Democratic Primaries
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Link to tweet
Amazon Led a Tax Rebellion. A Year Later, Seattle Is Gridlocked
(snip)
Then Dilip Wagle started talking. The senior partner at McKinsey & Co. had written a report saying the city needed to double its spending to provide the roughly 14,000 additional homes needed for people who couldnt keep a roof over their heads. Philanthropy wasnt enough, he said, according to attendees of the November function. A lot more money was needed.
The exchange underscored an impasse thats persisted in Seattle a year after Amazon.com Inc. and other companies beat back a city effort to raise money for homeless services through a tax on large employers. The lobbying win has left the campaign to help one of the countrys biggest homeless populations in limbo, with a patchwork of philanthropic offerings rather than a comprehensive effort to address the issue.
Many businesses argue that the solution to the challenge isnt more government spending; its government spending more efficiently. Local officials, meanwhile, have failed to articulate a clear plan, while facing a regressive tax system that limits how new funds can be raised. Thats led to a divide thats left little room for action.
Its all stalled, said Daniel Malone, executive director of the Downtown Emergency Service Center, which provides supportive housing, health and employment aid. Not only did the tax fail, but I think the fight has kind of stalled out, even the conversations on where to go forward.
(snip)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-09/after-amazon-led-tax-rebellion-seattle-s-homeless-aid-stalls
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Agschmid
(28,749 posts)I think its a huge question, we have tons of issues with this in NYC/Boston areas as well. A lot of private developments can just pay a tax and have the lower income housing they were supposed to provide be removed from plans/contracts.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)The wealthy corporations didn't have to do or build anything. It would be up to the city to provide the shelter, like it does with other taxes.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,111 posts)People try to blame Amazon for it's failure but it's not the case.
I wish Bernie would get his facts straight.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LiberalLovinLug
(14,154 posts)Its even worse when you accuse one of our candidates as not getting his facts straight, when you are the one guilty of that.
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/06/how-amazon-helped-kill-a-seattle-tax-on-business/562736/
Less than a month after the Seattle City Council unanimously passed a head tax ordinance that would have levied a $275 per employee tax on Seattle businesses making more than $20 million a year, the same council voted to repeal that head tax Tuesday, in a 7-2 vote.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,111 posts)The Atlantic is not a Seattle publication.
Not just an Amazon tax: Other Seattle businesses join head-tax fight
Dozens of Seattle businesses not named Amazon are calling for the city to abandon its proposed head tax, which would raise money for affordable housing and homelessness services.
After Amazons high-profile pause last week, businesses have rolled out a coordinated barrage to make their case against the $75 million-a-year proposal, arguing that it amounts to an intentional slowdown of the citys booming economy.
Its being called an Amazon tax and people think its really impacting these big companies that make huge profits and revenues, said Denise Moriguchi, chief executive of the longtime, family-owned grocer Uwajimaya.
But the tax, amounting to up to $500 per full-time employee in its first two years at the estimated 585 businesses in Seattle to which it would apply, would have a much larger relative impact on smaller companies like hers, said Moriguchi.
-more-
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/wide-range-of-seattle-businesses-speak-out-against-head-tax-proposal/
https://www.king5.com/video/news/local/dicks-drive-ins-slams-seattle-head-tax/281-8128439
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LiberalLovinLug
(14,154 posts)That is a clear untruth.
You don't believe The Atlantic that its only for businesses making 20 million or more? Okay this is from the first article you linked to:
"Companies that have at least $20 million in revenue in the city of Seattle are subject to the proposed tax." I hope that clears that up for you. BTW if you want to criticize The Atlantic, where the Never Trumpers like Frum made their mark on that, The Seattle Times is no liberal bastion either, from Wiki:
The Seattle Times launched advertising campaigns in support of Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna and a state referendum to legalize same-sex marriage. The newspaper's management said the ads were aimed at "demonstrating how effective advertising with The Times can be."[18] The advertisements in favor of McKenna represent an $80,000 independent expenditure, making the newspaper the third largest contributor to his campaign.
