Date: February 14, 2019
Contact: mediacenter@freeandfairmarketsinitiative.org

AMAZON TRIED TO BULLY NEW YORK TAXPAYERS INTO SUBMISSION ON HQ2. THEY FAILED.

 Their Exit Should Be A Warning To Other Cities Who Might Still Want HQ2

Robert B. Engel, chief spokesperson for the Free & Fair Markets Initiative (FFMI), released the following statement in response to news that Amazon is canceling plans to build a new corporate campus in Long Island City, Queens.

“Amazon’s decision to pull out of a HQ2 deal with New York City is the most egregious example of corporate arrogance I have ever witnessed. Instead of working with the community and their leaders to address legitimate concerns, they pouted and fled. With the privilege of receiving billions in taxpayer dollars, there come responsibilities and obligations. Amazon tried to bully New York taxpayers into submission, but local residents, workers, and businesses stood up and won.

The way Amazon conducted themselves when they didn’t get their way in New York should be a clear warning to any other city that still wants HQ2. This is simply a company you can’t trust.”

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ABOUT THE FREE & FAIR MARKETS INITIATIVE

The Free & Fair Markets Initiative (FFMI) is a non-profit coalition of businesses, consumer advocacy groups, workers and community activists committed to scrutinizing and highlighting emerging market trends that are stifling competition and innovation, influencing federal and local government spending, putting consumer data in harm’s way and limiting consumer choice. For a list of members, please visit https://freeandfairmarketsinitiative.org/about-us/members/. For more information on the Free & Fair Markets Initiative, please visit https://freeandfairmarketsinitiative.org