On the street they will tell you: "That if you have to pay for it – it ain’t love."

The deal between Amazon and New York City recently broke down in acrimony and accusations. One side led by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and powerful commercial and real estate interests viewed the $3 billion public investment as a small price to pay for the thousands of direct and indirect jobs and future tax revenues. On the other side, there was a motley and diverse collection of labor, progressives, anti-gentrification activist, environmentalists, political opportunists, and luddites who each had their own reasons for objecting to the deal.

The motley crew wo....