Amazon tries to win over New Yorkers with ad campaign

A print advertisement ran in the Saturday editions of the local newspapers, the Daily News and the New York Post. It's also posted online.

"Happy New Year from your future neighbors at Amazon," the ad reads.

The company said it hopes to have a "long and mutually beneficial partnership between New Yorkers and Amazon." It pledged that the 25,000 jobs that will be added over 10 years at its so-called HQ2 in the Long Island City neighborhood will include new hires from "across the five boroughs" and with "all different levels of education."

It also says the company will offer career training for local residents and bring in over $27 billion in state and local tax revenue that can help "improve subways and buses."

I live in Long Island City. Here's what Amazon needs to know

"As we move forward, we pledge to be your partner, to listen, learn, and work together," the ad said.

Amazon spurred protests when it announced in November that it planned to establish a large new presence in New York City and Northern Virginia after a year-long search for a second headquarters outside of Seattle. Amazon accepted bids from cities across the United States, as well as Canada and Mexico.

Some New Yorkers — including Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio — cheered Amazon's decision to head to the Big Apple.

But critics object to the massive subsidies that New York offered to lure the tech behemoth.

New York State will grant $1.525 billion in incentives contingent on the company creating 25,000 new jobs with an average salary of $150,000.

Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the liberal firebrand whose district includes Long Island City, is among HQ2's naysayers. State Senator Michael Gianaris and Queens City Council Member Jimmy van Bramer have also voiced their opposition to the tax breaks.

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