City Inside/Out episodes

Proposed 'head tax' to boost homeless services debated on City Inside/Out

City Inside/Out: Proposed employee tax to fund homeless services

3/2/201829:17

How should Seattle deal with its homeless crisis? Is a new employee-hours tax to combat homelessness part of the solution? The Seattle City Council rejected a so-called "head tax" during last year's budget negotiations and instead formed a Progressive Revenue Taskforce on Housing and Homelessness to study the issue. The taskforce just wrapped up its work, and the Council will begin considering its recommendations in mid-March. How are the city's employers reacting? Which businesses would pay the tax and how much? What other progressive revenue sources are the taskforce recommending? Where will the money go?

Guests:
Jonathan Gerig, DESC Donor
Kirsten Harris-Talley, Co-Chair, Progressive Revenue Taskforce on Housing and Homelessness
Daniel Malone, Executive Director, Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC)
Sara Marckx-Russell, DESC Donor
Chris Maykut, Founder, Chaco Canyon Café
Mike O'Brien, Seattle City Council
Jon Scholes, President & CEO, Downtown Seattle Association
Marilyn Strickland, President & CEO, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce

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