Where are the promised benefits of the Federal Way Performing Arts and Event Center?

Please tell me again why we built the PAEC in a working-class city where the vast majority of the residents have very little interest in the performing arts?

The Performing Arts and Event Center has now been open for business for a few years. I keep thinking back to a Sept. 15, 2015 Mirror article that the PAEC’s former Executive Director Theresa Yvonne wrote. According to her calculations, the PAEC should be generating millions of dollars into our local economy.

What happened?

It seems the citizens of Federal Way have been duped. We were promised a fancy symphony hall with shows that would bring in cash-spending patrons from far and wide. I just checked the schedule of upcoming events and I see an unknown magician, local radio personality Dori Monson and a Who cover band. Wow! These acts could have been hosted in the Decatur High School gym.

Please tell me again why we built the PAEC in a working-class city where the vast majority of the residents have very little interest in the performing arts? It doesn’t make sense to put steak sauce on a hot dog.

Brian Adams

Federal Way