Ocasio-Cortez Slams Amazon's Plan to Locate HQ2 in Queens

Bucking the stance of some of New York’s top Democrats, newly elected liberal Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slammed Amazon’s decision to site half of its second headquarters in Long Island City, Queens, criticizing the reported tax breaks the company will receive, Politico reported on Tuesday.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, both Democrats, have been involved in negotiations over the deal. Advocates of the move have pointed out the benefits of such a deal, with tens of thousands of jobs and billions in investments.

But Ocasio-Cortez sent out a series of tweets blasting the move, including one that said, “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.”

Ocasio-Cortez explained in another tweet why she was wary of such a deal.

“We need to focus on good healthcare, living wages, affordable rent,” she wrote. “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.”

At 29 years old, Ocasio-Cortez is set to become the youngest member of Congress when she’s inaugurated next year.

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