4 ms·

It is refreshing to see Cuomo actively woo Amazon back, despite direct opposition and PR blitzkrieg-ing from the likes of Alexandira Ocasio Cortez. The state of

It is refreshing to see Cuomo actively woo Amazon back, despite direct opposition and PR blitzkrieg-ing from the likes of Alexandira Ocasio Cortez. The state of NY & NYC could use the projected 25,000 jobs (at an average of $150K), $4 billion wages, and $12 billion in new economic activity which will directly feed the state tax coffers.

nerdponx 8y ago
The city, no. The state, sure. Let's also set some things straight. First, those numbers only make sense if you assume the land in LIC would remain undeveloped, and the city's $3 bn left unspent over 10 years. Obviously there will be other development in the area. LIC is already white-collar yuppie colony and tech companies are still coming to NYC in search of talent. Heck, Amazon already had plans to move to the city. Second, "average of $150K" is meaningless. Does that include or exclude Bezos' salary? What's the median number? What's the 25th percentile? Third, how many of those jobs will go to New Yorkers, versus be imported from other cities? What is the cost to other residents? Who, if anyone, will need to be compensated? Nobody has done any of those calculations, to my knowledge. Fourth, has Amazon made any concrete commitments to transit development on paper? The list goes on. There's a lot more at play here than the "sticker price". Also leave AOC out of it. Blocking this deal wasn't her idea, she's just the one who posts on Twitter too much. Look to more reasonable (and powerful) politicians like Michael Gianaris.
- writepub 8y ago
  > Second, "average of $150K" is meaningless. Does that include or exclude Bezos' salary? Why would anyone include Bezos' salary among the freshly minted 25,000 jobs! This is such a straw-man! > Third, how many of those jobs will go to New Yorkers Who says there's an agenda to not employ qualified New Yorkers? Why is it criminal for other Americans to get those jobs, if qualified? Is there some NY jingoism at play here that Amazon and the US are unawares of? It is a federal crime to discriminate employment against state/city residency! > Fourth, has Amazon made any concrete commitments to transit development on paper? That is expressly the job of elected officials, the sensible of which are actively wooing Amazon for the increased tax income, that can then go towards transit, and other public programs. > Also leave AOC out of it. Is AOC some protected class among politicians, whose demagoguery is apparently off limits for criticism? She has actively pitchforked outrage on the matter, and is absolutely a part of the discussion.
  - nerdponx 8y ago
    1. I was being hyperbolic, but I hope you understand the point. 2. Call it jingoism if you like, but there are good reasons to be skeptical of what happens when you import labor en masse without employing the local population first. 3. You can't trust an elected official any further than you can throw them. If something hasn't been signed it's as good as worthless. There is a good reason we put so much weight on contracts in our legal system. Most other businesses operate on those terms; I don't see why I should trust my elected official any more than I trust my employees, my employer, etc. 4. No, but her embarrassing ignorance is irrelevant to the discussion.

nerdponx 8y ago

The city, no. The state, sure. Let's also set some things straight. First, those numbers only make sense if you assume the land in LIC would remain undeveloped, and the city's $3 bn left unspent over 10 years. Obviously there will be other development in the area. LIC is already white-collar yuppie colony and tech companies are still coming to NYC in search of talent. Heck, Amazon already had plans to move to the city. Second, "average of $150K" is meaningless. Does that include or exclude Bezos' salary? What's the median number? What's the 25th percentile? Third, how many of those jobs will go to New Yorkers, versus be imported from other cities? What is the cost to other residents? Who, if anyone, will need to be compensated? Nobody has done any of those calculations, to my knowledge. Fourth, has Amazon made any concrete commitments to transit development on paper? The list goes on. There's a lot more at play here than the "sticker price". Also leave AOC out of it. Blocking this deal wasn't her idea, she's just the one who posts on Twitter too much. Look to more reasonable (and powerful) politicians like Michael Gianaris.

writepub 8y ago
> Second, "average of $150K" is meaningless. Does that include or exclude Bezos' salary? Why would anyone include Bezos' salary among the freshly minted 25,000 jobs! This is such a straw-man! > Third, how many of those jobs will go to New Yorkers Who says there's an agenda to not employ qualified New Yorkers? Why is it criminal for other Americans to get those jobs, if qualified? Is there some NY jingoism at play here that Amazon and the US are unawares of? It is a federal crime to discriminate employment against state/city residency! > Fourth, has Amazon made any concrete commitments to transit development on paper? That is expressly the job of elected officials, the sensible of which are actively wooing Amazon for the increased tax income, that can then go towards transit, and other public programs. > Also leave AOC out of it. Is AOC some protected class among politicians, whose demagoguery is apparently off limits for criticism? She has actively pitchforked outrage on the matter, and is absolutely a part of the discussion.
- nerdponx 8y ago
  1. I was being hyperbolic, but I hope you understand the point. 2. Call it jingoism if you like, but there are good reasons to be skeptical of what happens when you import labor en masse without employing the local population first. 3. You can't trust an elected official any further than you can throw them. If something hasn't been signed it's as good as worthless. There is a good reason we put so much weight on contracts in our legal system. Most other businesses operate on those terms; I don't see why I should trust my elected official any more than I trust my employees, my employer, etc. 4. No, but her embarrassing ignorance is irrelevant to the discussion.