"Though Griffin donated $1,000 to last year's campaign against Initiative 1098, which would have levied an income tax on high earners like himself in Washington State, he said he's actually for higher taxes on the wealthy at both the federal and the state level."

That comes across hard to believe. He thinks the wealthy need to pay their fair share, but then makes up an excuse to go against it because it was too good at what it was meant to do?

Matt Griffin also contributed to the campaigns of Steve Sundquist and Peter Maier, both who failed to be re-elected to Seattle School Board.

Griffin also contributed to the Seattle Foundation to cover Seattle school district costs of hiring Teach for America recruits.

@ Eli Sanders:

Hey thanks for all the great reporting you do throughout the year.

I would like to point out that if you are looking for a local place to shop in Seattle, where the majority of your dollars will stay local, there is no better place than the Pike Place Market.

Most of our craftsman make their own wares. The Market focuses on encouraging independent, owner operated businesses.

We sell a much larger diversity of goods and services than any place in downtown Seattle. Clothing,toys, jewelry, arts and crafts, groceries, restaurants and bars, etc.

Also, you can ship your holiday gifts from Wanderers Mail Service located next to the original Starbucks on Pike Place. (I work at Wanderers)

@ Eli Sanders:

Hey thanks for all the great reporting you do throughout the year.

I would like to point out that if you are looking for a local place to shop in Seattle, where the majority of your dollars will stay local, there is no better place than the Pike Place Market.

Most of our craftsman make their own wares. The Market focuses on encouraging independent, owner operated businesses.

We sell a much larger diversity of goods and services than any place in downtown Seattle. Clothing,toys, jewelry, arts and crafts, groceries, restaurants and bars, etc.

Also, you can ship your holiday gifts from Wanderers Mail Service located next to the original Starbucks on Pike Place. (I work at Wanderers)

As a former Pacific Place employee, I'm trying to stave off the less than thoughtful 'job-o-hell' rage. Having a hard time. Working for Pine St. was one of the most unprofessional, unhealthy, control and nepotism-based working experiences of my life. During my time there, I was offered a .30 cent 'raise' after a satisfactory employee review. Annoying, but not totally unexpected in the retail world. But what I found unacceptable: My hours being slashed from 30 a week to 10 without any warning. When I found a new job (miraculously for the following week) in order to make financial ends meet, I was told off for attempting to leave earlier than my two week notice. Also, some managers had very unhealthy, overt interests in lower level co workers, who then easily moved up the job ladder. And the weirdest: a seemingly nice gesture turned god-awful inappropriate, I was to have a new wardrobe furnished by Pacific Place, after I was told my (apparently pauper-ish) 'regular' work clothes weren't acceptable. After being told to my unpressed collars looked terrible and I 'ought to wear a tie' by the coworker from Hades, I was open to the idea. However: I wasn't allowed to select any of my own professional wardrobe. When I did pick out some pieces from Ann (freaking) Taylor with the help of the store's Pacific Place employed manager, I was told by my supervisors that the pieces we'd picked out were 'cut down too low' and 'inappropriate' looking. (They never saw them on me, only on the hanger.) I then had a male manager pick out the remaining pieces of my wardrobe. FUCK THAT PLACE. News flash: I doubt most people who work(ed) retail or any lower level job at Pacific Place could afford Barney's, Max Mara, Coach, Tiffany, Cartier, Twist, etc, etc. But yes yes, please shop BeBe LOCAL. Woof.

While not a mall, I do what holiday shopping I can at Pike Place Market. There, I am guaranteed that all monies go back into the local economy and support local merchants and artists.