Amazon Accused of Slowing Deliveries to Predominantly Black DC Neighborhoods
The District of Columbia has filed a lawsuit against Amazon, accusing the company of secretly halting its fastest delivery services in two predominantly Black neighborhoods while continuing to charge residents for Prime memberships that promise expedited deliveries.
The complaint, filed in the District of Columbia Superior Court on Wednesday (Dec 5 ), alleges that Amazon excluded ZIP codes 20019 and 20020 in 2022 from its speedy delivery network, opting instead to use third-party carriers like UPS and USPS.
This shift significantly slowed delivery times, affecting nearly 50,000 Prime members in these neighborhoods.
“Amazon is charging tens of thousands of hard-working Ward 7 and 8 residents for an expedited delivery service it promises but does not provide,” said Attorney General Brian Schwalb, emphasizing that these areas rely heavily on Amazon due to limited retail options.
However, the online retail giant defended its decision, citing driver safety concerns in these areas.
“We made the deliberate choice to adjust our operations… for the sole reason of protecting the safety of drivers,” said spokesperson Kelly Nantel, who dismissed the lawsuit’s claims as “categorically false.”
The District also alleges Amazon concealed the policy change and failed to notify affected customers, many of whom experienced a dramatic drop in timely deliveries. According to the lawsuit, two-day delivery rates in the ZIP codes fell from 72% in 2021 to just 24% in 2023.
The attorney general is seeking restitution for impacted residents, along with penalties to prevent deceptive practices. “Amazon cannot covertly decide that a dollar in one ZIP code is worth less than a dollar in another,” Schwalb stated.
The latest suit marks the second major legal battle between Amazon and the District of Columbia and reignites longstanding concerns about delivery inequities in predominantly Black communities nationwide.
