Even the City of Seattle's cable TV channel, unlike Federal Way's, lets election challengers to their Mayoral and City Council incumbents, and election candidates generally, have a platform to tell voters their ideas for government. When I ran against appointed Council Member Lydia Assefa-Dawson in '15, there was not even a whisper of an invitation to speak on "Ferrell TV." Of course, Assefa-Dawson is on "Ferrell TV" all the time, not that she speaks much, but still the principle of fairness in city elections is at stake. This reminds me of what hypocrite politicians from our nation tell us all the time about slanted government media in autocratic, totalitarian, or authoritarian regimes in foreign countries having much or total control of newspapers, radio and TV, and in some cases the internet as well, yet when similar instances of biased government-controlled media occur in our country, these same politicians have little or nothing to say, if not winking and smiling at the inconsistencies apparent in their hypocrisy.
Yes, I realize that practically anybody, or at least a F.W. resident, can get on "Ferrell TV" by signing up to speak at a council meeting, but that platform is very limited and completely under the thumb of Mayor Jim Ferrell, who can shut off any speaker on a whim. "Ferrell TV" is hardly fair or representative, and should be changed to let election challengers for various city offices be on and speak.
Yes, I realize that practically anybody, or at least a F.W. resident, can get on "Ferrell TV" by signing up to speak at a council meeting, but that platform is very limited and completely under the thumb of Mayor Jim Ferrell, who can shut off any speaker on a whim. "Ferrell TV" is hardly fair or representative, and should be changed to let election challengers for various city offices be on and speak.
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