Amazon HQ2 in Long Island City
By Starlyn Reyes
Amazon HQ2 - The Basics
Some of you may already know this, but Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon and The Washington Post, is planning to bring Amazon’s HQ2 to Long Island City as well as to Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia. They will start construction sometime in 2020, but Amazon will begin to occupy the Citi Building right here in Court Square starting this year.
This could mean that New York City’s population will grow because Amazon will bring many new employees to Long Island City. According to nyc.gov, Amazon says they want to bring about 40,000 workers to the new HQ2 and they say that 25,000 of those jobs will be new hires from New York City. This means thousands of people will apply for the opportunity to work for Amazon. This also means that NYC’s subway and commuter rails will be packed with Amazon employees trying to get to work.
NYC Subway Will Be Packed With Amazon Employees
With Amazon in Long Island City, the New York subway will be more crowded than it was before, and that’s saying something! Especially when it comes to the 7 train. The 7 train runs from Flushing, Queens to Midtown 34th Street, Manhattan. Gantry Park is near the Vernon Blvd - Jackson Avenue Station where the 7 train stops and Amazon”s HQ2 will be located across the Anable Basin near the North end of Gantry Park. The HQ2 is also near a NYC East River Ferry Station as well as the Long Island City LIRR station. So when Amazon comes to LIC, all of these transit lines, especially the 7 train, will be more packed than ever.
According to The New York Times, the MTA says that they are going to double the amount of 7 trains running to Long Island City. This is just one of many changes that will happen to public transportation in New York City.
Ms. Halloran is a 6th grade English teacher at HPCMS who lives in Jackson Heights and takes the 7 train. She says, “taking the 7 train is a challenge most days. At 5:45am, it is sardine-can crowded, and even when it’s the middle of the day, it runs sporadically and seems to change from local to express on a whim. I think Amazon here will only be more taxing on this subway line. I certainly hope that with all of the tax breaks the company is getting, they will dedicate funding to upgrade this line.” Sambuddha, a 6th grader who lives in Jackson Heights takes the 7 train every day and he says when Amazon comes “it’s gonna be a problem and plus more delays.” He also says that right now and on weekends “the 7 train is terrible.”
The Amazon Deal Will Impact Schools in LIC
In Long Island City there is only one elementary school, PS 78, which goes from pre - kindergarten all the way to eighth grade! There are so many kids that attend the school, that it is currently at 135% capacity, which is over what most schools are at, percentage wise. Not to mention the borough’s high schools are averaged at about 117% capacity.
Everyone wants their children to succeed in the future, so there needs to be another school for this community and for additional HQ2 families. The construction across the street from our school is where a new elementary school will be built with 612 seats for students from PreK to 5th grade that will open in 2021.
But is that enough? Long Island City was going to build another school but the site is where HQ2 is going to be and even though the school is still part of the plans, the plans are now changing. According to City Lab, Amazon plans to fund a middle school near HQ2. But we are not clear what's going to happen. Moreover, according to DNA Info, the city will also build a high school in Dutch Kills in Long Island City, which will be great for for the community’s kids.
Protesters, Even the Long Island City Councilmember
Because of the deal that Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo have made with Amazon, lots of people have been protesting in Long Island City. On a rainy Tuesday afternoon on November 26 people were protesting about Amazon coming here because it affects lot’s of things in New York. Some people don’t like the deal of Amazon HQ2 in Long Island City because it would affect residents. According to Gothamist even the Long Island City councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer and other councils like Jumaane Williams were in the crowd. These people were protesting because Amazon HQ2 can affect residents, plans and buildings and even transportation.
What Do You Think?
Some people around the city say that Amazon is a great idea because they can have this chance to get a job, while others say it’s a bad idea because this can affect the environment in the city. So do you like or dislike the idea of Amazon in Long Island City? You can let us know by emailing starlynr20@hunterspointcms.org or carag20@hunterspointcms.org! Until next time!
This could mean that New York City’s population will grow because Amazon will bring many new employees to Long Island City. According to nyc.gov, Amazon says they want to bring about 40,000 workers to the new HQ2 and they say that 25,000 of those jobs will be new hires from New York City. This means thousands of people will apply for the opportunity to work for Amazon. This also means that NYC’s subway and commuter rails will be packed with Amazon employees trying to get to work.
NYC Subway Will Be Packed With Amazon Employees
With Amazon in Long Island City, the New York subway will be more crowded than it was before, and that’s saying something! Especially when it comes to the 7 train. The 7 train runs from Flushing, Queens to Midtown 34th Street, Manhattan. Gantry Park is near the Vernon Blvd - Jackson Avenue Station where the 7 train stops and Amazon”s HQ2 will be located across the Anable Basin near the North end of Gantry Park. The HQ2 is also near a NYC East River Ferry Station as well as the Long Island City LIRR station. So when Amazon comes to LIC, all of these transit lines, especially the 7 train, will be more packed than ever.
According to The New York Times, the MTA says that they are going to double the amount of 7 trains running to Long Island City. This is just one of many changes that will happen to public transportation in New York City.
Ms. Halloran is a 6th grade English teacher at HPCMS who lives in Jackson Heights and takes the 7 train. She says, “taking the 7 train is a challenge most days. At 5:45am, it is sardine-can crowded, and even when it’s the middle of the day, it runs sporadically and seems to change from local to express on a whim. I think Amazon here will only be more taxing on this subway line. I certainly hope that with all of the tax breaks the company is getting, they will dedicate funding to upgrade this line.” Sambuddha, a 6th grader who lives in Jackson Heights takes the 7 train every day and he says when Amazon comes “it’s gonna be a problem and plus more delays.” He also says that right now and on weekends “the 7 train is terrible.”
The Amazon Deal Will Impact Schools in LIC
In Long Island City there is only one elementary school, PS 78, which goes from pre - kindergarten all the way to eighth grade! There are so many kids that attend the school, that it is currently at 135% capacity, which is over what most schools are at, percentage wise. Not to mention the borough’s high schools are averaged at about 117% capacity.
Everyone wants their children to succeed in the future, so there needs to be another school for this community and for additional HQ2 families. The construction across the street from our school is where a new elementary school will be built with 612 seats for students from PreK to 5th grade that will open in 2021.
But is that enough? Long Island City was going to build another school but the site is where HQ2 is going to be and even though the school is still part of the plans, the plans are now changing. According to City Lab, Amazon plans to fund a middle school near HQ2. But we are not clear what's going to happen. Moreover, according to DNA Info, the city will also build a high school in Dutch Kills in Long Island City, which will be great for for the community’s kids.
Protesters, Even the Long Island City Councilmember
Because of the deal that Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo have made with Amazon, lots of people have been protesting in Long Island City. On a rainy Tuesday afternoon on November 26 people were protesting about Amazon coming here because it affects lot’s of things in New York. Some people don’t like the deal of Amazon HQ2 in Long Island City because it would affect residents. According to Gothamist even the Long Island City councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer and other councils like Jumaane Williams were in the crowd. These people were protesting because Amazon HQ2 can affect residents, plans and buildings and even transportation.
What Do You Think?
Some people around the city say that Amazon is a great idea because they can have this chance to get a job, while others say it’s a bad idea because this can affect the environment in the city. So do you like or dislike the idea of Amazon in Long Island City? You can let us know by emailing starlynr20@hunterspointcms.org or carag20@hunterspointcms.org! Until next time!
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