What happened to Federal Way?
I have lived right here on 21st Avenue SW and 305th for almost 50 years. I had four sons who went to all local schools and we paid every tax there has been since we became a city in 1990 (city taxes, road taxes, school taxes, and everything else they came up with). We were some of the first residents here, but we have been treated like low class citizens. I have gone before the Federal way City Council many times, but we are only given three minutes and then it’s “sit down!” — with no answers. How can they treat us that way when we are paying their salary? (And they just got a raise, maybe not huge but as the Tacoma manager said, no raise, not now). Most of them have two jobs also.
I have read The Mirror and the letters to the editor for many years, and have saved them in boxes. It is amazing what residents have had to say.
As our President said, we need change!
Certain people get what they want, when they want it, and how they want it. I have been at those meetings and I know who gets what. Our council seems to go along with “spend money” and not in ways that residents have wanted, and many people say they never voted for certain issues, but they always seem to get passed.
How can seven people on the city council tell the 87,000 residents of Federal Way how they are going to live? I have been at city council meetings where permission has been given to certain groups to use our community center (which is not doing well) free of charge when the rest of us always pay? And look at what they want to pass? Build a performing arts center when so many people have lost their jobs, their homes, and can hardly feed their families? Thank goodness for Jim Ferrell, who is on the council and who also wrote that this was not a good time to ask us to spend our money on a performing arts building. Thanks for Jim.
Look at the View Cliff building that the council gave a permit to a contractor to build 26 homes. He was to leave a designated number of old growth trees. Over a weekend they were taken out. Did our council stop that building? Oh, no. So for four years we paid the price, especially 21st Avenue SW. Huge double trucks of machinery, then dirt, then lumber, wiring, cupboards, sinks, etc., then the many workers. And then the many cars, and trucks of the homeowners. How will you feel when they do this to you?
And then look what they did a few years ago! They sent us on 21st Avenue ballots saying they were important neighborhood ballots. Get them in right away. We were to vote for speed bumps and speed tables (which are lower). We voted for two of each. At the next city council meeting, they changed our votes. I thought that was illegal. It is! Our acting city manager said, oh, those weren’t really ballots. Well, when I went to school, ballots spelled ballots. I called the mayor and asked why they changed our votes. He said others complained. Oh brother! Is that how we vote in Federal Way? So, at this next election, I guess if we don’t like who gets elected, we should call in and complain!
What about our roads? Look at 312th between 14th Avenue South and 10th Avenue South. They put two lanes for just half a block. Then there are two arrows that say get over in the left lane. There is no right road, so you can’t turn right and you can’t just stop or you could get rear-ended. If you turn left you will crash into the side of the car in the main left lane. Many drivers know this now, and every time I use 312th, I am raced by vehicles that want to race to the head of the line.
I have petitions for many years that many neighbors have signed to get a four-way stop at 304th and 21st Avenue SW. But our road department has always made excuses why we can’t have it. I thought we wanted safety for Federal Way. I am very tired of the tailgating every time I go out, and of the cutting across two or three lanes without signaling. Where are our police patrols? The city would be rich! The cameras might be nice, but actual police would be much better. I’m also tired of vehicles driving across our lawns, throwing beer and wine bottles, branches, cigarettes, cans, golf balls, etc. A lady who was going to have a garage sale and was putting up signs recently had a van come down full of people yelling at her, and she thought they might even shoot her.
Yes, we need patrols! Look at the recent shooting up here at 7-Eleven. Our city is out of hand!
Please everyone, call in, and write in, attend the council meetings, telling the city what we all really need and want. Thanks for your help!
Nancy Combs, Federal Way
