Cuomo pushes back on the claim that New York would have "given" $ 1 billion to Amazon: "without factual basis"



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Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y.) Disagrees with claims that New York has "given" $ 1 billion to Amazon to attract the second largest retail giant's headquarters in Queens.

"The New York Post, which represents extremist conservatives, basically says that New York" gave Amazon $ 1 billion, "Cuomo wrote in an editorial released on Monday." Their argument is unfounded factually. "

"The state of New York and New York City have given Amazon nothing."

He wrote that New York had agreed to cut the $ 1 billion that Amazon was to pay to the government of about $ 100 million.

"New York does not give Amazon $ 100 million, Amazon gives $ 900 million to New York."

"Nothing in the Amazon transaction is new," added Cuomo, adding that such practices enjoyed bipartite support and were found elsewhere in the country.

"One could argue that in a perfect world, no city or state would be legally allowed to offer incentives and that there would be no competition for individuals or businesses," Cuomo said. . "It's true, but it's not a perfect world."

"Our state is daily in intense competition with other states and, indeed, with other countries."

In an editorial, The Post referred to an article in TheRealDeal that indicated that Amazon would automatically qualify for the New York Relocation job assistance program. According to TheRealDeal, this program offers businesses a tax credit of $ 3,000 per employee for 12 years. If Amazon recruited the 25,000 employees it heard, it would receive $ 900 million in credits over the next 12 years.

Cuomo also sued the "socialists" who, he said, claim that New York "has granted a billion-dollar subsidy to one of the richest men in the country."

"Once again, it's a politically attractive argument, but, again, it's a mistake," he wrote, claiming that the $ 900 million revenue generated by Amazon would be lost without these incentives.

Elected Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) Criticized New York for agreeing with Amazon last week, saying the tax cuts were "extremely worrying for residents".

The governor also hit the New York Times, who said he was opposed to the decision.

"The New York Times itself makes the same economic decisions and has also benefited from significant tax benefits from the states of New York and New York City in making decisions about their whereabouts," he said. Cuomo said. "In fact, when the Times announced in 2001 its intention to move into a new building in Times Square, New York has benefited from tens of millions of dollars in tax relief."

He noted that the Times had asked New York to override urban zoning processes in relation to local opposition.

The Times published an editorial criticizing the deal with Amazon, saying the state would give Amazon $ 1.525 billion through a series of state agencies over the next 10 years.

Cuomo added that many local officials who are now opposing the project "have signed a letter supporting the candidacy of the same place, knowing full well that it was a national contest during states and cities put in place incentive programs ".

"These same officials have voted and authorized the economic development programs set up long ago as part of the transaction with Amazon.It is a purely political attitude."

The Hill contacted the Times, Post and Ocasio-Cortez for comments.

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