After reading the letters from our citizens here in Federal Way, I had to keep from laughing about all the concerns about Orca Bay Seafood wanting to build on the Weyerhaeuser property. They are worried about the traffic and smells from the fish? They will also bring jobs into Federal Way.

We have only lived in Federal Way less than 20 years and have seen many changes, some good, some very bad, depending on who is mayor. One big change was changing SeaTac Mall’s name to The Commons of Federal Way. And you see what has happened: More restaurants outside of the Commons building, less parking and the worst part, more crime.

Now people are saying this company is going to bring more problems into our city. Let’s see, there have been shootings, some with deaths, and now the building for low-income families is coming. Buildings for low-income families are good but can come back and bite you where it will hurt the most. Because it will mean more traffic on South 320th Street, schools over-crowded, and more crime – don’t think there won’t be. Medical facilities over-crowded, because those monster apartments you see being built are nothing more than a “housing project,” similar to the The Yesler Terrace housing projects in Seattle in the Central District, but on a much larger scale.

I am not putting down people who cannot afford housing in better neighborhoods – I did live in the Central District most of my growing years in a very poor, lower-income neighborhood. But in the ‘40s and ‘50s there wasn’t the kind of crime we are faced with today. Federal Way will have more problems with the building of this “housing project” near the busiest intersection in downtown Federal Way.

Once people start moving in – Oh, it will be nice for a couple of years. But then you will see who the real people are that will be moving in. I’ve seen it and know it can happen here.

Patsy Gee, Federal Way