Q: Mr. Federal Way, I attended the Multi-Service Center’s annual Crab Feed on Saturday and, among the technical difficulties they had, it was extremely hot! Temperatures outside were in the low 90s, so I can’t imagine how hot it was inside the Federal Way Community Center’s gym with 500 bodies. I’m curious, wasn’t the Federal Way Community Center being advertised as the city’s “cooling center?”
A: You are on point. Mr. Federal Way also heard through the grapevine that it was slightly unbearable so that people simply had to drink from the bar to cool off. And, of course, happy bidders make for happy spenders even though the website or app they used didn’t work and people had to rely on *gasp* paper and pen!
But Mr. Federal Way was curious about this apparent conflict in cooling center versus hot, sweaty gym. After coaxing a Mirror staff member to ask a few questions, Mr. Federal Way found out that the Federal Way Community Center’s gym does not have air conditioning, nor has it ever. The city’s Parks Director John Hutton said the Multi-Service Center was aware the gym didn’t have air conditioning when they booked the Crab Feed event, which was likely months before anyone knew there would be such a heat wave in June.
But the Multi-Service Center’s communications manager Sarah Villian confirmed that event staff was not aware air conditioning was unavailable in the gym “until a day or two before the event.”
“Unfortunately, we also had an extremely hot day, which contributed to the issue,” Villian said. “We hope that we will be able to work with the Community Center on the air conditioning issue for next year’s event.”
Hutton pointed out that the rest of the center has air conditioning and people are still allowed to come by and hang out in the lobby, pool table and community rooms if they’re not in use. Even though there was no air conditioning, there were fans and air movement in the gym. But let’s be honest, moving hot air around is just moving hot air around.
“That’s why we typically don’t do big events in there,” Hutton said. “People generate their own heat.”
Either way, Mr. Federal Way thinks that maybe the Multi-Service Center should find a different location to avoid making people so crabby.
Q: Parents are upset there isn’t enough space for their kids at schools, such as Federal Way Public Academy and Technology Access Foundation Academy. They say that they want the school district to create a committee and look at what it would take to provide more access so more students can attend these choice schools. But for some reason, I can’t help but think this is more of a dream than a reality. What are your thoughts, Mr. Federal Way?
A: Mr. Federal Way is going to venture into scary waters and say that it is a noble thought but also not well thought out. These parents aren’t looking at the bigger picture. It costs money for the district to create more schools and programs like the Federal Way Public Academy and Technology Access Foundation Academy. A lot of money. If you haven’t had your head stuck in the ground for the last four years, you would know that the courts have deemed that the Legislature hasn’t been fully funding education and now there is a mandate that they do so. The only way to do this is by reallocations, cuts and taxes — something legislators have taken one regular session and two special sessions to craft. To ask for even more is a little rude, don’t you think?
But, oh, my child deserves the absolute best, the parents will say. That’s the problem, everyone thinks that of their child. Why not put effort into improving the public schools that are already established? Why not take advantage of the higher learning that is already at these public schools? Why not seek outside help if your child is struggling? Not everyone is special and not everyone will get in to these choice schools — that’s what makes them special, go figure. Mr. Federal Way suggests if parents want something done, they should reach into their pockets and create a fundraiser or something. After all, money speaks louder than words. Err, actions speak louder than words.
Q: Mr. Federal Way, will you be at the Red, White and Blues Festival this weekend for the Fourth of July?
A: None of your business.
Got a question for Mr. Federal Way? Email mrfederalway@federalwaymirror.com
