Growing Backlash May Be Enough to Make Amazon Back Out of New York
*By Amanda Weston*
Amazon is reportedly having second thoughts about setting up in New York, after growing backlash from local politicians.
"They haven't changed their mind, but they are thinking of at least holding open the possibility that they might pull out and basically put the jobs somewhere else," Robert McCartney, senior regional correspondent at The Washington Post, told Cheddar Friday.
McCartney [reported Friday](https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/facing-opposition-amazon-reconsiders-ny-headquarters-site-two-officials-say/2019/02/08/451ffc52-2a19-11e9-b011-d8500644dc98_story.html?utm_term=.b3050f23b044) that Amazon ($AMZN) executives have discussed possible alternative locations, citing confidential sources.
After the story was published, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) [spoke out against](https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/08/new-york-governor-cuomo-says-the-state-needs-amazon.html) leaders who have opposed the Amazon deal.
"For the state Senate to oppose Amazon was governmental malpractice," Cuomo said. "And if they stop Amazon from coming to New York, they're going to have the people of New York State to explain it to. It is irresponsible to allow political opposition to overcome sound government policy."
The Amazon relocation was complicated earlier this week by the nomination of a vocal Amazon critic to a board with the power to scuttle the deal. N.Y. Sen. Michael Gianaris, who represents the Long Island City neighborhood where the outpost would be built, could potentially veto the deal from his seat on the board, to which he was nominated by the state Senate's Democratic majority.
"This deal was put together without any consideration of the consequences," Gianaris [told Cheddar](https://cheddar.com/media/amazon-new-york-hq-deal-didnt-consider-consequences-state-sen-gianaris-says) Tuesday. "It was a bad deal and it's going to cost New York $3 billion, and the return on that is not nearly enough to justify it."
McCartney added it's not just the Senate that has Amazon concerned, but also some influential city council members.
Amazon's plan to establish a campus in the Long Island City neighborhood in New York would create 25,000 jobs, but locals [have protested](https://abc7ny.com/business/demonstrators-take-over-amazon-store-in-protest-of-queens-hq/4767430/) that the financial incentives offered to the company were too great. They have also expressed concerns about whether the city could handle the influx of workers.
Amazon is set to also create 25,000 jobs in Crystal City, Va. and 5,000 in Nashville, Tenn.
"The reactions there have been much more positive and welcoming, and so from Amazon's point of view, it's like, 'Why should we go someplace where there's this much hassle? Let's go someplace where we're genuinely wanted,'" McCartney said.
While the opponents in New York may be small in number, McCartney said they're well organized and very passionate.
"I think that if the opponents can sort of stick to their guns and keep raising a ruckus about this, a loud ruckus about this, and if the state Senate stands by its position, then I think they could well force Amazon to change its mind."
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/amazon-reportedly-reconsiders-new-york-campus-amid-local-backlash).
Nvidia on Wednesday became the first public company to reach a market capitalization of $5 trillion. The ravenous appetite for the Silicon Valley company’s chips is the main reason that the company’s stock price has increased so rapidly since early 2023.
Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at S&P Global, breaks down September’s CPI print and inflation trends, explaining what it means for markets.
A big-screen adaptation of the anime “Chainsaw Man” has topped the North American box office, beating a Springsteen biopic and “Black Phone 2.” The movie earned $17.25 million in the U.S. and Canada this weekend. “Black Phone 2” fell to second place with $13 million. Two new releases, the rom-com “Regretting You” and “Springsteen — Deliver Me From Nowhere,” earned $12.85 million and $9.1 million, respectively. “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc” is based on the manga series about a demon hunter. It's another win for Sony-owned Crunchyroll, which also released a “Demon Slayer” film last month that debuted to a record $70 million.
The Federal Aviation Administration says flights departing for Los Angeles International Airport were halted briefly due to a staffing shortage at a Southern California air traffic facility. The FAA issued a temporary ground stop at one of the world’s busiest airports on Sunday morning soon after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy predicted that travelers would see more flights delayed as the nation’s air traffic controllers work without pay during the federal government shutdown. The hold on planes taking off for LAX lasted an hour and 45 minutes and didn't appear to cause continued problems. The FAA said staffing shortages also delayed planes headed to Washington, Chicago and Newark, New Jersey on Sunday.
Boeing workers at three Midwest plants where military aircraft and weapons are developed have voted to reject the company’s latest contract offer and to continue a strike that started almost three months ago. The strike by about 3,200 machinists at the plants in the Missouri cities of St. Louis and St. Charles, and in Mascoutah, Illinois, is smaller in scale than a walkout last year by 33,000 Boeing workers who assemble commercial jetliners. The president of the International Association of Machinists says Sunday's outcome shows Boeing hasn't adequately addressed wages and retirement benefits. Boeing says Sunday's vote was close with 51% of union members opposing the revised offer.
The stunning indictment that led to the arrest of more than 30 people — including Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and other NBA figures — has drawn new scrutiny of the booming business of sports betting in the U.S. The multibillion-dollar industry has made it easy for sports fans — and even some players — to wager on everything from the outcome of games to that of a single play with just a few taps of a cellphone. But regulating the rapidly-growing industry has proven to be a challenge. Professional sports leagues’ own role in promoting gambling has also raised eyebrows.
