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Comment by ibn-python | Hacker News Reader

Respectfully, what is there not to understand? They’re expanding their footprint in NYC due to increased demand. I’ve heard here and there that headcount at Google NYC has always been tight, so this should alleviate some of that. Facebook and Amazon have also committed to massive leases in NYC within the past few years as well.

Besides that, these companies wield so much cash it seems like a safe bet to park a couple billion in. NYC real estate is arguably one of the safest bets in the modern era

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> headcount at Google NYC has always been tight,

I think you mean desk space at NYC has always been tight? Assuming so, yes can confirm.

I assume OP meant headcount, not desks. Talking to recruiters, NYC always seemed like one of the toughest offices to get into - presumably due to much greater demand than available space to put devs.

> NYC real estate is arguably one of the safest bets in the modern era

Uh huh. That's what they all said about commercial property in Western city-centres before the pandemic ... "a sure bet" they said .... "rents only going up" they said....

Now you walk through all these CBDs and they are shadow of what they were before because people discovered working from home either full-time or near enough (3-4 days a week) and the need for large chunks of commercial property is now being brought into question.

I generally agree that this is probably the fate for many American cities, but NYC seems to be in a league of its own compared to the other cities in North America. I feel like a better comparison is something like London, Rome, Mumbai, Beijing. These are cultural epicenters that are more resilient (but not immune) to economic downturns. Yes things might get tough for a bit but they're the place you want a multi bullion dollar investment to live when the goings get tough.

I think the perfect comparisons are Tokyo, London and Singapore. Drawing people from countryside and all around the world.

>>> NYC real estate is arguably one of the safest bets in the modern era.

Respectfully disagree. All it will take is 1 dirty bomb going off in manhattan to make parts of the city unhabitable or unsafe.

If and when that happens, it will be pandemic-level exodus. NIMBY and all that

Considering NYC recovered economically from 9/11, which made parts of the city uninhabitable. I don't see this being as big of a concern, though it would be tragic if something like this happened.

Random cataclysms are not something you factor in to normal decision making. So, yes, Google's decision is a safe bet.

There are leaps of logic and then there are Olympic somersaults.

A dirty bomb is not the same as a nuclear bomb. It takes a nation state to build a proper nuke, but some random terrorists could cobble together a dirty bomb.

Regardless, nobody plans around for it. It doesn't make any sense.

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