Small Business, Big Voice: Sip City Owner Yaz Humaideh and Plaza Midwood Merchants Say No to the Sales Tax Hike
Plaza Midwood is more than a neighborhood. It’s a heartbeat. It’s where the art is loud, the culture is proud, and the small businesses make Charlotte feel like home. And when those businesses speak up, it’s worth listening.
This week, Yaz Humaideh, owner of Sip City and a pillar of Charlotte’s independent business community, took to Instagram to explain why he, along with the Plaza Midwood Merchants Association, is educating residents why the upcoming transportation sales tax referendum needs real transparency, accountability, and support to small business impacted by its effects.
A Tax That Hurts the Very Soul of the City
Yaz doesn’t mince words. As a small business owner and active voice in the local economy, he knows exactly who bears the brunt of a regressive sales tax: working families, hourly workers, and the neighborhood shops trying to keep their doors open after inflation, COVID, and skyrocketing commercial rents.
This referendum, which would increase Charlotte’s total sales tax rate by 14%, lands squarely on the shoulders of people who already pay more than their fair share. Yaz calls it out for what it is: a billion-dollar tax hike with no binding guarantees, no community oversight, and no clear plan for how it will improve the lives of those it claims to serve.
Merchants United for Transparency, Accountability, and Equity
The Plaza Midwood Merchants Association stands in solidarity with Yaz. They’ve joined the growing #NO’alition, a citywide network of residents, workers, educators, and business owners who reject backroom deals and blank-check promises.
Like many in East Charlotte, they’ve seen the city approve bonds, taxes, and “strategic visions” that often leave out the neighborhoods doing the real work to keep Charlotte vibrant. They’re not opposed to investment, they’re opposed to misdirection.
"Charlotte and Plaza Midwood needs a transparent, accountable transit plan - one that strengthens neighborhoods, protects small businesses, and invests in our city’s real needs like safety, infrastructure, and connectivity.” — Plaza Midwood Merchants Association
Why It Matters
When small business owners like Yaz take a stand, they’re doing more than protecting their bottom line. They’re protecting the soul of Charlotte. They’re advocating for transparency, asking for real commitments, and demanding a seat at the table, not just a bill at the end of the meal.
This isn't just about buses or rail lines. It’s about whether we continue letting vague promises pass as policy, or if we draw the line and demand more.
Join Yaz. Join Plaza Midwood. Join the #NO’alition.
Vote AGAINST on the transportation tax hike.