Amazon is reportedly planning to move into office space in Manhattan, just months after cancelling plans to move into a heavily subsidised complex in Queens in the face of pushback from New York residents and politicians.
In February, Amazon dropped its plans to build a massive work space in Queens with the help of major tax breaks from both New York City and New York State.
The reversal was the result of intense pressure from New York citizens and lawmakers, including Representative Alexandia Ocasio-Cortez. Zephyr Teachout, who ran unsuccessfully for Attorney General alongside Cynthia Nixon’s failed mayoral attempt and AOC’s historic election in 2018, was also a major voice in the organising efforts.
The grassroots campaign against Amazon’s subsidised move to New York cited the company’s labourpractices, environmental impact, and contributions to America’s expanding wealth gap as reason for their opposition.
Now, the New York Postreports that Amazon is coming to New York after all - all on their own.
The giant enterprise is looking at office space in One Manhattan West, a 67-story tower in New York’s Hudson Yards, a newly established neighbourhood largely filled with offices, luxury apartments, and high end gallery and shopping spaces.
The Post’s source claims they’re also considering space in the US Post Office building across the street, known as the James A Farley building.
To some, the proposed move to Manhattan represents another round of success for the movement that pushed back against tax breaks for the giant enterprise, proving that the need for state and city-funded assistance was unfounded.
For New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, the Amazon proposal was a rare agreement. Both received major pushback from their constituents. In Mr De Blasio’s case, those residents have been highly vocal about their lack of interest in his newly announced presidential dreams.
