Politics

AMAZON IN LIC: THE OPPOSITION TO THE OPPOSITION COMETH

February 11, 2019 by editor 3 Comments

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:

While Amazon HQ2 may or may not be a good deal for NYC, there is no question it’s a great deal for LIC.

Now that Amazon has called their bluff, it’s time for the two anti-HQ2 politicians representing Long Island City to stop grandstanding and come to the table with specific asks. Preferably ones that the neighborhood is rallying for and have so far been fully ignored by Amazon de Cuomo, such as [Read more…] about AMAZON IN LIC: THE OPPOSITION TO THE OPPOSITION COMETH

OK MIKE GIANARIS, YOU OWN IT NOW

February 6, 2019 by editor 9 Comments

“BE careful what you wish for” was the advice I doled out back in November upon the initial opposition to HQ2 coming to LIC. With the appointment this week of our State Senator Mike Gianaris as one of only three voting members of a board – any of whom can veto the Amazon deal – Gianaris now owns whether this deal can be negotiated to his liking, or if Amazon walks. In doing so I hope that he is taking into consideration all of his constituents and not just pandering to that au courant segment of his political party that seems to be grabbing headlines the past few months.

It’s quite a turn in the spotlight for the Senator, who like most local officials [Read more…] about OK MIKE GIANARIS, YOU OWN IT NOW

HQ2 YEA/NAY, KATZ TO JVB TO O’LEARY, CHANGE A KUMON’, 80%?

December 7, 2018 by editor Leave a Comment

The only thing that is constant is change – Heraclitus circa 500 BC

POLLS can be funny, so I try not to read too much into them. Let’s take one released this week showing 60% of Queens residents favor Amazon coming here. Maybe. More likely 60% are neutral or “Don’t Know” where they stand on HQ2 in LIC. If the deal really is even-handed that’s where the majority should sit under the bell-curve of a standard distribution. But that doesn’t make headlines.

Well thought out analysis can also be buried in favor of sensationalism. The most eloquent opinion piece I have read in the morass that has been written about HQ2 in the last month, was scripted by Seth Bornstein who heads the Queens Economic Development Corp. which despite its industrialist-like moniker is largely dedicated to helping out people from modest backgrounds. Having read his monthly letters for years, I can tell you that Seth knows Queens. He also knows the history of New York City, which in a nutshell is that it’s always changing, and usually at a faster pace than the rest of the world. [Read more…] about HQ2 YEA/NAY, KATZ TO JVB TO O’LEARY, CHANGE A KUMON’, 80%?

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

November 27, 2018 by editor 8 Comments

WHAT if Amazon did an about face and bid adieu to locating HQ2 in Long Island City, stating that the rancor over subsidies, additional demands, and outright opposition to gentrification made it untenable. How would that make you feel? [Read more…] about BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

AMAZON HQ2 IN LONG ISLAND CITY, GOOD DEAL OR NOT?

November 16, 2018 by editor 9 Comments

Reactionary? Yes. misguided maybe, redirected for sure — Reactionary? Yes. Misguided? Maybe. Redirected? For sure

Since it cost a lot to win
And even more to lose
You and me bound to spend some time
Wondering what to choose

I have read the 32-page Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Amazon and NYC/NYS. I have read most of what others have written on the HQ2 deal and incentives. I am a financial analyst by training. Most importantly, I have lived in Long Island City for ten years and have closely tracked all that goes on here, both economically and non. Despite all these attributes [Read more…] about AMAZON HQ2 IN LONG ISLAND CITY, GOOD DEAL OR NOT?