.com
COMMUNITY | Teen who tried to save greatgrandpa from burning home meets firefighters [2]
VOL. 17, NO. 46
MIRROR
F E D E R A L WAY
DIVISION OF SOUND PUBLISHING
OPINION | Magruder: One-stop shopping for catching up with the stars [6] Roegner: Election reflections [6] VETERAN’S DAY | Local celebrations honor veterans at Todd Beamer, Brookdale [16-17] POLICE | Police arrest fried chicken thief, who was previously trespassed from store [18]
SPORTS | Freshman lifts Mount Si SCHOOLS | Strategic planning underway for Federal Way Public Schools [27] FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015 | 75¢ over Thomas Jefferson [4]
Chief of staff seeks to collect state pension, despite state denials BY CARRIE RODRIGUEZ editor@fedwaymirror.com
T
he highest paid employee in the city of Federal Way is seeking to collect a full retirement in addition to his salary,
even though state officials twice deemed him ineligible for benefits and claimed he was not really retired. Officials with the state Department of Retirement Systems said Chief of Staff Brian Wilson did
not completely separate from employment when he retired from the police department on Jan. 15, 2014, as he had a prior agreement with the city to begin his position as chief of staff five days later, according to public records the
Mirror obtained. But Wilson’s attorney disagrees. “While there may have been a plan [for the chief of staff position] in a loose sense, he still separated from service entirely from the city and there was a period of days be-
Miss Washington seeks help to get to nationals
fore he was extended a position of employment,” Robert L. Christie, with Christie Law Group PLLC, told the Mirror on Wilson’s behalf, who declined to comment on the matter. “There was no hidden [ more PENSION, page 10 ]
Protesters call for $15 minimum wage
BY RAECHEL DAWSON
BY RAECHEL DAWSON
rdawson@fedwaymirror.com
rdawson@fedwaymirror.com
After her main sponsor pulled out last-minute, Miss Washington Tara Uson-Fee with National American Miss is looking for help to fund her trip to compete for the National Queen Title in Anaheim, California during Thanksgiving weekend. “I feel extremely blessed and thankful to even have this opportunity to be competing as Miss Washington, and I really want to make my great state proud,” Uson-Fee wrote on her gofundme.com page. “My dream is to become 2015 National American Miss. With my title, I will have the opportunity to travel around the country and world to inspire girls to learn to be more self-confident and discover that they can accomplish anything when they believe in themselves.” The young Filipino woman’s sponsor was a man who owned a glass company but had pulled out after some unexpected family struggles. Now, Uson-Fee has to scrounge together $1,500 in time for her Nov. 21 [ more MISS, page 11 ]
“What do we say in Federal Way? Low pay is not OK!” rang out from a crowd of protesters just outside of Federal Way’s The Commons mall on Tuesday. That was before they marched throughout the Commons and were kicked out by security around 11:30 a.m. Organized by Working Washington, the group who launched the Seattle fast food strikes in 2013 for the $15 minimum wage, the rally was part of the statewide “It’s Our Time” day of action. Similar rallies took place in Seattle, Spokane, Yakima and Olympia as well as more than 250 locations nationwide. Federal Way resident Alina Hizik, 23, has worked at her two jobs – Jack in the Box and Chevron – for about a year and shares the burden of paying rent with her brother. But she’s still left with nothing at the end of each month. “You work hard but it’s not enough, you know? And it feels like you want that hard work to pay off,” Hizik said. “I figure if we as people make $15 minimum wage, we wouldn’t have to work two jobs.” Hizik said she’s already struggling with expenses and bills now so paying for college isn’t something that seems doable, even though she hopes to go one day. “I hope to make a change for everyone, not just me,” she said when asked why she was at the rally. “Unless you spend time in [our] shoes, a week, then you won’t truly understand.” According to Working Washington, Federal Way has a declining Caucasian population despite the city’s 30 percent population increase since it was incorporated as a city 25 years ago. While Federal Way has a significant amount of low-income housing options, more than 25 percent of renters pay more than half of their incomes towards rent, the organization’s of-
Above, about 40 protesters walk in front of The Commons mall during a rally calling for a $15 minimum wage on Tuesday. The rally, organized by Working Washington, was part of a statewide day of action. Left, a protester confronts Charles Sullivan (left), the general manager of The Commons mall, after the crowd marched through the mall chanting, “Low pay is not OK!” PHOTOS BY CARRIE RODRIGUEZ, the Mirror
www.eagletire.com
FEDERAL WAY (253) 838-2424 1515 SO. 344TH ST.
Must present coupon to get this price. Fluid/filter disposal charges only. Most cars & light trucks. Vehicles requiring synthetic or diesel oil filter may cost extra. No other discounts apply. Additional charge for shop supplies may be added. Redeemable only at Eagle Tire & Automotive.
[ more WAGE, page 3 ]
THE TIRES YOU NEED. THE SERVICE YOU TRUST.