A business group that includes Amazon has taken out ads for the NBA Finals to oppose a New York City bill that would require the company to hire a substantial number of delivery workers, which would likely lead to increased delivery costs for customers.
The New York State Business Council is airing a commercial during the game, aiming to raise awareness about the City Council’s Delivery Protection Act among viewers watching the Knicks on ESPN.
Proposed by Queens Councilwoman Tiffany Caban, this legislation would take away Amazon’s same-day and next-day delivery services, complicating access to essential goods. The ad warns that the police should “not destroy what works for New York families.”
This 30-second spot, which cost around $200,000 according to sources, is part of a larger campaign aimed at highlighting city and state laws affecting affordability in New York City. The campaign will persist through the finals.
Another $200,000 ad spot for Game 1 featuring the Knicks against the San Antonio Spurs sheds light on the contentious bill that would disrupt Amazon’s current delivery practices. It would require licensing for last-mile distribution centers and mandate direct employment for delivery workers.
Amazon has indicated that this latest version of the bill could lead the company to ponder relocating its delivery services outside of New York City. The bill is estimated to impact approximately 5,000 workers across small to medium-sized businesses and increase delivery fees for New Yorkers by an average of $664 annually, according to the consulting firm AKRF.
Amazon’s spokesperson, Kelly Nantel, expressed concern that the bill would likely slow down deliveries and make them costlier, diminishing the overall customer experience for many in the city. The company is contemplating moving its ten fulfillment centers to regions like New Jersey, Long Island, or Westchester County.
In an intensely debated City Council meeting last April, there was a heated exchange between delivery workers opposed to the bill and Teamsters who supported it.
