Don’t let deal be Ama-gone!
Andy & Bill back web retail giant
Mayor de Blasio and Gov. Cuomo defended the Amazon deal yet again Tuesday — dismissing criticism of it as politics as Senate Democrats look to appoint a critic to a board that may have the power to scuttle the project.
“I don’t think, in the end, there’s a lot public of servants who want to be responsible for losing 25,000 to 40,000 jobs,” de Blasio said.
“There’s a lot of people who like to go to rallies, there’s a lot of people who like to offer critiques, and I think there’s some bigger real issues here that should be dealt with going forward. But I don’t think there’s a lot of people who want to lose 25,000 to 40,000 jobs and then have to answer to their constituents.”
That comes as the state Senate recommended that Sen. Michael Gianaris be appointed to the Public Authorities Control Board, where he could potentially veto the project. Gianaris is an opponent of the plan to offer Amazon $3 billion in incentives for coming to Long Island City, Queens.
“I understand politics and I also understand government, and there’s a difference between the two, and I think it’s unfortunate that the Senate is playing politics here,” Cuomo said on WNYC’s “The Brian Lehrer Show.”
“Yes, it’s great politically to oppose the Amazon deal.”
He noted the optics of opposing breaks for Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, the richest man in the world — but said those breaks were worth it to bring in jobs.
“This was a national competition for Amazon. No company brings 25,000 jobs, Brian. I beg companies and spend hours for 100 jobs, 200 jobs. You don’t get 25,000 jobs in one company anymore,” Cuomo said. “We have the highest taxes in the United States of America. It was a national competition. Amazon said if I come to New York, will you offer us an incentive? Which every company that comes to New York says. I don’t think we bring a big company without an incentive package.”
Cuomo’s press secretary had a day before blasted Gianaris as a flip-flopper — he’d signed on to a letter encouraging Amazon to come to Queens before the deal was done. But asked if he’d refuse to approve Gianaris as a member of the board, Cuomo said he’s “not there yet.”
“Gov. Cuomo may think that playing politics is anyone who disagrees with him,” Gianaris told the Daily News. “But for me, it’s doing my job. It’s not my fault he constructed a deal that’s bad for New York and is now stuck with it. The people of the state should not be stuck with it.”
De Blasio said he wouldn’t get involved in the governor’s decision-making — but had kind words for Gianaris, typically an Albany ally, who carries the bill that would enact de Blasio’s long-shot millionaires’ tax proposal.
“We are very close. If he’s concerned about the bigger policies around incentives, he’s in a great position to do something about it going forward,” de Blasio said. “But whatever happens, we cannot lose 25,000 to 40,000 new jobs, that’s the bottom line.”
Gianaris said he had an “honest disagreement” with the mayor on the project — which he characterized as “Andrew Cuomo’s deal.” But while de Blasio was skeptical that anyone wanted to be the pol who’d kill the project, Gianaris said he’d do so proudly. “I would proudly save the State of New York $3 billion, and have a long list of important things that can be funded with it, including affordable housing, subway repairs and more schools,” he said. “I don’t know who would want to be responsible for wasting that money and giving it to Jeff Bezos.”