Yearly Archives: 2018

November 15, 2018. Last week, Governor Andrew Cuomo continued to defend the multi-billion dollar deal, funded by New York taxpayers, to have Amazon bring 25,000 jobs to Long Island City in Queens. While many are receptive to Amazon coming to New York, there are plenty of folks concerned with the deal. "I think all economic development programs and the corruption surrounding them have united the left and the right on this very issue because we all know this a waste of money," said Ron Deutsch, [...]

November 15, 2018. This article discusses the incentive package that the Governor is offering Amazon choosing to move "HQ2" to Long Island City. According to the article, the package includes a helipad and $1.5 billion in incentives, which New Yorkers and political leaders are angry about. New Yorkers are infuriated the only infrastructure improvement they will see from the city’s deal with Amazon is apparently a helipad for Jeff Bezos and his lieutenants at HQ2 (and-a-half). It’s not the biggest item in the memorandum of [...]

November 15, 2018. This article discusses the incentive package that the Governor is offering Amazon choosing to move "HQ2" to Long Island City. According to the article, the package includes a helipad and $1.5 billion in incentives, which New Yorkers and political leaders are angry about. New Yorkers are infuriated the only infrastructure improvement they will see from the city’s deal with Amazon is apparently a helipad for Jeff Bezos and his lieutenants at HQ2 (and-a-half). It’s not the biggest item in the memorandum of [...]

November 15, 2018. In an interview with ABC News 10, Ron Deutsch, Executive Director of the Fiscal Policy Institute, discusses the new Amazon HQ plans. Link to the video on ABC News 10.

November 15, 2018. In continuation with the lukewarm reception of Amazon's plan to relocate their HQ to New York City, multiple government watchdogs and economic development experts weigh in on whether the decision will give the expected results. New York City beat out dozens of other cities, some that offered incentive packages even more lucrative than the one on the table here. Many city residents and elected officials aren't convinced that the multi-billion dollar offer is worth it, and that some say the state shouldn't [...]

November 14, 2018. This article discusses the tax subsidies that Governor Cuomo and Bill de Blasio agreed to provide Amazon for moving one of their headquarters to Long Island City. This article highlights the subsidies which include $1.2 billion in “Excelsior tax credits” under New York's Excelsior jobs program, $505 million in capital grants to repay Amazon for their construction costs, and the creation of a General Project Plan for the state to take control of the land which will not require Amazon to pay property taxes [...]

November 5, 2018. This article tells the story of a Syrian family who fled the civil war in Jordan and was resettled in Oakland, California where they are now owners of a catering business, Old Damascus Fare, that makes Syrian food. The family expressed that they hope to own a restaurant in the future. The author highlights the FPI and Center for American Progress report, "Syrian Immigrants: Doing Well and a Strong Receiving Community for Refugees," which found that Syrian immigrants are 11 percent of [...]

November 2, 2018. This audio broadcast discusses the Trump's proposed "Public Charge" rule, that would deny permanent residency to applicants who receive specific public benefits from the government. It highlights that the proposed rule is creating confusion and fear in the immigrant community and that many green card holders believe that they can't become citizens if they recieved or are receiving benefits. The factors included in the decision of "public charge" include age, health, income, and English proficiency. The broadcast refers to the chilling effects and the [...]