ. The argument was that we are within two and a half hours from four major metropolitan areas (NYC, Philly, Baltimore, DC) and cost of living is cheaper than everywhere. |
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| Author: | TurdFerguson [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 10:22 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
Big Chicagoan wrote: It's going to Atlanta. Book it. Funny watching these others cities that they would never consider dance around like monkeys, though. A city near Atlanta even offered city naming right for them to come to Atlanta. |
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| Author: | Hussra [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 10:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Q |
Big Chicagoan wrote: It's going to Atlanta. Book it. Paddy Power has Atlanta as the favorites at 3/1. Austin's 2nd at 7/1. Tho those are betting odds so who knows. Most of the analysts I read say that Denver would be the best spot--except they figure Amazon wants HQ2 to be East a bit more than Colorado. Austin-Dallas and then Atlanta and surrounding larger cities (Charlotte/Nashville) seem to be the best bets. Since they're likely looking to attract workers from around the country/planet and not rely on locals to staff up HQ2, I'd guess they skip Atlanta and hit some smaller, "hipper" place. Austin/Charlotte/Nashville Possibly North Texas (Dallas Fort-Worth metroplex). Spent quite a bit of time in Atlana for work--it already/really is a tech center, duh--and I've yet to meet anyone in tech down there who was originally from Atlanta and who wouldn't move the fuck out of Hellanta if they could land a job in a more enjoyable/livable city. Put their HQ2 a few hours U-haul of Atlanta (Charlotte/Nashville) and they will staff up easily. Quote: Everyone in the real estate business is scrambling to figure out where Amazon's new headquarters will land.
With the potential for 50,000 employees and $5 billion in investment it's the economic development prize of the decade. CoStar Group, the real estate information and marketing firm, quizzed hundreds of real estate execs about where Amazon should put its new HQ2. Austin and Dallas were at the top of their list, with Atlanta and Nashville right behind as favorites for the Amazon move. "While more people picked Austin, many were willing to give Dallas the edge because of its superior air transportation system having two major airports, including an international airport," writes CoStar's Mark Heschmeyer. "Amazon currently has more than 20,000 employees in Texas." Austin's odds for getting Amazon's HQ were as high as 3 to 1 according to CoStar's poll. Dallas was given 6:1 odds. "Atlanta is home to the busiest international airport in the U.S. It also has a large high-tech employment base having emerged as a mecca for huge data and logistics centers," Heschmeyer said. "One downside some observers cited was that Georgia is currently home to only about 500 Amazon employees. "Nashville with its best odds of 8:1 was favored for having a hip, strong cultural scene, large growth capability, affordable living and occupancy cost and a reputation as an up-and-coming metro area." Amazon has more than 7,000 employees in Tennessee. Denver was the fifth most picked city on CoStar's list. Digital retailing giant Amazon announced early this month that it was hunting for a place to park thousands of new workers over the next decade. Communities all over the country are competing for the headquarters deal. |
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| Author: | Curious Hair [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 10:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
Chicago makes a ton of sense to me in terms of logistics and infrastructure and all that jazz, but no way they're going to give up enough to get it. But hey, look at us all talking about it. It's like when following sports becomes about business, but sort of in reverse. |
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| Author: | Regular Reader [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 10:55 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
Curious Hair wrote: Chicago makes a ton of sense to me in terms of logistics and infrastructure and all that jazz, but no way they're going to give up enough to get it. But hey, look at us all talking about it. It's like when following sports becomes about business, but sort of in reverse. And in the tax thread we're talking about taking away the benefits for wealthy families to extort municipalities |
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| Author: | Spaulding [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 10:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
Old McDonalds HQ in Oak Brook will be open. E I E I O |
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| Author: | Darkside [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:00 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
Chicago has everything going for it. Large work force, exceptional air, surface, rail and water transportation and perfectly central location for the whole country. I'm sure we'll fuck it up. |
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| Author: | Telegram Sam [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
Well, I hope whoever wins gets a big, snazzy new glass testicle for their city center like Seattle did. Civic teabagging writ large. 
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| Author: | Regular Reader [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
Spaulding wrote: Old McDonalds HQ in Oak Brook will be open. E I E I O Or Sears. Here and in Hoffman Estates |
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| Author: | Hussra [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:21 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
The company that's been leeching Sears out of business moving into Sears old HQ. |
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| Author: | Hussra [ Mon Nov 06, 2017 11:27 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Please help Jeff Bezos! |
Olympics in recent history have run anywhere from $9 billion and up (final cost) and that's for a 2 week event....I agree Olympic bids are crazy. Paying a couple billion--or double that---for 50,000+ jobs going forward in perpetuity seems like a bargain in comparison. |
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