It didn’t get repealed.

Last week I posted this message about the other Mayoral candidates working to eliminate funding for neighborhood streets and pedestrian improvements, while simultaneously supporting the $4.2 billion viaduct tunnel. With the Mayor flip-flopping and almost all the candidates urging elimination of this funding source, repeal looked like a done deal.

Early In the Campaign Season, the Pressure Was On To Repeal the Head Tax

But I wasn’t the only one calling out these skewed priorities. Neighborhood, environmental and pedestrian advocates urged the City Council to keep the “head tax,” not just for neighborhood improvements, but for the jobs it provides.

And today, the city council indicated that they are going to put off any discussion of repealing the head tax until the end of the year.

Good for them. Cutting money for local streets and local jobs because of the “symbolism” of the tax just doesn’t pass the smell test.

We are in an era where we have to make real choices about how we are going to build the Seattle we want. If we want to reduce taxes and wasteful spending then let’s get out of the bad deal to build a deep-bore tunnel on the waterfront. It’s time to move from a manufactured debate about the head tax to a real debate about Seattle’s priorities.