Since I have lived in Federal Way for over 50 years, on 21st Ave. S.W. and 304th Street S.W., I have attended many city council meetings. The public is only allowed to speak for three minutes and then we are told to sit down. Other speakers from the city, etc., who come in get 10 and more minutes. We pay taxes and salaries.

Aren’t we even worth five minutes?

I reminded the council about the dangerous intersection at 304th S.W. and 21st Avenue S.W., where there have been at least two side-by-side car races that came down 304th, from the Adelaide area, crossed 21st Ave. S.W. without stopping, went into the next block where a neighbors’ yard was torn up and one car wrecked. I have pictures.

What if a student was walking there at the time, or a parent was bringing a student to school or home? It could have been even more tragic! I asked the council to have the road department put in two stop signs going south and north where drivers would stop for only one or two minutes, whatever the law is for safety sake, so that the drivers who speed down the hill on 304th Street, and from the Adelaide area, wouldn’t injure someone or even worse.

Believe me, it happens all the time. Some drivers are late or just in a big hurry. There have been other near hits: one by a young lady who was about to turn up the hill at 304th, but thank goodness she stopped just as a car came flying down 304th from View Cliff and didn’t stop. The same thing happened to me the following week. A vehicle came down the hill from the Adelaide area and didn’t stop just as I was about to go through that intersection to go to the beach.

At that council meeting, I asked for two stop signs for safety sake. One council member, Jack Dovey, spoke up and said if we put in a stop sign and someone is hurt, they could sue the city. What is more important, a life or a lawsuit? People have said to me that the city knows about the things that have happened at that intersection and hillside. So if they don’t put in stop signs and someone is injured, will they sue the city? Is the city going to take down other stop signs in Federal Way for fear that if there is an accident there, they will sue the city? In past years, I was told to get petitions signed by at least 10 neighbors. I did that very thing, but was denied by the city. I still have them in my cupboard.

What is the answer? Many residents have said they will wait until something bad happens and then will they say “Oh gee, I guess we should have done something.”

Please do something now for safety sake. I do not want to be a victim or maybe a neighbor or maybe a student who walks. Thanks for your help.

Nancy Combs, Federal Way