There is likely no one more distraught over Amazon’s decision to cancel its plans to build a second headquarters in Long Island City, Queens than New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. “Amazon chose to come to New York because we are the capital of the world and the best place to do business,” said Governor Cuomo in a statement after Amazon’s announcement on Thursday. “However, a small group [of] politicians put their own narrow political interests above their community.” Governor Cuomo was instrumental in bringing Amazon's HQ2 to the city. The governor helped secure a deal with Amazon, which saw the company receiving a total of $3 billion tax incentives. Cuomo had also joked about changing his first name to “Amazon” in order to persuade the e-commerce giant to pick New York over hundreds of other cities. Unlike New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, a fellow HQ2 supporter who blamed Amazon for pulling out of the deal, Governor Cuomo claims the New York State Senate is at fault. Many local politicians had criticized the deal due to the enormous tax break offered to Amazon as well as the company’s anti-union stance. “The New York State Senate has done tremendous damage,” said the governor in his statement. “They should be held accountable for this lost economic opportunity.” In Amazon’s announcement on Thursday, the company thanked Governor Cuomo for his support on the project. The company also hinted at the possibility of a partnership with New York in the future. The governor’s full statement on Amazon’s cancelled HQ2 is below: Amazon chose to come to New York because we are the capital of the world and the best place to do business. We competed in and won the most hotly contested national economic development competition in the United States, resulting in at least 25,000-40,000 good paying jobs for our state and nearly $30 billion dollars in new revenue to fund transit improvements, new housing, schools and countless other quality of life improvements. Bringing Amazon to New York diversified our economy away from real estate and Wall Street, further cementing our status as an emerging center for tech and was an extraordinary economic win not just for Queens and New York City, but for the entire region, from Long Island to Albany’s nanotech center. However, a small group politicians put their own narrow political interests above their community — which poll after poll showed overwhelmingly supported bringing Amazon to Long Island City — the state’s economic future and the best interests of the people of this state. The New York State Senate has done tremendous damage. They should be held accountable for this lost economic opportunity.<doc-sep>New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) is blasting his fellow state Democratic lawmakers over Amazon pulling out of its plans to set up a second headquarters in New York City in exchange for $3 billion in tax incentives. In a statement Thursday, shortly after Amazon announced it was backing out, Cuomo touted the benefits their presence would have brought to the city and state. "However, a small group [of] politicians put their own narrow political interests above their community -- which poll after poll showed overwhelmingly supported bringing Amazon to Long Island City -- the state's economic future and the best interests of the people of this state,” Cuomo said. “The New York State Senate has done tremendous damage. They should be held accountable for this lost economic opportunity.” ADVERTISEMENT Amazon said in a statement Thursday that “a number of state and local politicians have made it clear that they oppose our presence and will not work with us to build the type of relationships that are required to go forward with the project we and many others envisioned in Long Island City.” Cuomo’s broadside against the state Senate comes just weeks after Democrats took control of the chamber that had been dominated almost exclusively by Republicans since World War II. State Sen. Michael Gianaris (D), an opponent of the Amazon deal, had been selected by Senate leadership to serve on a board that could scuttle the deal. On Thursday, he blamed Amazon for not working with local leaders. “Like a petulant child, Amazon insists on getting its way or takes its ball and leaves,” Gianaris told The New York Times. “The only thing that happened here is that a community that was going to be profoundly affected by their presence started asking questions.”<doc-sep>New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is furious with local politicians in his state who opposed a plan for Amazon to build a new headquarters in New York City. The vast majority of the local lawmakers who fought against the plan are Democrats, like Cuomo. Cuomo said the local leaders who weren't in favor of the plan should be "held accountable for the lost economic opportunity." Amazon on Thursday announced it was backing out, citing "a number of state and local politicians have made it clear that they oppose our presence" as a large part of its decision. The new Amazon headquarters would've been build in Long Island City in the borough of Queens. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Thursday slammed local politicians — the vast majority of whom are Democrats, like Cuomo — who opposed a plan for Amazon to build a new headquarters in New York City after the company scrapped the deal. "A small group of politicians put their own narrow political interests above their community … the state’s economic future and the best interests of the people of this state," Cuomo said in a statement. Cuomo said the New York state Senate has "done tremendous damage," adding that those who opposed the plan should be "held accountable for the lost economic opportunity." The New York governor's comments echoed an earlier statement from Amazon on the decision to bail on the plan, which also pointed the finger at local politicians. "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," Amazon said. Read more: New York politicians appear stunned but defiant over Amazon's abrupt cancellation of move to Long Island City "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 and will not work with us to build the type of relationships that are required to go forward with the project we and many others envisioned in Long Island City," the statement added. According to a study commissioned by Cuomo, the new Amazon headquarters would've brought $27.5 billion in tax revenue for the state and city. Amazon also claimed the plan would bring 25,000 new jobs to the country's largest city. But a number of local politicians opposed the plan because the city and state had promised to give Amazon $3 billion in tax incentives and they didn't think it was worth it. New York City Council speaker Corey Johnson, who was one of the most outspoken opponents of the deal, seemed enthused by Amazon's decision on Thursday. "I hope this is the start of a conversation about vulture capitalism and where our tax dollars are best spent," Johnson said in a statement. Meanwhile, New York City mayor Bill de Blasio appeared to suggest that Amazon was making a big mistake. In a statement, de Blasio said, "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 … If Amazon can't recognize what that's worth, its competitors will." The new Amazon headquarters would have been built in Long Island City in the borough of Queens.<doc-sep>
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday blamed fellow Democrats in the state Senate for killing the deal to bring an Amazon headquarters to Queens. “A small group of politicians put their own narrow political interests above their community — which poll after poll showed overwhelmingly supported bringing Amazon to Long Island City — the state’s economic future and the best interests of the people of this state,” Cuomo said in a statement. “The New York State Senate has done tremendous damage. They should be held accountable for this lost economic opportunity.” Cuomo did not mention them by name, but he was clearly referring to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) and Queens Sen. Michael Gianaris, the deputy majority leader. Amazon’s headquarters would have been located in Gianaris’ district, but he became the fiercest critic of its $3 billion in subsidies and tax breaks. Stewart-Cousins nominated Gianaris to serve on the state Public Authorities Control Board, which had the power to block or scuttle portions of the deal. “Amazon chose to come to New York because we are the capital of the world and the best place to do business. We competed in and won the most hotly contested national economic development competition in the United States, resulting in at least 25,000-40,000 good paying jobs for our state and nearly $30 billion in new revenue to fund transit improvements, new housing, schools and countless other quality of life improvements,” Cuomo said in a statement. “Bringing Amazon to New York diversified our economy away from real estate and Wall Street, further cementing our status as an emerging center for tech and was an extraordinary economic win not just for Queens and New York City, but for the entire region, from Long Island to Albany’s nanotech center.” Trying to put the best spin on the stunning setback, he added: “The fundamentals of New York’s business climate and community that attracted Amazon to be here — our talent pool, world-class education system, commitment to diversity and progressivism — remain and we won’t be deterred as we continue to attract world class business to communities across New York State.”