It probably would cost amazon less to buy 10 potential properties and resell 9 of them, than to announce their intentions and then attempt to buy their chosen property.

In Atlanta, we already learned that lesson by announcing the BeltLine (mixed use alternative transit development corridor around the city) before acquiring any of the land. A decade later, after court battles involving the city purchasing land via the Board of Education in order to prevent further price gouging, we still don't have all the land needed, and only ~10% of the project is completed.

http://www.myajc.com/business/new-filings-for-huge-project-a...

http://atlantaintownpaper.com/2017/11/gulch-become-amazons-n...

- Westside (superfund site from concrete operations)

- Jail/Aarons Amp

- Union city area.

Atlanta has a relatively poor transit system compared to many other cities on the list. The bus system isn't great and MARTA (trains) is quite limited. I left before the beltline was built out, so maybe things are getting better.

I ride my bike on it almost everyday and there are tons of new restaurants, apartments, and fun things to do.

1: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15192930

Are you thinking the second order effects would come into play, like spouses not being able to find work? Or am I wrong about the definition of rf laws?

This may, of course, be somewhat offset by attracting people supportive of the discrimination thus enabled, making it easier to hire those people.

Many corporations have been extremely vocal in their opposition to these laws in lobbying. They're bad for business because they make hiring harder, and it's bad PR.

you can essentially hire and fire anyone you like for no cause with no notice.

I’ve never understood why people in those sorts of places are so excited about such regressive laws.