[idbentley]

I just don't understand why this conversation seems to be dominated by financial discussion. The main problem that many NYs had with the Amazon deal was dilution of our culture. Dumping 25,000 high earning employees into a complex and vibrant city is following San Francisco into folly.

They probably oversell the economic benefit, and it's pretty foul the way a corporation can push around politicians. But the bottom line is, these jobs wouldn't go to existing New Yorkers in large part, and that makes the economic benefit to New Yorkers thing difficult to reason about.

[jpochtar]

Do you... live in New York? I don't mean to be rude but you say "our" culture can't handle 25,000 high earning employees. 25,000 new high earners would be utterly unnoticed in the sea of Wall St.-ers. Honestly I think it'd improve the high-earner culture here if anything...

[idbentley]

I live in Brooklyn.

In lower Manhattan they might be unnoticed, but that is not New York. Queens, is not Manhattan. You're talking about a major gentrification event. Can't handle is bad wording, but it would seriously exacerbate the wealth distribution problem here, which is already the worst in the country.