COPS VS. FIREFIGHTERS: The Federal Way Lions, Federal Way Police and South King Fire and Rescue will hold their 5th Annual Helen Keller Basketball QUALITY OF Challenge beginning at noon Saturday, April 13, at Decatur High School, 2800 SW 320th St. Police and firefighters will battle it out on the court to benefit the Federal Way Lions Foundation for sight and hearing. Other programs that will benefit include the Federal Way Police Explorers program and SKFR’s aid fund. Admission is free. Kingsized hot dogs (with chips and a drink) will be available for $5 in advance or $6 at the door. The event includes raffle items and a halftime show with a free throw contest. The Lions provide services and activities for students and families in the community. To learn more, email rcmayer8@msn.com.
LIFE
law. But it can help change state law. I was suggesting that the mayor and council try and give the community more local latitude in what is allowed in our city before Newtown becomes Federal Way. It appears that the city leaders either aren’t interested or are afraid of the issue. Disappointing. Q: Are we going to have some Federal Way election races this fall? A: We have one with Mark Koppang challenging Kelly Maloney for city
[ HOBBS from page 4] This aligns with the average for South King County, according to a 2012 report on the Seattle hotel market from Kidder Matthews. Those stats for the South Sound include the midpriced hotels near SeaTac Airport. Business typically peaks in the summertime for hotels. Federal Way hotel managers also laud the swim competitions at the King County Aquatic Center. Out-of-town visitors pack the hotels and commonly ask about good places to eat while they’re in town.
council. It seems likely that Diana Noble-Gulliford, as a council appointee, will draw an opponent, but I’m not sure that Jeanne Burbidge will. She would be the hardest to beat. The big question is whether we will have a mayor’s race. Mayor Skip Priest will certainly run for re-election. His likely opponent, Deputy Mayor Jim Ferrell, has been quiet. However, I think Ferrell will run.
glowing praises about the performing arts and conference center (PACC), I turned to a person on my left and said she doesn’t live in Federal Way. So after the meeting, downstairs and outside, Cindy and some gentleman came out. I approached her and asked if I could ask her a question. She was startled but said yes. Question was, do you live in Federal Way? Answer: No, I work here. Now a city council member had said at a council meeting that she had gone in the mall asking what they thought of the PACC. I sent this council member an email asking if she had asked Cindy to speak at the meeting. So far, no reply. My concern is we, citizens of Federal Way, don’t even know how much this thing is going to cost, such as property taxes, upkeep, salaries of 30 people to run it and a director somewhere in six figures, $200,000 annual upkeep, etc.
has decided that his religious beliefs trump federal law. David Green, get a vote on this. The mayor said owner of Hobby Lobby, opposes payat a meeting if it went to a vote and ing for the contraceptive provisions we voted it down, it would be dead. required by the Affordable Care Act. That’s what they are afraid of. Green contends that he should So somebody who doesn’t be afforded the same exempeven have a tie to city wants a PACC. I smell a rat. Cindy Federal WAY tions extended to churches. But the federal courts should concern herself with disagreed, and turned down 12 empty store spaces in the Green’s lawsuit making Hobby mall. And our city council Lobby liable for fines of up should be concerned with what to $1.3 million per day. Hobby the people want, not several counLobby responded by utilizing a legal cil members and one mayor using loophole to forestall fines by shifting this to get votes in November. the annual renewal date for employee Norma Blanchard, Federal Way health insurance. Green turns the meaning of religious freedom on its head. ApparThe Mirror, along with members ently Green, through Hobby Lobby, of the Federal Way City Council, believes religious freedom allows him greeted the opening of Hobby Lobby to impose his family’s religious beliefs with great fanfare, but omitted sevon his employees. Hobby Lobby is a eral important and newsworthy items scofflaw and a bully. Hobby Lobby is in its stories. not a good neighbor. Hobby Lobby discriminates Paul Levy, Federal Way against women because the owner
LETTERS
Hobby Lobby’s beliefs
Federal Way resident Bob Roegner, a former mayor of Auburn: bjroegner@comcast.net Federal Way receives about $190,000 annually in hotel-motel tax revenues. High-profile events, such as Olympic diving trials and college swim championships, generate demand for hotel rooms and have a ripple effect on the local economy. A new hotel at the PACC could snag some of the summertime and swim meet spillover, but is that enough to make it viable? As the number of hotel rooms increases in Federal Way, so does the city’s responsibility to fill them.
Mirror editor Andy Hobbs: editor@federalwaymirror.com
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[ ROEGNER from page 4]
April 12, 2013 [5]
www.federalwaymirror.com And the citizens of this city do not [ LETTERS from page 4]
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