Gov. Phil Murphy wants Amazon to know that New Jersey is still open for business following reports that the online retail giant was having second thoughts about coming to New York because of local opposition.
“I think it’s one of the most inspiring, compelling urban stories in America, and it continues to be,” Murphy said Monday about Newark, which Amazon had looked at but rejected, when asked about Amazon, NJ.com reported.
“So we’d remind everybody — Amazon, right through the entire alphabet — Newark and New Jersey are open for business. Period. Full stop.”
A report in the Washington Post last week said Amazon was reconsidering its move to Long Island City in Queens because of opposition from state Senate Democrats.
That news prompted Gov. Andrew Cuomo to blow his stack at State Sen. Mike Gianaris, Amazon’s most vocal critic.
But Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who also opposed Amazon, celebrated the news.
Murphy confirmed Monday that his team has remained in contact with Amazon even after the online retail giant passed over Newark for HQ2.
“We have reminded the folks there that we are still here,” Murphy said. “And we really never stopped.”