In a recent poll, only 9% of AOC’s constituents approve of her handling of Amazon. That didn’t stop her from bragging what she did to stop the HQ1 that was supposed to be built in NYC.
The reasons AOC gave for opposing Amazon was the 3.4 billion dollar tax break, that Amazon wouldn’t hire locally and that she said that New York needs jobs that supply healthcare and a livable wage. Yes, there were 3.4 billion in tax breaks over 10 years but income taxes and increased economic activity would have amounted to 35 billion over 10 years.
In Virginia, property values are going up at a rapid pace and Amazon is hiring 96% local or in state employees. They have a huge benefit package and the average salary is $100,000 a year. How many of those 9% who approved of AOC losing Amazon will change their mind? Her reelection chances look none too good.
Buyers and sellers in the Arlington housing market have been scrambling to lock up properties in anticipation of Amazon’s new headquarters, which will welcome its newest workers in June, Axios reported.
David Howell, executive vice president at McEnearney Associates, described the phenomenon as a “boomlet” since Amazon announced its new location.
“I’ve been studying this market for 35 years, and I’ve never seen a circumstance like this one,” Howell said.
Buyers have been so eager to purchase homes around Amazon’s new location that homeowners are putting up “no-solicitation” signs. A similar boom could have occurred in New York City, but Ocasio-Cortez and other lawmakers spoiled the company’s plans to build there.
In February, Amazon spokeswoman Jodi Seth explained that Amazon canceled plans in New York City because its politicians created a hostile environment. “It was that the environment over the course of the past three months had not got any better. There were some local and state elected officials who refused to meet with Amazon and criticized us day in and day out about the plan,” Seth said.