For the 1,100 people that move here every week, Tacoma has long been the little brother to people in Seattle. It used to be the butt of jokes about how the pulp and paper mill smelled. The “Aroma In Tacoma” punchlines were all the rage. There was even a song.

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From Tacoma’s perspective, some people developed an inferiority complex. Some had a chip on their shoulder. But most decided to just do their thing their way. So Seattle evolved in its own self-absorbed way, and T-Town did the same but with an awareness of what was happening to the north. In many ways, Tacoma could copy the best parts of what was happening up north and choose to avoid things they didn’t like.

Have you been to Tacoma lately? With all due respect to the Emerald City, the City of Destiny is crushing it right now.

Their downtown is attracting the best restaurants, the cost of living is way less, and the people are, in my opinion, more approachable and down to earth. There’s no such thing as the “Tacoma Freeze.”

Now, with a shot across the bow, Tacoma officials would like businesses to know that Pierce County will not be taxing jobs. In fact, they went the other way and announced a $275 tax credit per employee for jobs created that pay over $65,000 a year.

That’s just a smart move. Why punish the business community when you can make them feel at home. You know, business. The engine of every local economy. I can feel the collective eye roll from Pierce County every time the Seattle City Council makes a bonehead move.

Equally as important, if you move your business to the south end, you can expect the police to show up when you call. If there’s a makeshift homeless encampment in front of your business, you can reach out to local officials — and something will get done.

Now I realize that Tacoma is not perfect, but they are making some common sense choices that put Seattle to shame. You remember common sense, right? Things like, you can’t live on the sidewalk. No shooting heroin at the school yard or park. And you don’t tax a new job, you welcome it.

You can hear “What are we talking about here?” everyday at 4:45 p.m. on 97.3 FM.

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