Amazon’s incoming New York City headquarters is expected to displace hundreds of public school employees, according to a New York Daily News report.
The tech giant is slated to take over a building in Long Island City that currently houses several of the city’s public education offices, which employ hundreds of staffers, according to the news outlet.
{mosads}New York City schools spokesman Will Mantell told the Daily News that Education Department staffers were told on Wednesday that they will have to move out of their offices.
“We will be identifying new space for staff currently in this building as soon as possible,” Mantell said. “We’ve notified staff and will work closely with staff throughout the transition process.”
The Queens building that Amazon will occupy currently houses Education Department offices that manage school construction spending, school meals and student transportation, the Daily News reported.
Amazon on Tuesday officially announced that it would split its highly anticipated second North American headquarters between New York City and Arlington, Va., after a more than yearlong search.
The announcement has stirred some controversy in New York City, where Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) and Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) have lauded a new era of prosperity while constituents have expressed concern about rising rents and possible displacement.
Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who will be representing part of Queens, said on Twitter that she had been flooded with calls from constituents concerned about the impact of having Amazon as their new neighbor.
“Amazon is a billion-dollar company,” she wrote. “The idea that it will receive hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks at a time when our subway is crumbling and our communities need MORE investment, not less, is extremely concerning to residents here.”
Amazon will be collecting more than $1.5 billion in incentives from the city.