New York Is Out: Amazon Ditches Plans to Build There

Critics said the city was giving away too many concessions
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 14, 2019 11:05 AM CST
Amazon Scraps Plans to Build HQ in New York
This Dec. 12, 2018, photo shows State Assemblyman Ron Kim, center, as he speaks at a rally opposing New York's deal with Amazon, on the steps of New York's City Hall.   (AP Photo/Karen Matthews, File)

Big news from Amazon Thursday: The company is scrapping plans to build part of its second headquarters in New York City, reports the New York Times. The decision comes after critics accused New York of giving away too many concessions to lure the retailing behemoth. Amazon announced last year that Queens and northern Virginia would be the joint sites for the second headquarters, while Nashville would get a smaller facility. In its announcement, Amazon said it "did not intend to re-open the HQ2 search at this time," adding that plans would continue in Virginia and Nashville.

“After much thought and deliberation, we’ve decided not to move forward with our plans to build a headquarters for Amazon in Long Island City, Queens,” said the Amazon statement. “While polls show that 70% of New Yorkers support our plans and investment, a number of state and local politicians have made it clear that they oppose our presence." The move means a loss of an estimated 25,000 jobs, and the Daily News reports that labor unions and company officials met Monday in a last-ditch effort to save the project. (More Amazon stories.)

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