Federal Way Mirror, December 03, 2011

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LOCAL HISTORY | Historical society asks city council for financial support [2]

VOL. 13, NO. 399

MIRROR

F E D E R A L WAY

DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING

OPINION | Hobbs: Federal Way holiday horoscope [4] Guest column: Flight attendant’s life-saving twist of fate on 9/11 [4] REDONDO SHOOTING | Event will boost reward for suspect in woman’s death [3] MOST POPULAR BABY NAMES | Jacob and Sophia rule in Washington [5]

SPORTS | Basketball season preview: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2011 Decatur eyes sixth trip to state [10]

CALENDAR | Upcoming events include a holiday concert by FW Symphony [6-7]

Federal Way police report lower crime rates BY GREG ALLMAIN gallmain@fedwaymirror.com

Despite reductions in staffing, the Federal Way Police Department reports improved levels of service that have led to some of the lowest crime rates in the city’s history.

Over the past two and a half years, the police department has lost 18 positions through layoffs, re-organization, or leaving unfilled positions vacant. Those 18 positions equate to an 11 percent reduction in the overall staff. While that may seem to be cause for sober reflection, Police

Chief Brian Wilson was fairly optimistic in a presentation to the city council Nov. 29 at a public hearing on mid-biennium budget adjustments. Wilson reviewed a number of areas indicative of what FWPD has been able to do as it restructured staffing. The first area he

looked at was index crimes in the third quarter of the year, dating back to 2005. The numbers presented by Wilson show an overall decline since 2005, with that year recording 4,759 index crimes, while this year, only 3,427 were recorded. Between 2010 and 2011, a 12 percent decrease occurred in

With the vacant property at 3304 SW 340th Place qualifying under the “dangerous and unfit premises” ordinance, the city is taking the necessary legal steps before it can clean the yard. Neighbors have complained of rats.

this statistical category. Index crimes include homicide, rape, robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, larceny, motor vehicle theft and arson. “We actually have the lowest crime rate since our inception,” Wilson said. [ more CRIME, page 13 ]

Students protest grading system Walkout planned at high schools Dec. 6 BY ANDY HOBBS editor@federalwaymirror.com

ANDY HOBBS, The Mirror

Unfit premises: New city code targets rat-infested foreclosure includes cans, bottles, shoes, busted appliances, editor@federalwaymirror.com ripped carpeting, clothes, Federal Way will test a a sofa, a TV and a crib new city code on a trashed crammed with junk. and abandoned house that Neighbors have comsits in ownership limbo. plained about the ugly In May, the city’s mess attracting rats “unfit building” and critters as well NEWS code was amended as shady people to include unfit who pick through premises. Federal the pile. Way code enforceWith the propment will apply this erty qualifying under revised ordinance for the the city’s “dangerous and first time to a foreclosed unfit premises” ordinance, property at 3304 SW 340th Federal Way is taking the Place. necessary legal steps before The sizable patch of a contractor can clean the rain-soaked debris in the yard. vacant home’s front yard It will take a minimum BY ANDY HOBBS

UPDATE

of 30 days, barring any appeals, before the city can obtain the legal authority to clear the debris from the private property. Code enforcement of-

ficer Greg Vause presented the case to a hearing examiner Nov. 29 at City Hall, but no one showed up on behalf of the property. [ more UNFIT, page 13 ]

More than 100 students gathered Tuesday morning at Decatur High School to protest the district’s new Standards Based Education system. There is also a buzz about students at all four Federal Way high schools staging a walkout during lunchtime on Dec. 6. As of press time, a Facebook site for the walkout had nearly 150 people confirm attendance. The system was introduced this year, and has created controversy among teachers and parents, especially those with students at Federal Way’s high schools. Standards Based Education (SBE) is aimed at creating standardization for teachers and students regarding grading, class content and other important areas. Critics say SBE creates an unfair playing field that reduces test scores, raises the failure rate and discourages students from trying. Supporters praise the system for focusing on specific goals and challenging students to improve. Tuesday’s protest began at 7:30 a.m. at Decatur’s track, complete with chants about saying no to the standards based system. Police were called to the scene, which was reduced

Nearly 100 students protested Tuesday morning at Decatur High School. COURTESY PHOTO to 25 protesters because anything larger requires a city permit. The students avoided trouble and eventually went to their regularly scheduled classes “to prove their education is important,” said parent Janette Braun. “I wanted to show the kids they had parental support,” said Braun, whose daughter is a sophomore at [ more PROTEST, page 13 ]


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