Chuck Schumer & Jetblue: Senate Majority Leader Pleads with JetBlue CEO to Keep HQ in New York
By: Tobias Hoonhout (National Review)
Now we know what it takes to receive personal attention from Chuck Schumer. And, at the least, we are provided a small glimpse of the politics behind the American Rescue Plan.
Is Chuck Schumer's priority keeping 1,300 jobs or keeping corporate taxes in New York? After New York crafts another sweetheart deal to keep JetBlue headquarters in New York, will it really matter?
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) made a personal call to JetBlue chief executive Robin Hayes Wednesday in an effort to dissuade the airline CEO from moving the firm's Long Island City headquarters to Florida.
Schumer cited the passing of the $1.9 trillion "American Rescue Plan," which allocates an additional $14 billion for airlines, in arguing the company owes its allegiance to New York. JetBlue was founded in Queens in 1998.
"JetBlue's roots and its future are here in New York," Schumer told the New York Post — which broke news Wednesday of a company memo saying that JetBlue is weighing its options. "With the critical pandemic relief dollars we just delivered on to help save airlines like JetBlue, and the thousands and thousands of New Yorkers they already employ, the airline should actually clear the runway to grow here, not recede. Bottom line, I am confident JetBlue will remain New York's hometown airline for a long time to come."
JetBlue has yet to say how many of the more than 1,300 jobs it plans to move from its current office, which has a lease ending in 2023. The airline already houses its training center in Orlando and its travel subsidiary in Fort Lauderdale. The Post cited a March 11 memo sent to Long Island City staffers, which referenced the airline's "own financial condition" as well as "more leasing options" amid the post-COVID "hybrid work environment."
"We are exploring a number of paths, including staying in Long Island City, moving to another space in New York City, and/or shifting a to-be-determined number of [headquarter] roles to existing support centers in Florida," the memo — the contents of which were later confirmed by a JetBlue spokesperson — reads.
JetBlue was previously wooed by Orlando in 2010, but accepted a favorable package from lawmakers to keep its headquarters in New York .
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Does anyone actually believe Chuck Schumer's concern isn't about the money? How much loyalty will $1.9 trillion buy?
Keep JetBlue. Send Upchuck Schummer to FL. Trump can always use a new caddy.
I wonder what JetBlue told Schumer he had to offer in return for them to stay? Maybe get the city/state to buckle and give them a gigantic tax break?
Unless Chuck is trying to say that all of the airline money only goes to airlines based in NY Jet Blue doesn't owe him, or NY a damn thing. His next campaign contribution from them might reflect that.