6-13-2018
SEATTLE, Wash. — In a dramatic about-face, the Seattle City Council repealed the head tax on big businesses meant to combat a growing homelessness crisis, leaving both sides of the issue with little confidence in the council.
One Seattle citizen opposed to the head tax said, “I think all of us should be alarmed on either side of this conversation that they’re flip-flopping that much.”
A supporter of the head tax criticized the speed with which the reversal happened. “I’ve never seen a special meeting called in less than 24 hours to repeal a vote that was taken unanimously just a couple weeks before,” she said.
KOMO reports the City Council voted 7-2 Tuesday to reverse the tax after sharp criticism from Seattle heavyweights Starbucks and Amazon, as well as a citizen campaign.
Supporters of the tax, including councilwoman Kshama Sawant who voted against the reversal, voiced their anger. “It is a cowardly betrayal of our movement,” said the socialist.
The Seattle region has some of the highest homelessness numbers in the U.S., and Mayor Jenny Durkan tells KOMO, they’ll come back with a better plan.
Residents on all sides of the issue say they’ve lost faith in the council, with one woman opposed to the tax noting that those who voted to reverse it have terms ending in 2019.