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(Adds vote result, comments from Amazon executive, county officials, protesters, residents)
By Nandita Bose
WASHINGTON, March 16 (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc's planned second headquarters in northern Virginia cleared a key test on Saturday when local officials approved a proposed financial package worth an estimated $51 million amid a small but vocal opposition.
Amazon in November picked National Landing, a site jointly owned by Arlington County and the city of Alexandria, just outside Washington, along with New York City for its so-called HQ2 or second headquarters. That followed a year-long search in which hundreds of municipalities, ranging from Newark, New Jersey, to Indianapolis, competed for the coveted tax-dollars and high-wage jobs the project promises.
Amazon in February abruptly scrapped plans to build part of its second headquarters in the New York borough of Queens after opposition from local leaders angered by incentives promised by state and city politicians.
The five-member Arlington County Board voted 5-0 in favor of Amazon receiving the financial package after a seven-hour meeting held in a room filled with up to about 150 citizens and representatives from local unions and minority advocacy groups.
There was strong opposition from some residents and labor groups, many of whom chanted "shame" and waved signs with slogans including "Don't be the opposite of Robinhood," "Amazon overworks and underpays," and "Advocate for us and not Amazon." One protester was escorted out of the meeting by police.
A few dozen protesters outside the county office chanted, "The people united will never be defeated."
Danny Candejas, an organizer for the coalition "For Us, Not Amazon," which opposes the company's move into the area, said: "We are fighting to make sure people who live here are not priced out by wealthy people."
Some supporters in the meeting held up signs saying 'vote yes' and 'Amazon is prime for Arlington'.
One hundred and twelve people were registered to speak, an unusually high number for a local county meeting, forcing board chair Christian Dorsey to cut the talking minutes to two minutes, from three, for every regular speaker, and to four minutes, from five, for representatives of organizations.
Many speakers who were opposed to the Amazon headquarters especially opposed direct incentives, citing rising housing costs, the likely displacement of low-income families, accelerated wage theft for construction workers, and lack of investment guarantees in affordable housing funds.
"Speculators are already driving up home prices, landlords are raising rents and general contractors are raising their quotes for home improvement projects," said one resident, Hunter Tamarro.