Effort to repeal Seattle's business tax gains support, money from large companies

SEATTLE - The effort to get rid of the tax on Seattle’s biggest businesses is generating big money.

Disclosure filingswith the city show donors have pledged almost $353,000 dollars as of Wednesday.

Backers are some of the businesses that would have to pay the $275 employee tax scheduled to start in 2019. Starbucks, Amazon, Vulcan, Albertson’s, Kroger – the owners of QFC and Fred Meyer - are just some of the companies pledging money.

Saul Spady, one of the organizers of the referendum said the financing will allow the "No Tax on Jobs” campaign to hire paid signature gatherers.

“Sometimes you need help from paid signature gathers to get movements going,” said Spady. “In this case the grassroots is completely driving this forward.”

Supporters of the referendum are feeling the heat of an alleged boycott called by some supporters of the Employee Hourly Tax.

“I'm not afraid of a boycott,” said Elise Lindborg, co-owner of ZippyDogs, a promotional product maker in West Seattle.

She was identified in a Facebook post as one of four West Seattle businesses that should be boycotted for supporting the referendum efforts.

“Just like homelessness, it effects everyone and it needs to be everyone's issue and not put on the backs of businesses to pay for it,” said Lindborg.

Peel and Press, a restaurant in West Seattle was also identified as a target for boycott. Since owner Dan Austin, pledged his support on Monday and lets customers sign the referendum if they ask for it, he said business has been great.

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“We’ve had people come in that are for the head tax and say we are against trying to take away business from small business for just having an opinion,” said Austin.

Working Washington, a group supported by labor unions is asking their members to report locations where signature gatherers are working.

A spokesman denies they are behind any boycott list and acts of intimidation.

"Some of the richest humans and largest corporations in the world are working with fringe groups to stoke hatred of poor people and mislead voters," Sage Wilson, a spokesperson for Working Washington said in a statement.

Late Wednesday, four members of the Seattle City Council, who were prime sponsors of the original $500 per employee tax, issued a statement supporting small businesses and not a boycott.

“We are not aware of any organized efforts to boycott local businesses who are opposed to the Employee Hours Tax (EHT). If such efforts were to manifest, we would not endorse that approach.” councilmembers Lorena Gonzalez, Teresa Mosqueda, Lisa Herbold and Mike O’Brien said collectively in a statement to KOMO News.

Kshama Sawant, the most outspoken supporter of the tax was not part of the statement.