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Head tax vote: "We have shown that we can come together and get a solution," mayor says

By Alexis Estrada
By Alexis Estrada

SEATTLE — The gavel is down, the council has spoken and the business tax is a go. Here are in-depth perspectives from those who support Seattle's new head tax to help the homeless and those who stand strongly against it, so you can weigh the facts.

Even after today's historic vote, both sides are vowing to continue the fight.

The chamber was filled with people who feel very strongly on both sides of this issue.

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​"We are ready to fight," the crowd chanted. "Housing is a human right!"

At times, the Seattle City Council chambers felt like an activist rally with much of the cheering coming from supporters of the full $500-a-head corporate tax. They insist the tax is essential to helping Seattle solve its very visible homeless crisis.

"A $75 million tax would mean an extra 26 cents per employee per hour for the 3 percent of businesses affected," said a head tax supporter.

For a time, Councilman Mike O'Brien clung to that position, too.

"I think the bill before us, unamended, is the best path forward -- $500 dollars to raise $75 million a year," O'Brien said, to applause.

But there were plenty of voices opposing any head tax at all.

"This is not going to be solved by more taxes," said Ari Hoffman of Speak Out Seattle. "It's going to be solved by enforcing the laws on the books, and the laws right now are not being enforced."

But by the end of the weekend, a political reality had settled in around the council.

"That this is really the strongest proposal that we were going to be able to bring forward," said Councilwoman Lisa Herbold.

And, there was a compromise: a $275 corporate head tax. It ultimately won over the most ardent supporter of the original tax, Councilwoman Kshama Sawant. She called the fight a movement.

"Let's face it. The movement is the single most important factor without which we wouldn't even be having this discussion," Sawant said.

Moments later, the council unanimously passed the head tax into law. Even supporters of the larger tax applauded.

Later, Mayor Jenny Durkan applauded the move, too.

"We have shown that we can come together and get a solution instead of simply name-calling, bickering or tweeting at one another," Durkan said.

But the debate continued to rage outside. Both sides still sticking to their original positions. Yet, some who strongly opposed the tax said they can live with the council's vote.

"Those dollars should be going on my members' checks," said Monty Anderson, of the Seattle Building and Construction Trades Council. "But I'm all for compromise, too. So this was a compromise. We bargain for a living. So I'm OK with it."

But, clearly, this issue is not going to go away anytime soon. When asked whether she agreed with the council's decision, Linda Soriano, a member of the Lummi Nation, was adamant.

"No, I don't," she said. "We need that full amount, the full amount, the full amount."

Both sides did agree on at least one thing: The city has not been fully accountable for the money it has been spending on homelessness.

To that end, the mayor announced she will create an oversight committee to show voters how the new tax money is being spent.

Cox Media Group

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