In a very rare public show of opposition, a City Councilman is calling out Mayor Nirenberg for making the decision to pull out of the effort to attract the second headquarters of Amazon.com, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.'
In an open letter which begins with the words, "San Antonio, you deserved better," northwest side Councilman Greg Brockhouse criticizes Nirenberg, and County Judge Nelson Wolff, for making the decision without consulting City Council, or the citizens.
"The Mayor's 'open letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos plastered San Antonio's curious history of self doubt regarding its future as a national player across social media, and, unfortunately, to any other corporation looking to relocate or grow their operation," Brockhouse wrote. "MLB, NFL, MLS, you name it, we've beat ourselves up over our shortcomings."
Brockhouse pointed out that the City of San Antonio regularly sends out requests for proposals from contractors of all sorts.
"How would the City leadership feel receiving that letter from any bidding company," he asked. "Doubtful it would have been well received."
Nirenberg and Wolff last week, in a letter to Bezos staring 'Dear Jeff,' said they suspect Amazon has already made up its minds over where the new second headquarters, dubbed 'HQ2' will be located, and the public process is simply an attempt to squeeze incentive payments out of taxpayers.
"Giving away the farm is not our style," they told Bezos.
But Brockhouse, in addition to criticizing the Mayor and Judge for failing to first discuss the issue with City Council and with the citizens, also said the City missed out on an opportunity to make transformational changes that could put it into contention not for Amazon, but for other equally attractive business opportunities.
In a reponse last night, Nirenberg said the letter 'opened the door for continued conversations with Amazon,' and he says the City, Council, and economic development partners all agreed that the move was correct.
"As a community, we are focused on the economic development opportunities that are most likely to be successful," the Mayor said. "We have numerous high potential opportunities in the pipeline today and expect announcements soon."