Dana Mathewson

Did you ever think we'd actually be agreeing with anything opined by the New York Times Editorial Board? I sure didn't. But when it comes to actual economics, it seems that they look at the world more like real people do. Which means that when they see lots of potential money flying away from New York, they get as upset as real people do.

The typically liberal New York Times Editorial Board blasted Democratic leaders in a scathing piece on Thursday about Amazon backing out of plans to bring 25,000 jobs to the Big Apple – which the paper calls an "embarrassment to the city.”

Mayor Bill de Blasio responded to the news that Amazon backed out by declaring,” "You have to be tough to make it in New York City,” which is a statement the Times didn’t appreciate.

"What a strange thing for the mayor to take pride in. It’s certainly true that you have to be tough these days. But that’s because the subways don’t work, the streets are gridlocked, the housing is unaffordable, the shelters are overcrowded, and the schools are segregated and often inadequate,” the Editorial Board wrote.

The board then reminded readers to "think how much tougher it’ll become for the typical citizen,” as opposed to "the ones who ride in chauffeured government cars” if the city develops a reputation of "for the smugness of its politicians and their hostility to business.”

The Times then admits the deal had issues, but it feels that doesn’t justify the shock loss of 25,000 jobs and roughly $27 billion in tax revenue over the next 20 years.

"This embarrassment to the city presents a painful lesson in how bumper-sticker slogans and the hubris of elected — and corporate — officials can create losers on all sides,” the Editorial Board wrote.

The paper then noted that "elected officials who identify as progressive painted Amazon as a rapacious engine of inequality,” while few were actually interested in trying to improve the deal and instead spent their time grandstanding.

"They missed an opportunity to try to get the company to help address housing and infrastructure problems that the development, for all its benefits, would exacerbate,” the paper wrote.

The Editorial Board then mocked de Blasio for claiming that Amazon’s competitors will realize New York City’s talent if the tech giant doesn’t.

Sock! Biff! Pow! If they'd only use the same clear-sighted analysis when examining anything President Trump says or does. Well, we know that's too much to hope for.

The article is here: https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/new-york-times-editorial-board-mocks-de-blasio-blasts-democratic-leaders-over-amazon-debacle

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