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Dozens protest Amazon plans outside of Grand Island Town Hall

Posted at 11:17 PM, Aug 03, 2020
and last updated 2020-08-03 23:17:43-04

GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. (WKBW) — Dozens protested outside of Grand Island Town Hall, Monday night. Inside, the town board met with representatives of a proposed massive Amazon fulfillment facility.

“This project will be a real positive beneficial, impactful benefit to the town,” explained Kimberly Nason, a partner with Phillips Lytle and lawyer for the Grand Island Amazon project.

It's estimated that over the next 15 years, this facility would provide $51 million dollars in town, county and school taxes. Developers say they will also pay for other projects in the town. Amazon would give the town $10-million to improve infrastructure and create a new community center. Those promises don’t make the deal any more viable for the people of Grand Island who don't want to see this project completed.

“It’s zoned ‘light industrial.’ I'm sorry, but one of the largest warehouses in the entire world, not just the U.S., not just Amazon, the entire world, is not light industrial,” said Cathy Rayhill the spokesperson for the Coalition for Responsible Development for Grand Island.

As for Monday night's meeting, no decisions were made on the project. The board listened to Amazon representatives and public input from the public.

A public hearing is set August 13th at 7pm. The public will be allowed to physically attend the meeting. The town board will be taking steps to keep people separated.