In a messy breakup, Amazon backs away from NYC headquarters deal

The tech giant had spent months teasing a deal to develop a major hub office in Queens. After some backlash, the company opted out, prompting a new round of high-profile commentary.

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After all the noise surrounding Amazon’s new office hub, the company is taking back promises to bring 25,000 new jobs to New York.

The buildup to Amazon’s announcement of a second headquarters (it still has its primary presence in Seattle) was something of a PR circus, with cities vying for consideration with gifts, tax incentives and publicity stunts.

New York and a location in Virginia near Washington, D.C., were the eventual winners, but once the public caught wind of the tax incentives offered to one of the world’s biggest corporations, some weren’t happy.

Now, Amazon says it won’t move forward with its plans in New York.

The New York Times wrote:

Amazon on Thursday canceled its plans to build an expansive corporate campus in New York City after facing an unexpectedly fierce backlash from lawmakers, progressive activists and union leaders, who contended that a tech giant did not deserve nearly $3 billion in government incentives.

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