Amazon executives had to face up to angry protesters in New York as they attended a meeting at City Hall to discuss plans to open a second headquarters in the city.
The Seattle, Washington company has come under scrutiny since it announced intentions to build a new home in the Long Island City neighborhood, with New York State and the city offering $2.8billion in tax breaks for the company that surpassed a $1trillion valuation in September.
Members of the public paraded signs and jeered while some New York City Council members showed fierce opposition by trying to block the Queens borough project on Wednesday.
Scroll down for videos
Amazon executives had to face up to angry protesters in New York as they attended a meeting at City Hall on Wednesday
Brian Huseman, Amazon's vice president for public policy (second left) and other executives, discussed controversial plans to open a second headquarters in the city
'We have a crumbling subway system, record homelessness, public housing that is in crisis, overcrowded schools, sick people without health insurance and an escalating affordable crisis,' Fox 5 reports City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, said. 'Is anyone asking if we should be giving nearly $3billion in public money to the world's richest company?'
However Amazon claims that the move will majorly help residents by injecting 'over $186 billion in positive economic impact' during the course of a quarter of a century.
It's something Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio agree with as it's that said by splitting HQ2 between Arlington, Virginia and the Big Apple, 25,000 jobs will be created in the latter location over a decade.
In 15 years it's estimated the company could hire 40,000 people in New York.
At the time of the announcement last month Cuomo said it was a 'big moneymaker' and that it 'costs us nothing'.
On Wednesday the president of the city's Economic Development Corporation CEO, James Patchett, said the plan is 'the single biggest job creation opportunity in New York's history'.
Members of the public paraded signs and jeered while some New York City Council members showed fierce opposition by trying to block the Queens borough project
They opposed New York State and the city offering $2.8billion in tax breaks for the company that surpassed a $1trillion valuation in September
But the City Council Speaker, Johnson, argued that the figures were biased because they were done by someone 'hired by the state of New York, not by neutral third party academics or companies that can provide that economic analysis'.
The Council is angry they weren't consulted about a project of this size and many believe that despite promises made by Amazon, they may not benefit the city which is set to rise in population by 131,000.
Amazon's executives retorted that if they don't fulfill the job creation agreement they won't be entitled to the tax cuts.
However the meeting wasn't so positive with even a City Councilman who previously supported the plan, expressed concern.
'This is bad for Long Island City, bad for Queens and bad for New York City,' said City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, said. 'The mayor and the governor caved to the richest man on Earth and then handed the bill to each and every New Yorker.'
Amazon CEO and Founder Jeff Bezos has an estimated net worth of $137.4billion.
Amazon claims they will create 25,000 jobs in 10 years and 40,000 in 15 years. James Patchett (left) said the plan is 'the single biggest job creation opportunity in New York's history'
City Council Speaker, Corey Johnson (right), argued the figures were biased because they were done by someone 'hired by the state of New York, not by neutral third party academics'
Flanked by John Schoettler (left), Vice President for Global Real Estate at Amazon, and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (right), New York Governor Andrew Cuomo spoke about Amazon's decision to bring a new corporate location to New York City, November 13
The Council members, many of them Democrats, broached topics including Amazon providing facial recognition technology to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Although he didn't admit they do, Brian Huseman, Amazon's vice president for public policy replied that the government should have access to the best technology.
The Democrats see it as support for President Donald Trump's controversial plan to aggressively crack down on immigration and increase deportation.
There was also concern about Amazon's treatment of employees and whether the tech giant uses customers' personal information in a negative way.
But Huseman denied it when Councilman Ben Kallos asked if the company had shared his wishlist on the shopping website with the media.
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/12/14/amazon-executives-answer-to-angry-council-members-and-protesters-who-oppose-3billion-tax-break/
Main photo article Amazon executives had to face up to angry protesters in New York as they attended a meeting at City Hall to discuss plans to open a second headquarters in the city.
The Seattle, Washington company has come under scrutiny since it announced intentions to build a new home in the Long Island City...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/12/13/23/7397632-6493643-Amazon_executives_had_to_face_up_to_angry_protesters_in_New_York-m-1_1544743268736.jpg
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий