Head tax supporters attended Sawant’s rally in Seattle
May 12, 2018, 8:09 AM | Updated: 3:09 pm
Kshama Sawant’s rally “March on Amazon! Tax Big Biz to Build Affordable Housing!” was planned well before a committee passed a head tax on big businesses, including Amazon. The full Seattle City Council is expected to vote on the proposal on Monday.
”Our message today for the council is to stay strong,” Kshama Sawant – one of the most vocal proponents of the tax – told KTTH’s Jason Rantz at the rally.
The rally on Saturday began at Seattle Central College Plaza and preceded a march to Amazon’s headquarters in South Lake Union.
Head tax 101: What to know about the proposal
“This is extortion,” the events Facebook page reads, “and we must stand up to [Jeff] Bezos’ bullying. Having made a profit of $1.6B in the first 3 months of this year, the tax will be pocket change for Amazon.”
That extortion is the aforementioned threat to halt construction on two projects in the city.
Sawant has continually targeted Amazon as she’s pushed for the head tax.
When the city council first began pursuing a head tax, Sawant pushed to double the proposed tax on the wealthiest 10 percent of businesses. Her reasoning: if Amazon can afford a second headquarters, it can surely pay a tax for each of its employees.
RELATED: Committee rejects amendment to slash proposed head tax
On Friday, Seattle City Council’s Finance and Neighborhoods Committee voted down an amendment to the head tax that would have cut the amount businesses would have paid in half and approved the original bill that would tax big businesses $500 per employee, per year.
