Here's how politicians and tech execs are reacting to the surprise news of Amazon pulling HQ2 from New York City

amazon protest hq2
AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews
  • Amazon said Thursday it was no longer planning to bring its new headquarters, named HQ2, to New York City.
  • The decision to bring HQ2 to New York was met with fierce backlash from many politicians, local residents, and tech leaders who took aim at HQ2's effect on housing prices, the major tax breaks New York was giving Amazon, and the company's treatment of its workers.
  • This is how politicians, policymakers, and tech leaders reacted to the surprise news.
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Amazon's plans to put HQ2 in New York City have been called off, the final culmination of months of criticism directed at the e-commerce giant after it first announced in November that it would open a new headquarters there.

In a blog post Thursday, Amazon said it came to the decision to cancel its plans for New York City "after much deliberation," and seemingly took aim at politicians who vocally opposed HQ2.

"The commitment to build a new headquarters requires positive, collaborative relationships with state and local elected officials who will be supportive over the long-term," the blog post says. "While polls show that 70% of New Yorkers support our plans and investment, a number of state and local politicians have made it clear that they oppose our presence and will not work with us to build the type of relationships that are required to go forward with the project we and many others envisioned."

Amazon announced in November it had chosen to split its much-coveted second headquarters between two sites in New York and Arlington, Virginia.

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The news was met with immediate opposition from several sides. Local residents were angry HQ2 would cause traffic to increase, rent prices in the surrounding area to skyrocket, and gentrification of the neighborhood to speed up. Players in the tech industry slammed Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos for a lack of transparency in its long 14-month long HQ2 selection process. Developer David Heinemeier Hansson even went as far as to accuse Amazon of extracting "blatant loot" from cities vying for HQ2, and called the company's actions "utterly unbecoming."

Local politicians, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, were outraged at the terms of the deal struck between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Amazon, which promised the company billions of dollars in tax breaks as incentive for coming to New York City. New York City Council members were upset they were kept out of the loop regarding discussions for Amazon to come to their city.

But now that plans for HQ2 have been scrapped, many of HQ2's biggest opponents are celebrating, while proponents are lashing out at Amazon.

Here are some of the reactions coming from politicians and leaders in tech in the wake of Amazon's HQ2 reversal:

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New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio

bill de blasio
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio during a press conference. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

In a statement, de Blasio said: "You have to be tough to make it in New York City. We gave Amazon the opportunity to be a good neighbor and do business in the greatest city in the world. Instead of working with the community, Amazon threw away that opportunity. We have the best talent in the world and every day we are growing a stronger and fairer economy for everyone. If Amazon can't recognize what that's worth, its competitors will."

Read more: Mayor Bill de Blasio slams Amazon for scrapping its HQ2 project in New York City

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York)

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Jonathan Ernst/REUTERS

On Twitter, Ocasio-Cortez wrote: "Anything is possible: today was the day a group of dedicated, everyday New Yorkers & their neighbors defeated Amazon’s corporate greed, its worker exploitation, and the power of the richest man in the world."

Asked by a CBS News reporter about her thoughts, Ocasio-Cortez said, "I think it's incredible! It shows that everyday Americans still have the power to organize ... and they can have more to say in this country than the richest man in the world."

 

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NYU digital marketing professor Scott Galloway

Scott Galloway at DLD
Scott Galloway at DLD Hubert Burda Media

Galloway had a lot to say about Amazon on Twitter. "The greatest city in the world just said no to the richest man in the world," Galloway wrote on Twitter. "MY. KIND. OF. TOWN."

 

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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Andrew Cuomo
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks to supporters during an election night watch party hosted by the New York State Democratic Committee in New York. AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File

In a statement, Cuomo said took aim at politicians who opposed HQ2 in New York, and blamed them for causing "tremendous damage." 

"A small group (of) politicians put their own narrow political interests above their community," Cuomo said. "They should be held accountable for this lost economic opportunity."

 

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Developer David Heinemeier Hansson, founder of the web development firm Basecamp.

When Amazon first announced it was coming to New York, Hansson had some strong words for Bezos. 

"It’s utterly unbecoming to see Amazon extract such blatant loot from HQ2 cities," Hansson wrote on Twitter back in November. "Why the f---k does Amazon need government handouts? Bezos, as literally the richest man in the world, presiding over this is shameful."

However, this time around, Hansson limited what he said on Twitter.

