A deal between Amazon and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for a massive freight air hub at Newark Liberty International Airport has fallen through, after nearly a year of opposition from grassroots activists and lawmakers.
It’s unclear why the controversial $432 million project — which would have revamped two buildings at the airport for a 20-year lease with the retail giant — is suddenly being scrapped.
“Unfortunately, the Port Authority and Amazon have been unable to reach an agreement on final lease terms and mutually concluded that further negotiations will not resolve outstanding issues,” the agency said in a statement.
An Amazon spokesperson said the company was “disappointed” they couldn’t reach a final deal “after months of good faith negotiations.”
Since the plans were approved last August, the two-state agency and e-commerce giant defended the plan as one that would bring in 1,000 jobs and invest millions in the city.
But since the tentative deal was announced, labor groups and environmental activists have united to fight Amazon’s expansion into the Garden State. Over the past 10 months, groups like Good Jobs Clean Air, Make the Road NJ, and Ironbound Community Corporation hosted monthly rallies and urged lawmakers to fight the agreement.
“We’re incredibly happy,” said Maria Lopez of the Ironbound Community Corporation. “If they want to move somewhere, they should be ready to abide by the laws and expectations set by the communities that live...
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