Editorial
Amazon calls the socialists' bluff
by Washington Examiner
| February 15, 2019 12:03 AM
Following months of complaints from the progressive politicos who control local politics in New York City, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos abruptly canceled plans to open the online retailer's new corporate headquarters branch in Queens.
Amazon had spent more than a year hunting for the location of its new headquarters, baiting cities across the country into falling over themselves and making ridiculous promises in a bid to get Amazon's 50,000 jobs. The tech giant ultimately settled on splitting its new HQ between New York and Crystal City, Va. New York's corporate welfare package was especially large, appallingly so.
No one was as vocal in trying to make the corporate giant go away as socialist superstar Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. She lambasted the company's "creeping overreach." And in a way, she was taking the same side we had. But we had been arguing on behalf of taxpayers all over New York state, who were being held hostage so that Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio, both Democrats, could show off for the cameras.
Ocasio-Cortez, on the other hand, was arguing against the economic development of a region of Queens that abuts her congressional district. Along with fellow naysayers such as state Sen. Mike Gianaris, D-Queens, she attacked Amazon for bringing in too many jobs, potentially creating higher standards of living in the area and perhaps also inflating housing costs.
It is odd indeed for the direct beneficiaries of corporate welfare to complain. But that's OK, there are 100 cities out there ready to welcome Amazon.
more
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/amazon-calls-the-socialists-bluff
