Thread by @bradlander

A few thoughts on Amazon (in light of their carefully-timed threats yesterday), and their constant monopolistic certainty that they have the right to make their own rules & dictate them to the rest of us.

nytimes.com/2019/02/08/nyr…

If Amazon wants to come to NYC, play by our rules, pay their taxes in full, be good neighbors, and play their part in our democracy, they would be most welcome. Just like anybody else.

But let’s be very clear: that’s not what they want.

Their business model was built on evading taxes from the start. Then, their HQ2 hunger-games bidding contest was entirely designed to force cities to bid away their tax base. The HQ2 $3bn is just one more move in this game. theguardian.com/technology/201…

When the Seattle City Council decided they needed a tax on large businesses to address homelessness/housing, Amazon not only opposed it. They led a scorched-earth campaign that weakened that city’s local democracy. Because they want to make all the rules. theguardian.com/cities/2018/ju…

Going around ULURP isn’t just avoiding the @NYCCouncil . It is sending a signal that the view local democracy as a nuisance to be defeated. That’s also why they demanded a non-disclosure agreement. They want to hold all the cards & make all the rules. nytimes.com/2018/12/20/nyr…

They sure don’t seem interested in being good neighbors.

Good neighbors don’t demand a private helipad.

Good neighbors don’t help ICE with technology to more easily deport their immigrant neighbors. buzzfeednews.com/article/daveya…

Playing by our rules means respecting workers rights. @NYCCouncil has strengthened fights for fast-food workers, car-washeros, for-hire drivers, freelancers. Instead, Amazon told us plain-as-day that they will oppose their workers effort to unionize. nydn.us/2Dr5gq4

Read in this context, yesterday’s threat (placed in the Jeff Bezos’-owned Washington Post) is just how they play this game. They use their corporate power to try to get what they want. This week, what they want is to scare and weaken forces opposing them. washingtonpost.com/local/virginia…

Is it surprising that a governor who literally said he is happy to be known “Amazon Cuomo” -- in other words, that he is happy to subordinate our democracy to their corporate power -- would take part in Amazon’s efforts to bully opponents into silence? It is not surprising.

I’ll say it again, even though other opponents don’t all feel the same: If Amazon wants to play by our rules, pay their taxes in full, be good neighbors, and respect our local democracy, they are welcome in NYC. Just like everyone else.

That would indeed still present big challenges of growth, gentrification, affordability. But with our democracy & tax base intact, I believe we could deal with them. But Amazon is not interested in that social contract. Their latest threats just make it all the more clear.