Hi, my name is Suzie Burke,
I am a business
and property owner
in North Seattle,
where I also live.
I am speaking for myself
and fellow citizens of Seattle
who will have to pay
the new taxes
if Proposition 1 is passed.
We hope you will vote No
on these tax increases.
Even the City Council discussed
replacing this Seattle Only Tax
with a countywide measure
to support countywide Metro services.
They considered making it
a four-year measure
to be more accountable and equitable.
But none of those changes
came into this proposition.
The pandemic has
greatly decreased
the ridership of Metro,
and our empty city does not need
to increase taxes for services
right now.
Even though routes
could be changed
and improvement could be made,
they don't need new dollars.
There are a lot of
"could be" promises
in this tax increase,
but once again,
Seattle voters are being asked
to give a large blank check
to be used as others decide.
No guarantees.
Meanwhile, bus service in the city
may be cut anyway
because of Metro's pandemic losses.
Our new tax dollars
should not be used
to fill their financial hole.
This was admitted in
city council considerations
in July.
Please vote No
on Seattle Proposition 1.
Even members
of your city council
and the mayor thought
Proposition 1 far from ideal
and asking for more than is needed,
that six years is too long,
and an increase in sales taxes
hurts people less able to pay.
They call it a regressive tax.
Please vote No
on Seattle Proposition Number 1.
Thank you.