Amazon Pauses Seattle Expansion While City Debates New Taxes
- Seattle retail giant says it’s pausing local construction
- Company opposes city council plan for a per-worker tax
Attenddees walk inside of the Amazon.com Inc. office in downtown Seattle, Washington.
Photographer: Daniel Berman/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Amazon.com Inc. is playing hardball with its hometown of Seattle as the city council nears a vote on a new tax targeting large employers to address homelessness and housing affordability.
Amazon, the dominant employer in the city, said it’s pausing construction planning on a new office tower in Seattle and is considering subleasing office space it has already leased in another downtown corporate high rise under construction. The two projects would house about 7,000 employees.