Federal Way Mirror, January 09, 2015

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EDUCATION | Interim Superintendent Sally McLean delivers State of Education address [2]

VOL. 17, NO. 2

MIRROR

F E D E R A L WAY

DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING

OPINION | Editorial: Shining Federal Way up [4] Roegner: Who will be the top newsmakers in 2015? [4] LEGISLATURE | Economy and transportation are city’s top legislative priorities this session [6] POLICE | Man suspected of robbing 20 stores throughout the region arrested [12]

SPORTS | Teams make mark at FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015 | 75¢ wrestling tournament [18]

Motel shut down for code violations BY SARAH KEHOE skehoe@fedwaymirror.com

The city of Federal Way shut down the longtime Ridgecrest Motel and told occupants to vacate by noon Wednesday because the motel was in violation of several building codes. The closure displaced at least five families and other lowincome individuals, however the city has partnered with local organizations that have stepped up to help the residents find other accommodations. “We will meet with them and find out what their needs are,” said Robin Corak, CEO of Multi-Service Center, one of the organizations that is currently working with the displaced motel residents. “Based on what we gather from each person, we will refer them to internal and external resources they are eligible for and provide them with proper housing.” The city is also making an effort to assist families living in Ridgecrest Motel. “What we know now is that five households had been in to talk with [the Multi-Service Center],” said Chris Carrel, communications and government affairs coordinator for the city. “The city recognizes the importance of helping out our low-income families and that’s why we’ve partnered with [ more MOTEL, page 11 ]

LAWSUIT | More details emerge in Federal Way police brutality allegations [19]

Governor appoints Carol Gregory to 30th District BY RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@fedwaymirror.com

W

ashington state Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Carol Gregory as state representative, Position 2, for the 30th Legislative District on Thursday. The position was vacated after late Rep. Roger Free-

man won the November election, despite passing away six days prior on Oct. 29, 2014 from colon cancer. “I’m very excited about the opportunity to represent the district,” Gregory said in an interview. “It’s kind of something I’ve prepared for for years. Because this is a session on education, and that’s my back-

ground, it’s very significant for me.” Gregory has held several positions in education, including president of the Federal Way Public Schools board of education and director for the Northwest Area Foundation of Burst For Prosperity. She was also the King County executive’s education liaison from

1997-2005, she worked in the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and worked in the governor’s office for eight years. “I have an understanding for the legislative process so I’m not going down cold,” she said. “But I will have a lot to learn.” [ more APPOINT, page 11 ]

Carol Gregory was appointed to serve the 30th District. File photo

New strategy to improve Federal Way’s economy BY RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@fedwaymirror.com

Federal Way police Chief Andy Hwang (center) prays with members of various local church congregations and the greater community during a prayer rally that was held in City Hall’s lobby last Wednesday. CARRIE RODRIGUEZ, the Mirror

Church community hosts prayer rally amid country’s racial, police tension BY RAECHEL DAWSON rdawson@fedwaymirror.com

Strangers turned to one another in the lobby of City Hall, put their arms around each other and began to pray. On New Year’s Eve — a night police were out in full force — the Federal Way church community prayed for their safety, the health of local firefighters and peace between city

officials and citizens during Federal Way’s first prayer rally. Approximately 20 pastors organized the rally not to address politics or racial divide but to simply bring together the community in prayer in times of tension and disagreement surrounding police brutality and racism in other parts of the country. “I think this is amazing what’s happening here,”

said Federal Way resident Stephn McNeal, a former Human Services Commission chair, who once served with late Rep. Roger Freeman. “Black, white, Asian and Hispanic to be interested in change.” International House of Prayer Northwest Pastor Gary Wiens, a co-organizer of the rally, said the idea came to his wife Marie, also a pastor of the church. “She has this amazing thing of hearing from the Lord while she’s in the bathroom getting ready for the day,” Wiens said. Her idea to pray for police on New Year’s Eve evolved after a meeting with co-organizer An-

dre Sims, a pastor at Christ the King Bible Fellowship. Sims’s idea was to broaden the gathering to pray for “wisdom and protection of the Lord” to the whole police force and community. After meeting with 2026 pastors, Wiens said the rally came to fruition in a matter of a few short days. “When our pastor told us, I thought it was important because of prayer,” said local resident Annette Evans, who attends Christ the King Bible Fellowship in Federal Way. Evans explained she would not have been interested in the prayer rally if [ more RALLY, page 6 ]

Economic Development Director Tim Johnson presented Federal Way’s first economic development strategy in the city’s history to the City Council on Tuesday. Among initiatives centered around downtown development, replacing Weyerhaeuser when it leaves in 2016 and rebranding the city, were ideas such as free business licenses, a college branch campus and a focus on the Hollywood filming industry. The strategy is outlined in a 90-page draft called “Some Assembly Required” and will be the topic of discussion for the next month in several public hearings and committee meetings before Council is expected to adopt it on Feb. 3. The strategy, created by Johnson and other city officials since he was hired in September, is meant to improve the city’s economic development in two years. “I’m estimating there will be somewhere between $350-450 million in new public and private investment over the next two years in Federal Way,” Johnson said, adding [ more ECONOMY, page 3 ]


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