Indiana state lawmakers say they won’t go overboard in what they offer Amazon to lure its second headquarters project to Indianapolis.
The Seattle-based online retail giant has Indianapolis on their list of 20 cities for what they claim will be a $5 billion project that could employ 50,000 people with average salaries of more than $100,000 a year.
Indiana’s Republican Governor, Eric Holcomb, who was Lieutenant-Governor under Mike Pence (I don’t like to think about being under Pence) announced that the state may reconsider their state ban on light rail in Indianapolis with hopes of landing Amazon. Apparently, some Hoosiers think light rail equals Socialism. Supporters argue the city needs all mass transit options on the table if it’s going to attract major employers like Amazon.
But, transportation isn’t the only criteria in Amazon’s decision making. Despite overwhelming support for a proposed Hate Crimes law, Indiana Republicans oppose the legislation just to keep their religious right supporters happy. Indiana is one of only five states in the nation without a Hate Crimes law.
Amazon has made it quite clear that the place it will choose for their second headquarters will need to be one that values Diversity and Equality.
Indiana still suffers business loses after many companies shunned the state because of former Governor Pence’s disastrous attempt to legalize discrimination against LGBTQ people. Pence infamously went on national television surrounded by rabid anti-LGBTQ activists to defend the Religious Freedom law he had signed. Pence refused to say whether he thought LGBTQ people should be discriminated against.
Indiana Republicans are willing to ruin Indianapolis’ chance of becoming home to Amazon’s second headquarters to appease the Evangelical Trump base.
Even with overwhelming support from most voters in the state for a Hate Crimes bill, right wing religious fanatics used bizarre logic and lies to justify their opposition. The American Family Association claims that states that have Hate Crimes laws, had citizens who were punished with jail time for simply expressing their deeply held religious convictions. Which, of course, has never happened.
Among Amazon’s 20 finalist cities for its coveted second headquarters are NYC, Los Angeles, Columbus, Nashville, Atlanta, Boston, Austin, Miami, Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Washington DC and Toronto, the only one outside the USA.
With a metropolitan population of two million (ranked 15th among U.S. cities), Indianapolis is one of the few places in the country where you can purchase a beautiful home for under $200,000. It has a well-regarded symphony, art museum, ballet company, several top-ranked universities, world-class sports teams and a vibrant LGBTQ scene. The city has had a comprehensive Human Rights ordinance in place since 2005.
