In the end, the politics surrounding Seattle's recently enacted employee head tax were just too overwhelming.
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and the City Council approved the $25 per employee a few years ago as part of "Bridging the Gap'' legislation that pays for street and sidewalk improvements.
Flash forward to summer 2009, election season, with two mayoral candidates appropriately wailing on the tax amid a daunting recession. If the tax made sense in 2006, and it didn't, it makes less sense now. A head tax is a headache for businesses large and small
So this week, Nickels, feeling the heat on this issue from challengers Joe Mallahan and James Donaldson, joined several council members in saying they want to eliminate the tax.
.
This is the right move, yes, even at a very politicized moment.
Seattle City Councilmember Tim Burgess joined the mayor and a few other council members in saying repeal is overdue. Seattle is not only becoming unffordable for middle class residents but the head tax is a symbol of a wrong-headed attitude toward medium and small businesses.

Obviously, the top motivation for changing course is political. Jeez, do you think?
But the other inspiration is the recession. The No.1 campaign theme for many mayoral and City Council candidates is jobs and job growth. That means taking a look at things the city has done in the past that doesn't work.
Business interests have been very concerned about the employee head tax for years. If it takes a recession and a looming election to elminate the tax, so be it. Let's get on with it.