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In November last year, the online retail giant announced that it has chosen two locations for its new HQ2 project, one in Long Island City, and a second in Virginia. However, talks have since stalled and progress has been slow, leading Amazon to reconsider its plans in New York.
With plans for a New York home possibly shelved, Connecticut officials have thrown their hats back in the ring, announcing their intention to talk to Amazon about relocating to The Constitution State.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said that upon hearing that the deal in New York may be fracturing, he and other state officials began discussing new plans for a potential HQ2 location.
“Upon the (first) indication – days ago – that there may be trouble with @Amazon's proposed deal with #NY, we mobilized our new Partnership to Advance the Connecticut of Tomorrow – and more specifically, @CERCInc co-chairs Indra Nooyi and Jim Smith, to construct a path forward,” he posted on Twitter. “The state has already made an outreach to @Amazon through its in-state representation, and we are looking forward to expanding the dialogue.”
It is not clear where Amazon may set up shop if they choose to head to Connecticut. During their initial search, proposals were submitted in the Hartford and Stamford regions, though other communities in the area expressed interest.
Amazon has been derided by some New York politicians, who have been critical of the project and its nearly $2 billion in incentives cities agreed to provide in exchange for an estimated 25,000 well-paid jobs. Details of a possible Connecticut proposal have not been released.
“Can everyday people come together and effectively organize against creeping overreach of one of the world’s biggest corporations,” freshman Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez posted on Twitter with a link to The Washington Post’s report regarding a possible divorce between New York and Amazon. “Yes, they can.”
Stuart Applebaum, the President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, said that if the deal is to fall apart, Amazon only has themselves to blame.
“If the Amazon deal falls apart, they will have nobody to blame but themselves. A major problem is the way the deal was put together shrouded in secrecy and ignoring what New Yorkers want and need,” he said in a statement. “They arrogantly continue to refuse to meet with key stakeholders to address their concerns, despite requests from New York’s top elected officials to do so.
“With their long history of abusing workers, partnering with ICE to aid their persecution of immigrant communities, and contributing to gentrification and a major housing crisis in their hometown of Seattle, New Yorkers are right to raise their concerns and opposition to this plan. New Yorkers won't be bullied by Jeff Bezos, and if Amazon is unwilling to respect workers and communities they will never be welcome in New York City,”
This continues to be a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
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