Queens officials like U.S. Rep.-elect Alexander Ocasio-Cortez, Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, State Senator Mike Gianaris and Assemblyman Ron Kim disapprove of Amazon’s second headquarters (HQ2) in Long Island City.
Prominent officials from Queens are not satisfied that Amazon is officially bring its HQ2 to their borough in the event it could negatively impact its Commonwealth in LIC and is slated to receive $1.5 billion in tax subsidies, according to the Council of the City of New York Office of Communications.
Ocasio-Cortez (D- Sunnyside, Astoria, College Point, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Corona, Woodside, parts of the Bronx) thinks Amazon does not need tax incentives when the city is struggling to finance its infrastructure and make investments in communities.
Amazon is a billion-dollar company. The idea that it will receive hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks at a time when our subway is crumbling and our communities need MORE investment, not less, is extremely concerning to residents here.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 13, 2018
As previously reported by Queens County Politics, Amazon will split its HQ2 into two locations, LIC and Arlington, Va.’s Crystal City, which Van Bramer (D-Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside) and Gianaris (D-Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside, parts of Woodside, Maspeth, Ridgewood, Woodhaven) vocally disagreed with the decision.
In a joint statement on Sunday, Van Bramer and Gianaris united against Amazon’s expectations receiving “corporate welfare.”
“Offering massive corporate welfare from scarce public resources to one of the wealthiest corporations in the world at a time of great need in our state is just wrong,” the statement said.
Van Bramer, Gianaris and others will be hosting an event on Wednesday in protest of the company “robbing over $1 billion from state funding for our schools, transit and housing.”
Kim took to Twitter to call out “neoliberal technocratic leaders who disguised themselves as progressives” for siding with the idea of HQ2 in LIC, stating million of New Yorkers’ money will go to the wealthiest man in the world.
Our neoliberal technocratic leaders who disguise themselves as progressives when it's time for sound bites are killing our democracy.
— Ron T. Kim (@rontkim) November 13, 2018
Kim did not mention any names, but conveniently Mayor Bill De Blasio and Queens Borough President Melinda Katz have encouraged Amazon to come to LIC.
It also worth noting Kim is a candidate for Public Advocate, a position that overwatches government affairs and creates public awareness for social and policy reforms.
Van Bramer and Gianaris will host a ‘No To Amazon HQ2 event at 11:30 a.m., tomorrow, Nov. 14 at the Gordan Triangle, corner of 44th Drive and Vernon Boulevard in Long Island City.
