Viva La Cola!

Founded in January 2009, PubliCola is a blog about Seattle written by journalists who are dedicated to non-partisan, original daily reporting that prioritizes a balanced approach to news. Started by longtime local editor and award-winning reporter Josh Feit, PubliCola is the first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol.

PubliCola was off and running. In June 2009, PubliCola hired another award-winning journalist, super-sourced Seattle city hall reporter Erica C. Barnett.

People were afraid that blogging would change journalism. Instead, we believe journalism can change blogging. Twenty-first century journalism may look and feel different, and yes Erica isn't afraid to get cranky, but we're committed to making sure online news still delivers independent, reliable, even-keeled coverage. And most of all, we're committed to making sure the coverage sparks honest civic debate.

Bringing you cola for the people, PubliCola is named after Publius Valerius PubliCola, the alias for the authors of the Federalist Papers—the original bloggers.

x close
The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

PubliCola Comment of the Day Goes To…

News   November 12, 2009 at 4:50 pm Josh Feit

Erica broke the news that the city council is repealing the head tax. She also had the news that council member Nick Licata—who was supposed to be against the head tax repeal, but voted for it—came out with a make up call. He proposed a dedicated pedestrian safety fund from speed vans (those vans that set up shop at problem spots and take pictures to catch speeders.)

Re: Licata’s roundabout proposal for replacing the head tax , PubliCola reader Misha gives us the “Comment of the Day.”

2. misha says:

How about reinstating the head tax?

11/12/09 AT 4:09 PM




  • johnmocha

    Good to hear the council understands that attracting business is critical to growing overall tax revenue. Seattle is in a big competition with the Eastside and must remain competitive or it will wither away.

  • johnmocha

    Good to hear the council understands that attracting business is critical to growing overall tax revenue. Seattle is in a big competition with the Eastside and must remain competitive or it will wither away.

  • johnmocha

    Good to hear the council understands that attracting business is critical to growing overall tax revenue. Seattle is in a big competition with the Eastside and must remain competitive or it will wither away.

  • Noah

    @1, ya, i’m still upset at Russell Investments for choosing the eastside over us. And Amazon moving their corporate headquarters over to South Lake Union on the eastside.

  • Noah

    @1, ya, i’m still upset at Russell Investments for choosing the eastside over us. And Amazon moving their corporate headquarters over to South Lake Union on the eastside.

  • Noah

    @1, ya, i’m still upset at Russell Investments for choosing the eastside over us. And Amazon moving their corporate headquarters over to South Lake Union on the eastside.

  • misha

    Yay. :) . Maybe Mike O’Brien can reinstate it if everyone else calls in sick?

    #1: No business is going to choose where to base their business off a piddly $25 tax, and it’s not a matter of us “winning” over the eastside. The eastside is going to grow no matter what, with companies like Microsoft firmly entrenched there.

    Speaking of Microsoft, they have spent tens of millions of dollars (a lot more than $25 per commuter) on private transit service (those green Connector buses) because Metro and Sound Transit weren’t close to meeting their needs. Seattle can be an attractive place to do business by providing smart, comprehensive transit, pedestrian, and bike infrastructure. Cutting the head tax hurts that.

  • uptown

    A parking tax (or increase if one already exists) on downtown parking spots would easily replace the head tax. It would also be directly taxing the behavior, driving to work, that we are trying discourage.

  • uptown

    A parking tax (or increase if one already exists) on downtown parking spots would easily replace the head tax. It would also be directly taxing the behavior, driving to work, that we are trying discourage.

  • uptown

    A parking tax (or increase if one already exists) on downtown parking spots would easily replace the head tax. It would also be directly taxing the behavior, driving to work, that we are trying discourage.

  • sarah68

    @3: If Microsoft didn’t find Seattle a good place to do business, they would have moved. They’re being given beaucoup tax breaks by the State of Washington and they can afford to build some buses to meet their needs.

  • sarah68

    @3: If Microsoft didn’t find Seattle a good place to do business, they would have moved. They’re being given beaucoup tax breaks by the State of Washington and they can afford to build some buses to meet their needs.

  • sarah68

    @3: If Microsoft didn’t find Seattle a good place to do business, they would have moved. They’re being given beaucoup tax breaks by the State of Washington and they can afford to build some buses to meet their needs.

  • misha

    Sarah68, Microsoft opened offices in Seattle in the past couple years. They can’t move their entire operations because they own literally dozens of buildings and square miles of real estate in Redmond, plus their employee base is entrenched on the eastside.

    Yes, Microsoft can afford their private bus fleet, but almost all other businesses can’t. Microsoft also subsidizes bike/pedestrian commuters with a myriad of rewards (gift cards, subsidized bike repair, monthly prize drawings, appreciation days, bike racks, free ORCA cards). It helps them do business, just like a stronger transit/pedestrian/bicycle would help Seattle businesses. Instead, the 8 council members chose to hurt business infrastructure and the environment for no tangible reason.

  • misha

    Sarah68, Microsoft opened offices in Seattle in the past couple years. They can’t move their entire operations because they own literally dozens of buildings and square miles of real estate in Redmond, plus their employee base is entrenched on the eastside.

    Yes, Microsoft can afford their private bus fleet, but almost all other businesses can’t. Microsoft also subsidizes bike/pedestrian commuters with a myriad of rewards (gift cards, subsidized bike repair, monthly prize drawings, appreciation days, bike racks, free ORCA cards). It helps them do business, just like a stronger transit/pedestrian/bicycle would help Seattle businesses. Instead, the 8 council members chose to hurt business infrastructure and the environment for no tangible reason.

  • misha

    Sarah68, Microsoft opened offices in Seattle in the past couple years. They can’t move their entire operations because they own literally dozens of buildings and square miles of real estate in Redmond, plus their employee base is entrenched on the eastside.

    Yes, Microsoft can afford their private bus fleet, but almost all other businesses can’t. Microsoft also subsidizes bike/pedestrian commuters with a myriad of rewards (gift cards, subsidized bike repair, monthly prize drawings, appreciation days, bike racks, free ORCA cards). It helps them do business, just like a stronger transit/pedestrian/bicycle would help Seattle businesses. Instead, the 8 council members chose to hurt business infrastructure and the environment for no tangible reason.

  • misha

    Yay. :) . Maybe Mike O'Brien can reinstate it if everyone else calls in sick?

    #1: No business is going to choose where to base their business off a piddly $25 tax, and it's not a matter of us “winning” over the eastside. The eastside is going to grow no matter what, with companies like Microsoft firmly entrenched there.

    Speaking of Microsoft, they have spent tens of millions of dollars (a lot more than $25 per commuter) on private transit service (those green Connector buses) because Metro and Sound Transit weren't close to meeting their needs. Seattle can be an attractive place to do business by providing smart, comprehensive transit, pedestrian, and bike infrastructure. Cutting the head tax hurts that.