Seattle City Council votes 9-0 for scaled-down head tax on large employers

[Nathan89]

The legislation calls for a tax of $275 per employee, per year on for-profit companies that gross at least $20 million per year in the city — down from a $500-per-head tax that Mayor Jenny Durkan had threatened to veto.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle...+tax_5_14_2018

[Nathan89]

“We are disappointed by today’s City Council decision to introduce a tax on jobs. While we have resumed construction planning for Block 18, we remain very apprehensive about the future created by the council’s hostile approach and rhetoric toward larger businesses, which forces us to question our growth here. City of Seattle revenues have grown dramatically from $2.8 billion in 2010 to $4.2 billion in 2017, and they will be even higher in 2018. This revenue increase far outpaces the Seattle population increase over the same time period. The city does not have a revenue problem – it has a spending efficiency problem. We are highly uncertain whether the city council’s anti-business positions or its spending inefficiency will change for the better.”--Drew Herdener, an Amazon vice president

[Pavlov]

More Canadians for California.

[Will Hunting]

Yeah, that’s a stupid way to tax companies...even dumber than Texas’ franchise tax.

[Nathan89]

LOCAL


'How is that a compromise?': Iconic 's Drive-In slams Seattle head tax

The focus was largely on Amazon, but small businesses like 's Drive-in say it will hit them hardest.

"That's what's really frustrating, this isn't about Amazon at all," said Saul Spady, whose grandfather founded 's back in 1954. "This is a tax on high-volume, low-margin businesses, like restaurants, and that's where it's going to put the most pain. And it's making restaurants like 's Drive-ins think really strongly about do we make our workforce more efficient, do we give less money to charity, or maybe we just don't be a business in Seattle."

"I'd be happy to write a check for homelessness. Am I happy to write a check to the city of Seattle for them to manage my money? Not super stoked about that,"

https://www.king5.com/article/news/l.../281-552130426

Good 2min video in this article

[Nathan89]

[Nathan89]

More Canadians for California.

More Canadians to wherever they put headquarters 2.

[Pavlov]

More Canadians to wherever they put headquarters 2.

Seattle will be fine.

Don't worry so much about them.

[Nathan89]

Just fix the zoning and build bigger buildings. I'm not sure why these cities insist on driving up living costs.

[Spurtacular]

Seattle will be fine.

Don't worry so much about them.

Too big to fail, bro. Amirite?

[Pavlov]

Too big to fail, bro. Amirite?

Too desirable a place to live tbh.

[sickdsm]

Pavlov can't comment directly on the topic. Just say it's bull , man.

[Pavlov]

Pavlov can't comment directly on the topic. Just say it's bull , man.

They probably shouldn't give so much away in incentives to attract businesses in the first place. I don't care too much about this particular law. I wouldn't be surprised if it's vetoed or repealed if it really stifles growth.

[AaronY]

OP preaching his pro-business gospel as he don't want Atlas to shrug and ruins the lives of us bottom 99 percenters freeloading off of them (He was a Bernie Bro and wanted $15 minimum wage, universal health care, free college et cetera last week btw)

[sickdsm]

They probably shouldn't give so much away in incentives to attract businesses in the first place. I don't care too much about this particular law. I wouldn't be surprised if it's vetoed or repealed if it really stifles growth.

So you're not concerned that they did an end around on income tax? That's cool with you?

[spurraider21]

OP preaching his pro-business gospel as he don't want Atlas to shrug and ruins the lives of us bottom 99 percenters freeloading off of them (He was a Bernie Bro and wanted $15 minimum wage, universal health care, free college et cetera last week btw)

[Pavlov]

So you're not concerned that they did an end around on income tax? That's cool with you?

No, I'm not concerned at all. Taxing en ies make taxes. It's not like this is an irreversible jump off a cliff or something. If it's an abomination, it will be addressed.

Maybe you can tell me what you think is the big deal here.

[sickdsm]

Income tax is illegal in Washington. You are effectively labeling people as property and taxing them on it.

[sickdsm]

Too desirable a place to live tbh.

3rd largest concentration of homeless in the US. Sounds like Paradise.

[boutons_deux]

3rd largest concentration of homeless in the US. Sounds like Paradise.

In lots of cities, regions, "The Rent's Too Damn High" and the jobs, salaries are too damn low.

[DMC]

Stossel: Hair Color for Men... Is It Too Expensive?

[Pavlov]

Income tax is illegal in Washington. You are effectively labeling people as property and taxing them on it.

Then someone will sue if that's a valid legal argument.

3rd largest concentration of homeless in the US. Sounds like Paradise.

So don't move there.

[Blake]

3rd largest concentration of homeless in the US. Sounds like Paradise.

2nd fastest growing city in the US.

Just don't make eye contact with the homeless and you're ok

[sickdsm]

2nd fastest growing city in the US.

Just don't make eye contact with the homeless and you're ok

Is there a reason you don't make eye contact with the homeless?

[sickdsm]

Then someone will sue if that's a valid legal argument.

So don't move there.

You avoided the party about taxing people as if they are property. Is that something you'd like to see, legal or not?


You ask me what my big issue with it then tell me not to move there. I gave no indication of me wanting to move anywhere. Would that be your response to any news story anywhere in the world?