Amazon HQ2 (2017-2019)
Amazon's 2017 search for a second headquarters drew bids from 238 cities offering tax breaks and incentives. In November 2018 the company split the prize between Arlington, Virginia, and New York's Long Island City.
Local opposition in Queens, led by state senator Michael Gianaris, killed the Long Island City plan in February 2019. Amazon walked away without building there.
The episode showed community resistance can upend a marquee tech siting deal even after a formal commitment.
Wilmington's fight echoes that dynamic: a large AWS investment facing local pushback through zoning and ballot measures rather than through incentives.
