With a new year upon us, it’s time here at Thinking Locally to look forward to 2010.
There’s no two ways about it — 2009 was a tough year. The local economy was jostled and bumped like a Wal-Mart shopper on Black Friday. The city’s budget took more hits than Matt Hasselbeck. The city’s Symphony project stalled again, and we lost a marquee grocery store and community supporter in Metropolitan Market. We lost a city manager, then the city manager form of government.
But there’s no sense crying about the past. Being the sort who likes to look positively to the future, I bring you my 2010 wishes for Federal Way.
• A year without murders or other craziness hitting the TV news: Seriously, enough already. Our community image has been distorted by the “If it bleeds, it leads” philosophy of TV news. Let 2010 be a year where news stories focus on the achievements of our schools, our community groups, and the beautiful natural areas in Federal Way. Think positive, news editors.
• For the Dash Point Village and its neighbors: A new grocery store. The exit of Metropolitan Market from the community leaves a gaping hole in the shopping center near Lakota. It also deprives a neighborhood of its grocery store. Metropolitan Market will be impossible to replace, but here’s hoping that a new grocery store will land here soon.
• For the State Supreme Court, the next time they decide a school funding lawsuit: A little more common sense, and a lot more insight into the realities of the state’s funding inequities in suburban school districts like Federal Way.
• For Federal Way government: An elected mayor with an exciting vision, and the management and political skills that will be needed to navigate the city’s many challenges.
• For Federal Way Public Schools: A new superintendent with an exciting vision, and the management and political skills that will be needed to navigate the district’s many challenges — or we could just clone Tom Murphy.
• For Twin Lakes Golf and Country Club: Financial solvency and a golf course that stays green forever. Ah, heck, while we’re at it, let’s throw in a victory for the folks trying to preserve the Northshore Golf Course as well. Regardless of how you feel about golf, these are huge chunks of open space at risk.
• For Federal Way’s ivy-plagued forests: An army of volunteers ready to clear the ivy out of our forests.
• For the Federal Way City Council: Copies of “How to Get Along with Your New Elected Mayor.”
• For the Federal Way Mirror: The exact opposite of what the major dailies are getting. That is, more readers and more advertisers, to keep our local paper growing.
• Federal Way Chamber of Commerce and CEO Tom Pierson: Fifty or more new businesses setting up shop in Federal Way.
• For the city of Federal Way (and the public who receives city services): A 2-for-1 gift with the Chamber’s Wish; an increase in sales tax revenues from a rebounding economy.
• Federal Way interim city manager and Police Chief Brian Wilson: A return to the relatively easy challenges of managing one of the state’s largest municipal police departments, and a standing ovation for the fine job he’s done as interim city manager.
• For the Seattle Sounders (and season ticket holders like me): Another U.S. Open Cup, the MLS Championship and, heck, maybe another aging, but not yet finished, European star added to the roster. I hear Barcelona may be trying to offload Thierry Henry?
• And finally, for Federal Way as it faces a massive set of challenges in 2010: More of what is our strength — an active, informed and passionate citizenry. It’s up to us, folks. Happy New Year.
