Seattle Medium,
by
Staff
Original Article
Posted by
sunset
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6/11/2025 5:37:19 PM
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Seattle has lost a significant Microsoft conference due to the city’s escalating issues with homelessness, open drug use, and other criminal activities. In addition to canceling next year’s event, Microsoft has decided to “release holds for all future years.” The company’s Build conference, which attracts thousands of developers and industry professionals, is officially relocating from Seattle to a new venue in 2026. An email with the subject line “DEFINITE CANCELLATION” indicated that the decision to leave Seattle was largely influenced by attendees’ experiences navigating the convention area. The email noted, “Customers cited the general uncleanliness of the streets, visible drug use, and the presence of unhoused individuals,