Mayor Jim Ferrell’s Office appears to be implementing selective admission policies for community organizations wishing to participate in the State of the City event. Consequently, our organization, along with others, has been denied the opportunity to set up a booth or table. This creates a perception that the event is not fully inclusive of the Federal Way community, and seems to cater only to those in alignment with the mayor’s circle. This practice suggests a preferential treatment for certain organizations over others.

The complex dynamics of exercising democratic rights in public spaces can often be contentious, particularly in cities like Federal Way. Individuals and groups who seek to engage with the public through official city and state petitions play a critical role in the democratic process. However, they frequently face challenges, such as finding suitable locations to set up their operations and interact with citizens. The right to peacefully petition is safeguarded by law, yet petitioners often encounter resistance from some businesses and organizations that may not recognize these legal protections. The belief that these entities are violating the law by hindering petitioning activities underscores the tensions that can arise between private interests and public freedoms.

In Federal Way, there is an undercurrent of political power play, where some organizations perceive themselves as the gatekeepers of political discourse within the city. These groups seem to carry an expectation that others should defer to their political dominance, leaving little room for dissenting voices or alternative political engagement. The notion that certain factions in the city are setting themselves up as the arbiters of political legitimacy points to a broader issue of inclusivity and freedom within the democratic process.

The specific mention of “Ferrell and Company” suggests that there is considerable dissatisfaction with how democracy is being facilitated—or hindered—in Federal Way. Contrary to the vocal assertions of “save democracy” advocates within this group, their actions are perceived as contrary to the principles of an open and participatory democracy. This perception of exclusion and the relegation of divergent conservative voices to “second class citizenship” speaks to the heart of concerns about the American Citizen right of political participation.

As a result of these perceived “stiff-arm tactics” by what has been labeled the “Ferrell Machine,” there are those who have chosen to dissociate from events such as the State of the City address. The decision to abstain from this gathering indicates a sense of futility or protest in reaction to what is seen as an undemocratic power structure within the city. Such a stance aims to draw attention to the critical need for a truly free-flowing exchange of ideas and the unencumbered exercise of democratic rights in the public arena.