Amazon’s Long Island City deal is a win for NYC

By: Steve C.

The deal to bring Amazon to Long Island City is an overall win for the city, even though Albany and city hall needlessly gave away the store to the world’s richest company.

But it isn’t quite a done deal yet. Although Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio finessed things so Amazon doesn’t have to go through the city’s land-use review, enough opposition exists to theoretically scuttle the plan. The goal is to delay things long enough for Amazon to get fed up and go elsewhere.

The biggest potential threat lies with the Public Authorities Control Board in Albany, composed of a representative of the governor and four members representing the legislative majorities in the NY Assembly and Senate. They must unanimously approve certain projects that involve state funding.

Amazon plan proponents say it doesn’t need to come before the PACB at all. Critics say at least one portion does — $505 million in construction grants. Count on lawsuits over the issue.

If it does go before the PACB, things could get dicey. Liberal Democrats are taking control of the Senate in January and their new reps on the PACB might be far less pro-development than their fellow Democrat Cuomo.