2) Who cares? Do we need a popular referendum for every business moving to New York? That's insane. There's a reason why we're a republic and not a direct democracy.
> With respect to your math, the goal of government is not to maximize tax revenue, but to provide benefits for residents.
That remaining tax money would improve infrastructure around LIC.
Also, as someone who used to live in LIC, who gives a shit? It's mostly yuppies and luxury housing until you get to Court Square. Sure, you have Queensbridge up north, but if public housing can survive in Manhattan, it'll survive in LIC. This is as low impact as you can get.
- Also a NYC resident
[1] http://gothamist.com/2018/11/13/amazon_queens_nyc_subsidies....
Wouldn't it be better to have a competitive process with multiple bidders to redevelop LIC? Let's see what the market clearing price would be. I'd bet it would not involve subsidies.
When are you starting the campaign to cancel the REAP and ICAP programs?
It's just capitalism.
2) It was a back room deal in the sense that it was negotiated in private without input from stakeholders such as city residents.
With respect to your math, the goal of government is not to maximize tax revenue, but to provide benefits for residents. Moreover, even if it was, the proper comparison is to alternative development plans and not to zero. If the goal is to redevelop LIC, why not have a competitive bidding process to redevelop that area? Many companies and developers would be interested and would bid against each other. When you negotiate with one party in secret you lose all your leverage.
I don't understand why any deal is necessary. Google, Facebook, etc. all seem to be doing fine in NYC without special treatment.
This is not about being against Amazon or tech, it is about being again crony capitalism.
--NYC Resident