Starbucks exec. says Seattle leaders looking for someone to blame

There are a large number of global businesses in Seattle which created the city’s current economic environment. Activists are calling on them to step up and help solve the current homeless and affordability problems the city faces by paying a head tax.

RELATED: Seattle head tax 101

But those businesses are saying not so fast.

John Kelly, senior vice president of Global Public Affairs and Social Impact at Starbucks, says the city has spent millions on the homelessness issue only to see the problems get worse.

“I would look for something else to blame as well,” he told Seattle’s Morning News.

Kelly says city leadership has ignored advice from its own experts.

In 2016, a consultant for the city said the council needs to do less talking and take more action. A year later, the same consultant said the city did too little, too late.

Many in the business community say they want to see actual plans before the city taxes them further to raise revenue.

The Seattle City Council could approve a head tax on the city’s largest businesses as soon as Monday. The legislation facing opposition from businesses would charge those earning a gross revenue of more than $20 million about $500 per employee, per year. An amendment supported by Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan would reduce the amount charged per employee to $250 a year. That has received support from worker unions and businesses, including Amazon.

Meanwhile, labor rights group Working Washington has called for the prosecution of Amazon for how it has handled the company’s threat to pause construction during the head tax debates. Sage Wilson, spokesperson for Working Washington, says Amazon is “just mad about being told no.”

“They don’t want to be told no because they think this is a company town and they think they’re in charge,” he said.

Wilson says there is a “curious pattern” of corporations and the wealthiest people in the region finding reasons not to support new investments in income inequality and homelessness.

“Why is it we have so many wealthy people right here where we have a housing crisis?” he asked.

The proposed lawsuit by Working Washington was called “ludicrous” by former state Attorney General Rob McKenna.

“This is so irresponsible,” said McKenna. “I haven’t seen anything like it since Councilmember [Kshama] Sawant accused two police officers involved in a shooting of murder.”