NYC will get Community Advisory Committee to guide Amazon HQ2 in Long Island City

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo have announced a new Community Advisory Committee (CAC) that will solicit community input and share information for Amazon’s forthcoming HQ2 in Long Island City.

The 45-member CAC is comprised of both community and citywide stakeholders that were recommended by local officials. There will be three subcommittees to handle tasks such as developing plans for Amazon’s new headquarters and onsite public amenities; determining essential investments infrastructure for Long Island City and the surrounding neighborhoods; and creating training and hiring programs that will prep New Yorkers for the 25,000 to 40,000 jobs that HQ2 will create. There will also be a Steering Committee comprised of the co-chairs of each subcommittee along with officials from the Empire State Development (ESD) and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC).

“The Community Advisory Committee will bring together stakeholders of all backgrounds to help shape this important plan,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Robust community engagement is critical to ensuring that the investments and resources generated from this project serve the needs of everyone in Long Island City and beyond.”

Opposition to Amazon’s forthcoming HQ2 in Long Island City has been mounting. Queens Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, along with several other local elected officials, labor unions, and progressive grassroots organizations have blasted the Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio for giving tax breaks to Amazon while the city has ongoing infrastructure funding needs. Meanwhile, Governor Andrew Cuomo and Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen have defended the deal, stating that Amazon will pump $900 million back into New York’s economy each year.

The full CAC will meet quarterly beginning in January and the subcommittees will meet on a monthly basis.