Cascadia today: VanWA opposes light rail plan + which Dems killed farmwork bill? + celebrate all families in Renton
Greetings from Portland! I'm here on a rail + transit trip across Cascadia promoting Cascadia Journal and Cascadia Democratic Action – and spreading the word about the movement for bioregional autonomy.
Yesterday, I had a chance to view the ICE facility here for myself and it was a surreal experience: a graffiti-tagged little fortress in a corner of a gentrified neighborhood with apartment towers, a bike trail along the Willamette River, and an Old Spaghetti Factory restaurant. It felt like an enemy outpost in an otherwise vibrant and peaceful city.
I'll be writing more about Portland's pushback against ICE in today's essay.
VanWA opposes light rail plan over the Columbia
OPB reports that the Vancouver, WA city council has expressed opposition to the current plan for light rail over the Columbia River to Portland, noting that the number of stops was reduced from two to one and the proposed station will be 90 feet above the waterfront.
In the effort to slash costs, transit planners are always making things inconvenient for pedestrians. At the Urbanist, two transportation experts have a different approach, offering a plan to save Sound Transit's line to Ballard and West Seattle with slimmed down stations and automated trains. The transit agency has a $34 billion shortfall.
DOJ working to vacate Proud Boy convictions
Proving that the US Dept of Justice has become a mere political tool to prosecute enemies and reward friends, KUOW reports that the DOJ is now working to vacate the convictions of some of the most serious and violent insurrectionists from the January 6 capitol riot – including Auburn-based Proud Boy leader Ethan Nordean. Presumably so he'll pass a background check and become an ICE goon.
If the US doesn't return the DOJ to its proper function as agency that prosecutes crimes "without fear or favor," the states of Washington and Oregon need to consider their options to peacefully leave the US.
Andrew Engelson
Which WA Dems killed farmworker union bill?
The Stranger has a great in-depth article about how Democrats in the Washington legislature killed a bill that would allow farm workers to unionize (as well as a history of the long battle for workers rights among farm workers in Cascadia) Funny how some members of the party of FDR and unions decided to take the side of big AG and bosses rather than working people. Want to know who killed it? You should read the article. Or, here they are:
If they represent you, tell them to support workers or face a primary challenge.
Logging won't prevent BC wildfires
Ben Parfitt at the Tyee takes down a tired old argument: that logging off forests in British Columbia and replanting with new trees is a solution to catastrophic wildfires. Evidence shows exactly the opposite, and it's disheartening to know current NDP forestry minister Ravi Parmar believes in speeding up logging.
It's time for progressives and environmentalists to abandon the center-right NDP and vote for the BCGreens.
Celebrate African culture & community in Renton Fri April 17
Want to support and celebrate immigrant communities in the greater Seattle area? Tomorrow, 3 pm. Friday April 17 at 3 pm, Africans on the Eastside is sponsoring an event, Where Every Family is Welcome. Hosted at LIHI's June Leonard Place apartments at 215 Whitworth Ave, S., the event will feature food, bracelet making, and other family-friendly events:
Thanks for reading! Keep loving and keep fighting! --Andy
Do you appreciate Cascadia Journal's exclusive reporting on the ways the Pacific Northwest is pushing back against US fascism? If you have the means, please consider a paid subscription of just $5 per month. Each subscription helps me produce original reporting and opinionated notes on Cascadia's fight to build a more resilient and autonomous bioregion. And to those who already subscribe, thank you! --Andrew
