Of Course Amazon Wouldn’t Pay Taxes in Pittsburgh, Nobody Does!

Last year online retail giant Amazon announced plans to build its second headquarters “somewhere in North America” bringing as many as 50,000 jobs and billions in direct investment to whatever community was lucky enough to host the company’s new expansion. The company released a request for proposals laying out the company’s site and building requirements and inviting cities around the continent to submit bids to host the new headquarters building.

In laying out its key preferences and decision drivers, Amazon told cities, “we want to encourage you to think big and be creative as you are collaborating to respond.”

Not surprisingly, the announcement set off a veritable bidding war. In total the company received 238 formal bids from cities, states and regions across North America. Newark, New Jersey offered $7 billion in tax incentives; Montgomery County, Virginia told Amazon that they were ready to write a “blank check” for roads, public transit, and any other infrastructure upgrades the company wants; and Stonecrest, Georgia even offered to create a new town named Amazon, Georgia if it was selected.

And those are only the publicly released offers. The most salacious and consequential offers will likely never be released. Amazon’s request for proposals required that candidate cities…