Cuomo: Amazon HQ2 NYC hate because of Bezos’ Washington Post ownership

New
York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks during an announcement at The
Moynihan Train Hall in New York City, U.S., August 17,
2017.
Reuters/Brendan
McDermid

• New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo released an op-ed Monday defending
  the state’s deal to lure Amazon’s HQ2 to New York City.
• The state gave more than than $1.5 billion in tax incentives
  to Amazon, a move that was widely criticized.
• Cuomo said negative coverage of the HQ2 deal came in part
  because media companies compete with The Washington Post, which
  is owned by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday suggested that part of the
the backlash to Amazon’s selection of New York City as
one of its HQ2 cities came because other media organizations
compete with the Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos-owned Washington Post.

Cuomo, who famously joked that he would
change his name to Amazon Cuomo if Amazon came to New York,
released
an op-ed on Monday defending the more than
$1.5 billion in tax incentives that the state of New York and
New York City gave to the online retail giant.

Part of the reason the media has been so
quick to critique the deal, Cuomo claimed in the
self-published op-ed, was that the companies compete with the
Post.

“This transaction is a lightning rod for the political
rhetoric on both extremes,” Cuomo wrote. “The extreme
conservatives and the socialists both now vehemently oppose
‘incentives’ for Amazon, which is one of the most profitable
companies in the country. Compounding the situation, Jeff Bezos
owns the Washington Post and Amazon and is a competitor to many
interests currently involved in the discussion.”

Amid frequent attacks from President Donald Trump on the
pair, Amazon and The Washington Post have reiterated that the
companies operate independently. 

Cuomo also dubbed as hypocrites media companies ranging
from Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation — which owns the New York
Post and Fox News — to the New York Times for criticizing the
deal. He said those companies also accepted tax incentives from
New York for expansions.

“I am sure that as these entities have now been highly
critical of the concept of ‘tax payer subsidies’ we will see
Rupert Murdoch, the Times, Warner Media/CNN rebate the incentives
they have been receiving, refuse them in the future, and will
remain in New York,” Cuomo said. “Once we receive their rebates
it will more than compensate for the Amazon benefit!”

Read more: New Yorkers are making lots of doomsday
predictions about Amazon’s HQ2. Here are all the things that
could make it a disaster.

Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio
worked extensively to try and convince Amazon to come to the
city, offering
tax incentives and other perks to convince the company to
bring approximately 25,000 jobs.

A wide array of media organizations have come out against
the deal or expressed serious skepticism. The critiques have
ranged from the
Wall Street Journal editorial board to the New York Times
board — and even
local outlets in other corners of New York.

In addition,
many New York City residents and
New York politicians have expressed concerns about HQ2’s
effect on
the city’s public transportation and other services.