\u201cAmazon is one of the richest companies in the world, but you can\u2019t put a price on community input, which has been missing throughout this entire process. I find that lack of engagement and the fact that the negotiations excluded the City Council \u2013 which is elected by New Yorkers to guide land use projects with communities in mind \u2013 extremely troubling. I also don\u2019t understand why a company as rich as Amazon would need nearly $2 billion in public money for its expansion plans at a time when New York desperately needs money for affordable housing, transportation, infrastructure and education. I will always advocate for economic development and jobs in New York, but when the process is done behind closed doors, with zero community input and nearly $2 billion in subsidies to a global behemoth, I am going to be skeptical. I have not been briefed on this plan, so I will withhold full judgement until I am. I look forward to reviewing the full details of the package when available with Council Member Van Bramer and Council Member Vallone \u2013 Chair of our Economic Development Committee \u2013 to determine whether this proposal is in the best interests of the City. For now, all I can say is I am very concerned.\u201d<\/p>\n
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###<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cAmazon is one of the richest companies in the world, but you can\u2019t put a price on community input, which has been missing throughout this entire process. I find that lack of engagement and the fact that the negotiations excluded the City Council \u2013 which is elected by New Yorkers to guide land use projects with communities in mind \u2013 extremely troubling.<\/p>\n
…<\/p>\n