Calgary appreciates Amazon more than the Seattle City Council

The City of Calgary is eager to get the attention of Amazon as the location for HQ2, which would pump a minimum of $5 billion into the local economy, and that’s just to set up shop and initially hire nearly 50,000 workers. If only Seattle appreciated Amazon the way these other cities seem to.

Upshaw: Asking Amazon to contribute is not the American Way

On a recent walk in South Lake Union, I spotted a number of ads painted on the sidewalks with messages imploring Amazon to give attention to Calgary. The city has taken out ads in The Seattle Times and is wooing and respecting Amazon in a way we’re not used to here.

The attention they’re getting elsewhere is playing a big role in why Amazon is choosing to expand so much outside of the region.

What does Amazon get in Seattle? Blame. They’re blamed for all our woes.

Bumper to bumper traffic? That’s Amazon’s fault, even though a huge portion of their workforce bus. And let’s not forget that Amazon doesn’t design traffic infrastructure.

The rising cost of housing? Definitely not caused by the low supply of available housing. It’s Amazon’s fault.

Even homelessness is being blamed on Amazon. That’s the implication coming from Councilmember Mike O’Brien.

“We’ve created a lot of wealth, and we’ve also created a lot of poverty,” he said while pushing a head tax. “What I’m looking to do is ask the business community, especially those bigger businesses that have benefited from this boom, to contribute to solving the problem for those who have squeezed out by that very same boom.”

RELATED: Proposed business tax targets Seattle’s largest companies

This is remarkable. O’Brien seems to think government created the boom the businesses — like Amazon — benefited from. The truth, of course, is the opposite. Seattle has benefited from the boom companies like Amazon created. The city’s inability to properly plan around the boom caused the issues we’re now experiencing.

But are we grateful? Activists complain, council members villainize, and Amazon looks for a new home.

Calgary may not get HQ2, but they’ve shown more appreciation for Amazon than many of us have.

Follow @https://twitter.com/jasonrantz