As I understand it, Amazon knew they were leaving when some local politicians who opposed them were placed on boards and committees that oversaw permits and such; they could’ve been tied up for years in red tape before getting anything going.
While people blame NYC folks for this, the people in the impacted district elected representative who supported the move (their representative Maloney, their mayor, and their governor). Cortez was just a brown interloper from a neighboring district; she made plenty of Dem enemies.
LIC's City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer and State Senator Michael Gianaris, both white, saw what happened in neighboring CD14 when AOC beat Joe Crowley, who is white.
I believe their position against the deal was effected by crazy progressive, AOC's win.