In a classic Samson and Goliath battle with small community groups and local politicians challenging one of the biggest companies on the planet, Amazon is considering pulling out of a deal for a new campus in Long Island City, which is heavily criticized as a giveaway to the massive company for billions in tax breaks. Since Amazon is yet to lease or purchase office space for the project, it would be able to withdraw, the Washington Post reported, citing two sources familiar with the company’s thinking.
As part of the bidding process, the state’s Empire State Development and the city’s Economic Development Corporation offered up to $3 billion in tax breaks and a dozen sites in the state. Amazon is also eligible for up to $1.3 billion in subsidies from two city programs.
Raquel Namuche, from the Ridegwood Tenants Union, called Nolan out. “We’re saying to our local Assembly Member: you have to change your stance on Amazon. You can’t stand with multi-million dollar corporations and not stand with us,” Namuche said, “You must stand for affordable housing. You must stand for unionizing. You must stand for workers.”
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