WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump is calling Amazon’s decision to drop its plans for new headquarters in New York “a big loss” for the city.
Trump tells reporters the city could have hashed out “a much better deal,” but is still bemoaning the decision.
He’s also blaming what he’s calling “radical left” thinking, which he said isn’t good for jobs or the economy.
Amazon abruptly dropped plans last week to build one of its new headquarters in Long Island City, Queens, which could have delivered 25,000 jobs.
Some politicians and activists had objected to the nearly $3 billion in incentives promised to one of the world’s richest, most powerful companies.
NY Gov. Raps Critics Amazon Amid Report of Headquarters Move
Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned on Friday, Feb. 8, about what he called “political pandering” to critics of Amazon’s proposed secondary headquarters amid a report that the company is reconsidering its planned New York City headquarters.But opponents said they’d keep fighting a project they consider corporate welfare.
In response, Amazon only said that it’s engaging with small business owners, community leaders, and educators, pointing to its pledges to fund high school computer science classes and contribute to job training.
“We are working hard to demonstrate what kind of neighbor we will be,” the Seattle-based company said in a statement.
Noting the Post’s report, Cuomo accused the state Senate—whose leader recently tapped an Amazon critic for a board that might have sway over the project’s subsidies—of “governmental malpractice” and siding with those who are “pandering to the local politics.”
“And that’s what could stop Amazon,” he said at an unrelated event on Long Island. “I’ve never seen a more absurd situation where political pandering, and obvious pandering, so defeats a bona fide economic development project.”
“It is irresponsible to allow political opposition to overcome sound government policy,” he said.
Cuomo and the Senate leadership are Democrats, as are many of the deal’s critics.
Cuomo and Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio said Amazon will transform Queens’s Long Island City area into a high-tech hub and spur economic growth that will pay for the $2.8 billion in state and city incentives many times over.
“The mayor fully expects Amazon to deliver on its promise to New Yorkers,” spokesman Eric Phillips said in response to the Post’s report.
Critics see the project as an extravagant giveaway to one of the world’s biggest companies and argue it won’t provide much direct benefit to most New Yorkers. Several welcomed the news that Amazon might be rethinking the plan.
“We rose up and held the line. ... It’s not over, but I’m proud of the values we fought for,” Democratic City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, who represents Long Island City, said in a statement.
“I don’t know if they’re serious or not, and frankly, I don’t care,” said Sen. Michael Gianaris, a Democrat who represents Long Island City and calls the agreement bad policy. “If their view is ‘We’re going to extort New York or we’re going to leave,’ then they should leave.”
State Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins nominated Gianaris earlier this week to a little-known state panel that could ultimately be asked to approve the subsidies. Cuomo has the final say over appointments.
After Cuomo’s remarks Friday, a spokesman for Stewart-Cousins said it was “unfortunate that the governor is trying to divide the Democratic Party at this crucial and historic time.”
A Quinnipiac University poll released in December found New York City voters support having an Amazon headquarters, by 57-26 percent. But they were divided on the incentives: 46 percent in favor, 44 percent against.
The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.
