June 11, 2018

Switching focus to a regional solution, as proposed by King County Executive Dow Constantine, will better protect economic growth while combating the homelessness crisis through the region

Teamsters Joint Council 28, who has been a vocal opponent of Seattle’s “head tax” since the beginning, is pleased to see the City of Seattle backing away from this controversial tax on employment. The move comes after a community uproar against the tax from constituents throughout Seattle.

“This tax, which would have penalized job creation in the City of Seattle, was never the appropriate solution to the crisis of homelessness,” said Teamsters Joint Council 28 President Rick Hicks. “Mayor Durkan, along with the more sensible members of the Seattle City Council, have come to the right conclusion here. King County Executive Dow Constantine’s regional approach to addressing the crisis is far more likely to yield results without unfairly targeting employment within Seattle city limits.”

“A revised approach to solving homelessness in Seattle will have all the constituents at the table, including labor, business, politicians, the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and subject matter experts who can collaborate to find a solution that works for everyone,” Hicks concluded.

June 12, 2018 Update: The Seattle City Council has voted 7-2 to repeal the tax. We hope that this leads to more productive conversations in the future in which all impacted constituents are given a seat at the table. Together, we can work to end homelessness throughout King County.