It’s called an occupancy license. The city has the final say to grant or deny. One of the requirements may be adhereing to the city’s mandated minimum wage. The choice is yours. Want the business in Seattle city limits, pay the wage or no occupancy license. I don’t support the rate, but that’s how they probably do it.
Yes the can MANDATE you pay nn unafordable MINIMUM wage, even if your business can’t carry it.
However, they CANNoT “mandate” that you must stay/remain in business. Thus the business district becomes a sea of “FOR RENT” signs.
Then town hall discovers the TRUE minimum wage is NOTHING.
Sounds like extortion to me.