Katie Wilson: “Would it be bad if they [Amazon] just slowed down a little bit?”

Seattle, WA – With news that Amazon is following other local technology companies in laying off thousands of workers, it’s worth reiterating Katie Wilson’s candid approach to jobs and the economy. Wilson, perhaps drawing on her privileged upbringing and lifelong parental safety net, has questioned whether Seattle needs job growth.

Wilson has expressed skepticism at Seattle’s economic growth and the need for jobs, “There is this political assumption, media assumption that like every job is not just a good job, but it’s a necessary job, and I do think that needs to be kind of questioned a little bit.”

In the same conversation on Amazon’s growth in Seattle, Wilson asked rhetorically “Would it be bad if they just slowed down a little bit?”

With reports of anywhere from 14,000 to 30,000 layoffs coming– impacting Seattle families and small businesses– Wilson may get her answer. 

Wilson, who runs a lobbying organization with a budget of less than $200,000, has taken a cavalier approach to disclosing her personal and organizational finances, telling KUOW that she “does not keep track” of checks she receives from her parents, and acknowledging “mistakes” in the filing of her organization’s tax and employment records.

“Seattle needs a Mayor who can focus on recovering and growing jobs in this uncertain climate AND economic opportunity and affordability — Mayor Harrell understands these urgent needs and will continue to lead for a strong economy and working people. His opponent, Katie Wilson fundamentally misunderstands the economy. She takes jobs for granted and has zero experience managing a large, complex organization,” said Monty Anderson, Executive Secretary of the Seattle Building Trades. “As a former Union member from a working class background, Mayor Harrell understands the value of a good job, and he has consistently worked with us to increase pathways to jobs, education, and opportunity for everyone in our city.”

Meanwhile, Mayor Bruce Harrell has championed growing Seattle’s economy and creating needed new jobs. Mayor Harrell’s record is clear: Focusing on revitalizing Downtown (the economic engine for the city, region, and state); supporting small businesses, especially with access to real estate and capital; improving neighborhood business districts; and making sure Seattle has a diverse industry mix. 

“My heart goes out to those who are receiving difficult news this week about their employment – this kind of news is always difficult, but know that the City is working overtime to foster and grow new opportunities, so this is only a temporary setback,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell. “Under my administration, we do not take quality, good-paying jobs for granted, and we are working every day to build a diverse and robust economy with a wide array of job options, career training, and workforce development that gives everyone a path to stability and success.”

Mayor Harrell has increased investments in small businesses year-over-year, sped up permitting processes to make it easier to open a small business, proposed a rewrite of the B&O tax code reducing or eliminating a tax for 90% of Seattle’s small and medium-sized businesses, launched the “Back to Business” program, and established The Liberty Project to help new small businesses grow. 

Informed by his experience as the child of two city employees, including one of Seattle’s first Black City Light linemen, Mayor Harrell is investing in pathways to education and workforce development by expanding Seattle Promise’s Path to Trades programs to help Seattle Public Schools graduates enter our skilled trades industries. He led the pilot that created the Seattle Promise program and is proposing in his education levy free tuition and expenses for up to two years at Seattle colleges for all Seattle Public School graduates – an investment in Seattle’s future.

Mayor Harrell is strongly supported by both labor unions and business leaders in this campaign, a reflection of his strong commitment to bringing all sides to the table to get big things done – like a historic update to Maritime and Industrial Lands zoning, record housing and transportation levies, and Building Emissions Performance Standards for clean buildings.

Building on the city’s legacy in biotech, high tech, and aerospace, Mayor Harrell is committed to ensuring Seattle is a leader in emerging industries – partnering with universities and private leaders to drive the creation of incubators for climate and artificial intelligence, and championing new green jobs and entrepreneurship. Data from Greater Seattle Partners shows that Seattle is currently home to more than 400 AI companies, nearly 200 AI startups, and is a top ten location for AI job markets, positioning Seattle as an emerging global leader in artificial intelligence. Seattle is also at the forefront renewable energy innovation, shore power, and green construction.

Mayor Harrell’s re-election campaign is endorsed by labor unions representing hundreds of thousands of workers, all five port commissioners, business leaders and industry associations. See the full list here.