Amazon in New York: Fuggedaboutit!

(Reuters) – Amazon.com Inc. is not going to materialize its plans to build a headquarters in New York after opposition has mounted on the part of local politicians, said one of the most profitable companies in the world in a statement Thursday.

The company said it would not reopen the research process "for now, we will proceed as planned in northern Virginia and Nashville, and we will continue to hire and expand our 17 offices and technology centers. in the United States and Canada. "

The company had begun to consider alternatives last week. The online retailer has not yet acquired any land for the project, which would facilitate the abandonment of its projects, told Reuters on Friday a person informed about it.

Amazon had announced the creation of 25,000 jobs and the construction of one of the two new head offices located in the Long Island City neighborhood, in the Queens neighborhood, just across the street. East River by Manhattan.

The proposal met opposition from local politicians who opposed the $ 2.8 billion pledges promised to Amazon as part of a deal negotiated in secret by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. and the mayor of the city, Bill de Blasio.

The company said: "For Amazon, the commitment to build a new headquarters requires positive collaborative relationships with local and local elected officials, who will provide long-term support."

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was one of the most outspoken critics of the deal since the Democratic Party's left flank.

"Can everyday people come together to organize effectively against one of the biggest groups in the world?" She wrote on Twitter last week. "Yes, they can."

Some local residents, formerly a place with few artists who quickly became gentrified with the development of a recent tower, also opposed the plan.

Long-time residents feared being expelled by rising rents and unsustainable pressure on already overloaded subway and sewer systems.

Cuomo was a strong advocate for the project, touting not only the jobs that he would create, but also the long-term tax revenues that he would generate.

Amazon's opposition to unions is one of the points of disagreement.

"Rather than responding to the legitimate concerns raised by many New Yorkers, Amazon claims that you do it our way or not at all, we will not even take into account the concerns of New Yorkers. That's not what a responsible company would do, "Chelsea said. Connor, director of communications at the Retailers, Wholesalers and Department Stores Union (RWDSU).

The RWDSU, which criticized Amazon for resisting unionization, is one of the most powerful private sector unions in the city.

Chicago, Miami and Newark are among the runners-up who have expressed interest in another chance to become the home of an Amazon project that can generate 25,000 jobs. Nashville, Tennessee, which has a 5,000-strong center, also said it was ready to take on a bigger role if New York pulled out.

Amazon shares lost about 0.4% after the announcement.