One of the biggest stories recently in technology is Amazon's abrupt decision to pull out of plans for a New York City headquarters. New York and Northern Virginia were chosen in November out of a list of 18 finalists, but lawmakers and activists soon mounted opposition to the tax breaks and grants the company was due to receive.
Richard Florida, an expert on technology innovation and economic development, recently spoke out about the e-commerce giant's hasty pullout.
“After searching across 200 plus communities and identifying NY (and greater DC) as the places it needed to be, it pulls out as soon as local residents and politicians question the billions in incentives it does not need and asks it do more for the community,” Florida said
Florida believes this public saga may now have future ramifications and he sees cities pushing back when tech giants or other companies seek subsidies. The New York HQ2 project was projected to create 25,000 jobs.
Florida is one of the top urbanists in the world. He is currently University Professor and Director of Cities at the Martin Prosperity Insitute at the University of Toronto.
Florida is also a Fellow at New York University and Florida International University and held teaching posts all across the United States. He has written several bestselling books and is a senior editor for The Atlantic.
Florida is the founder of the Creative Class Group. MIT named him the world's most influential thought leader in their 2013 study.
If your company is interested in finding out about availability and booking fees for a technology expert like Richard Florida or other technology leaders for a Keynote Speech, Fundraising Event, Autograph Signing, or Fundraising Event, call us at 1-888-832-4360.
