New York Times: N.Y. Senate Picks Critic of Amazon Deal to Key Board (With Veto Power)

J. David Goodman

February 4, 2019

When Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio crafted a deal to bring a major new Amazon campus to New York City late last year, they tried to make it hard to block. Opposition among local elected officials and activists, while vocal, seemed futile.

But now, those who want to stop Amazon from coming to Queens have gotten their most tangible boost yet: an opponent of the Amazon deal has been selected for a spot on a little-known state board that the governor has said will have to decide on the development plan for Amazon, and could veto it completely.

On Monday, the new Democratic majority in the State Senate chose one of the most vocal critics of the Amazon deal, Senator Michael Gianaris of Queens, to represent them as one of three voting members of the Public Authorities Control Board. Any voting member of the board has the power to block projects that come before it.

The selection of Mr. Gianaris, detailed in a brief letter obtained by The New York Times, was certain to cheer those who have advocated for elected leaders to scuttle the agreement reached by Mr. Cuomo and Mr. de Blasio in November, which could amount to $3 billion in state and city incentives for Amazon to create 25,000 to 40,000 jobs in Queens.

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“I’m not looking to negotiate a better deal,” said Mr. Gianaris. “I am against the deal that has been proposed and don’t believe that it can form the foundation of a negotiation.”