Seattle Mayor Calls for Starbucks Boycott as Company Expands to Nashville Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s first public act after winning the November election was a call for a Starbucks boycott. The move, which she made shortly after declaring victory, sparked immediate attention. Wilson, a progressive leader, framed the boycott as a response to the company’s perceived role in the city’s economic challenges. Starbucks, however, responded by accelerating its plans to expand beyond Washington, ultimately relocating its operations to Nashville, a state with no income tax and favorable business incentives. The decision by Starbucks to shift its headquarters to Nashville followed a broader trend of major corporations leaving Seattle. Amazon had already split its operations, Boeing had departed years earlier, and now Starbucks is joining the exodus. This migration has raised concerns about the long-term economic impact on Washington, particularly as the state’s progressive tax policies—many of which were championed by wealthy residents like Nick Hanauer—face backlash. Hanauer, a billionaire who once advocated for higher taxes on the wealthy, recently warned that virtually every affluent friend he has is either leaving the state or planning to. He called the situation a “catastrophe,” highlighting the unintended consequences of policies designed to address inequality. Starbucks’ relocation to Nashville was not an isolated decision. The company had already begun exploring alternatives to Seattle after the state legislature passed a new income tax in 2025. Initially, Starbucks considered a 21-story tower in Bellevue, but the tax law pushed the company further south.#nashville_tennessee #starbucks #seattle_mayor_katie_wilson #nick_hanauer #moody_s_investors_service
$13 million in public funds unaccounted for in King County homelessness agency Seattle city leaders are demanding sweeping reforms after a forensic investigation revealed $13 million in unaccounted public funds at the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA). The findings, disclosed in a statement from the Seattle Mayor’s Office, have sparked calls for immediate corrective action, with officials expressing deep concern over the agency’s management of city resources. Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson emphasized that addressing homelessness remains her top priority, but the discovery of mismanaged funds has raised serious questions about accountability. The investigation, which spanned KCRHA’s operations from 2021 through July 2025, uncovered significant financial discrepancies. Seattle City Councilmember Bob Kettle highlighted a negative cash position of nearly $45 million, while Wilson cited $13 million in unaccounted public funds. Kettle, however, noted a discrepancy in the figures, stating the report identified approximately $8 million in unreconciled receivables—funds tied to services delivered but not yet properly recorded in the agency’s accounting system. He acknowledged that work is underway to resolve these issues, with a substantial portion already addressed. KCRHA itself provided a breakdown of the findings, citing $8 million in unreconciled receivables, $6.4 million in budget reclassifications, and a $1.3 million reporting discrepancy. The agency stressed that no evidence of fraud or misuse of funds was found, though CEO Kelly Kinnison admitted the audit exposed systemic challenges she was hired to address.#seattle_mayor_katie_wilson #king_county_regional_homelessness_authority #seattle_city_councilmember_bob_kettle #king_county_executive_girmay_zahilay #seattle_councilmember_maritza_rivera
