Amazon is reportedly reconsidering its New York deal and will 'explore alternatives'

Amazon may be looking for a return on its HQ2 order.

The company is "reconsidering" plans to locate one of its two new corporate headquarters in Queens, New York City, and executives have had "internal discussions recently to reassess the situation" and to "explore alternatives," The Washington Post reported Friday. New York still hasn't officially approved the deal.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio (D) announced in November that Amazon had picked Queens as the site of one of its two new corporate headquarters. At the time, Cuomo proudly said the project would create 25,000 jobs by 2029. New York would give Amazon more than $1.5 billion in tax incentives, The New York Times reported. But the announcement sparked backlash among Queens residents and politicians, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who said that "the idea that [Amazon] will receive hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks at a time when our subway is crumbling and our communities need more investment, not less, is extremely concerning to residents here."

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Ocasio-Cortez was not alone in her criticism, and The Associated Press recently reported that the New York Senate nominated an opponent of the deal to the board overseeing the project, where he could theoretically veto it should Cuomo approve his nomination.

Now, a source familiar with Amazon's discussions tells the Post, "the question is whether it's worth it if the politicians in New York don't want the project." The Post notes that Amazon, which hasn't yet bought a Queens office, could "forgo the incentive package and hire employees on a smaller scale," or it could "search for another jurisdiction to get some or all of the jobs originally slated for New York." But then again, the report notes, this could all just be a threat meant to "put pressure on New York officials."