Eli, you are a pro. Nice work.

The Chamber of Commerce was once respectable and helpful. When we moved to Columbus, Indiana in 1968, a woman representative--wearing an identifying button-- appeared at our door with a gift basket and a list of businesses that could serve as a resource for our mom. How far they've . . . come.

ROTFL! You just can’t make this stuff up. It’s like taking a trip to Florida.

I was once willing to give the CoC folks some slack for their republican boosterism. I think that progressive government is essential to long term commerce success but I could understand the appeal of the taxes and regulation elimination plans the republicans push, at least for the short term immediate concerns. But once the cheetoh ascended and they continued to suck up to his madness I am done with them.

These people are not boosting business, they are about helping the managerial class suppress the workers, regardless of whether that hurts business or not.

Good for the Chamber! Glad to see someone cares about the head tax, which merely funds more failure.

And, now that the Council has learned these ads do not meet the letter of our current reporting laws, their self-interest in avoiding criticism for the massive failure of their homeless policy will motivate them to change the law to include such expenditures. (Apparently, the only time they correct a failed policy is when ass-covering for not changing a failed policy.)

@8: “[A]ny criticism of politicians or a political issue via an ad should fall under this election law[.]”

Fixed that for you. You’re welcome.

@10: fb is a scam and needs to be treated as one.

Fixed that for you. You’re welcome.

The chamber of horrors just wants poor people swept off of the streets because it makes the place look untidy for the well to do. The city of seattle is a fiefdom and little help to the down and out or those just hanging on. Which is worse for the ordinary person is hard to tell.

“The city of seattle is a fiefdom...”

Well, here’s a chance for actual citizens to decide if we want the head tax or not. You’re happy for citizens voting on that question, correct?

I wonder why the Chamber wasn't upfront about who they were.

@14: Because they figured they could get additional (and free) publicity by publishing anonymously? It seems to have worked, obtaining not one, but two articles here at The Stranger alone.

13 I’m not playing your elitist game.

@17: Actual citizens voting to choose or to repeal their own taxes: so, so very terribly, awfully, unspeakably elitist.

You do understand you’re not fooling anyone but yourself, right?

“...fb has issues for sure, a significant one is [eagerly pimping user data for cash on the barrelhead with fuck-all concern for user consent]”

Fixed it (again) for you. You are (again) welcome.

18 Please......

@21: Exactly what part of us citizens voting on our own taxes bothers you so much?

“...smcoc's disdain for the law,”

What law did they break?

“...for truth,”

Whar false statement(s) did they make?

“for an open an honest dialogue about the issues of the day,”

Like when the City Council Members demonized Amazon and refused to tell us why our ten-year-plan to end homelessness resulted in so many more homeless it was a crisis? That complete and total lack of an open and honest dialog?

“the perspective they offer is tainted with a malicious, spiteful, and manipulative intent.”

You really need to address your concerns to Ivy directly.

Is it time for a progressive chamber of commerce?

@26 Hell, yes, it is.

Amazon has demonized itself.

I like Sawant because she irritates the privileged. I don’t have time to answer all your requests as I am an ordinary person who has to pay the bills. I use my real name. Why can’t you use yours?
Goodbye.

@26 & @27: We can only hope.

No surprise here at all. Former Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland is now President and CEO of Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and, judging from the looks of it, Amazon and the Seattle Corporacrats must be very happy with their choice.

Sure, the city council should write more legislation to punish constituents it does not like. The Stranger can be their woobie, like Sean Hannity to Trump.

@Tensor. You had me rolling in the aisles on this thread.

Keep it up.

@25: If you're unable to provide a single quote from either of these articles to support your claims about the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, admit it. The only mention of legality in either article is when Eli says their non-disclosure should be illegal. Saying something should be illegal is kinda sorta implying it's not already illegal. Sorry you missed that.

And fb's miserable existence comes entirely from taking user data and selling it without knowledge or disclosure. Your pouting about how fb allowed this campaign to remain undisclosed (for what, a whole day?) is a bit like condemning a crime lord for having a single, unpaid parking ticket.

@29: "I like Sawant because she irritates the privileged."

I never thought of unionized iron workers as "the privileged." I think of them as hard-working men and women who build our city, one great building after another. Sawant certainly did irritate them, though: they mounted an excellent protest to her lies about Amazon, telling her to her face she did not speak for actual working men and women -- even at the very moment she arrogantly claimed she did!

"I don’t have time to answer all your requests..."

I made just one request: tell us why you are so terribly fearful of the very idea of Seattle's citizens voting on whether to accept or to reject the taxation bill our City Council just levied upon us. It passed 9-0; certainly you can't be afraid we'll overturn their unanimous vote?

"... I am an ordinary person who has to pay the bills."

Good luck paying off a few of your bar tabs.

Nailed this the moment I saw it.

Astroturf baby.

I bet they're disseminating half of the talking points I hear on the subject too.

Suspected it was astroturf the moment it showed up in my feed.

I bet they're disseminating a bunch of the repeated "angry homeowner" talking points too.