Abstract
Amazon recently concluded its search for a second headquarters only to have one of its selections, Queens, New York, back out of the deal. This brought to the national stage the question: When a city experiences a tech boom, who is left behind?
Using Seattle, Amazon’s headquarters, as a case study, this project examines the relationship between tech companies and the cities they call home. Amazon has brought 45,000 workers to Seattle since 2010. Any growth spurt has ramifications — positive and negative alike — particularly on small businesses, housing, and transportation systems. Whose City? collects the opinions and stories of individuals who have a stake in Seattle, from small business owners to Amazon employees to artists and activists. It provides a platform for discussing the city’s rapid growth, with the goal of building empathy and encouraging candid conversation.