Jack Walsh should not serve as the Federal Way Land Use and Transportation Chair

At this month’s Land Use and Transportation Committee Meeting (LUTC) during a discussion on pedestrians crossing the street not at a marked crosswalk, Federal Way Council Member and current LUTC Chair Jack Walsh interjected to quip, "It's frustrating. If you follow Darwinian theory, it may take a few generations to solve the problem, I don't know. But it's beyond me how that is."

It was shocking to hear and quickly glossed over by everyone in the room, including other present council members Melissa Hamilton, Susan Honda, and Les Sessoms (virtually in attendance).

I was the only non city staff and council member attending in the room. It took a moment for the weight of the statement to hit me.

I’ve spoken about pedestrian safety concerns in the city at the council public comment podium numerous times, with city staff in public works, and with Mayor Ferrell. I also participated in a Road Safety Audit with the city earlier this month. There are clear policy and priority differences in how I think our city should be responding to children being struck in crosswalks, drivers parking their vehicles on top of the limited pedestrian pathways in my neighborhood, and how difficult it is to get around safely outside of a car in this city. Those will continue, and that is to be expected as part of our legislative system.

But I’ve never experienced the kind of casual gutter indifference to life in that room from the dais. Referring to natural selection and generations dying off as a solution to unsafe crossings is the type of cruelty I’d expect to find in an online comment section, not from the chair of our LUTC.

Council Member Walsh apologized to me when I wrote him directly where I also asked him to step down and said he regretted distracting from the seriousness of the discussion. The apology is helpful, but it doesn’t change what was said.

It was a moment of clearly bad judgment, and that is why I think he should no longer serve as LUTC chair. I cannot relate with that type of cruel and callous reaction no matter if it was intended to be unserious.

It was a glimpse into the inner dialogue of someone in a position to set the agenda of the city’s primary transportation policy making body. It’s inexcusable and will continue to cloud any future discussions I have with the LUTC and council, and I imagine others will feel the same.

The decisions and debates that happen at LUTC can literally help save loved ones in our community and make our city a place that doesn’t primarily require a car to feel safe getting around. It can be deeply impactful work if it is taken with the seriousness it deserves. That comment and other members letting it go unchallenged show me it isn’t.

On April 4th, 2026, Yanxia Zhang was tragically struck and killed on S 320th St near the transit center. There have been at least two pedestrian deaths on Federal Way streets so far this year per WSDOT data.

Within the 24 hours following Walsh’s comment, South King Fire & Rescue responded to reports of two juveniles struck by a driver at SW 336th & 24th PL SW, and a cyclist that was struck by a driver at Pac Hwy & S 312th St. Ambulances were requested in both incidents.

Last week a cyclist was struck by an uninsured driver along S 320th St resulting in a trip to the ER for injuries, lost wages, and a tow bill.

If the council intends to actually address pedestrian safety issues, it must have someone in the LUTC chair seat that doesn’t turn pedestrian death into a laughing matter.

The Land Use and Transportation Committee is scheduled to meet the first Monday of every month. The City Council meets the first and third Tuesday of every month. Both accept in-person and email comments. You can find contact information on how to contact City Council members here.