What a lovely welcoming story for the Performing Arts and Conference Center’s first executive director!

Who knew the National Enquirer had moved to Federal Way? Sensationalize first, to get readers interested. Put many important facts at the end of the story. Interview only one uninvolved citizen, known publicly to be against the arts center project, for his opinion. Don’t interview any citizen who is involved, who might know any actual details.

The fact the city of Lancaster, where the executive director is from, has had the model to subsidize its performance hall for decades isn’t important. Don’t ask if by chance that model has helped low-income citizens there get reduced cost or free tickets, or if non-profits are allowed to utilize the facility for lower fees. If bringing in special events and performances only happens when the city subsidizes them, but it results in more people visiting the various restaurants and other nearby businesses, that shouldn’t be considered.

Just blame the current executive director for the model, and claim she is obviously responsible for the need to subsidize. Don’t check to see how many other performance halls owned by a city are also subsidized.

Be sure to save for the last part of the article that 55 new businesses have sprung up around the Lancaster Performing Arts Center since it was built. And emphasize that numbers are all that count.  Anything that implies overall city benefits or spurring economic development isn’t worth mentioning.

Also apparently unimportant is that out of 39 applicants for the executive director position in Federal Way, she was in the final six, and impressed the two interview panels the most after they read her detailed application and listened to her responses in the interview sessions.

So welcome to Federal Way, Theresa Yvonne. Those of us who actually met and interviewed you have confidence you will do a fantastic job. Many, many of us are here ready to support and assist you.

Joann Piquette, Federal Way