Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is facing renewed criticism after attempting to joke about a controversial hand gesture tied to Washington’s new tax on high earners during a recent public appearance.
During a Q&A at Seattle University, Wilson appeared to wave goodbye to millionaires leaving the state because of Washington’s new tax on wealthy residents. A few weeks later, the mayor addressed the backlash in a social media video, saying, “I know there’s been a lot of attention on my hand gestures lately,” before joking about an “awkward high-five.”
Supporters might agree with the mayor’s “tongue-in-cheek” approach. Critics might argue the mayor never directly apologized for the gesture and instead attempted to defuse the controversy with humor while distancing herself from the state tax law by pointing to lawmakers in Olympia…