New York, N.Y. December 2018. Tara Sanchez is a high school freshman and international judoka competitor based out of the Kokushi Budo Institute. Filmed in collaboration with Andrew Karpinski.

On November 13th, 2018, Amazon announced two east coast headquarters, one in Long Island City and the other in Northern Virginia. As Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo welcomed the announcement, opposition to the deal quickly mounted. Activists claimed Amazon’s HQ2 would displace local residents and stress a dilapidated public transportation system. They claimed HQ2 would tear apart the fabric of the surrounding community of Long Island City which included Jackson Heights and Astoria. Supporters of HQ2 welcomed the increase of foot traffic in neighborhood storefronts as well as new jobs.

 In the wake of the announcement, we set out to explore the impact of Amazon on small businesses. Walking around HQ2’s proposed site at Anable Basin in Hunter’s Point, we passed Rockaway Brewing Company and Big aLICe Brewing. Within a six-block radius to HQ2, there were a total of four brewing companies, small businesses in their own right.

 Breweries have unique small business requirements. They are zoned industrial, package and distribute alcohol within or out of the state, and also serve wine and beer. Each requires permits and licenses issued by the city, state, and Federal government. But Hunter’s Point is distinct because of them and their close proximity has created an emerging scene for craft beers. Examining the community of customers and the staff of this burgeoning community, we learned that many looked at Amazon’s arrival with curious skepticism. With Amazon’s exit, they felt a mix of a missed opportunity but also a continuation of business as usual.

Between 2010-2014, I served as an Active Duty U.S. Army Armor Officer. Here are some of the photos I took during my time in service.