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Queens biz owners haunted by Amazon loss amid pandemic
NY POST ^ | 12/19/20 | Carl Campanile |

Posted on 12/18/2020 10:35:50 PM PST by DeathBeforeDishonor1

121120_Amazon_site_LIC_1A

14 Dennis A. Clark The area in Long Island City where Amazon would’ve built the new headquarters.

In Long Island City, it’s the scar that won’t heal.

Almost two years after Amazon pulled out from a proposal to build a massive headquarters along the Queens waterfront, the site is a vacant eyesore — and, to many locals, the squandered economic opportunity is even more painful amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“The site just sits there empty. It’s terrible,” said Donna Drimer, owner of the Matted LIC art gallery and gift store. “We’re in the middle of a pandemic. People say, ‘If we only had Amazon.’ We got nothing.”

The world’s largest e-tailer abruptly canceled its projected 25,000 job-producing campus in February 2019 after being taken aback by ferocious opposition from local pols — including Democratic socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and state Sen. Mike Gianaris.

Nearly two years later, the massive site remains a desolate reminder of wasted potential, while COVID-19 has ravaged the city’s economy, including the LIC-western Queens area that would have benefited from the influx of potential customers into the area.

Seething local merchants and residents grappling to survive during the pandemic told The Post the loss of Amazon haunts the community even more now.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: aocstupid
"Gianna Cerbone, owner of Manducatis Rustica restaurant, whose family has deep roots in LIC, said “delusional” Democratic socialists and anti-gentrifiers have hijacked western Queens — and not for the better.

“I’m angry at the stupidity. Everybody fears AOC, who has no idea what she’s doing. Opposing Amazon benefited other communities. Imagine if AOC did something positive with her big mouth,” Cerbone said.

She said Gianaris, whom she’s known for years, was the most surprising betrayal.

“I believed in Gianaris. Mike believed in the community until he went so far up AOC’s ass she couldn’t s–t him out,” the salty restaurateur said."

1 posted on 12/18/2020 10:35:50 PM PST by DeathBeforeDishonor1
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To: DeathBeforeDishonor1

It’s not AOC alone....there are hundreds of thousands of these idiots around the US, who boldly wander around without a map, compass, or grasp of the path in front of them.

Around a decade ago, in the DC area....Wal-Mart talked up the idea of bringing in two stores. It was empty and destitute property...the residents were all super-positive. Then the AOC-type crowd started the political chatter, and wanted ‘negotiation’. They wanted things written down (employees could only be from DC itself, donations to various community organizations, etc). Months went by because Wal-Mart didn’t want any entanglements. People wanted it but all of these barriers were stumbling blocks which weren’t needed.

The AOC crew in Queens were writting the same type script and figured that Amazon would in the end...agree. They didn’t.


2 posted on 12/18/2020 10:44:39 PM PST by pepsionice
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To: DeathBeforeDishonor1

“The site just sits there empty. It’s terrible,” said Donna Drimer, owner of the Matted LIC art gallery and gift store. “We’re in the middle of a pandemic. People say, ‘If we only had Amazon.’ We got nothing.”

She still voted for AOC anyhow ...go figure


3 posted on 12/18/2020 10:45:47 PM PST by MrDaddyLongLegs (fOR )
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To: pepsionice
It happens all the time in the democrat controlled cities.

Businesses that people want and need are blocked from coming in because they have not greased the right palms.

4 posted on 12/18/2020 10:47:04 PM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (Dear Clare, The awkward time is almost over. Love, Normal Americans)
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To: DeathBeforeDishonor1

Her constituency aren’t haunted because they just reelected this nut.


5 posted on 12/18/2020 10:52:37 PM PST by CaptainK ("If life's really hard, at least its short")
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To: DeathBeforeDishonor1

I was always amazed at this political decision.

AOC was too stupid to get Amazon to build a lot of expensive buildings before she put the bite on them.

And, she will be re-elected in perpetuity by the people she screwed.


6 posted on 12/18/2020 10:58:52 PM PST by CurlyDave
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To: DeathBeforeDishonor1

The voters got what they deserved.

Karma.


7 posted on 12/18/2020 11:04:48 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (We flattened the heck out of that curve, didn’t we?)
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To: CurlyDave
Well, Dominion will reelect her in perpetuity.
8 posted on 12/18/2020 11:16:14 PM PST by ClarityGuy
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To: DeathBeforeDishonor1

AOC’s legacy


9 posted on 12/18/2020 11:43:44 PM PST by yldstrk (Bingo! We have a winner!)
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To: CurlyDave

Seattle tried that. The Amazon Seattle campus of 3 skyscrapers lies unused by Amazon, now occupying offices in Bellevue.


10 posted on 12/19/2020 12:48:37 AM PST by Darteaus94025 (Can't have a Liberal without a Lie)
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To: DeathBeforeDishonor1

Amazon dodged a bullet. The company should probably send AOC a letter thanking her for killing the NYC bid because, had it gone forward, they’d have wasted a lot of money and hired/relocated a lot of people, only to be forced out now by De Blasio and Cuomo.


11 posted on 12/19/2020 2:36:29 AM PST by sphinx
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

...and the businesses that they already have are looted, burned, or both. Then the burned-out hulk sits there and deteriorates because the merchant pulled out after his insurance rates soared six-fold. Democrats NEVER understand cause-and-effect.


12 posted on 12/19/2020 5:11:08 AM PST by ProtectOurFreedom ("Inside Every Progressive Is A Totalitarian Screaming To Get Out" -- David Horowitz)
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To: MrDaddyLongLegs

That is the “Vote for a Woman” mantra......

I am female, and the only woman I ever voted for was Sarah Palin.

I WAS NOT voting for McCain.


13 posted on 12/19/2020 7:37:37 AM PST by ridesthemiles ( )
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To: Darteaus94025

“....3 skyscrapers lies unused by Amazon, now occupying offices in Bellevue.”

Why does anyone wonder why most of Boeing moved out? The state was squeezing them on past protections like not charging them sales taxes on their aircraft and parts for over 30 years. So they bailed.

wy69


14 posted on 12/19/2020 8:12:23 AM PST by whitney69
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To: DeathBeforeDishonor1

You get what you vote for.


15 posted on 12/19/2020 8:13:20 AM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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