Bidding for Bezos: Raleigh, NC Mayor Weighs in on Amazon HQ2
Amazon plans to invest over $5 billion and create 50,000 jobs for its new headquarters. Amazon HQ2 could ultimately change the economic trajectory of the winning city for years to come. Nancy McFarlane, Mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina, was with us to discuss the city's chances.
Amazon culled its list down from 238 to 20, Raleigh among them. Mayor McFarlane shared what she believes landed her city on the short list. The Mayor stressed that Raleigh is a great environment for a tech company to grow. Tech jobs in Raleigh have grown 38.5% from 2010-2015, second only to San Francisco and ahead of Austin, Boston, and other innovation hubs.
Amazon's presence transformed the real estate market in Seattle. In July, home prices in the city increased 13.5% compared to last year, according to reports. Mayor McFarlane said it would be part of the discussion if Amazon were to move in because maintaining affordable housing is a priority, but careful planning would help avoid the displacement of residents.
Young Chang, founder and CEO of A-Sha Noodles, joined Cheddar News to discuss what inspired him to create his new company. "Our whole objective was to keep that nostalgic comfort feeling of the ramen noodle but bring it in a better-for-you method," he said.
Over 140 CEOs sent President Joe Biden and Congressional leaders an open letter on the potential major devastation the economy could face if a debt ceiling agreement isn't reached. Josh Silverman, CEO of Etsy, spoke with Cheddar News to explain his reasoning why he joined in on the letter.
Uber unveiled some new features at its annual product showcase. Cheddar News discussed some of these products, most of which are geared toward families, along with group grocery orders and group rides.
Alex Morris, president and chief investment officer with F/M Investments, joined Cheddar News to discuss Wednesday's trading session as stocks climbed amid optimism over a potential debt ceiling deal just days ahead of a deadline.