TACOMA, Wash. — In response to the Seattle City Council's unanimous passing of the controversial head tax last week, the city of Tacoma is making its "No Head Tax Here" pitch to court tech companies and other big businesses in Seattle.
Before the head tax vote, the CEOs of more than 100 big-companies in Seattle wrote to the City Council to voice their opposition to the head tax.
[ >> Seattle homeless and the head tax proposal: A timeline of the city's response ]
In a letter posted on the website Medium, they wrote:
"We oppose this approach, because of the message it sends to every business: If you create too many jobs in Seattle, you will be punished.
[ >> Read more: Economic study and business letter attack Seattle head tax ]
“We ask the City Council to set aside the misguided 'head tax,' and to engage us in more dialogue."
The letter was signed by the CEOs of Alaska Air, Expedia, Real Networks and Tableau, among others.
Following the City Council's unanimous vote, local businesses began voicing concerns about the prospects of conducting business in Seattle going forward.
Scroll down to continue reading
More news from KIRO 7
- One killed, one injured in mountain lion attack near North Bend
- Other notable mountain lion run-ins in Pacific Northwest history
- Photos: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle marry at Windsor Castle
- California woman reunited with man she found buried alive as baby
- Seattle Space Needle renovation nears completion
“This tax has really forced us to say, ‘I don’t think we’re going to build a new restaurant in the city while it’s in place,'” Saul Spady, the grandson of Dick's Drive-In founder Dick Spady, told KIRO radio's Dori Monson.
[ >> Read more: Grandson of Dick's Drive-In founder wants referendum on head tax ]
Now, the city of Tacoma is looking to attract local companies who might want out of Seattle
In the 30-second video on YouTube, the city of Tacoma says the following in all caps:
"NO HEAD TAX HERE … YOU’LL LIKE TACOMA … YOU’LL LIKE THE SOUTH SOUND … WE WELCOME JOBS … LOWER COST OF LIVING, HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE … THE SOUTH SOUND IS THE PLACE FOR JOBS … WE’RE HERE FOR YOU.”
Watch the video in full below: