While the Amazon deal to build half of its second headquarters in New York City has created new friction between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state legislature, a majority of New Yorkers support it.
According to a Siena College poll released Tuesday, New Yorkers approve of the deal 56 percent to 36 percent.
The deal, announced back in November, grants up to $3 billion in state and city incentives to the internet retail giant in return for its new corporate office to be built in Long Island City in Queens.
Amazon has promised to generate 25,000 jobs.
“Even as Amazon is said to be reexamining the deal with New York to locate in Queens, by 20 points New York voters approve of the deal,” said Siena College Research Institute Director Don Levy. “Upstate voters are evenly divided but suburban voters strongly approve and in New York City, where some local activists have voiced opposition, voters approve of the deal by 23 points.”
The deal to bring Amazon to New York City was brokered by the mayor and governor and has faced a new wave of opposition in the last week from community groups and members of the City Council, as well as Senate Democrats, who say they were left out of the process.
As a result, several legislators are calling on the company to relocate the site somewhere in Syracuse, Binghamton, or Rochester. They say the cities have prominent colleges and universities — giving Amazon a large pool of job seekers to choose from.
At this point, Amazon has given no indication it's rethinking its plans for New York City.