"We negotiated a fair deal on behalf of the people of this community, getting [Amazon> no more than any other company would qualify for, including those that are based here in our community, and I think we should be proud of that," said Poloncarz, noting that the company must abide by the ECIDA regulations requiring equal pay and local hiring. "I'm hopeful that this project does get approved by the people in Grand Island."
However, as Poloncarz correctly predicted, about a dozen protesters took to the sidewalk outside the Rath Building Friday afternoon, making it very clear how they feel about a national distribution center coming to their community.
"It's going in an area that's surrounded by private homes on three sides, a state park, and an area that contains wetlands," said Jim Mazza, a resident of Grand Island since 1984, who says he lives fairly close to where the project would be located. "It is absolutely a situation that is intolerable to residents based on all of the environmental factors.
Mazza is also very concerned about the potential traffic factor on the Grand Island Bridge.
Regardless, Poloncarz believes the warehouse would serve as a benefit to a great deal of county residents.
"As the county executive, I have to represent all 25 towns, the three cities, and I have to try to do the best to create an economic environment for our greater community - that's what this project is - a project of regional significance," he said. "In the end, this is too important a project for our community to turn its back on because if we turn our back on this project, it's basically sending a message to a lot of these other mega-projects that do exist out here - don't come to Erie County."
The project would entail a 3.8 million square-foot facility that would employ roughly 1,000 people.