"When NYC politicians and activists started asking questions about the $3 billion in incentive loot for HQ2, Amazon decided to bail," Hansson wrote on Twitter. "Will now move forward with more pliant political figures in Nashville and Northern Virginia."

 

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City Council Speaker Corey Johnson

Corey Johnson
Getty

In a statement posted to Twitter: "I look forward to working with companies that understand that if you're willing to engage with New Yorkers and work though challenging issues New York City is the world's best place to do business. I hope this is the start of a conversation about vulture capitalism and where our tax dollars are best spent. I know I'd choose mass transit over helipads any day."

Read more: 'I'd choose mass transit over helipads any day': Key Amazon opponent on New York's city council speaks out on HQ2 cancellation

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State Sen. Mike Gianaris, representing Queens.

Senator Michael Gianaris
Getty/Pacific Press/Contributor

Sen. Gianaris has yet to make an official statement, but he told The New York Times, "Like a petulant child, Amazon insists on getting its way or takes its ball and leaves ... The only thing that happened here is that a community that was going to be profoundly affected by their presence started asking questions."

City Council member Jimmy Van Bramer

Jimmy Van Bramer nyc council
AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews

In a statement, Van Bramer said: "When our community fights together, anything is possible, even when we’re up against the biggest corporation in the world. I am proud that we fought for our values, which is a fight for working families, immigrants, & organized labor. Defeating an anti-union corporation that mistreats workers and assists ICE in terrorizing immigrant communities is a victory. Defeating an unprecedented act of corporate welfare is a triumph that should change the way we do economic development deals in our city & state forever."

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Charlie O'Donnell, venture capitalist at Brooklyn Bridge Ventures.

Charlie ODonnell
Brooklyn Bridge Ventures

 

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts)

elizabeth warren
Jonathan Bachman/Reuters

Warren, a candidate for president in 2020, criticized Amazon on Twitter: ".@Amazon – one of the wealthiest companies on the planet – just walked away from billions in taxpayer bribes, all because some elected officials in New York aren't sucking up to them enough. How long will we allow giant corporations to hold our democracy hostage?"

 

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Julie Samuels, executive director of Tech:NYC

Tech:NYC, a nonprofit advocating tech-forward policies and government practices, issued a statement on Twitter saying that news of Amazon's HQ2 reversal is "so disappointing."

"Amazon's decision to withdraw from New York is no doubt a blow to our local economy and the tens of thousands of people the company would've employed there," executive director Julia Samuels said in the statement. "There can be no doubt that bad politics got in the way of good policy here."

 

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott

greg abbott
Larry Downing/Reuters

Abbott criticized both Amazon and the "liberal backlash."

"Amazon’s decision to flee NYC because of the liberal backlash is a warning to those pushing socialism: hostility to business is bad for your state," Abbott wrote on Twitter. "Texas is #1 for business and jobs because we promote opportunity not hostility."

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Chelsea Connor, director of communications for the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).

rwdsu
Erik McGregor/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

In a statement, Connor said: "Rather than addressing the legitimate concerns that have been raised by many New Yorkers Amazon says you do it our way or not at all, we will not even consider the concerns of New Yorkers – that’s not what a responsible business would do."

Anthony Casalena, founder & CEO of Squarespace.

anthony casalena squarespace
Squarespace

In a statement, Casalena said: "Squarespace has always been proud to call New York City home, and that history will forever be a part of our DNA. While our thriving technology community with diverse talent is only continuing to grow and will remain very strong, Amazon’s decision is a missed opportunity for our great city."

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Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii)

Tulsi Gabbard
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard lashed out at NBC News over a report suggesting Russian propagandists are beginning to support her campaign for president. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

On Twitter, Gabbard wrote: "New Yorkers dodged a bullet. Congratulations. Amazon has been profiting off taxpayers for long enough."

 

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City comptroller Scott Stringer

scott stringer nyc comptroller
REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Stringer shamed de Blasio on Twitter for making the HQ2 deal with Amazon "with no community input from [Long Island City] residents."

"While Amazon is no angel, they played by your rules," Stringer said. "The early takeaway from this: don't be afraid of transparency and community inclusion."

 

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Entrepreneur and author Steve Case

steve case
Revolution CEO Steve Case speaks at the 2016 Vanity Fair New Establishment Summit. Mike Windle/Getty Images

Case said on Twitter that he found the decision to pull out of New York "odd."

