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Amazon’s HQ2 in Newark:

Is it good or bad?

By Dwight Ankle

Photo: Google Images

The city of Newark has a skilled workforce, a metropolitan area of over a million residents, and good public transportation. All reason Amazon is choosing to setup their second headquarters here.


In an interview Mayor Ras Baraka he said, “We have exactly what Amazon is looking for, in terms of expanding their company in a city that will help them grow and where it will have real social impact. Newark is an opportunity to make a real statement, about what they're trying to accomplish in the United States in the age of Trump”.

The national review says, “if cities want to achieve real growth, mega-corporations like Amazon promising local investment and jobs are the best bet” Amazon says that their second headquarters would mean a 5 billion dollar investment and 50,000 new jobs. They will also be adding two more distribution centers which would add another 2,2000 full time jobs. All of this sounds great for our city but along with all the good the Amazons HQ2 will do it also comes with some comebacks.

With Amazons first headquarters in an article by the National Review states “Seattle journalist Paul Roberts claimed that Amazon has had a negative impact on his city. While Roberts grants that Amazon and other mega-corporations have been beneficial to Seattle in some ways, he explains that the rapid influx of high-paying jobs and residents has led to rising housing prices, a strain on infrastructure, and an “erosion of urban identity,” damaging the city in the long run.”

I asked my fellow classmates what they thought of Amazon setting up their second headquarter in our city. And if they thought it was a good or bad thing for Newark.

Kelly Mcintyre a high school senior said,

“I think that it's good because it can bring jobs to Newark, but yet how long will these jobs last for these people. Amazon is kinda like a revolving door job. It would likely make Newark well known and once people see that Newark is on the rise it might lead to gentrification. This will probably lead to more closings of local black owned businesses."

Tamar Wertz, another high school senior at University says,

“The whole situation of Newark being the place for Amazon I feel like its really good, I feel like it's a great opportunity for Newark to become a broader city in New Jersey, besides the crime and violence and all, its just a good accomplishment for Newark.”

We can only wait and see what Amazon headquarters will have in store for the city of Newark and hope it will be the best!