From 'Disgraceful' To 'A Mess': The Reactions To Amazon Pulling HQ2 Out Of NYC
Amazon announced Thursday that it would not move forward with its plan to bring a 25,000-job headquarters to New York City's Long Island City neighborhood.
Despite polling showing support for the project, and pleas from New York City's business community to hold Amazon to the deal, public opposition to the $3B in tax incentives the city and state agreed to give Amazon was fierce.
Reactions from public officials and others to the announcement were immediate, with many taking to Twitter to express strongly held views on the outcome.
Bisnow has collected some of the more interesting reactions below.
We have the best talent in the world and every day we are growing a stronger and fairer economy for everyone. If Amazon can’t recognize what that’s worth, its competitors will. https://t.co/VLU17ULrUo
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) February 14, 2019
It never ceases to amaze me how the loud voices of a few, could destroy the chance at a better life for so many. @amazon had big plans in store for the borough of Queens, and we blew it!
— Eric Ulrich (@eric_ulrich) February 14, 2019
Oh, we are just beginning!!!
— Zephyr Teachout (@ZephyrTeachout) February 14, 2019
Now let's get a Congressional hearing on Amazon, labor, ICE, monopsony, how and why to break up Amazon.
I know some people ready to testify. https://t.co/UawBqaDArl
Amen. The fight against Amazon laid bare their union-busting, corporate welfare, ICE-abetting practices and shows why we need to break up monopolies like Amazon.
— Cynthia Nixon (@CynthiaNixon) February 14, 2019
Are you ready to take this on @SenSchumer? Thanks @JimmyVanBramer @SenGianaris @nychange @MaketheRoadAct https://t.co/btnXrfWLaB
— Paul Vallone (@PaulVallone) February 14, 2019
Absolutely disgraceful that @Amazon is driven from New York by left wing progressive politicians. Terrible loss of jobs for New York workers and New York economy.
— Rep. Pete King (@RepPeteKing) February 14, 2019
Can everyday people come together and effectively organize against creeping overreach of one of the world’s biggest corporations?
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 8, 2019
Yes, they can.https://t.co/DqQoL7VH7O
“I think those local politicians, their careers are over... They’re responsible for losing 25,000 jobs.” https://t.co/VFXAcy0urC
— Joe Weisenthal (@TheStalwart) February 14, 2019
This is a loss for New York and Long Island and will make it harder to attract major employers and jobs here in the future. Amazon should come to Long Island. We would welcome the jobs.https://t.co/j3VHik6Jm4
— Tom Suozzi (@RepTomSuozzi) February 14, 2019
Expect blowback against Amazon, for what many will interpret as a hugely profitably company basically saying to the entire country, if you question our (secretly negotiated) taxpayer financed deals, we won’t invest in your communities.
— Michael Barbaro (@mikiebarb) February 14, 2019
“Like a petulant child, Amazon insists on getting its way or takes its ball and leaves“ - NY State Sen Gianaris. "The only thing that happened here is that a community that was going to be profoundly affected by their presence started asking questions.’’ https://t.co/9GEwEaAA1i
— Anjali Kamat (@anjucomet) February 14, 2019
The Amazon deal was a mess. $3 billion in subsidies for a trillion dollar company, pushed through by 2 men who think community engagement is a joke. This is why you bring local residents and stakeholders to the table *before* claiming victory. https://t.co/cfZxopk2fL
— Melissa Mark-Viverito (@MMViverito) February 14, 2019
It's unfortunate that @amazon was unwilling to grasp the concept that massive taxpayer subsidies require equivalent concessions to the people providing them. This is a simple aphorism: if you want charity, you have to be charitable. #HQ2 #OrganizeAmazonhttps://t.co/NG8slTiVxr
— Ruben Diaz Jr. (@rubendiazjr) February 14, 2019
My statement on Amazon pic.twitter.com/zzj3J2xbKz
— NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson (@NYCSpeakerCoJo) February 14, 2019
For Christ’s sake. Tax abatements are not cash to spend elsewhere. Killing the deal results in ZERO additional dollars for the @MTA or anything else. Pyrrhic victory. https://t.co/eZXHbzfiYK
— Errol Louis (@errollouis) February 14, 2019
Mr. @JeffBezos,
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) February 14, 2019
South Carolina would love to have you locate your new HQ here.
South Carolina is a great place to do business!https://t.co/icR2eIAHVz
.@Amazon – one of the wealthiest companies on the planet – just walked away from billions in taxpayer bribes, all because some elected officials in New York aren't sucking up to them enough. How long will we allow giant corporations to hold our democracy hostage? https://t.co/O9pz7en43B
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) February 14, 2019
Can’t believe Amazon broke up with New York on Valentine’s Day https://t.co/ZaBmIN9ya1
— Ethan Rothstein (@BisnowEthan) February 14, 2019
