Amazon pulls HQ2 from New York: Here are all the responses

Amazon is no longer pertaining to Queens. The e-commerce giant on Thursday cancelled its strategies to develop a brand-new headquarter in New York City following consistent criticism from regional union fans, the New York City Council and a number of chosen authorities.

Amazon in November revealed strategies to develop 2 25,000-staff member schools in Long Island City, New York and in Arlington, Virginia. Both places were picked from more than 200 bidders and were anticipated to get $2.5 billion in financial investments from Amazon.

Since Amazon dropped the HQ2 strategy in the Big Apple, a number of chosen authorities and companies have actually spoken. (You can check out Amazon’s complete declaration here.)

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio 

“You have to be tough to make it in New York City. We gave Amazon the opportunity to be a good neighbor and do business in the greatest city in the world. Instead of working with the community, Amazon threw away that opportunity. We have the best talent in the world and every day we are growing a stronger and fairer economy for everyone. If Amazon can’t recognize what that’s worth, its competitors will.”

De Blasio put the blame securely with Amazon in a New York Times op-ed on Saturday.

“Amazon’s path in New York would have been far smoother had it recognized our residents’ fears of economic insecurity and displacement — and spoken to them directly,” he composed.

“We just witnessed another example of what the concentration of power in the hands of huge corporations leaves in its wake. Let’s change the rules before the next corporation tries to divide and conquer.”

And he knocked the business once again on Sunday in a Meet the Press interview.

“Amazon just took their ball and went home,” he informed Chuck Todd. “And what they did was confirm people’s worst fears about corporate America. Here’s the 1 percent, dictating to everyone else even though we gave them a fair deal. And I think it’s going to frustrate people all over this country to see a company treat a neighborhood and a city like that.”

United States Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

“Anything is possible: today was the day a group of dedicated, everyday New Yorkers & their neighbors defeated Amazon’s corporate greed, its worker exploitation, and the power of the richest man in the world.”

United States Sen. Elizabeth Warren

“@Amazon — one of the wealthiest companies on the planet — just walked away from billions in taxpayer bribes, all because some elected officials in New York aren’t sucking up to them enough. How long will we allow giant corporations to hold our democracy hostage?”

New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson

“I look forward to working with companies that understand that if you’re willing to engage with New Yorkers and work through challenging issues New York City is the world’s best place to do business. I hope this is the start of a conversation about vulture capitalism and where our tax dollars are best spent. I know I’d choose mass transit over helipads any day.”

Tech: New York City Executive Director Julie Samuels

“Amazon’s decision to withdraw from New York is no doubt a blow to our local economy and the tens of thousands of people the company would’ve employed here… It’s especially disappointing given the overwhelming local support for the deal and there can be no doubt that bad politics got in the way of good policy here.”

Make the Road NY

“HUGE victory for our community. People power wins, even against the world’s richest man!”

First released on Feb. 15 at 11: 52 a.m. PT.
Updated on Feb. 18 at 7: 23 a.m. PT: Adds additional remarks from de Blasio.