Live data from Hacker News

Seattle passes smaller ‘head tax’ on big companies after impassioned debate

geekwire.com

101–103 of 103 posts

Re: Seattle passes smaller ‘head tax’ on big companies after impassioned debate

#101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree that it does feel like a terrible self-centered choice to be so against this. I'm actually working in Seattle at a smaller software company where I will have to pay that tax. I used to work at Google in Seattle, so I would have had to pay it there too. There's a tremendous problem here with homeless people. I can believe that rich techies coming in and raising prices by increasing demand must have helped push…

"Feeling bad" as you call it is exactly what exacerbates the problem. And I would argue is why we have so many homeless in the first place. Yes, feel bad. But we need to be tough too. If you accost my kid on the way to work, you should not be allowed to be on the street. Even if you're homeless. When did homeless become a protected class? There's 'I want to better myself and get back on the right track' homeless and…

Of course we need to figure out how to get homeless people in safe housing, and find jobs and get them treatment. But I don't think helping them encourages people to be homeless or move here. In Utah, they have housing for basically all homeless people now, they are dealing with it better. But our homeless people aren't all wanting to move there.

The belief that if we are "too nice" to homeless people it will encourage them is counter to the facts, with Utah only the latest example. There are plenty of people who live in their cars in south Seattle who have jobs, who want a place to live.

Re: Seattle passes smaller ‘head tax’ on big companies after impassioned debate

#102
post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Rich techies" built this internet you are typing on. I loathe your condescension and resentment toward people seemingly more successful than you. You think the "rich techies" are out to get you? That they want to displace you? No. 98% of them are just trying to live, just like you and everyone else. But if we just "raise taxes" everything will be better. Look at our current political, at all scales, system. When rec…

I’m a rich techie. I’m loathing the society we have that makes it seem that we can’t actually do anything about it. We created the interstate highway system and roads and bridges and all of our institutions. We could organize and fund an army of people and resources to solve poverty, but we choose not to.

I'm frustrated too.

Re: Seattle passes smaller ‘head tax’ on big companies after impassioned debate

#103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, who knows what it will be like in the future. Seattle isn’t losing population, some more suburban part of Seattle (e.g. West Seattle) are booming also. It is possible that millenials will stay put and not migrate to the east side.

my kid is almost finished with school, I might move to seattle after that.

Seattle has ok schools. I have a toddler, currently living in Bellevue but the thought of him going to school with a bunch of snobs is scary. Maybe move to Mercer island instead :)
Post reply on HN