Stirring up a recent shitstorm is the recent enforcement of a 1993 tax on admission with an "opportunity to dance." Anonymous bars, clubs and venues told The Stranger that the State Department of Revenue has started hitting them up for back taxes they've never had to pay before -- up to $210,000. The businesses, and the City Department of Film and Music, say they have never seen the tax enforced on music venues before. The Department of Revenue says this has always been a thing, and they have always said that that this is a thing. This leaves bars, clubs and nightlife patrons wondering: what is this tax, what does it apply to, and why has it only recently been enforced? more ›

We love the bus. We ride it whenever we can. We try to convince our friends, family, and neighbors to ride the bus. We even offered favors to our girlfriend if she would start riding the 41 from her Northgate crib to her downtown office. (She declined; we broke up. Draw your own conclusions.) more ›

The Seattle Times says Sound Transit Proposition 1 "retards our economy" and "hurts the poor" by boosting Washington's sales tax to 9.5%, an unconscionable hike when "most people don't want to get out of their cars." The Stranger says Prop. 1 is a great idea, and "If you think $69 is a lot to spend on transit in tough economic times, think about what you've been paying for gas lately." King County Exec Ron Sims is opposed and would prefer that we wait until 2010. But what do you think? Yea or nay to Sound Transit Proposition 1? (More info about Prop. 1 here.) This poll closes at noon tomorrow, and as always, comments are more than welcome. more ›

New York recently passed a state budget that requires Amazon.com (and other online retailers) to start collecting NY state sales tax. Amazon doesn't have any brick-and-mortar presence there, but NY argues that because Amazon has affiliates in the state, the company is obligated to start collecting the sales tax on purchases made there. more ›