'Amazon Cuomo': Governor Offers Name Change To Land New HQ

NEW YORK — There's already an Amazon river — but how about an Amazon governor? Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday said he'll name himself after the online retail giant to help bring its second headquarters to New York City.

"Anything else I can think of that’ll get us over the top, anything they want named Amazon — I’ll change my name to Amazon Cuomo if that’s what it takes," the Democratic governor said at an unrelated event in Brooklyn. "Because it would be a great economic boost."

New York was one of 20 finalists in Amazon's nationwide search for its second home, sometimes known as HQ2, which is expected to cost $5 billion and create up to 50,000 high-paying jobs. The Seattle-based firm first solicited proposals in September 2017.

Amazon has yet to pick a winner, but The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that the firm will split its new headquarters between two cities, with each getting 25,000 employees. An announcement could come as early as this week, according to the paper.

The city's Economic Development Corporation proposed that Amazon could set up shop in one of four neighborhoods: Long Island City in Queens, the "Brooklyn Tech Triangle" in North Brooklyn, the World Trade Center and Midtown West in Manhattan.

The state has "put together a very strong incentive package" to help lure the company, Cuomo said. He didn't give specifics, though he suggested the benefits aren't as generous as the "crazy" packages other states have developed. New Jersey reportedly offered Amazon up to $7 billion in tax incentives to land HQ2.

The governor cited the state's growing economy, workforce and schools as reasons why Amazon should pick New York.

"I don’t know how they could decide to go anywhere else," he said. "It may be a breach of their fiduciary duty to pick another state."

To further sweeten the deal, Cuomo also offered to rename Long Island City's notoriously polluted Newtown Creek after the company.

"That’s now the Amazon Creek," he said.

(Lead image: Gov. Andrew Cuomo is seen on Sept. 29, 2018 in New York City. Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Global Citizen)