NY Lawmakers React to Amazon Canceling HQ2 Plans

On Thursday, Amazon announced in a blog post that it has canceled plans to locate part of its second headquarters in Queens.

Below is a list of reactions to that news in the political world.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo:

Governor Cuomo's statement re: Amazon ---> pic.twitter.com/39e2UYB7Rw
— Jason Conwall (@jasonconwall) February 14, 2019

Mayor Bill de Blasio:

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.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) February 14, 2019

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

Queens State Sen. Michael Gianaris, who was the state Senate's pick to sit on the obscure Public Authorities Control Board (PACB), a potential roadblock to the deal.

#Queens State Sen. @SenGianaris, a vocal critic of Amazon, was lawmakers' pick to sit on a board that could have spelled trouble for the HQ2 deal. He calls the company's decision to scrap the plan a win for #NYC, but he says he never committed to voting against it. #NY1Politics pic.twitter.com/QR4zEJJVnf
— Spectrum News NY1 (@NY1) February 14, 2019

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (whose district includes the area where Amazon's HQ2 would have been located):

Disappointed that NYC wont be home to 25K+ new jobs from HQ2 & that LIC will lose out on infrastructure improvements that would have accompanied this project. This is not the Valentine that NY needed. 1/
— Carolyn B. Maloney (@RepMaloney) February 14, 2019

The deal could have been improved. There were legitimate concerns raised and aspects that I wanted changed. I was ready to work for those changes. But now, we won’t have a chance to do that and we are out 25K+ new jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in new investments. 2/
— Carolyn B. Maloney (@RepMaloney) February 14, 2019

As I said on Monday, "W 25K well-paying jobs coming to the neighborhood, the residents of Queensbridge, Ravenswood, Astoria Houses, & Woodside have good chances for the future. We need to make sure that ... opportunities lead to jobs https://t.co/t0idu1YQ8l 3/
— Carolyn B. Maloney (@RepMaloney) February 14, 2019

I'll continue working with the residents of Queensbridge, Ravenswood, Astoria Houses, & Woodside and all #LIC & #NY12 to strengthen our economy & bring good paying jobs to NY. 4/4
— Carolyn B. Maloney (@RepMaloney) February 14, 2019

Queens Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, who represents Long Island City in the City Council:

"Their corporate culture is inconsistent with our New York values" -@JimmyVanBramer on @amazon decision to cancel #HQ2 plans in #LIC #Queens. More: https://t.co/mNB2SlHLpu pic.twitter.com/DS5avIvyC2
— Spectrum News NY1 (@NY1) February 14, 2019

Defeating an anti-union corporation that mistreats workers and assists ICE in terrorizing immigrant communities is a victory. Defeating an unprecedented act of corporate welfare is a triumph that should change the way we do economic development deals in our city & state forever.
— Jimmy Van Bramer (@JimmyVanBramer) February 14, 2019

City Council Speaker Corey Johnson:

My statement on Amazon pic.twitter.com/zzj3J2xbKz
— NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson (@NYCSpeakerCoJo) February 14, 2019

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose district in the U.S. House of Representatives is near the space where Amazon planned to open its campus:

New York Rep. @AOC, another critic of the Amazon HQ2 deal, hails the news that it won't come to #LIC, citing concerns about Amazon's treatment of its employees. She says Amazon should have come to the city by working with the community, like Google did. #NY1Politics pic.twitter.com/gaWe83rDM9
— Spectrum News NY1 (@NY1) February 14, 2019

Former City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito:

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

Brooklyn Councilman Eric Ulrich:

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

New York Rep. Nydia Velazquez:

If there’s anything to be learned from the Amazon episode it is that the community needs to be heard from early in the process, rather than having a secretly negotiated agreement foisted upon them. Read my full statement below. pic.twitter.com/HTxeAeV7Hd
— Rep. Nydia Velazquez (@NydiaVelazquez) February 14, 2019

New York Rep. Gregory Meeks:

JUST IN: @RepGregoryMeeks on #Amazon: “This will be not just a major revenue loss for the city and state, but a loss of thousands of high paying jobs for New Yorkers, and a missed opportunity to further transform New York into the tech capital of the world.” @NY1 @SpectrumNewsDC
— Jeevan Vittal (@JvittalTV) February 14, 2019

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.:

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 #OrganizeAmazon https://t.co/NG8slTiVxr
— Ruben Diaz Jr. (@rubendiazjr) February 14, 2019

NY Lawmakers React to Amazon Canceling HQ2 Plans

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