Two weeks ago, Amazon chief Jeff Bezos took a firm stance against personal blackmail — refusing to be cowed by an alleged National Enquirer attempt to bully him with compromising photos. Now, Bezos is taking a stance against political blackmail — calling New York politicians' bluff that they could keep Amazon in town while railing against the company.
Amazon's escape from New York isn't a critical blow — but what is critical is for the state and city to correct their ways for next time.
Yes, Amazon in Queens would have been nice. Even though the city has created 752,500 private-sector jobs in a decade, the 25,000 to 50,000 corporate jobs the e-tailer would have brought to Long Island City was nothing to disdain. Big companies like Citigroup have a legacy of civic engagement and of creating a cushy environment for their employees and their neighborhoods. Amazon would have supported coding classes for nearby children.
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