Amazon coming to Nashville was one of the biggest stories to come out of the Music City in 2018. We didn’t get the HQ2 that New York got (even though Amazon is now pulling out), but the Seattle based company announced they’d be putting a hub here, and that was still a big win for the city.
Now, Nashville’s calling in the big guns to help prepare.
I shouldn’t say that – that’s dramatic. A former Seattle city leader has agreed to come warn us of ‘the Amazon effect.’ Quit trying to be so sensational, Stoney.
Full story courtesy of our good buddies at WKRN:
Community leaders met in East Nashville Friday night, discussing what the new Operations Center of Excellence might mean for the city.
In attendance, Seattle Council Member Teresa Mosqueda, who’s seen the effects Amazon can have firsthand.
“My message to other cities considering having Amazon move in, is make sure you get protections in place now,” said Teresa Mosqueda, Seattle Council Member.
Mosqueda spoke to the crowd on growth, and growing pains, in a city that’s the current home to Amazon’s headquarters.
“Rapid growth, without the additional housing, without the funding for investments infrastructure, along with low-income housing, middle-income housing,” she noted. “We’ve seen displacement.”
WELP.
At least rapid growth, housing, and infrastructure are issues Nashville is already TOTALLY prepared to handle. Not like this is something we already struggle with. Not like this is going to be pouring salt on an open wound. Nor is it going to be like pouring gas on an open fire.
But, seriously – Nashville has grown faster than the infrastructure can keep up. We’ve sure endured our own share of growing pains over the last several years.
Traffic is going to be worse because of this – I don’t think that’s unreasonable to say at all. Public transit isn’t going to miraculously improve before Amazon opens up shop here. FFS, there’s chunks of concrete all over the roads because it’s been raining for two months straight now.
I don’t want to say anything too drastic here, but maybe it’s time we start seriously thinking about some of these things? I know – it sounds crazy. But, if we’re going to keep growing, maybe we should devote some resources to improving the current growing pains in Nashville.
How do you feel, SoBros Nation? Are you warmly welcoming Amazon to downtown? Or, would you rather all this shit slow down a bit?
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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