Performing arts center … Seattle has one. It’s called Benaroya Hall.

Get the idea? We need a sugar daddy. Maybe naming rights, like Qwest Field or Safeco, could pay for construction, or maybe only the operating cost shortfall. And change it each year so all companies have a shot at feeling good.

Better yet: Forget it. Federal Way is not and never will be a city known for its culture. There are too many of them, and a good share of the people don’t have the resources or desire to fund this investment (boondoggle).

Nor do they necessarily want to participate in events to the degree needed to fund it. The Community Center is used to the extent people want to, which is not enough to cover expenses. Is what went wrong on its studies being repeated for the arts center? Trying to increase attendance will be difficult, as there are inconveniences (bus routes for one) to its use.

I think most of us would just as soon stay home in a known environment with our own methods of dealing with time than subject ourselves to the wiles of the world any more than we have to.

The Federal Way City Council has dreams of being in charge of a larger city, maybe over a million people. Why else push for annexation of east Federal Way, and even attempting to take Northeast Tacoma away from our neighbor? We probably spent funds amounting to the Community Center operating budget overruns on those two fiascos. And now our “leaders” want to build a parking garage before the arts center is even funded?

We don’t need any more government benevolence directing how our tax dollars are wasted.

Terry Slaton, Federal Way