Dave Montoure is the owner of West 5 in Seattle and Kettle Fish in Silverdale. He has been a long time advocate for small businesses especially as they have faced increasing regulatory overreach. West 5, a long time West Seattle favorite is open for business for pickup.

Honorable Congresspersons Kilmer and Jayapal, 

I forward you this correspondence with urgency. The Seattle City Council simply will not listen to reasonable constituent voices during this time of global pandemic. They are acting with expedience and urgency to pass an enormous tax increase onto businesses during a State of Emergency in the City of Seattle. The Seattle City Council needs to hear from our Senior Delegation that this is simply not the time for such cynical, overtly-political shenanigans. 

I have main street, community-based businesses in both of your districts. I know that you both have been in my restaurants, West 5 and KettleFish. I truly hope to invite you back. I am not so hopeful with developments in West Seattle. In addition to dealing with Covid, my West Seattle business is now cut-off from the rest of Seattle due to the failure of the most-heavily travelled road owned by the City – the West Seattle Bridge. 

I opened a business on the main street of my hometown 17 years ago with the hope of watching an Urban Village grow and prosper around (and hopefully along with) my business. Overnight, that hope has been dramatically compromised. I remember the West Seattle Junction of my youth, prior to the City building the bridge and I know that survival will be a grind of reduced volume and dropping margins. But I love my employees, my community and my business and I can not simply walk away with zero or a pile of government loans.

Congressman Kilmer, thank you for providing the push for extended benefits for main street business – even more critical now that the initial funds have been disbursed. I was left feeling quite hopeful after your comments to KEDA yesterday morning.

Congresswoman Jayapal, I know you are new to West Seattle, welcome from an old timer. I was bred on these streets and I remember the Junction of the 1970s prior to the construction and opening of the high bridge. I am fearful for my business. 

Finally, I am so disappointed in my  City leaders (other than CM Lisa Herbold). CMs Morales, Gonzales, Mosqueda absolutely will not pick up the phone, answer a message, respond to an e-mail or put me on a calendar. Yes, it won’t be an easy conversation for them to hear, but it comes with the territory, as you are both well aware.

Thank you for your kind consideration. Be well.

Dave Montoure
ABS Kitchens, West 5, KettleFish