John Avlon is a CNN senior political analyst and anchor. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion articles on CNN.

(CNN) This is why we can't have nice things.

Local liberal activists -- championed by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez -- loudly protested Amazon's decision to move half its eastern hub to Long Island City ever since it was announced.

You kept sending Amazon stories. We couldn't stop reading them We wanted to know what CNN Opinion readers across the country were thinking about this critical decision. Were you cheering or jeering? Did you see the pullout as an economic setback to New York City or a blow struck on behalf of the little guy? Your answer: all of the above -- and more.

The activists were outraged that the incentives given to the world's wealthiest company were too generous. But they just screwed their community by depriving it of a transformational investment. It's a painful reminder that nobody wins when the not-in-my-backyard activist crowd stands in the way of the real progress that comes from investment.

Remember that Long Island City won the lottery when New York City and the state successfully bid on the campus that every large -- and most medium size -- cities were hoping to land.