New York City Pitches Four Neighborhoods to Host Amazon's HQ2

New York City is pitching four potential neighborhoods to be the second headquarters of Amazon: Midtown West, Long Island City, the Brooklyn Tech Triangle and Lower Manhattan.

The New York City Economic Development Corporation released its proposal Wednesday night, just hours before Thursday's deadline to submit. The city is not offering tax incentives for Amazon, but the state has pledged up to $40 million in tax breaks. 

Mayor Bill de Blasio is highlighting the city's talent pool as an attraction for the so-called HQ2, which is expected to bring 50,000 jobs. "We win it based on the talent of our workers and the incredible diversity of industries in this town,” de Blasio said in a press release.

New Jersey, meanwhile, is making a full-court press to get Amazon settled in Newark. Mayor Ras Baraka, Senator Cory Booker, Governor Chris Christie, the state legislature, and both gubernatorial candidates have expressed their support for a plan that would offer $7 billion in tax breaks. That's a little more than ten times Newark's annual budget.

As NPR has reported, the prospect of subsidizing one of the nation's wealthiest corporations has prompted some soul searching among cities vying for the second headquarters. 

Mayor de Blasio himself, in a town hall meeting Wednesday, appeared to contradict the spirit of New York City's bid.

1 hr after releasing bid 2 host Amazon HQ @NYCMayor says retail vacancies because "A lot of ppl are turning 2 amazon & other online options"

— Sally Goldenberg (@SallyGold) October 19, 2017