Feb 13, 2019 - Technology

NYC congresswoman: It's important to hold Amazon accountable on HQ2

Rep. Yvette Clarke. Photo: Chuck Kennedy/Axios

The tax breaks extended to Amazon for its New York office expansion will be an economic "multiplier" but the company must be held accountable for bringing that to bear, Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) said Wednesday at an Axios event.

Why it matters: The deal has drawn intense criticism from New York policymakers who say the billions in tax breaks Amazon will get to come to a Queens community aren't warranted.

Details:

  • Clarke said it was her "understanding" that the tax breaks "will have a multiplier effect that will bring even more into the economy."
  • “The challenge has been how we make it so," he said.
  • She said that fears of displacement among New Yorkers were founded in some instances and it was important that companies who reach deals with the city were held accountable for their promises.

What to watch: Amazon doesn't need City Council approval for its deal in New York, but lawmakers there can still keep the pressure on.

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