So according to your article a whole "dozens" of businesses were against it. That's not even a large percent of the 585 business affected. And that second link? Interviewing Dick's Drive-in? This is a business that is a big Republican donor. And I'll go out of my way to predict that the dozens of others complaining about the tax in the $20 million dollar club were also big Republican supporters.
https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2018/08/31/31651572/if-you-boycott-in-n-out-you-should-probably-boycott-dicks-too
Members of the Spady family, the longtime owners of your favorite cheap burger joint, have a long history of donating to candidates that those of you reading this right now might find... problematic. This includes (but is not limited to) Dave Reichert, the Republican Party of Washington State, Dino Rossi, and Mitt Romney
Here's a link to the same Seattle more left of center independent paper, with a story explaining the problem with Dick's and other Republican wealthy that call for charity to solve all the problems rather than government. (As they did in your linked video) Hint...its not reliable, and its totally unaccountable.
https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2018/05/07/26146953/dicks-drive-in-would-rather-not-pay-head-taxes-but-will-seattles-highest-earning-companies-pony-up-without-them
Also from the article you linked to, small business was not all against the tax (I'll bet these are mostly more Democratic friendly):
Some businesses have voiced support for the tax. In March, a letter signed by small-business owners and community groups said a tax on large businesses was the right approach to the homelessness crisis. A business tax is the only option left, and taxing only the larger businesses will reduce the impact of these taxes on the cost of living in Seattle, they argued.
This revolt was spearheaded by Amazon. With a threat to NOT hire 7000 workers if this went through.
Few other businesses have voiced specific plans to halt work on planned projects or to sublease office space theyd already claimed, as Amazon has a move that implied the technology and commerce giant would add 7,000 fewer jobs in Seattle if the tax were implemented.
In fact the whole second half of your article is about how all the other major businesses affected had no plans to reduce workers, or stop expansion because of the tax. Of course they don't like it. No one said they would. And of course they'd co-sign the protest letter. But its Bezos that made the big threat, and other Republican friendly businesses that jumped on that bandwagon. If you want to defend that side of the argument, I guess its a free country.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,111 posts)Katie Herzog got her ass kicked in the comments section.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LiberalLovinLug
(14,154 posts)Because.....it isn't a large corporate owned, Republican donating, established paper? And anything smaller is not to be believed?
What exact falsehood or other line do you find you must "stoop" to read? And you count the number of right wing trolls to decide how much you respect a paper? For myself, the more outrage from wingnut snowflakes usually only reaffirms an articles worth.
BTW, not all the comments were trolls,
"some donated generously, which may be partly why we remember their names today (they're stamped on buildings: Carnegie Hall, Rockefeller Center, Vanderbilt University, etc.)."
And there's the rub.
The wealthy prefer charity over taxation because they want... no, they NEED everyone to see how generous they are, see? Then when they rape their employees or destroy the environment they can point to charity and say "but look at how generous I am!!!" Plus, they only want the people that they personally deem "worthy" to receive their drippings. They don't want just any old poor to get their "charity." They only want certain select poors (the ones who will kiss their asses as return payment) to be eligible.
On to your other response,
Of course some (a few dozen whom I would bet were Republican voters) wearing the Putin anti-climate change yellow vest attire that their French allies wear, of the construction workers that were directly affected by the reckless extortion announcement by Amazon about stopping their construction if they were forced to have to help the homeless, would be upset. Even if its just a temporary construction job. But you have to weight the pros and cons. A few dozen construction workers mad. Not at the company that promised them work and is now breaking that promise and having a tantrum, holding their breath, until the city relents. Which is all most likely a phony threat anyways. Not all union paying workers are lefties. In fact I'd expect a segment of R supporters to be used by the right to make a scene for the cameras. And in fact, Sawant brought a union member to speak in favour of it.
I don't know why I am arguing with someone on a Democratic website about whether the richest company it the world, and other 20 million dollar businesses, can extort a democratically elected council to drop a policy to help homeless people have a place to sleep, costing them a drop in their collective buckets.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,111 posts)Guess you forgot about the construction workers who shouted Sawant down after she tried to patronize them.
People can think for themselves. YOUR patronizing attitude doesn't help either.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
CrispyQ
(36,231 posts)Kids are graduating from college with debt that equals what I paid for my house 30 years ago but minimum wage is only a couple of dollars higher. The pundits on TV can squawk all they want about the great economy but I don't think most people are feeling it. They will milk it for as long as they can, but an economy for the few can't last.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)Housing has gotten outrageously expensive in some areas.
Are yur property taxes low? I think that when property taxes are low, the cost of housing goes up, because people can afford and will pay higher prices for housing.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
uawchild
(2,208 posts)I am semi-rootless and could, at this stage of my life, pretty much move anywhere.
As a hobby of sorts, I routinely check out different cities for cost of living, culture, scenery... all that.
I am always shocked that NO WHERE is inexpensive, especially in regards to housing prices.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
mnhtnbb
(31,320 posts)I am retired. Sold the big, custom built house in Chapel Hill last year. Currently living in a very nice high rise apartment building in downtown Raleigh. I tell people that if I won the lottery, I'd be living on the upper west side of NYC, but since I haven't, this has to do. I walk to almost everything. Big oak trees (Raleigh is the City of Oaks) in park across the street. Old brick buildings of the 1914 City Market across the street, with brick sidewalks and cobblestone streets. Lots of really good restaurants in walking distance.
