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This is an internal Amazon decision that is not regulated in any way. They are not obliged to any notion of "fairness". Amazon just put some cities on a list a

This is an internal Amazon decision that is not regulated in any way. They are not obliged to any notion of "fairness". Amazon just put some cities on a list and negotiated with them. Any city not on the list is not there because Amazon didn't want it there. I also doubt that existing talent pool size was such a major consideration. Crystal City VA doesn't strike me as an obvious tech hub, nor does Newark. Amazon is definitely counting on talent to relocate to its new offices, especially if they put them in such locations.

hnmonkey 8y ago
Crystal City and Newark are next door to massive tech areas. In VA there are tons of DoD/Military tech organizations and NYC is right next door to Newark. It's probably cheaper to plant themselves next to those hubs than inside of them. * Added: Especially if you factor in all the people that would normally commute into NYC or DC/Arlington from the surrounding areas now commuting to a potentially closer office location. Could be really big for lots of people (and of course Amazon).
- dunpeal 8y ago
  Maybe I'm thinking about this from the perspective of a young, single guy. I would not move to Crystal City for any job, definitely not with a horde of other young, single men. The number of young, college-graduate women there must be way too small.
  - hnmonkey 8y ago
    That's certainly a fair perspective that I can't argue with at all. I can't guess on specific #s but I'd bet there are lots of single men that would though at the chance of snagging an Amazon job. That number is probably relatively high and would make you a part of the outlier group. Working for Amazon might have stigma on HN but I think generally people have a great impression of them and would love to work for them.
    - dunpeal 8y ago
      Oh, I completely agree that there are many, many worse places to work than Amazon. I realize I am very fortunate to be able to decline such a job and be able to find good offers at a place of my choosing.

hnmonkey 8y ago

Crystal City and Newark are next door to massive tech areas. In VA there are tons of DoD/Military tech organizations and NYC is right next door to Newark. It's probably cheaper to plant themselves next to those hubs than inside of them. * Added: Especially if you factor in all the people that would normally commute into NYC or DC/Arlington from the surrounding areas now commuting to a potentially closer office location. Could be really big for lots of people (and of course Amazon).

dunpeal 8y ago
Maybe I'm thinking about this from the perspective of a young, single guy. I would not move to Crystal City for any job, definitely not with a horde of other young, single men. The number of young, college-graduate women there must be way too small.
- hnmonkey 8y ago
  That's certainly a fair perspective that I can't argue with at all. I can't guess on specific #s but I'd bet there are lots of single men that would though at the chance of snagging an Amazon job. That number is probably relatively high and would make you a part of the outlier group. Working for Amazon might have stigma on HN but I think generally people have a great impression of them and would love to work for them.
  - dunpeal 8y ago
    Oh, I completely agree that there are many, many worse places to work than Amazon. I realize I am very fortunate to be able to decline such a job and be able to find good offers at a place of my choosing.