Missed this thread back in the day. Am back in Seattle right now and have been to this city several times over the last decade. Totally not saying that any of the following is a result of the wage increase but man do things seem really run down here versus the recent past.
Mainly downtown/convention area as a tourist comparison. So many buildings here fenced off. Restaurants closed up recently and so many blocks literally seem like they have totally closed shop even in the core. Nothing open, glass windows covered up all over the place. Hotel across the street is literally boarded up and weeds growing on the roof. Lots of empty retail spots in malls as well. The Japanese Diaso dollar store moved to a smaller location in the mall and halved the staff at West Lake Center and the food court there is a an absolute dead shadow of itself. Even the McDonalds closed down there.
Early in the wage increase cycle to be sure but I didn't think the city was this economically sketchy; at least in the convention area/downtown core.
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