Well the constantly griping politicians in New York City and New York state have done it. Amazon announced a few minutes ago that it had abandoned its plan to build a new headquarters building in the Long Island City section of Queens. That's a loss of at least 25,000 jobs that Amazon would have brought. It's also a loss of billions of dollars of construction work that would also have employed a great number of people. It's also the loss of the jobs which would have employed support people who supplied everything from coffee and food to legal and accounting services. It would also have raised the value of countless properties in Long Island City and other sections of New York City as well. In other words, this is a complete disaster for the city and its people, and they get to thank some rather crazed liberal politicians for this outcome. (I would have said Democrats, but given that this is New York City, the words politicians and Democrat are synonymous these days.)
I think it's worth going back to look at some of the arguments used by opponents against the Amazon deal. The main complaint was that the cost of the tax breaks that were used to lure Amazon to the city could better be used to help support poor families. That is a ridiculous argument made by people who do not understand reality. The cost of the tax breaks would have resulted in much, much more coming into the state and city coffers in taxes once the Amazon office opened. Giving the same money to the poor would provide temporary help, but it would not result in additional future revenues. On top of this, the Amazon project would have provided work for a great many poor people in New York. The "help the poor" plan would just give people a one-time benefit but it would not raise anyone out of poverty or provide long term help to anyone.
The second argument against the Amazon project was that it would "terrorize immigrants." I heard this talking point numerous times, but even after the repetition, no one could ever explain why having the headquarters of Amazon in Long Island City would have any effect on immigrants. It sounded like a talking point dreamed up by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. It was something that was both factually incorrect and bizarre, but which sounded like the speaker was caring about helping immigrants. The argument is the rough equivalent of arguing that all cruise ships should be painted pink in order to provide better habitat for the American buffalo. In short, that was an argument that only a total moron could like.
Hopefully, the people of New York will get angry at this outcome and get rid of the clowns who caused this disaster. I know it won't happen, but I can hope nevertheless.
I think it's worth going back to look at some of the arguments used by opponents against the Amazon deal. The main complaint was that the cost of the tax breaks that were used to lure Amazon to the city could better be used to help support poor families. That is a ridiculous argument made by people who do not understand reality. The cost of the tax breaks would have resulted in much, much more coming into the state and city coffers in taxes once the Amazon office opened. Giving the same money to the poor would provide temporary help, but it would not result in additional future revenues. On top of this, the Amazon project would have provided work for a great many poor people in New York. The "help the poor" plan would just give people a one-time benefit but it would not raise anyone out of poverty or provide long term help to anyone.
The second argument against the Amazon project was that it would "terrorize immigrants." I heard this talking point numerous times, but even after the repetition, no one could ever explain why having the headquarters of Amazon in Long Island City would have any effect on immigrants. It sounded like a talking point dreamed up by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. It was something that was both factually incorrect and bizarre, but which sounded like the speaker was caring about helping immigrants. The argument is the rough equivalent of arguing that all cruise ships should be painted pink in order to provide better habitat for the American buffalo. In short, that was an argument that only a total moron could like.
Hopefully, the people of New York will get angry at this outcome and get rid of the clowns who caused this disaster. I know it won't happen, but I can hope nevertheless.
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