Being from New York and having followed this situation closely, I can say that this entire fiasco serves as a good example on how the politicians we elect _ough

Being from New York and having followed this situation closely, I can say that this entire fiasco serves as a good example on how the politicians we elect _ought to_ protect their constituents from predatory corporate power. However, this is not the case. Its mere political theatre as De Blasio and Cuomo pose for the cameras, as what matters is not the actual success they have achieved for the city in terms of job creation, but the _perceived_ success. That's how politics works. Otherwise some kind of protocol would exist to enforce, track and hold to account the job creation promises alleged by corporations or federal economic policies (NAFTA anyone?). How convenient that it does not exist. How convenient that we forget that as a private enterprise, Amazon has no obligations to the public. The old tired adage "socialism for the rich, capitalism for the poor" sounds about right. Supporters of Amazon can work out all the math they want to try to convince others (and mainly themselves) of any public benefit. When taxpayer dollars are diverted to corporate welfare, that's when we, the public, get those austerity policies that we love so much. All in exchange for the 25k high-paying jobs not applicable to the working and middle class folks who in addition, will no longer be able to afford living there and will be forced out.