Bill Virgin
Tacoma News Tribune
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Past articles by Bill:
Celebrity CEO Lee Iacocca, who died recently, helped make the government bailout a thing
Celebrity CEO Lee Iacocca, who worked at both Ford and Chrysler, helped make the government bailout a possibility for private companies. → Read More
Foundation of Washington’s economy still an aerospace show
Tech gets all the attention but for providing the foundation of Washington’s economic performance, it’s still an aerospace show. → Read More
Hate on fracking if you must, but it’s helped America’s energy independence
New energy technologies like fracking have helped the U.S. avoid gasoline shortages and resulting long lines at gas stations. They also help the economy absorb blows from disasters, both natural and political → Read More
Can Pierce County strike tricky balance between economic vibrancy and affordable housing?
Attracting good-paying jobs while keeping housing affordable is going to be the trick for Tacoma and Pierce County, especially as King County’s economy and real estate prices continue to boom. → Read More
Airbus is turning 50. What’s that mean for Boeing?
Airbus is about to celebrate its 50th anniversary. What is the future of the airplane maker and its rival Boeing? → Read More
For good or for ill, it was the railroad that made Tacoma what it is
The railroad made Tacoma what it is today: a transportation hub where movement of freight is at the heart of the economy. → Read More
What do the unemployment numbers mean for the economy? Depends, really
Unemployment numbers don’t mean much without context. What might be considered good in eastern Washington would be bad in King County, Pierce County or Tacoma. → Read More
Festering trade disputes can cost real people their real jobs right here in Washington
Festering trade disputes like the one between the United States and China can lead to job losses across the economy, including in Washington state where a Moses Lake supplier to the solar business could close. → Read More
The banking industry appears to be in good shape. What’s that mean for a possible recession?
There have been no bank failures in the United States for over a year. Is that an indicator that there won’t be a recession or downturn in the economy any time soon? → Read More
Washington state’s new carbon-free law sounds dandy. Making it work will be daunting
The Washington Legislature passed a green energy law requiring the state to be carbon neutral by 2030 and carbon free by 2045. Transforming the power grid is going to pose engineering challenges. → Read More
The opening of McMenamins Elks Temple is a win for Tacoma. We’d do well to support it
Tacoma hasn’t gotten a big win like the McMenamins Elks Temple in a long time. It’s good to celebrate its opening. It would be even better to support it. Economic development downtown needs a sustained boost. → Read More
More people means more electricity needs. Can we get by without hydropower?
Does hydropower have a role as companies like Microsoft try to go green energy? Electricity produced by dams has advantages for the economy, but hydropower is detrimental to Columbia and Snake River salmon. → Read More
ATMs still dispense cash — that’s why people blow them up — but what’s their future
What’s the future of ATMs when people are choosing to use debit cards or credit cards or their personal devices to go cashless? → Read More
In business, mistakes hurt. Botching the response can hurt even more
In business, mistakes and scandal hurt. How you respond can hurt even more. Boeing, Wells Fargo and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos all are learning that lesson now. → Read More
No sign of a recession at Tacoma Amcon show, but economic trouble might not be far off
Companies that manufacture parts for other manufacturers says business is good. That might be a sign a recession isn’t imminent, but other indicators, including Boeing trouble, might say otherwise. → Read More
Is Tacoma’s Click still viable in the changing landscape of TV viewership?
Changing TV viewership poses challenges for Tacoma’s Click. The trick for Tacoma Public Utilities and the City Council is figuring out a business model that works amid streaming services like Hulu and Netflix. → Read More
Tacoma’s renowned chronicler of the working waterfront has died. Ron Magden was 92.
The book Ron Magden co-authored was essential reading for those hoping to understand Tacoma’s maritime heritage, its labor history and how the region’s ports, especially Tacoma’s, wound up looking like they do now. → Read More
Amazon’s something-for-everybody largesse hints at the company’s future growth strategy
Amazon’s headquarters expansions hint that the company intends to branch out from its retail roots into things like cloud services, the Internet of Things, business-to-business commerce, media and information, you name it, writes Bill Virgin. → Read More
Calling Tacoma a 'tech town' is far-fetched. The city could make some inroads, though
Tacoma is no tech hub, but it could catch some of Seattle's spillover if it makes the right investments and decisions. → Read More
There are some interesting economic-development experiments underway in Federal Way
Smaller deals and experimental projects drive a lot of economic development. Federal Way is prime laboratory for them, writes Bill Virgin. → Read More