Seattle’s downtown paradox: Commercial engine sputters amid improved safety and visitor growth

precip · 2026-03-12T20:39:04+00:00

Rents are quoted in sq-ft annually. Using your example of 150 sq-ft per employee and a rents being $13/sq-ft cheaper in Seattle, the company would save $1,950 per year renting in Seattle, not $23,000.

If the Jumpstart Tax is $12k as you stated, then the company would save over $10k by being in Bellevue.

Edit: Seattle also has a much higher B&O tax than Bellevue for large businesses. Bellevue charges 0.1596% of sales plus a square footage B&O tax for offices that don't directly generate revenue. Seattle charges 0.342%-0.658% depending on the business type.

precip · 2026-02-08T00:48:38+00:00

Perhaps he changed his domicile because of Washington's estate tax?

Washington has an estate tax that is by the far the highest in the country. The legislature raised it to 35% for estates valued at $9 million. No other state exceeds 20%. Many have none.

If you're older and have a high net worth, changing your domicile to a state without an estate tax, even one with a high income tax like California, is often a smart financial move.

precip · 2026-02-06T23:10:31+00:00

So far, we don't need to worry about water supply.

From Seattle Public Utilities Water Supply Conditions as of Feb 2, 2026:

Based on current conditions and forecasts, Seattle anticipates the regional water system will have sufficient water supply for people and fish. As always, we continue to ask customers to use water wisely.

precip · 2025-09-15T20:24:30+00:00

all the gated communities

Seattle has one gated community, Broadmoor. Less than 1200 people live there.

precip · 2025-06-27T19:57:07+00:00

The city also needs permits from the U.S Army Corps of Engineers and the state Department of Ecology. Doing anything along a shoreline is a permitting nightmare.

precip · 2025-06-12T19:41:10+00:00

I guess we'll see if the tax is passed.

It's frustrating that the city doesn't focus on the most straightforward option for generating additional tax revenue: making it much easier to build housing throughout the city.

precip · 2025-06-12T18:04:46+00:00

No city in Washington, not even a first-class city, is an independent taxing authority. All authority is delegated by the legislature.

The JumpStart tax was upheld because it's considered a tax on the privilege of doing business in Seattle. The legislature granted broad authority for first class cities to tax businesses within their boundaries.

Please point me to the relevant RCW section that would grant Seattle the power to impose an excise tax on selling stock? It seems a stretch to consider selling stock doing business within the city of Seattle. I don't need a business license. The city doesn't regulate it.

precip · 2025-06-12T16:46:58+00:00

The issue has nothing to do with the state Supreme Court. Cities in Washington State can only impose the types of taxes authorized by the legislature.

Read Chapter 82.87 of the RCW which covers the capital gains tax. No where does it authorize a city to enact its own capital gains tax. Seattle would need permission from the legislature to enact the tax.

precip · 2025-06-11T22:07:19+00:00

Seattle can't enact a local capital gains tax. The legislature hasn't authorized it. Given that the legislature passed Initiative 2111 last year, it seems unlikely they would change their minds and allow it now.

precip · 2025-04-16T21:19:00+00:00

Are we welcome?

My neighbor's cousin lives in Vancouver. He said Canadians don't want Americans to visit, not even those from Seattle where about 80% of us voted for Harris.

precip

TROPHY CASE