new Amazon HQs on the Yonkers riverfront.
By Frank Spotorno
I was born and raised in New York City, and my business is located in Astoria Queens, so the news that Amazon was building a headquarters in Long Island City was good news for the New York City economy.
You don’t see 25,000 jobs created in one community in the USA anymore, and while I’m a union member and supporter, these jobs have benefits and will lift thousands of residents out of poverty and give them a chance at the American Dream.
I now live in Yonkers with my wife and family, and Amazon’s announcement made me think, what if Amazon came to Yonkers? What would those jobs mean to Yonkers?
The last piece of prime real estate in Yonkers is along the Hudson River at Alexander Street. The property would be ideal for an Amazon HQ’s. A water taxi, hub xx could be built to transport employees and Amazon goods down to New York City and north to Albany.
With two train stations located to the north and south of the property, Amazon could still attract the millennials it is seeking to fill their hi-tech positions.
The infrastructure improvements announced by Governor Andrew could be used to rebuild the routes from the Saw Mill Parkway to the Yonkers waterfront. The Governor could also use his influence to get NYC to relocate its bus depot located on Alexander Street.
A transit-oriented community has always been envisioned for Alexander Street and what Amazon wants from its decision to move to NYC. New apartments, and retail and restaurants would be created for the many business owners and developers who want to join Amazon in our City.
Instead of hearing opposition from many in the community that we hear in NYC, Amazon would be welcomed with open arms by Yonkers and its City leaders. Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez has rejected the idea of Amazon coming into her borough of Queens. I will be the first to welcome Jeff Bezos and his team to Yonkers and would support his efforts to create thousands of jobs for Yonkers residents.
The opposition to Amazon came on Cyber Monday where protestors held a “Day of Action” against Amazon’s New HQ’s. The protest included members of the Democratic Socialist Party of America, and elected officials from New York City including Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer and State Senator Michael Gianaris, who both represent Queens, NYC.
Protestors also stormed an Amazon bookstore in Manhattan to express their anger over the company’s future headquarters in the city. “They want to give more corporate welfare to billionaires that don’t need it,” said Maria Batista, an activist, to the crowd of protesters. More than 100 protesters rallied to send the company a clear message of where they stand by taking over the store.
Activist Ángeles Solis said protesters were expressing their “outrage that our city officials would give away $3 billion, (actually, 1.2 billion from NYS), in tax breaks to the richest company in the world. And we’re here to say that Amazon is not welcome here.”
The Amazon deal is expected bring 25,000 to 40,000 jobs to the city, with an average salary of $150,000. The company is promising to invest around $2.5 billion. But protesters said city and state officials gave up too much.
Activist Nathylin Flowers Adesegun said her message to officials is “to take back your power … Do what’s right. You know what’s right. It’s time to do what’s right. This is not making New York fair for New Yorkers.”
What Ms. Ocasio-Cortez and others fail to realize is that in addition to 25,000 jobs, at a minimum, there are close to another 100,000 jobs that would be created when Amazon come to town, that would come from the services, restaurants, dry cleaners, supermarkets, and entertainment that would be built around Amazon.
The tax revenues generated by Amazon’s arrival in Yonkers would immediately eliminate our yearly budget crisis, with the city seeing increases in Sales taxes, income taxes and property taxes. Any incentives that Mr. Bezos is getting from New York City could be matched by Yonkers.
The people of Yonkers are as friendly as the New York City crowd, and our workers are the hardest working in the state. If given the chance, Yonkers would shine as a symbol of economic activity with Amazon’s HQ’s shining bright along the Hudson River.
Am I dreaming? Yes, but usually, it’s ok to dream because sometimes your dreams come true. I haven’t heard any of our leaders from Yonkers even suggest the idea, or this dream.
An annual average salary of $150,000 is nothing to sneeze at. If New Yorkers want to continue to stay on the poverty line and not appreciate a good paying job with benefits, I think its time to think outside the box in Yonkers and propose bold and dynamic solutions for a bright new future. It’s time to dream big Yonkers!
The greatest Christmas gift that anyone in Yonkers, and across our country can receive, is a good paying job with benefits. Let’s not forget that this holiday season.
Frank Spotorno is the founder of bringourjobshome.com, and a former candidate for Congress in New York City. He is considering a run for future office.
