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QUEENS WEEKLY, FEB. 24, 2019
LIC Partnership optimistic despite Amazon’s decision
has to offer as a home for
great companies and great
people,” the LIC Partnership
said in a statement.
Even so, Lusskin and the
LIC Partnership insisted
that all hope is not lost for
the neighborhood’s future.
“Having one of the largest
companies on the planet
make LIC its first choice to
locate one of its new headquarters
highlights just
how far we’ve come-with
even more opportunities on
the horizon,” the LIC Partnership
statement continued.
“Community organizations
and business leaders
have worked tirelessly
over the years to attract
new businesses that bring
good-paying jobs to Long
Island City, and we know
it is the perfect neighborhood
to grow for tech, life
sciences and other sectors
of the future. The neighborhood’s
diverse amenities,
live-work culture, dynamic
population and convenient
access to two major airports
are only some of what
appeals to innovative companies
large and small. Before
Amazon’s announcements,
the Long Island City
Partnership was advocating
for investments to our
infrastructure, workforce
development, schools and
mass transit, and we will
continue to do so.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry
by e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone
at (718) 260–4538.
BY BILL PARRY
Since Amazon announced
it was going to
build its HQ2 campus in
Long Island City in November,
one of the deal’s biggest
supporters was Elizabeth
Lusskin, president of the
Long Island City Partnership,
a neighborhood organization
that advocates for
economic development.
But the deal’s collapse on
Feb. 14, culminated by Amazon
formally withdrawing
its vision for Queens,
saddened the organization,
though it remains hopeful
that something good may
still come out of the experience
for the neighborhood.
The Partnership’s mission
is to attract new businesses
to the fastest growing
metropolitan area in
the country, retain those
already there while welcoming
new residents and
visitors to the vibrant
mixed use community.
“This is the largest economic
development opportunity
ever for New York
State and New York City,
and if done right, will have
a lasting positive impact
on both, as well as Long Island
City, for generations to
come,” Lusskin said when
she was named co-chair of
the Community Advisory
Committee a week after the
Amazon deal was first announced
in November.
For the last three
months, she spoke highly
of Amazon’s decision to locate
its second headquarters
around Anable Basin.
Lusskin remarked that it
was the culmination of 30
years of work to bring great
jobs to Long Island City
and western Queens with
its 35,000 public housing
residents and more than
50,000 students.
Even after reports surfaced
that Amazon was
reconsidering the move to
Long Island City back on
Feb. 8, Lusskin remained
positive, telling a business
crowd that she had gotten
no indication of any
change in the company’s
decision, but she did warn
that Amazon had plenty of
other options.
“They have before them
fully fledged proposals
from a number of places,”
she said on Feb. 13. “Those
didn’t go into the garbage.”
The following morning
came the stunning announcement
that Amazon
decided to cancel the project
because of the opposition
from local officials.
“The departure of Amazon’s
HQ2 is a tremendous
disappointment and
blow to Long Island City
residents, businesses, nonprofits
and more, who were
eager to seize on the opportunities
created by the
largest economic development
project in New York’s
history. On the brighter
side, the world is getting to
see what Long Island City
Long Island City Partnership president Elizabeth Lusskin
was a key supporter of Amazon’s HQ2 plan but warned
the company had options the day before it cancelled the
project. Photo by Mark Hallum
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