Howard Schultz Leaves for Florida, Blasts Seattle as Quality-of-Life Rating Falls to 4.54
Updated
Updated · KOMO News · May 12
Howard Schultz Leaves for Florida, Blasts Seattle as Quality-of-Life Rating Falls to 4.54
8 articles · Updated · KOMO News · May 12
Howard Schultz used a new Wall Street Journal op-ed to say he is leaving Seattle for Florida, arguing city and state leaders have turned hostile to business through higher-tax policies and anti-employer rhetoric.
4.54 was Seattle’s latest quality-of-life rating in new Chamber polling, down from 4.81 and the lowest in two years, with public safety, homelessness and recession fears driving broader anxiety about the city’s direction.
Starbucks’ planned shift of hundreds of corporate jobs to Tennessee featured in Schultz’s warning that Seattle risks economic drift as downtown vacancies persist and major tech employers slow hiring.
Katie Wilson rejected Schultz’s portrayal, saying City Hall is working regularly with Starbucks and other employers on homelessness, public safety and affordability, and that Seattle still thrives on worker-business collaboration.
Florida’s lack of a state income tax adds context to Schultz’s move after Washington approved a millionaires tax, though he said Seattle can still recover through job creation, sensible taxation and accountable spending.
Howard Schultz blames city hall, but what role do corporate decisions play in Seattle's economic struggles?
As corporate giants exit, can Seattle's progressive policies solve its budget crisis without alienating more businesses?