People are moving to NC and the new homes going up in the Triangle area are crazy. My oldest son and his partner just bought a new townhouse--trading up--that is being built for them in Cary.
I've thought about buying, moving to an over 55 community, or maybe a downtown condo. You can still get townhouses--new ones being built--in the low to mid $200K range in the outer communities of the Triangle area. Everything else is at least mid-$300's or more.
Homeless problem here is not out of hand because it gets pretty cold in the winter. But it bugs the heck out of me that the city of Raleigh approved a $12.6 million renovation of the 4 acre park downtown across the street from me. From what I can see, a huge waste of money. Why not spend half of that on affordable housing and limit the park renovations?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
uawchild
(2,208 posts)The Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area is very attractive.
I have looked at it again recently, actually.
A long time ago I enjoyed living in Chapel Hill and later Durham and remember it fondly, including the long summer drives out to the Outer Banks.
Still, it's attractive for quality of life, culture, health care (of course) but it's not exactly inexpensive. Worth the money though!
Like they say, often times you get what you pay for.
Thanks for the update! That townhouse option might deserve another look.
Thanks again!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
mnhtnbb
(31,320 posts)Chapel Hill is more expensive because residents have agreed to pay higher property taxes for the public schools.
If you remember Hillsborough, that is where new townhouses are being built for sale in the $200's.
If you go to the eastern section of Durham, there are new developments in the low $300's.
If you go to Fuquay Varina or Apex, there are new developments in the low $300's.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)"As a hobby of sorts, I routinely check out different cities for cost of living, culture, scenery... all that."
I'm presuming checking out "all that" is easier for you than finding the speaking times allotted to candidates?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,111 posts)Most houses are in the $500,000+ region.
Rent's a bit more $1000 lately.
It's really gotten crazy. I'm glad I bought when I did.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
George II
(67,782 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,111 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Wounded Bear
(58,440 posts)all the building going on in Seattle means a lot of jobs, too.
The homeless crisis is a tough nut to crack. I'm not sure how the head tax was supposed to 'provide low income housing.' The devil is always in the details.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,111 posts)I think we need to deal with homelessness but many seem think a tent city is all that is needed. My God, that's a failure of the system.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
uawchild
(2,208 posts)"The exchange underscored an impasse thats persisted in Seattle a year after Amazon.com Inc. and other companies beat back a city effort to raise money for homeless services through a tax on large employers. The lobbying win has left the campaign to help one of the countrys biggest homeless populations in limbo, with a patchwork of philanthropic offerings rather than a comprehensive effort to address the issue."
Amazon.com Inc. and other companies beat back a city effort to raise money for homeless services through a tax on large employers. The lobbying win has left the campaign to help one of the countrys biggest homeless populations in limbo
That seems pretty clear to me. The lobbying has derailed plans to help the homeless.
Bloomberg could not have stated that any clearer.
Shrug
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
plimsoll
(1,664 posts)But other than getting the money it wasn't clear that this was actually going to help.
There are homeless camps everywhere around here. Eventually the residents get a bad case of nimby and camp A goes away, but the residents don't seem to have viable means of transportation so they can't be going far. If Seattle somehow came up with a Seattle only solution it might not actually help.
As I said, this is not new. We've been pretending this isn't a problem for the last century at least. It's just that in the past, folks who camped in the woods were less visible. The building boom pushes those alternatives further out, where there is less transportation and work. It's a viscous cycle.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
uawchild
(2,208 posts)I am on the east coast and have lived in several cities from NYC to Boston, and maybe it's just what they show on the news, but Seattle appears to have a much worse homeless problem than we have here.
Is that depiction accurate?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Agschmid
(28,749 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
plimsoll
(1,664 posts)I figure the homeless problem was bad right after the Klondike Goldrush too. All those folks headed north, lost their shirts and were not going to make it in the Yukon, so back to their jumping off point.
I think we get people coming here now because they hear there are jobs. But a job and affording rent are apparently two different things.
Despite being a big city, Puget Sound is kind of like Ultima Thule. It's the end of the world, if you're trying to run away from your history.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
uawchild
(2,208 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
plimsoll
(1,664 posts)Its not a secret as far as I can tell. So even though Amazon both contributes to and could help solve this problem, they're not the sole culprits.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
LibFarmer
(772 posts)the situation will be far far worse.
