Q: Mr. Federal Way, I read online that Kenneth Sutton was convicted of second-degree murder in the old Johnny’s Famous Bar and Grill shooting. While that’s good and dandy, I also noticed a commander with the Federal Way Police Department said in that story that gangs are not an issue in Federal Way. But I’ve heard otherwise. Are gangs more prevalent here than what police want us to think?
A: While it is not Mr. Federal Way’s intention to strike fear into the community, the commander told the reporter that it’s “uncommon” for Federal Way to have gang affiliations.
But Mr. Federal Way wonders what he’s comparing “common” to. Mr. Federal Way has been here a while and just this last May Bernard Bellerouche was connected to gangs and went by the street name “Crucial” before he allegedly shot and killed two people in Federal Way.
Sutton, who was convicted on Christmas Eve, yelled “Rolling 90s” before shooting and killing a man outside of a bar in 2012, and a 2013 article by former editor Andy Hobbs titled “The reality of criminal gangs in South King County” exposes the truth that there are gangs in South King County. Federal Way’s include the 74 Hoover Criminals, Family Mafia Crips, West Side Mafia Blood Gang, King Underground Surenos, the South Side Playboys, Sureno King Lokotes and the Sons of Samoa.
Mr. Federal Way chuckles at the thought of the gang names — they’re so creative — but it’s truly not a laughing matter.
These people are responsible for organized crime, such as drug dealing, burglaries, prostitution, graffiti and, yes, murder. So for Mr. Police Commander to state it’s uncommon, is simply confounding.
What is common — Compton? What is uncommon — Sammamish? Yes, there is a spectrum but the first step to solving a problem is acknowledging that there is one.
Between January 2010 and December 2011, nine gang cases occurred in Federal Way. Has it changed so much since then? Hobbs cites a 2011 report that there was an estimated 143 active criminal street gangs and 87 of those were in South King County.
In the past, it’s been reported that there are gangs in Federal Way high schools. So what does today look like? Has there been a vast improvement? Will the extra police officers written in the 2015-2016 biennial budget help combat this “uncommon” problem? All Mr. Federal Way can say is, “Cheers to 2015, it will likely be a wild ride.”
Q: Mr. Federal Way, one day before the Council formally adopted the 2015-2016 biennial budget, city officials emailed the Human Services General Fund grant applicants the various allocations. They explained that in order to balance the overall budget, the Council approved $438,377 per year for the Human Services General Fund — $77,623 less than the Human Services Commission’s recommendation ($516,000). Why can’t the budget cover the recommendation for human services when it can pay for expensive things, such as property for Town Center, Town Park and a new flag, among others.
A: In going with the theme today, it appears Mr. Spokesman For The City didn’t have enough time to help answer this question by Mr. Federal Way’s deadline.
The city did cough up some general answers, including the review process that human services allocations go through.
The process begins with the volunteer Human Services Commission, who makes recommendations to the City Council for funding. The forum for these decisions is the budgeting process, which allows for prioritization of needs and programs in the context of a public process.
The city said that, in general, allocations can go up and down based on shifting human services needs, the overall condition of the economy, or other factors.
It is unclear if these “other factors” include new city projects and positions, such as a new director for the Performing Arts and Conference Center that is also included in the new budget.
Also, “The Council is not statutorily limited regarding the size of the human services fund. As with any budget issue, moving funds from one program area to another typically involves a reduction in the program area funds are moved out of, so that is a practical consideration that would arise,” according to the city. Read that two times fast.
Mr. Federal Way did some digging and discovered that $516,000 was available for direct human services programs in the city’s 2013-2014 budget.
So the question is, since the Human Services General Fund is now $77,623 less, where did that money go? What is that $77,623 now funding? Why did the Council decide to shave $77,623 from the budget per year over the next two years?
Mr. Federal Way surmises the rubber has finally met the road and the new budget is not as rosey as some city officials painted it.
When city officials do get enough time to answer these questions, Mr. Federal Way or this newspaper will relay that information to readers.
Q: Mr. Federal Way, how did you celebrate the New Year?
A: None of your business.
Got a question for Mr. Federal Way? Email mrfederalway@federalwaymirror.com
