Among its key criteria in selecting a site for a second headquarters, rapid-transit Amazon has specified rapid transit as a must-have. While the Twin Cities area can match nearly any competitors, our rapid transit/light-rail system falls woefully short. This flies in the face of many (especially legislators) who decry light rail as an economic burden; the economic benefit Amazon would bring shows otherwise. Even now, with a few thousand employed at its distribution center, Amazon is dealing with the issue of adequate transportation access for its workers. Just imagine the problem what 50,000 employees would create.
John Helgerson, Victoria
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When I read the Sept. 8 article about Amazon looking for a new location for a second headquarters ("State joins scrum for Amazon HQ"), I knew it wouldn't be long before a letter writer admonished our leaders to avoid giving Amazon handouts to entice them here. One day later, there it was. It can be summarized as: Amazon makes a huge amount of money, and "it would be unconscionable for any public funds to be used or forfeited in order to lure Amazon to our cities."
That sounds noble and lofty, but it's also impractical. The situation is this: (1) Amazon has a duty to itself and its shareholders to maximize profits legally and ethically. (2) Cities will offer Amazon incentives for its second headquarters and 50,000 jobs. (3) For the most part, incentives can be designed to be one-time, or to have sunset clauses, and can be contingent upon Amazon's living up to its promises. Meanwhile, the benefits to Minnesota would continue for decades, potentially even lifetimes.
If you can't stomach "corporate handouts," then don't try to enter this game, because those are the table stakes. But I say let's give our leaders the opportunity to create a package of incentives that gets us in the game and balances our gains with an acceptable level of costs. It would be folly to handicap them before they have even started.
Chuck Roehrick, Minnetonka
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While I do believe that many Minnesotans would agree on principle, in an ideal world, with a recent writer against corporate welfare, I also think many would agree that our elected leaders must also recognize that any competitive bid for the new Amazon HQ is going to include some type of public subsidy. Minneapolis, and Minnesota in general, should be one of the finalists, given that we have a world-class university system, talented and proud Minnesotan workers, and a low cost of living, which could save Amazon a lot of money in payroll expenses. So it would be unfortunate if a noncompetitive bid ends up nixing what could be a major economic driver in the state for generations.
Tyler Lekang, Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS PARKING
Young professionals aren't the only relevant demographic
We are mass-transit advocates and enthusiastic cyclists ("Mpls. puts squeeze on parking," Sept. 3). Unfortunately, neither is a viable option for us to get downtown for medical appointments, dining and evening performances. There is no off-peak bus service or light-rail (yet, if ever) from our close-in suburb, and it's simply not safe for us (in our 70s) to be biking in the cold and dark. We hope that Minneapolis city officials will realize that young professionals are not the only demographic important to the city's future. (And, for the record, three years ago we downsized from a large Lake of the Isles house to a condo here because it provides the space we need at a price we can afford.)
