Jimmy Van Bramer, Leader In Amazon Fight, Backs Eliabeth Warren

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY — A Queens lawmaker who led the fight against Amazon's planned New York City headquarters is supporting a presidential candidate who wants to break up tech giants.

City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer endorsed Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren in the Democratic presidential race Thursday, saying she has demonstrated an "unshakable commitment" to supporting everyday people over big corporations.

"The next president of the United States needs to fight for families like mine, and lead us toward an economic future that puts working people first," Van Bramer, a Democrat who's also running for Queens borough president, said in a statement. "That's my life's work and Elizabeth Warren's as well, and that's why I'm unbelievably proud to support her for President."

Van Bramer became the first elected official from Queens to endorse Warren ahead of Thursday's presidential debate in Houston and her major campaign speech this Monday in Washington Square Park. City Comptroller Scott Stringer and Brooklyn council members Brad Lander and Antonio Reynoso have also backed the senator.

Van Bramer was a vocal opponent of Amazon's plans for a sprawling new headquarters in Long Island City — which he represents — that would have created at least 25,000 jobs in exchange for about $3 billion in tax breaks and grants.

Opposition from Van Bramer, other politicians and activist groups led Amazon to cancel those plans on Valentine's Day. Critics of the deal raised concerns about its generous economic incentives and Amazon's treatment of its workers.

Warren also criticized Amazon at the time, saying the company abandoned the deal because "some elected officials in New York aren't sucking up to them enough."

Less than a month later, she unveiled a plan to break up massive tech companies such as Amazon, Google and Facebook, which she accused of "substitut(ing) their own financial interests for the broader interests of the American people." Van Bramer, now in his third term on the council, met with Warren the day she released that plan.

Van Bramer is the latest city official to back Warren over Mayor Bill de Blasio, who is continuing his longshot presidential campaign despite failing to qualify for Thursday's debate. He has said he may drop out of the crowded race if he does not make the cut for the next debate in October.