Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell to two of the biggest companies in the state, Amazon and Microsoft: You have moral obligation to …

Mayor Bruce Harrell called on Seattle’s tech powerhouses, including Microsoft and Amazon, to fulfill a “moral obligation” to reinvest in the community, highlighting their massive profits during a speech at a Fremont Chamber of Commerce event late last month. “Microsoft … they made $88 billion last year … they have an obligation to give back to society, as does Amazon,” Harrell said, praising the city as a “city of innovation” and a “great launching pad” for large companies. “That’s a good thing. That’s not a bad thing.”

According to a report in GeekWire, the remarks underscore the tightrope walk for Harrell and city leaders: leveraging the economic boost from global tech firms while tackling their impacts on housing, transportation, and local neighborhoods.