CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Amazon’s decision to leave Charlotte off its shortlist for a second headquarters has left many wondering, what’s wrong with our city?
One councilman is now calling for the city’s pitch to be released and analyzed, so leaders can pinpoint areas to improve.
“To me, it boils down to one point,” Charlotte City Councilman Tariq Bokhari said. "Talent. Amazon is promising 50,000 jobs, but it needs to build its second headquarters in a city where it can fill those jobs with promising young employees.
“The ability to attract, grow, and retain a pipeline that could ultimately fulfill 50,000 job requirements for this bidding company,” said Bokhari.
That’s why Charlotte came in second place to Raleigh, which did make Amazon’s cut. Charlotte doesn’t have the major research universities down the road, but that doesn’t show the whole picture.
“We are the number one destination for relocating millennials nationwide here in Charlotte,” Bokhari said.
Now Bokhari is asking for transparency. First, he wants the city’s proposal to Amazon made public.
“What was our process and ultimate submission?” Bokhari said. “And how can we take a look at that, transparently, without being at a competitive disadvantage to really get our best minds to say, ‘let’s do this differently next time.’”
Second, Bokhari said Charlotteans need feedback from Amazon. Where did the city fall short, and why didn’t it, at least, warrant further consideration?
“Amazon did call us,” Bokhari said. “They did relay some very brief, but insightful pieces of information on where our strong and weak suits are.”
Some of the information in that discussion with Amazon is expected to be made public in the next few days.