The Washington Post editorial board took sharp aim at Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson on Friday, criticizing her response to concerns about wealthy residents leaving the city and growing frustration over rising taxes.
In a piece titled “Seattle’s mayor waves goodbye to prosperity,” the board pointed to Wilson’s early actions after winning the November election, including joining Starbucks baristas on a picket line and vowing to boycott the company until union demands were met. The editorial struck a sarcastic tone, suggesting she may be waiting a while before returning to her usual coffee routine.
The board framed these moves within a broader shift in Seattle’s business climate. It highlighted recent Starbucks store closures and the company’s decision to expand operations in Nashville, Tennessee, a move expected to relocate around 2,000 jobs. The editorial also noted a new state policy backed by Washington Governor Bob Ferguson: a 9.9 percent tax on income over $1 million.
According to the piece, that policy is already influencing decisions by high-profile residents. Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, for example, has announced plans to move to Miami, where there is no state income tax. The board suggested this kind of departure could become more common.
Wilson, who built her political career as a progressive activist and co-founded the Transit Riders Union, has long supported sweeping policy changes. The editorial revisited her past backing of a “Solidarity Budget,” which proposed cutting the Seattle Police Department’s funding in half, a position that continues to draw criticism.
Seattle’s socialist mayor slammed for dismissive wave to tax-weary residents https://t.co/opptcw4BfL pic.twitter.com/T8uLxSX8Mh
— New York Post (@nypost) May 4, 2026
Should Mayor Wilson alter her response to residents' tax concerns?
More recently, Wilson drew attention for remarks made during an April event at Seattle University. Addressing concerns that higher taxes might drive wealthy residents out of the state, she dismissed the idea as exaggerated. In a moment that has since circulated widely online, she added that those who do leave could simply be waved goodbye.
The editorial board described that response as dismissive and argued it reflects a broader attitude among state leaders. It also pointed to comments from Microsoft President Brad Smith, who has expressed concern about Washington’s business environment, saying he is more uneasy now than at any point in the past three decades.
The remarks came during a forum titled “Governing Through a Progressive Lens,” where Wilson appeared alongside King County Executive Girmay Zahilay. The discussion focused in part on the state’s new tax policies and their potential impact. While some participants raised questions about whether higher taxes could shrink the city’s revenue base over time, Wilson reiterated her support for the approach.
