State’s top economic development chief defends Amazon deal

ALBANY, N.Y. – The Cuomo administration’s top economic development official is defending the deal to bring one of Amazon’s second headquarters to New York City.

Howard Zemsky, head of the main economic development agency, tells lawmakers at a state budget hearing in Albany Tuesday that the 25,000 to 40,000 jobs Amazon is promising for Queen’s Long Island City neighbourhood is an “unprecedented number” for New York state.

The deal New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo brokered with Seattle-based Amazon calls for the company to receive about $3 billion in city and state subsidies.

Business and neighbourhood leaders from Queens joined two Amazon officials in Albany Tuesday to voice support for the project, which is being opposed by some members of the state Senate and New York City Council.