CEO of Rastegar Capital Ari Rastegar criticizes Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson's dismissive stance on millionaires relocating due to the upcoming millionaire tax.

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson refused to grade herself amid a growing homelessness and crime crisis in the Evergreen State. 

In a video clip posted Wednesday on X by Jonathan Choe, Discovery Institute senior journalism fellow, Wilson was asked, "How would you grade your work so far as mayor?"

The mayor responded, saying, "We’re doing the very best that we can and there’s always room for improvement. So, I’m not giving myself a number grade but we are always striving to do better."

WILL SOCIALISM SAVE SEATTLE? CITY ADVOCATES STRUGGLE TO FIND SOLUTIONS AS HOMELESS, DRUG ADDICTS FLOOD STREETS

Katie Wilson, Seattle’s new self-proclaimed socialist mayor, sparked a social media firestorm after she gave her take on reports that millionaires are fleeing Washington state due to taxes and various far-left policies. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Wilson received fierce blowback on social media after a 77-year-old man was seen on video being beaten by two individuals in a crime that was captured by closed-circuit television cameras — a tool that Wilson has denounced in the past as something that makes the community feel unsafe and "vulnerable."

The Washington State Standard reported in August that the total number of individuals counted as homeless is a 4.4% increase from 2024 and a 25% increase overall from 2022. Additionally, the year-over-year increase was approximately consistent with the 4.07% rise from 2023 to 2024, but below the 14.8% jump between 2022 and 2023. 

WILL SOCIALISM SAVE SEATTLE? CITY ADVOCATES STRUGGLE TO FIND SOLUTIONS AS HOMELESS, DRUG ADDICTS FLOOD STREETS

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson's staff abruptly ended an interview with a local news reporter last week after he pressed her on rising gun violence and surveillance cameras in the city after a recent shooting. (David Ryder/Reuters)

Businesses are also heading out of Washington following the March passage of the "millionaires tax," the state's first-ever income tax, pushed by progressives and socialists and opposed by conservatives.

During a recent event at Seattle University, Wilson, a self-described democratic socialist, laughed and appeared to dismiss the possibility that millionaires would leave the state. 

SCENIC SOUTHERN CITIES TARNISHED BY HOMELESS CRIME SCOURGE MUST HOLD ‘FEET TO THE FIRE,’ GOP LAWMAKER WARNS

City advocates say they are struggling to find solutions as homelessness and open-air drug use spread across Seattle’s streets, amid growing concerns about the direction of socialist Mayor Katie Wilson’s new administration. (Nik Lanum)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"I think the claims that millionaires are going to leave our state are, like, super overblown. And if — the ones that leave, like, bye," Wilson said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Wilson for comment. 

Fox News’ Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.

Rachel del Guidice is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to rachel.delguidice@fox.com.

Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox.

By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and
        agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can
        opt-out at any time.

Subscribed

You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter!