Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell to two of the biggest companies in the state, Amazon and Microsoft: You have moral obligation to ...

Mayor Bruce Harrell called on Seattle's tech powerhouses, including Microsoft and Amazon, to fulfill a "moral obligation" to reinvest in the community, highlighting their massive profits during a speech at a Fremont Chamber of Commerce event late last month. "Microsoft … they made $88 billion last year … they have an obligation to give back to society, as does Amazon," Harrell said, praising the city as a "city of innovation" and a "great launching pad" for large companies. "That’s a good thing. That’s not a bad thing."According to a report in GeekWire, the remarks underscore the tightrope walk for Harrell and city leaders: leveraging the economic boost from global tech firms while tackling their impacts on housing, transportation, and local neighborhoods. Seattle's largest employer, Amazon, has been a frequent focus of Harrell's push for corporate accountability since he took office in 2022.In an earlier interview with GeekWire, Harrell emphasized valuing tech jobs but stressed a "culture of accountability." At the 2022 GeekWire Summit, he invited business leaders to deepen civic involvement, saying, "There’s just plenty of opportunities for you all to engage, and I’m just a call away to facilitate that engagement."Harrell, a former telecom attorney, is seeking re-election on November's ballot against progressive challenger Katie Wilson, a community organizer who captured nearly 51% of the vote in the August primary. The contest has garnered national interest due to the candidates' stark contrasts.Wilson's campaign reportedly gained momentum after voters approved a publicly funded social housing developer earlier this year, backed by a 5% tax on salaries exceeding $1 million for city-based employees. Harrell backed an alternative funding plan that drew contributions from Amazon and Microsoft.The debate highlights Seattle's tension between progressive tax policies and dependence on tech prosperity. Harrell warned of the risks of over-taxation, citing Amazon's loss of 10,000 jobs amid past policy clashes. "That’s not a sustainable strategy, just to tax people," he said.Yet Harrell has supported targeted measures, including a proposal this year to exempt smaller companies from the business and occupation tax while raising rates on larger ones. As city council president in 2018, he oversaw the approval and rapid repeal of a controversial per-employee "head tax" on big businesses. In 2020, the council passed the "JumpStart" payroll tax, which Wilson helped design.