Poll: Cost of Living, Job Opportunities Top List of Reasons People Relocate

A new State Policy Network poll finds that 8% of all voters surveyed have moved to a new state in the past two years, with cost of living and job opportunities topping their list of reasons.

In addition, more than one-third (34%) of the 2,014 voters polled over a four-day period said they have at least considered relocating with roughly one in every three pointing to ost of living (36%), job opportunities (31%) and being closer to friends and family (30%) as fueling their decisions.

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Arizonans Favor Relocation of Afghan Refugees, but Not Necessarily to Arizona

Arizona voters predominantly are welcoming of their new neighbors who fled a Taliban takeover of their home country but are split on making them their new neighbors, polling shows.

OH Predictive Insights, a Phoenix-based polling and marketing firm, released polling Thursday that shows 94% of those surveyed agreed with helping Afghan refugees leave their country. However, 34% said that they should not be settled in the U.S.

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Amazon Silent on Reports It Will Split New Headquarters

Amazon isn’t commenting on reports that it plans to split its new headquarters between facilities in two cities rather than choosing just one. The New York Times, citing unnamed people familiar with the decision-making process, said the company is nearing deals to locate in Queens in New York City and in the Crystal City area of Arlington, Va., outside Washington, D.C. The Wall Street Journal, which also reported the plan to split the headquarters between two cities, says Dallas is still a possibility as well. Spokesman Adam Sedo said Amazon, which will also keep its original headquarters in Seattle, would not comment on “rumors and speculation.” Amazon’s decision to set up another headquarters set off an intense competition to win the company and its promise of 50,000 new jobs. Some locations sought to stand out with stunts, but Amazon emphasized it wanted incentives like tax breaks and grants. It also wanted a city with more than 1 million people, an airport within 45 minutes, direct access to mass transit and room to expand. The company received 238 proposals before narrowing the list to 20 in January. The unexpected decision to evenly divide the 50,000 jobs between two cities will allow…

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