WASHINGTON ― North Carolina just lost another $250 million to HB 2, the state’s controversial law that discriminates against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Advertisement
CoStar Group, a real estate research firm, announced this week that it has chosen Richmond, Virginia, for its new research operations center. The company had been looking around the country for the right spot, and was initially eyeing Charlotte, North Carolina. But the board rejected that location because of HB 2, the Charlotte Observer reported Wednesday.
Richmond, meanwhile, will get a nice boost to its local economy: The firm’s expansion means 730 new jobs and a $250 million investment.
Gov. Pat McCrory (R) signed HB 2 in March. It prevents local governments from passing LGBTQ anti-discrimination policies, and, going further than any other state, it bans transgender people from using public bathrooms that match their gender identity.
The backlash has been brutal. Businesses have boycotted the state in protest. Big-ticket entertainers have canceled shows. More than 90 major companies, including Apple, Facebook, Airbnb, Yahoo, Twitter, Marriott, Pfizer and Levi Strauss, signed a letter urging McCrory to repeal the law. Prominent universities have rebuked it. PayPal scrapped a plan to expand in Charlotte. The NBA relocated its All-Star game. Cities including San Francisco, New York City, Atlanta and Washington, D.C., banned government-sponsored travel to the state.
Advertisement
North Carolina has already lost at least $395 million to HB 2, according to Wired, which crunched some numbers in mid-September.
The governor’s press office did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday’s news.
McCrory, who has signaled he won’t repeal the law, has taken a hit in the polls over it. He’s up for re-election in November and has been steadily trailing his Democratic challenger, Roy Cooper, since the spring.
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), meanwhile, hailed CoStar’s decision to come to his state and said it shows what a difference it makes having a Democratic governor.
“It came down to us and North Carolina. And you know what happened, Mark? Why didn’t it go to North Carolina? HB 2,” McAuliffe said in a Wednesday interview on WTOP, a D.C.-area radio station. “We have a big governor’s race up next year. Now, if you have a Republican governor, they will sign those bills and it will be crippling to the Virginia economy.”
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.