Seattle’s political circus just added another act, and this time it’s Mayor Katie Wilson taking center stage—waving goodbye not just to critics, but apparently to prosperity itself. Even The Washington Post editorial board, hardly a conservative stronghold, couldn’t ignore the growing mess, delivering a sharp rebuke of Wilson’s dismissive attitude toward taxpayers and businesses fleeing the city.
Just days after securing her election victory, Wilson made headlines by joining Starbucks baristas on a picket line, pledging to boycott the company until union demands were met. Bold move—especially when the same company is now shutting down stores locally while expanding operations in Nashville, taking 2,000 jobs with it. But hey, who needs jobs when you’ve got slogans, right?
The bigger issue brewing (no pun intended) is the economic fallout. Washington State’s new “millionaire’s tax,” clocking in at 9.9% for incomes over $1 million, is already pushing high earners to reconsider their zip codes. Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz didn’t waste time—he and his wife are heading to Miami, where the state income tax is, conveniently, zero. Funny how numbers like that tend to matter.
Wilson, however, seems unfazed. Speaking at a Seattle University event, she brushed off concerns about wealthy residents leaving, calling them “super overblown.” And for those who do pack their bags? Her response: “bye,” complete with a wave. Nothing says leadership like casually dismissing the people footing a large part of the bill.
Critics, including the editorial board, have labeled her approach as arrogant—an attitude they argue is becoming all too common among political elites in the state. And it’s not just media voices raising alarms. Microsoft President Brad Smith admitted he’s more concerned about Washington’s business climate now than at any point in the past 30 years. That’s not exactly a glowing endorsement.
In the end, this isn’t just about one mayor or one city—it’s a snapshot of what happens when ideology takes the wheel and economic reality gets tossed in the trunk. Still, if there’s one thing Americans know, it’s that common sense has a way of making a comeback. And when it does, cities like Seattle might just remember what made them thrive in the first place.
