Ocasio-Cortez Is Upset World's Most Valuable Company Is Investing In NYC
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Socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is not happy that Amazon, the world's most valuable company, has decided to invest billions of dollars and bring approximately 25,000 jobs to New York City.
The 28-year-old bartender turned politician responded to the news that Amazon is bringing a second headquarters to NYC by claiming, without evidence, that her community is "outraged."
The Wall Street Journal reported Monday:
New York City and Northern Virginia will be the homes for Amazon.com Inc.’s second and third headquarters, according to people familiar with the matter, ending a more than yearlong public contest that started with 238 candidates and ended with a surprise split of its so-called HQ2.Amazon is dividing the second headquarters evenly between New York’s Long Island City and Arlington County’s Crystal City neighborhoods, which are both located directly across from the major city centers. The company plans to evenly split the offices with as many as 25,000 employees.The decision effectively gives Amazon a major presence in three coastal hubs that politically lean left, at a time when tech companies are under scrutiny for their perceived elitism and liberal social views.
"Amazon is a billion-dollar company," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. "The idea that it will receive hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks at a time when our subway is crumbling and our communities need MORE investment, not less, is extremely concerning to residents here."
Ocasio-Cortez provided no evidence that residents in her district were angered by Amazon's decision. As for Amazon receiving tax breaks, the Journal only notes that the company's decision to open additional headquarters "has brought additional scrutiny to potential incentives Amazon might receive to locate in certain areas."
Ocasio-Cortez also suggested that Amazon employees should consider unionizing, despite Amazon's aggressive stance against unions.
"When we talk about bringing jobs to the community, we need to dig deep," she wrote. "Has the company promised to hire in the existing community? What’s the quality of jobs [and] how many are promised? Are these jobs low-wage or high wage? Are there benefits? Can people collectively bargain?"
Amazon is a billion-dollar company. The idea that it will receive hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks at a time when our subway is crumbling and our communities need MORE investment, not less, is extremely concerning to residents here.
When we talk about bringing jobs to the community, we need to dig deep:
- Has the company promised to hire in the existing community?
- What’s the quality of jobs + how many are promised? Are these jobs low-wage or high wage? Are there benefits? Can people collectively bargain?
"We’re talking about the single biggest economic development deal in the history of New York City," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Monday.
Ocasio-Cortez, however, was only focused on campaign slogans, insisting that Amazon pay "their fair share."
"Lastly, this isn’t just about one company or one headquarters. It’s about cost of living, corps paying their fair share, etc.," she wrote. "It’s not about picking a fight, either. I was elected to advocate for our community’s interests - & they‘ve requested, clearly, to voice their concerns."
We need to focus on good healthcare, living wages, affordable rent. Corporations that offer none of those things should be met w/ skepticism.
It’s possible to establish economic partnerships w/ real opportunities for working families, instead of a race-to-the-bottom competition.
Lastly, this isn’t just about one company or one headquarters. It’s about cost of living, corps paying their fair share, etc.
It’s not about picking a fight, either. I was elected to advocate for our community’s interests - & they‘ve requested, clearly, to voice their concerns.
"The choice of its new office sites follows Amazon’s September announcement that it would raise its minimum wage for warehouse workers to $15 an hour," the Journal concluded. "Amazon also has announced major hiring plans over the past year as it builds out more warehouses and expands its U.S. workforce."
Rather than seeing this as an opportunity for more people in her community to be gainfully employed and the economy to improve, Ocasio-Cortez views it from a democratic socialist's lens: as an opportunity for a greedy corporation to take advantage of people.
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