Commentary
Seattle’s Economic Transformation As Seen By a Harvard Economist
Check out this piece in the New York Times.Nothing new here, but good to get the Ivy League perspective By EDWARD L. GLAESER Seattle has used high-rise construction and good public transportation to support growth and bolster its economy. As the 2010 Census rolls out, much of the attention of news organizations is focused on…
How Do You Compare With Todays Market Leaders?
By Tim Tasker, Partner, Ernst & Young LLP How do todays entrepreneurs build an exceptional enterprise? Its no easy task, considering the economic challenges, competition and risks in the market but confronting these challenges is what it takes to build the household names of tomorrow. At Ernst & Young, weve developed a framework of business…
Our National Obsession with China
This is not the first time weve been obsessed about another country and what its doing to the American economy. For decades, the focus of that national obsession was the Soviet Union because of its military might, its designs on expanding the misery of communism and its technological achievements that for a time eclipsed our…
Your Predictable Future
Illustration by Michelle Barbera Perhaps youve used the forecasting feature on the Bing search engine: After entering your flight info, Bings price predictor calculates if its the best time to buy a ticket or if you should wait for fares to drop. Using this type of predictive analysis, all kinds of Washington state businesses are…
Beware the Dragon
Chinas modernization has been headline news. Unless youve had your head in the sand, youre aware of the rapid progress within the worlds most populous country. China has overtaken Japan as the second-largest global economy. It is frequently referred to as the workshop of the world. It hosted the 2008 Olympics and 2010 World Expo…
Vertafore Still Expanding in Seattle
By Susanna Morgan Senior Vice President, Corporate Development Vertafore The December issue of Seattle Business Magazine included Vertafore one of the regions largest software companies on the Most Likely to Be Missed list given our acquisition by an out-of-state buyer, inferring that Vertafore would soon be leaving the area. However, what the story didnt convey…
Washi-Leaks
Reference ID Subject Created Origin 45SONICS0224 Handwritten note misfiled with documents for City of Seattle lawsuit over Sonics relocation. From Clayton Bennett to Seattle Symphony Director Gerard Schwarz: While our brand spankin new OKC symphony hall sits empty, our wallets do not. Perhaps the Maestro and the Mrs. would like to see what $52 mil…
Talk the Walk
Companies large and small are embracing corporate social responsibility. But consumers, employees and investors want to know not only that companies are good corporate citizens, but also that they can back up their claimsthat they can be trusted. Any effort at spin, real or perceived, will be met with harsh criticism and serious damage to…
In Search of a New Destiny
The City of Destiny moniker was attached to Tacoma in 1864 when it landed the economic-development plum of the erathe western terminus of the Northern Pacific Railwaybut in the midst of all the hoopla, no one thought to ask just what specific destiny the fates had in mind. Instead of what the local gentry figured…
Keli Carender
I feel like the tinder was already there, ready to burstinto flames and I just lit the match, says conservative blogger and activistKeli Carender on her early role in the Tea Party movement. On Feb. 16, 2009, Carender organized a Porkulus protest atWestlake Park in downtown Seattle. Appalled by what she deemed excessivespending in the…
Letter: Unrecognized SoDo
Regarding Bill Virgins column on SoDo (The Old IndustrialHeart, October 2010)well, he got most of it right. Dan Raleys remarkable book, Tideflats to Tomorrow: TheHistory of Seattles SoDo nothwithstanding,this area of south Seattle is looked on, particularly by those on the upperfloors of City Hall, as that big gray area just south of Qwest and…
Sergei Says
Ive got it figured out. Its easy, really. Ive been tryingto figure out a way to make it, but have been stymied by a depressed economy,no public investment, no corporate reinvestment, no irrational exuberance … nofun. But as my friend Sergei says, When life gives lemons,poison neighbors lemon tree and corner market. Theres nothing a…
Hello, World
Words have amazing power to conjure in the mind people, places, objects or concepts that weve never seen or had any experience with, and may not even exist. Sometimes, that power can be demonstrated with just one word: Sasquatch. Sometimes, it takes two: Seattle Republican. Or three: Mariners power hitter. On occasion, it takes more…