Date: February 8, 2019
Contact: mediacenter@freeandfairmarketsinitiative.org

AMAZON’S POSSIBLE NEW YORK EXIT IS A VEILED THREAT

 Amazon Wants to Shut Down Scrutiny on HQ2 Deal

Robert B. Engel, chief spokesperson for the Free & Fair Markets Initiative (FFMI), released the following statement in response to a Washington Post report that Amazon is reconsidering its plans to locate a new headquarters in Long Island City, Queens.

“Amazon letting slip that they might pull the ripcord on an HQ2 campus in New York is a veiled threat to the growing numbers of residents who are rightfully demanding more scrutiny on this terrible deal. Amazon is essentially saying, ‘Back off, or we’ll leave.’”

But New York taxpayers have every reason to be asking the tough questions about $3 billion in subsidies going to one of the richest companies in the world. And residents are right to be outraged that Amazon is attempting to dodge the standard land use review process that every other company goes through.

If Amazon intends to stonewall, then New Yorkers should say ‘good riddance.’”

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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.