Organizing works.
Congratulations to CAAAV, Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM), Make the Road New York, Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development, TakeBackNYC, #SaveNYC and countless other community organizations and coalitions that emerged in the battle to reclaim our city. These community groups fought tooth and nail against a corporate behemoth that has repeatedly bullied city governments and workers into submission. Because of them, Amazon HQ2 is not coming to NYC. Their victory has inspired GAPIMNY and reaffirmed our commitment to economic justice and solidarity with marginalized peoples.
We must invest in people and communities, not corporations. When government provides huge subsidies to corporations, as was done with the Trump tax cuts, the wallets of the 1% swell ever larger while millions of workers continue to toil at unlivable wages, unsure of whether they can pay off their student loans, afford to stay in their home, or buy astronomically expensive life-saving drugs for their children.
With Amazon HQ2 leaving NYC, some bemoan the loss of jobs and tax revenue while preaching trickle-down economics, but we know this is a false argument. While politicians like Governor Cuomo are capitulating to Amazon and pleading for them to come back, we know better, and we will remain vigilant if and when that happens. We will continue fighting against gentrification and displacement, supporting people over profits, and championing an affordable city for all. We stand in solidarity with those who fight displacement as they are routinely the first on the chopping block when the forces of gentrification wash through their neighborhoods.
Amazon has made it clear that they will grow in New York City in other ways, but in the meantime we celebrate those who organized against HQ2. We feel their joy and excitement. We are reminded that organizing works and that when we are united and build collective power, we win.