N.Y. governor fires back at critics of Amazon deal
NEW YORK — Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned Friday 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 foes said they would keep fighting a project they consider corporate welfare.
The back-and-forth came after The Washington Post reported that Amazon is reconsidering its planned New York City headquarters because of some local politicians’ opposition to the nearly $3 billion incentive package. The report cited two unnamed people familiar with the company’s thinking.
Amazon said that it’s engaging with small-business owners, community leaders and educators, pointing to its pledges to support 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 report, Cuomo accused the state Senate — whose leader 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.”
Cuomo and Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio say Amazon will transform Queens’ Long Island City area into a high-tech hub and spur growth that will pay for the $2.8 billion in state and city incentives many times over.
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.
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-cortez, whose district includes some nearby neighborhoods, suggested on Twitter that the report showed people can “come together and effectively organize against creeping overreach of one of the world’s biggest corporations.”
The Post said that no firm decision had been made about whether Amazon would pull out of the deal.