POLL: Majority of New Yorkers Supported Amazon Moving to NYC
The majority of all New York voters supported the opening of an Amazon headquarters in Queens but the backing was strongest among blacks and hispanic residents, according to a recent Siena College poll.
The poll, conducted from February 4-7, asked 778 New Yorkers: “Do you approve or disapprove of the recently announced deal between Amazon and New York, which grants up to $3 billion in state and city incentives to Amazon in return for Amazon locating its corporate offices in Queens, where it is projected to generate 25,000 jobs?”
A significant majority (56 percent) of all New Yorkers approved of the plan while 36 percent disapproved. Among New York City residents support was slightly stronger at 58 percent.
Support was most pronounced among minorities: 70 percent of black voters approved while just 25 percent disapproved, and 81 percent of Latinos approved compared to 17 percent who disapproved.
“Even as Amazon is said to be re-examining the deal to locate in Queens, by twenty points New York voters approve of the deal,” said pollster Don Levy. “In New York City, where some local activists have voiced opposition, voters approve of the deal by 23 points.”
The plan, which would have provided Amazon roughly $3 billion in state and city tax subsidies, was scuttled this week due to a political impasse in Albany. Governor Andrew Cuomo, who had enthusiastically endorsed the proposal, blamed a “small group” of unnamed politicians for the setback in a statement released Thursday.
“A small group politicians put their own narrow political interests above their community…The New York State Senate has done tremendous damage. They should be held accountable for this lost economic opportunity,” the statement read in part.
