Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized Amazon on Monday over the news that it has picked Long Island City in Queens as the site of a new headquarters, arguing it will hurt the local community in the New York City borough. "We've been getting calls and outreach from Queens residents all day about this. The community's response? Outrage," Ocasio-Cortez wrote in the first of a series of tweets over the development. "Amazon is a billion-dollar company," she wrote. "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." "Has the company promised to hire in the existing community?" she tweeted. "What's the quality of jobs ... how many are promised?" "Displacement is not community development," she wrote. "Shuffling working class people out of a community does not improve their quality of life." Ocasio-Cortez, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, contended the company should offer "good healthcare, living wages, (and) affordable rent" to members of the community. "Corporations that offer none of those things should be met w/ skepticism." Facking moron. So she's complaining about a crumbling subway and a need for more investment. She assumes that people would be shuffled out and yet the truth about Queens is.... "Queens has a high concentration of export-oriented jobs (which serve the needs of customers outside the region), and these typically pay higher wages than locally-oriented jobs (which serve the needs of local residents). Immigration continues to have a distinct role in shaping the economy of Queens. Over half the population of Queens is now foreign-born, a much higher percentage than any other borough in New York City, and many of the borough’s neighborhoods and commercial corridors reflect the rich cultural heritage of their residents. No single industry dominates Queens. However, the airline industry is a key component of the borough’s economy and serves as a major employer in the neighborhoods surrounding JFK and LaGuardia airports. The health care and social assistance industry is also a major employer in Queens and has been growing steadily in recent years. Two-thirds of all businesses in Queens employ between one and four people, meaning that small borough plays an essential role in the borough’s economic vitality." So that burrough is already serving outside customers, most of the jobs are by the airport which puts subway usage under pressure, and most of the residents are foreign-born (roughly 50% have a high school diploma or less). But instead of realizing what an absolute boon this could be, how their infrastructure could be enhanced by Amazon, she's shitting on it because they will get tax breaks? Jeee-zus! 200 other cities would like to kick her dumb ignorant ass right about now.
Been to Queens 3 times. All 3 times driving through. Cabs won’t even take you to queens why the fuck would amazon want to be there other than LaGuardia? Unless the gentrification process has hit there too like it has Brooklyn.
They wanted to be near a big city which obviously includes an airport. And they were looking for tax incentives. Cuomo and that other dufus put together a great package. Ocasio should be welcoming them with open arms. Amazon can only help to improve that shithole.
My daughter lives in Astoria, Queens and loves it. Her landlord has ALREADY told her that rent was going way up. We spent a week there last summer, we had fun, a lot to do, and great little shops. I’m sure there are some grim areas in the burroughs, but stating the whole place is messed up, well that is a bit uninformed. We were NEVER refused a cab. You might have Queens and the Bronx confused. I hate to agree with that bimbo, but I don’t think Amazon is going to do much for Queens. I’m certain the current unemployed, or employment challenged will not be hired. Probably educated folk that will drive up the rent and further stress the subways. Yuck!!!
Nah it was Queens. There must be some gentrified areas now. Brooklyn was like that too. It’s changing
Their own tourism site tells the story I posted. Work benefits people outside the area. The main industry is airline-related...workers use the subway to get there. Half the population is lacking in formal education and the majority are foreign-born. Exactly what does Ocasio think Amazon is going to do to make that situation WORSE? He did say cabs wouldn't take them TO Queens. Cabbies want big tips, they don't like unsafe areas, and they are less likely to get a return fare from Queens and other outer burroughs. You don't think....she doesn't think. How about business decisions get made based less on what people think and more on reality. How do you know who will be hired or not? Do you know what the plan is for the location in New York? Do you know how many they plan to employ? Who is doing anything now to help the employment-challenged other than the feds with more money? And God forbid, some educated people move in, that's always bad for a town, right? Queens doesn't have shit going for it right now from a business perspective. They received a highly coveted selection and the potential for good things is almost unlimited. People in the area should be celebrating, not whining about how awful it's going to be to have a new employer in town.
Almost 100% positive. But look at the housing situation in Seattle. It could drive up the cost of living so high that the average person can't afford to live there.
I can look at the housing situation here in Orange County. Almost nobody can afford to buy a new home, particularly young couples. Even condos and apartments are outrageously expensive compared to household income. It's also an area with a LOT of illegals and minimum wage-type workers, so how do they survive? They either live 5 families to a 1 family dwelling or they drive here without a license, without insurance, without driver education. Irvine would have been a brilliant place to plop an Amazon HQ with it's proximity to decent colleges, a big airport, and a worker base close by. But CA's regressive approach to businesses made Irvine a non-starter. So Queens has two choices. They can continue to live as they are with a dilapidating infrastructure and no plan to improve anything, or they can welcome a new large employer who will undoubtedly improve things.
