EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A recently published report by a national non-profit organization — the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) — argues that many local government entities and school districts across the country have become increasingly dependent on Amazon to supply them with basic supplies and routine goods over local suppliers.
The report drew from purchasing records of 128 cities, counties, and school districts in 2023. Among those entities were the City of El Paso and the Ysleta Independent School District, which according to the report spent almost a combined $2 million in purchases with Amazon.
ILSR-AmazonProcurementReportDownload
The table below, obtained from the report, shows that the City of El Paso’s Amazon purchases totaled $758,314.
Meanwhile YISD’s totaled just over $1 million.
Based on the purchasing figures of El Paso, YISD, and the other entities cited in the report, the report argues that the reliance on Amazon hurts local businesses and competition, and thereby hurts local economies…