“For those worried about more crowded buses etc… maybe more people would be good, to justify extra buses?”
The problem is not buses, it is the roads. There are only so many of them and there is only so much space for additional lanes. It takes a really long time to build infrastructure for public transit.
And speaking of change, at some point, the burdens begin to outweigh the benefits.
"I would guess the kind of skiing they are into may be mountain skiing with x-country rather than ski slope skiing. "
Ever heard of Tuckerman’s Ravine, for one? It’s called backcountry skiing. It does exist in New England. Much more so than Seattle. Even in Colorado, it requires many hours of driving to reach such places.
I also doubt the majority of Amazon employees engage in it. Like employees everywhere, you’ll find a variety of interests. My guess is many are too metrosexual to engage in backcountry skiing.
40 minutes to Snoqualmie pass, Stevens is a bit longer, but still quite manageable for a day trip. X-country, downhill, snowboarding, snowshoeing, tubing… not counting the other passes that do require longer drives.
“I also doubt the majority of Amazon employees engage in it. Like employees everywhere, you’ll find a variety of interests. My guess is many are too metrosexual to engage in backcountry skiing.”
Lol. Please visit Seattle. Metrosexual is not Seattle. 
Kid’s flatmate works for Amazon, and she has a pretty good insight into what young Amazombies do on weekends. He got a mountain bike to blend in… In fact, many newcomers complain that all Seattlites seem to do is spend all of their freakin’ weekend time somewhere outdoors. Rain is not a deterrent.
“He got a mountain bike to blend in…”
Well, there is at least one then.
And yes I probably exaggerated with respect to skiing options Seattle vs. New England (all of BC isn’t that far from Seattle after all) but it does exist in New England. And I guess traffic isn’t that bad in Seattle if you can get to Snoqualmie Pass and into backcountry territory in 40 minutes.
Also, the new HQ isn’t about pleasing the current Seattle Amazon employees. It is about attracting new, skilled employees to Amazon some of which may or may not like to ski. Regardless, the Boston location has plenty of outlets for outdoors pursuits within a few hours drive or less of the city.
They are welcomed to the buses. It’s the trains I’m concerned about. they can’t really add more as there are trains every 3-5 minutes into downtown and only a few sets of tracks.
“.And I guess traffic isn’t that bad in Seattle if you can get to Snoqualmie Pass and into backcountry territory in 40 minutes”
Sure, we are taking weekends and nights (half price lift tix after 6).
Dos, come to visit. It is beautiful out here even with the rain. You will see for yourself what Seattle and its many Amazombies look like instead of speculating.
And no, the existing ones do not want more of their clan here. Boston can have that headache - all you can eat.
There are lots of tech workers here now. We’ve got Google, Facebook, etc in the Kendall Square area of Cambridge. They find lots to do in Boston and in New England. I can’t imagine the interests of an Amazon worker are so much different than other tech workers.
Not just heard, been there done the skiing the bowl. We’ve been up the east coast doing things and been up PNW doing things. Sorry but they don’t even come close.
Yap. And of course, Mt Rainier National park that has acres of playground. We’ve been to Snoquamie Pass Stevens. East is too crowded and developed. Nothing is wild enough. To me, anyway. The only thing I enjoyed more in the East was canoeing. It probably shows I am a novice canoe-er. You can find easier rivers in the east like Allaghash.
Well, if you think it’s all about skiing, lol, that puts out Austin and Atlanta.
They are all a bit bourgeois to my taste.
This is a dumb argument on both sides. Each area of our country has pluses and minuses when it comes stuff like this.
And to make a argument like knowing for certain what outside activities tech workers gravitate is equally silly.
S lives in Southie, and iirc, the park runs the whole length of the waterfront. If they go into Fort Point people could ride their bikes to work from Southie. S works in Downtown Crossing for a tech start-up and he rides his bike to work in good weather which is even further than Fort Point.
I think skiing and other rec activities for employees are prettty low on Amazon’s shopping list. Just wait for the economy to stumble - they will be able to fill those positions even if they locate their second HQ in the desert.
The newcomers will bring tax revenue as well. Typically the new business pays some taxes (tax incentives often rebate a portion of the taxes (say real estate or sales taxes) but not 100% and not other types of taxes). In addition, employees of the new business pay taxes. And there are additional taxes paid by businesses where the new business and its employees spend their money. Again, if done right there is a net benefit to the area in terms of tax revenue (taking into account additional costs).
Seems to me you don’t have to own a restaurant to see benefits of increase business at them. Employees benefit. Suppliers benefit. And to me, people who sell cars and other goods and build condo complexes are ordinary people. But maybe not. How will other ordinary people benefit? There are a number of businesses who provide goods and services to various other businesses. People who work for those support businesses would benefit. And employees of the new business will spend money at a number of places (not just car deals and with condo developers). Same types of spending that presumably happens now with employees of existing businesses (and to the extent those businesses grow, where their employees spend their money, and so on).
Often times people from outside get the new jobs. But many of them re-locate closer to the new business. Even if they don’t, they are still paying state income taxes (assuming the state has them). They will also likely spend money locally. And those who support the business itself will also benefit (even if all of the workers live somewhere else).
You seem to be saying unless Amazon cuts you a check every week, you won’t benefit. I think that is an overly simplistic view of how economies work.
It hasn’t worked per theory, in my metro area. I know what priority needs were displaced, in order to lure businesses. Revenue is diverted to projects benefiting the newcomer company. Folks working at, say, one of the unis or in an already established business, may see their choices of restaurants or cute shops grow. After all, now the yuppie base increases, with its disposable income. Meanwhile, public schools are falling apart.
Frankly, none of my neighbors is involved in ways a trickle down would reach their pockets. Those ancillary ventures you cite, those employees, are not my neighbors’ potential clients or patrons. Their roads will wait to be plowed while services shift. That relatively small bump in income tax collected (or liquor, entertainment or sales taxes, etc,) would go to infrastructure that serves the newcomers. Eg, for Boston, adding highway lanes in Ft Point, subway service there, restoring those bridges, improving services like water and power. What about the rest? To me, this is the long view issue.
So now we are talking about just the ordinary people in your neighborhood? Typically economic development boards are not evaluating on a street by street basis.
Lol, I already commented on the lower income folks. If you want Amazon, be my guest.
Amazon specifically asked for ‘lifestyle’ info in the proposals, like bike trails, recreation, nearby skiing or boating options. Whether Amazon actually considers that info is up to Amazon.
I assume the cities bidding are hoping many of the new jobs go to their existing residents, so that though there would be more money in the economy because of better jobs, there would be no additional cars, students in grade schools, need for more parks or rec centers for those residents. Those people are already in town, already using the highways and schools and shopping at grocery stores.
“students in grade schools”
Actually, in many places, grade schools are seeing declining enrollment so new students moving in wouldn’t be seen as unwelcome at all.
Who would do the jobs of the residents who are now working for Amazon? Maybe only residents who are currently unemployed so no old job that needs filled. But if that is the case, they weren’t on the roads in any event.