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Efforts by D.C., Maryland and Virginia officials to land Amazon HQ2 have caused excitement among developers and investors in the region, but not all residents are happy about the prospect.
A group of roughly 100 people came together at an "Amazon Town Hall" Tuesday evening at St. Stephens Church in Columbia Heights, voicing concerns over the potential of Amazon coming to the region, WAMU reports.
Several speakers at the event criticized the potential financial incentives jurisdictions could give to Amazon, which would likely measure in the billions of dollars. But the activists are not only pushing for local governments to avoid offering Amazon tax breaks, some are advocating for the region to stop vying for HQ2 all together.
A candidate for Montgomery County Council worried about the effect adding tens of thousands of new employees would have on the area's housing market, schools and services.
"It's a big impact and we have to realistically ask if that's the way that we should add 50,000 jobs rather than investing in the companies we already have," candidate Brandy Brooks said, according to WAMU.
Amazon named the three jurisdictions among 20 finalists in January, and oddsmakers have pegged Northern Virginia and D.C. as front-runners in the competition.
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