The Employee Hours Tax suffered its demise in the most cringeworthy way possible. The sad display of political cowardice was reflected in a 7-2 vote to repeal the tax, with councilmembers Kshama Sawant and Teresa Mosqueda being the oppositional votes. As Jeff Bezos ponders using his wealth for space exploration, the city of Seattle continues to grapple with a state of emergency.
Amazon used the “Boeing method” to instill fear and ensure compliance in politicos. After all, who would be against “jobs,” right? June 12 was the most recent example of political capitulation to corporate overlords.
In late 2013, Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation that offered Boeing a tax-break package to the tune of $9 billion in hopes of acquiring the company’s 777X project.
The Los Angeles Times noted in May 2017 that Boeing later cut over 12,655 jobs — more than 15 percent of its workforce in Washington state. At the city level, we can see a similar economic hegemon hold local lawmakers politically hostage. The difference is that it seems Amazon has been telegraphing their plans by engaging in a grotesque race to the economic bottom (who can offer the most breaks and most pliable labor force) with other major cities vying for the coveted HQ2 site.
If the experience with Boeing has taught us anything, it’s that corporations will bully politicians for more resources, often to the detriment of local communities.
If the experience with Boeing has taught us anything, it’s that corporations will bully politicians for more resources, often to the detriment of local communities.
The economic boom associated with Amazon has been largely lopsided. Those who benefit live a different reality than those who are rent-burdened. A study from UCLA’s Anderson Forecast suggests that in Los Angeles, higher median rent and housing prices “strongly” correlate to increased homelessness and higher rent burden. This model mimics our reality in the Emerald City.
The phenomenon is visible in my profession as a social services provider (I work with homeless youth through my employer). Housing instability impacts not only individuals but whole families, many of whom are of socially marginalized backgrounds. Likewise, educational and professional attainment isn’t always a means for evading the sting of housing insecurity. Crosscut published an article in May illustrating this point by alluding to case workers who contend with low pay and high turnover. Most are one missed check away from housing insecurity themselves.
There’s a necessity for increased shelter space to meet the emergent need. Likewise, affordable units are needed for many working people in Seattle. The fact that the richest corporations donated to the repeal effort rather than cooperating in finding viable alternatives to ameliorate conditions suggests that there is no sense of community and social responsibility. Jeff Bezos doesn’t care about poor people.
Oscar Rosales grew up in the Yakima Valley and works and resides in Seattle. He has previously contributed to HistoryLink.org and the Seattle Civil Rights & Labor History Project.
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