EVEN SEATTLE IS LEARNING – AT 12:53 P.M. ET:  Seattle has been reported brain dead on many occasions.  Several decades ago it found its new position as San Francisco lite, a Mecca for liberals perhaps looking for lower prices in the north country.  But now, the tofu is coming home to roast.  From the Seattle Times:   

Reaction to a proposed Seattle business tax for housing and homeless services jolted elected officials this week as flare-ups of opposition revealed deep frustration with the city’s handling of its homelessness crisis.

If Seattle City Council members were surprised by the reaction — including a raucous town-hall meeting in Ballard and an unexpected protest by construction workers — the response of many residents and business owners seemed to be, what took you so long?

Project Homeless is a Seattle Times initiative that explores the causes of homelessness, explains what the Seattle region is doing about it and spotlights potential solutions. It is funded by the The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Campion Foundation, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Raikes Foundation, Schultz Family Foundation, Seattle Foundation, Seattle Mariners, and Starbucks. Seattle Times editors and reporters operate independently of our funders and maintain editorial control over Project Homeless content.

“They’re hearing the whole story now,” said Erin Goodman, executive director of the Sodo Business Improvement Alliance, which is holding its own town hall on the tax Friday morning. “They have been listening to a very small subset for a long time and have not been listening to their actual constituents.”

Does this sound just a bit familiar?  It's a perfect description of the modern Democratic Party.

Amazon announced Wednesday morning that it was pausing construction of a new downtown tower until the council votes on the $75 million-a-year tax on large companies.

Hours later, residents shouted down the four council members who sponsored the tax legislation at a 90-minute town hall at Ballard’s Trinity United Methodist Church.

Many residents expressed general empathy for people experiencing homelessness, but lashed out at the city council — especially council member Mike O’Brien, who represents Ballard — for lax financial management and failure to address the consequences of widespread, unauthorized tent camps.

O’Brien declined to comment on the meeting Thursday.

Bruce Miller, a Seattle resident since 1971, said he traditionally supported tax levies, but no longer will. “I feel like city government doesn’t understand and respect taxpayer dollars, and doesn’t take responsibility for them,” said Miller, to applause.

COMMENT:  Ah, the sound of people waking up to reality.  There are now revolts breaking out in California as well.  Revolts against social policies in San Francisco, which have resulted in a dangerous, depressing city.  Revolts against sanctuary-city declarations. 

Eventually, people find out, despite the best efforts of certain "news" organizations to hide the truth from them.  Will there be election-day surprises because of these growing revolts?  I have no idea, but I don't think this year will be the kind of cakewalk the Democrats were expecting.

May 6, 2018