Walsh Appalled Amazon Doesn't Offer Same-Day Delivery To Roxbury
BOSTON (CBS) -- Boston Mayor Marty Walsh says it's "appalling" that Amazon doesn't offer same-day delivery service to parts of Roxbury as it does with the rest of the city.
"I don't quite understand it," the mayor told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens on Friday. "What's the reasoning for it? Whoever did the planning for them did a very bad job."
The mayor says he's upset and "you don't discriminate against any part of the City of Boston."
"Roxbury is a great part of our city," he said. "...In today's day and age, I can't believe somebody would make that decision."
"It is discriminatory," said Roxbury resident Tanya Garnett. "I might think about not using Amazon anymore."
"I think that's kind of biased, it's kind of sad too," said resident Eva Grant.
Steve Grossman, CEO of Initiative for a Competitive Inner City, says it is unacceptable. "This is the kind of thing that is a big punch in the face to a person living in the inner city and Roxbury who says 'why do I need to be treated this way?'"
Scott Stanzel, director of communications for Amazon, says there are a number of factors that go into determining where they can provide same-day delivery.
The company offers unlimited two-day delivery nationwide, and same-day deliveries are available in 27 metro areas covering 1,000 cities and towns and it continues to grow, he added.
"Those include distance to the nearest fulfillment center, local demand in an area, numbers of Prime members in an area, as well as the ability of our various carrier partners to deliver up to 9 p.m. every single day, even Sunday," he said on Friday. "We will continue expanding our delivery capabilities and are adding more zip codes rapidly."
Walsh says he's planning to speak with Amazon officials as soon as possible to convince them to change their policy.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports