Things are coming to a head in Seattle, from a controversial new head tax to help stem a homeless crisis to a transportation levy short on money. Community leaders will join host Joni Balter to tackle these topics at the season finale of Civic Cocktail, 6 p.m., Wednesday, June 6 at Palace Ballroom, 2100 5th Ave.
The dispute over Seattle’s new head tax has sparked a debate over how to spend the dollars and ignited an effort to overturn the tax on large businesses with a referendum. Marilyn Strickland, Seattle Chamber of Commerce CEO, and Seattle City Councilmember M. Lorena González break down the battle.
With the Move Seattle levy facing funding shortfalls, where will the city scale back? Is Seattle prepared to navigate the “period of maximum constraint” on traffic? Will cost overruns kill the streetcar? Seattle Deputy Mayor Shefali Ranganathan, King County Metro’s General Manager Rob Gannon and “Bus Chick” Carla Saulter weigh in.
Featured journalists David Kroman, of Crosscut, and Sydney Brownstone, of KUOW, will join the conversation.
Advance tickets to Civic Cocktail are $25. Register via Seattle CityClub. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Civic Cocktail will premiere on Seattle Channel (cable 21), 8 p.m., Thursday, June 7, and will also be available online.
Civic Cocktail — presented in partnership with Seattle CityClub — offers a night of networking, civic conversation, Tom Douglas appetizers and a no-host bar. Thanks to media sponsors KUOW and Crosscut.