 

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-New York)

Carolyn Maloney
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-New York) speaking on Capitol Hill. AP

 

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Venture capitalist Steve Westly

steve westly
AP Photo/Chris Carlson

Steve Westly, who's a managing partner at his VC firm The Westly Group, noted how much of a concern rising housing prices are for residents in Queens, who would've been impacted by the HQ2 move.

 

State assembly member Patricia Fahy, representing Albany County.

Patricia Fahy
AP Photo/Hans Pennink

 

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State Sen. Julia Salazar, representing Brooklyn.

Julia Salazar
AP Photo/Hans Pennink

"When we organize, we win," Salazar wrote on Twitter.

 

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Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

ruben diaz jr
Amy Sussman/AP Images for Discovery Communications

Diaz Jr. wrote on Twitter: "It's unfortunate that @amazon was unwilling to grasp the concept that massive taxpayer subsidies require equivalent concessions to the people providing them. This is a simple aphorism: if you want charity, you have to be charitable."

 

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State assembly member Nicole Malliotakis, representing Staten Island.

Nicole Malliotakis
Reuters/Stephanie Keith

Responding to Ocasio-Cortez's tweet, Malliotakis wrote on Twitter: "You did your constituents who want good paying jobs a disservice! New Yorkers wanted a BETTER deal, not for you to KILL the deal! How do you plan to fulfill your pie in the sky “guaranteed jobs for all” if you are chasing away the job creators??"

 

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City Council member Joe Borelli, representing Staten Island.

Joe Borelli
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Borelli wrote on Twitter: "Losing @Amazon is a blow to #NYC. But it really is a blow to the notion of thinking we can be a high tax state and still attract business by dangling crony capitalist tax incentives."

 

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City Council member Eric Ulrich, representing Queens.

eric ulrich
AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek

Ulrich wrote on Twitter: "It never ceases to amaze me how the loud voices of a few, could destroy the chance at a better life for so many. @amazon had big plans in store for the borough of Queens, and we blew it!"

 

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Investor Barry Ritholtz

Barry Ritholtz
Barry Ritholtz, CEO and director of equity research at Fusion I.Q., speaks at the Reuters Investment Outlook Summit in New York June 7, 2010. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Ritholtz posted an extensive thread on Twitter explaining the details of the HQ2-New York deal.

"Just because you CAN do something does not mean you SHOULD do something," Ritholtz wrote on Twitter. "Amazon should have been less mercenary. The world's wealthiest man running The world's most valuable company does not need to have everyone else subsidize a for-profit firm."

 

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City Council member Brad Lander, representing Brooklyn.

brad lander nyc council
Erik McGregor/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

In his statement, Lander said: "It’s been clear for a long time that Amazon had no intention of respecting New York City’s rules, paying their taxes in full, and being a good neighbor. If their intentions were good, they would have engaged in real dialogue and negotiations, not abruptly pulled out after facing criticism."

 

Even though Amazon said in its statement that it wouldn't be reopening its HQ2 search, politicians from other states have been appealing to Amazon to come to their home states:

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Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina)

Lindsey Graham
Sen. Lindsey Graham on Monday said President Donald Trump "missed" an opportunity to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable for election interference. Joshua Roberts/Reuters

In a tweet addressed to Bezos, Sen. Lindsey Graham wrote on Twitter, "South Carolina would love to have you locate your new HQ here."

 

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Rochester, New York Mayor Lovely Warren.

lovely warren mayor rochester ny
AP Photo/Hans Pennink

In a statement posted to the Rochester city website, Warren pleaded with Amazon to consider the Rochester region for a location for HQ2.

"Amazon’s HQ2 could transform (highway) I-90 into an innovation corridor delivering jobs and opportunity to all of our residents and businesses," Warren said. "Rochester has an incredible history of tenacity, resilience and innovation – characteristics we share with Amazon."

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Miami-Dade County mayor Carlos Gimenez

carlos gimenez mayor miami-dade county
Omar Vega/Invision for unite4:good/AP Images

Gimenez penned a letter to Bezos, asking him to "reconsider" Miami as a site for HQ2.

"Miami, without a doubt, has the talent, technology and low taxes to serve Amazon's needs," Gimenez says in the letter. "We are confident that the diversity, dynamic entrepreneurial spirit and openness to partnership that drew Amazon to our community in the first place continue to be worth of consideration."

 

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