All 49 other states would welcome Amazon with open arms. The Queens/Bronx deal may be dead but there are other parts of NY that would love to have Amazon.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Lucky Luciano
(11,242 posts)...set up some significant presence in NYC. GOOG does have a big footprint here.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
LiberalLovinLug
(14,154 posts)This is exactly the kind of economic extortion that is wrong with unfettered capitalism. The extra tax requested from Amazon was a minuscule drop in the bucket of what Bezos pulls in every year. But for some, greed rules, every penny they can keep, through threats using their own employees as pawns, they will use. Disgusting how low they will go for the last scraps of profit. Even if this tiny contribution would help the communities in or around their business.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
LibFarmer
(772 posts)and I love how their company is operated
Fairly priced merchandise, quick shipping, prompt refunds, great service overall.
This is what capitalism is all about -- find a need and fill it, keep customers happy so they keep coming back for more.
It is no different for any business -- whether it is a hot dog stand or Amazon.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
uawchild
(2,208 posts)'Being homeless is better than working for Amazon'
I am homeless. My worst days now are better than my best days working at Amazon.
According to Amazons metrics, I was one of their most productive order pickers I was a machine, and my pace would accelerate throughout the course of a shift. What they didnt know was that I stayed fast because if I slowed down for even a minute, Id collapse from boredom and exhaustion.
During peak season, I trained incoming temps regularly. When that was over, Id be an ordinary order picker once again, toiling in some remote corner of the warehouse, alone for 10 hours, with my every move being monitored by management on a computer screen.
Superb performance did not guarantee job security. ISS is the temp agency that provides warehouse labor for Amazon and they are at the center of the SCOTUS case Integrity Staffing Solutions vs. Busk. ISS could simply deactivate a workers badge and they would suddenly be out of work. They treated us like beggars because we needed their jobs. Even worse, more than two years later, all I see is: Jeff Bezos is hiring.
I have never felt more alone than when I was working there. I worked in isolation and lived under constant surveillance. Amazon could mandate overtime and I would have to comply with any schedule change they deemed necessary, and if there was not any work, they would send us home early without pay. I started to fall behind on my bills.
At some point, I lost all fear. I had already been through hell. I protested Amazon. The gag order was lifted and I was free to speak. I spent my last days in a lovely apartment constructing arguments on discussion boards, writing articles and talking to reporters. That was 2012 and Amazons labor and business practices were only beginning to fall under scrutiny. I walked away from Amazons warehouse and didnt have any other source of income lined up.
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/nov/28/being-homeless-is-better-than-working-for-amazon
Amazon warehouses are hellish and exploitative.
I am at a loss for words that you love how Amazon is operated.
Didn't you even consider the workers?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
LibFarmer
(772 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
uawchild
(2,208 posts)Chiao, baby!
*presto*
And just like that... he's gone! lol
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)But that's merely a random and irrelevant observation... much like yours.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LiberalLovinLug
(14,154 posts)They could use it in advertising. Showing homes being built, former homeless persons happier, complete with soaring violin music. I would never criticize them for using a contribution like this, not fighting city hall on it, to market themselves to make more profits. Heck, I'd look to use their sevices more if they had done that.
But to Bezos, its all about using the power of his empire and the damage he could do to the community if local government doesn't do what he wants, damn the homeless. Just because he can. As long as he squeeze out those few extra dollars to top up his giant pile of money. Its mostly of course the principle for him. Not the money. Its a warning to other councils across the country to give him whatever he wants, or else.
If that hog dog stand decided to donate a few of their hot dogs to the homeless. Maybe a one day a week free one hot dog to any homeless person that asked. I don't know, something that won't cost too much. Then a news reporter comes down and does a story on them, and suddenly they have lineups at their stand. Which more than pays for their contributions to the community.
The thing is, if we don't want a Socialist government, who makes sure everyone has a decent place to live, and we are all in for Capitalism, then our only way for local governments to do things for the underprivileged, to give them the boost that just might be enough to propel st least some of them into the tax paying working class, then demanding more from the billionaire owned mega corps who rise rents, cause gentrification by their very nature, is the only way to do it.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
LibFarmer
(772 posts)Tax is an expense to business and businesses really don't care as long as they can pass the tax on to their customers.
If all businesses are taxed equally, then the consumers (end users) pay the tax because it is just passed on to them.
If only one business is singled out, it is at an economic disadvantage against competition which is not being charged the same tax.
If I owned a hot dog stand and I was taxed because I was selling more hot dogs than the next stand, I'd not like it either because the other guy can sell his hot dogs cheaper.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LiberalLovinLug
(14,154 posts)So I guess, theoretically, if your hot dog stand made $20 million, and one of your competition only made $19 million, they'd not have to pay that extra. It might even result in that damn competitor taking in the same net profits as you, or even a bit more!..even though you make more gross! What a terrible lack of justice!!!!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
SCVDem
(5,103 posts)All the negative effects of oil, coal or nuclear are paid for by we the people.
Why in thee hell are we paying distribution and tech companies which enjoy monopolies?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden