Amazon's breakup with New York was still fresh when other cities started sending their own valentines to the online giant.
Officials in Newark made a giant heart that read, "NJ & Newark Still Love U, Amazon!" Word came from Chicago and suburban Maryland that they, too, are still interested in a relationship with Amazon.
The love notes from cities that lost the competition for Amazon's new headquarters have come even though the company says it's not looking for another site now that it has canceled its project to build a big office in New York City.
Newark seemed to be a strong contender for “HQ2” but when Amazon announced locations in New York and Virginia. But now New Jersey officials are calling on Amazon officials to give Newark another chance.
"It's a community on the rise its location is second to none. It’s got a deep talent pool,” says Gov. Phil Murphy.
Murphy said that in 2017 New Jersey was offering up $7 billion in tax incentives to bring in 50,000 Amazon jobs to New Jersey. That's more than the $3 billion in enticements which caused such an uproar with politicians in New York who learned of those numbers only after the deal was done.
"Incentives have to be transparent, accountable and they have to work for everybody,” Murphy says. “It's not enough they work for the community. They have to work for the residents."
Advocates hoping to bring Amazon to Newark say that the Valentine’s Day stunt was just to remind Amazon officials of the New Jersey incentives.
"This is a bold and playful gesture to remind Amazon that our incentives on the state and city-side are in place, so there's more opportunity for them to be welcomed with ease,” says Aisha Glover with the Newark Alliance.
Newark officials proposed six sites for the Amazon headquarters, including One Gateway center, which sits near Newark Penn Station and a site by the former Newark Bears Stadium, which is within walking distance to the Broad Street Train Station.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said in a statement, "Given the city and state's assets—a strong talent pipeline, a diverse tech base, unmatched infrastructure and a highly accessible location – we are well poised to accommodate Amazon should they want to relocate New York City's portion of HQ2, in whole or part."
The Amazon location in Crystal City, Virginia will go on as planned. Amazon officials have not said if New Jersey is in the running again.