This is in response to Douglas Brooks’ letter, “Ask kids about rebranding city?”

Did you know that our high schools have jazz bands that meet at 6:30 a.m.? Did you know our middle school jazz bands meet at 7 a.m.?

To generalize that all high school kids care about is “cellphones, social media, gaming” and that “hip-hop” is their music, not jazz or blues, is just crazy.

Did you know that the Decatur baseball team is in the 3A state tournament? Decatur just put on an amazing “Grease” musical. The Federal Way boys track and field team is the 4A SPSL champion and on its way to state as well. The Todd Beamer Dance Team  won another state championship.

Every high school in Federal Way has very hard working, smart and talented kids. Let’s not forget that at the fourth high school in Federal Way, the Thomas Jefferson boys soccer team is in the 4A state tournament. Federal Way also has a fifth high school, Truman High School. Programs there have been so popular with the students and families that there is now a waiting list to get into the Career Academy. The Truman Community Garden is run by volunteers and students and takes up approximately 10,000 square feet.

Let’s not group them all together as a bunch of kids who care about nothing except themselves and their cellphones.

Could Federal Way use a “cool town center?” Yes. Do the majority of people want to antique shop and go to over-priced specialty stores? Not necessarily. Federal Way’s average household income is not that of Carmel, Calif., or the neighborhood of the Proctor District in Tacoma. You need to consider that when you want to bring in certain businesses into the community.

Libby Ray, Federal Way