If such people truly have enough power to quash the NYC deal (I'm not convinced they do), then isn't it worthwhile to figure out how to allay their fears? Do they have a shot at the new jobs? Do they have the necessary skills? Is training being offered? Will their schools become overcrowded? Is rent control adequate? Will their unit be upscaled or bulldozed?
Most humans are adverse to change, so the rate of change is also a factor.
It's really that simple. You don't need to turn them into victims or anything like that to explain it.
There is nothing new about the rate of change with regards to Amazon. Had it been another company you wouldn't even have heard about it and it would have been installed. It's purely political opportunism.
All that is left is that these politicians cost new york 25K jobs. That's it.
First of all the prices have gone up long before Amazon came in that's just how New York work them moving in will affect housing prices NOT renting prices.
There is no way you can spin this in favor of the local politicians. They just cost many of their fellow neighbours 25K jobs many of them high paying which is important in New York.