Amazon packs up, backs out of HQ2 plan for NYC
NEW YORK — Following months of community pushback, Amazon on Thursday announced it was canceling its plan to open a headquarters in New York City — irking Mayor Bill de Blasio, who had been a vocal booster of the bid.
“You have to be tough to make it in New York City. We gave Amazon the opportunity to be a good neighbor and do business in the greatest city in the world. Instead of working with the community, Amazon threw away that opportunity,” de Blasio said Thursday afternoon.
“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,” he said.
The internet giant released a statement announcing the company decided not to move forward with its plans to open a facility in Long Island City, which would have brought an estimated 25,000 new jobs to the city.
“After much thought and deliberation, we’ve decided not to move forward with our plans to build a headquarters for Amazon in Long Island City, Queens,” the statement said. “While polls show that 70 percent of New Yorkers support our plans and investment, a number of state and local politicians have made it clear that they oppose our presence and will not work with us to build the type of relationships that are required to go forward with the project we and many others envisioned in Long Island City.”
Amazon launched a public search in 2017 for a location for its second headquarters.
In November, the company announced it would split the headquarters, dubbed HQ2, between two locations: New York City and Arlington, Va.
The decision to come to Long Island City drew outrage from community groups and politicians citing concerns about gentrification, rising housing costs and a $3 billion tax subsidy package associated with the plan.
“Rather than addressing the legitimate concerns that have been raised by many New Yorkers, Amazon says you do it our way or not at all, we will not even consider the concerns of New Yorkers,” said Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union spokeswoman Chelsea Connor. “That’s not what a responsible business would do.”
Amazon said in its statement that it currently employs more than 5,000 people in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Staten Island, and that it plans to “continue growing these teams.”
“We do not intend to reopen the HQ2 search at this time,” Amazon’s statement said.