Amazon Pulls Out of Planned New York City Headquarters
① Amazon canceled its plans to build an expansive corporate campus in New York City after facing an unexpectedly fierce backlash from lawmakers, progressive activists and union leaders, who contended that a tech giant did not deserve nearly $3 billion in government incentives.
② The decision was an abrupt turnabout by Amazon after a much-publicized search for a second headquarters, which had ended with its announcement in November that it would open two new sites — one in Queens, with more than 25,000 jobs, and another in Virginia.
③ Amazon's retreat was a blow to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio, damaging their effort to further diversify the city's economy by making it an inviting location for the technology industry.
④ The agreement to lure Amazon to Long Island City, Queens, had stirred intense debate in New York about the use of public subsidies to entice wealthy companies, the rising cost of living in gentrifying neighborhoods, and the city's very identity.
⑤ The company made its decision after growing increasingly concerned that the backlash in New York showed no sign of abating and was tarnishing its image beyond the city.
1. pull out of: 脱离；退出
The train pulled out of the station slowly.
火车缓缓驶离车站。
The company pulled out of the Chinese mainland.
这家公司退出了中国大陆。
The US has pulled out of a number of international agreements in the past few years.
过去这几年，美国退出了多项国际协议。
2. headquarters: n. 总部；总公司
· Alibaba's Beijing/Hangzhou headquarters: 阿里巴巴北京/杭州总部
· headquarter: vi. 设立总部
Amazon headquarters in Seattle.
亚马逊的总部坐落于西雅图。
3. face/meet a fierce backlash from sb.: 引起某人的强烈反弹
The relocation plan has met a strong backlash from local residents.
搬迁计划引起了当地居民的强烈反弹。
4. a blow to sth.: 对……的打击
The breakup was a heavy blow to her.
这次分手对她来说是一个沉重的打击。
5. stir intense debate / stir an intense debate: 引起了很大的争议
The celebrity's remarks online have stirred an intense debate.
那个明星在网上的言论引起了很大的争议。
6. abate: vi. 减轻；减弱
The storm showed no sign of abating.
暴风雨没有减弱的迹象。
7. tarnish: vt. 玷污
· tarnish/taint one's image: 损害/玷污某人形象
The recent scandals of actor Zhai Tianlin have severely tarnished his image/reputation.
演员翟天临最近的丑闻严重损害了他的形象。
