Life On Mars, Neumos Co-Owner Claims He Never Agreed To Sign Letter Opposing Capitol Hill Crisis Care Center

Capitol Hill business owner Steven Severin, who co-owns Life On Mars, Neumos, Barboza, and the Runaway Bar, claims he never agreed to sign a now infamous letter from area small business owners to Council Member Joy Hollingsworth opposing King County’s plan to site a Crisis Care Center near the Pike-Pine corridor. 

The Seattle Times first mentioned the letter last week, The Stranger linked to a copy of it on Friday, and I made a Tik Tok over the weekend listing the businesses associated with the letter. I have made three follow ups to include Severin’s claim that he did not agree to sign the letter. 

In a an Instagram caption under a picture of a basket full of puppies, Severin wrote “I did not sign a letter against the crisis center on Capitol Hill nor agreed to have my name on that letter. This has been a shit storm for something I didn't do.”

Severin said he did speak to the person who organized the letter to Hollingsworth, but he never agreed to sign on. 

Severin said he feels “several points of frustration” from the the publicity surrounding the letter. 

“The main one is it throws all of my biz partners and any employees under the bus just by being associated with me,” Severin wrote. “They had nothing to do with it, but they do get their reputation damaged by it too.”

He also expressed frustration that his inclusion didn’t automatically raise alarm bells. 

“I thought that I had done a fair amount for charities and people that need help in general,” Severin wrote. “I hoped my reputation preceded me and I would get the benefit of the doubt until it was verified, but guess not.”

The Burner awaits a public records request that will reveal more about the origins of the letter and possibly Severin's involvement. Severin did not respond to my request for an interview and more information. For now, people can either take his word or chalk up this statement to an about face under pressure. I will update when I know more.