Cascadia today: Seattle light rail future decided today + privatizing Portland parks + salmon in remote WA streams
Good morning! Well, I guess it's official: I'm more of an organizer and activist than a journalist. I was interviewed by Eugene Weekly about Cascadia Democratic Action, bioregionalism, and how we need to start working toward real autonomy for Oregon and Washington. Give it a read!
Eve Weston
If you're interested in volunteering for CDA's campaign for Cascadia autonomy, visit Cascadia Democratic Action or email cascadiademocratic@protonmail.com.
Vote today on future of Seattle-area light rail
The Sound Transit board of directors will meet this afternoon to vote on future expansion plans for light rail in the greater Seattle area and address a $34 billion budget shortfall. Many future projects hang in the balance: the Urbanist reports that Seattle mayor Katie Wilson and King county executive Girmay Zahilay are teaming up to offer an amendment that would preserve the Graham St. infill station in Seattle's diverse and transit-dependent south end. Meanwhile, Seattle city council member Dan Strauss at PubliCola puts forward his own amendment, which proposes ditching a second downtown tunnel to complete a line to the Ballard neighborhood, which is estimated to serve 148,000 daily riders.
Verdict in Spokane protester trial expected this week
RANGE Media reported on closing arguments in the felony conspiracy trial of three protesters against ICE in Spokane, noting that a jury verdict is expected sometime this week. The article notes that US attorney Pete Serrano visited the courtroom – notable because the defense has argued the case is invalid because Serrano has never been confirmed by the Senate.
Portland looks to privatize parks
OPB looks at a movement to privatize some of Portland's parks to address a huge maintenance backlog – the system is in dire need of repairs and a recent increase in property taxes won't be enough to fix the system. There's actually a fairly simple solution: tax the immense wealth in our region! Vancouver BC has figured it out – it's pushing a $1.4 billion measure to completely overhaul its parks and swimming pools.
Alberta gov't spends million lobbying BC First Nations
The Tyee reports that the Alberta government is paying millions of dollars to political consultants lobbying British Columbia First Nations to support new oil pipelines and LNG export terminals. Most Indigenous groups in BC remain strongly opposed to new climate-killing projects.
Salmon reach remote streams on Olympic peninsula
Columbia Insight has an article about a new study that uses DNA sampling of water to determine if salmon are present in streams in the Olympic mountains, and finds evidence of salmon in remote streams as high as 1,400 feet of elevation. The researcher on the study works closely with the Makah, Quinault, Quileute and Hoh Tribes of the western Olympic peninsula, who hope the data will help restore threatened salmon populations.
OR museums celebrate nautical history
Oregon Arts Watch reports that museums in Garibaldi, Lincoln City, Newport and Coos Bay Oregon will be celebrating nautical history this summer, with exhibits on the history of sailing, fishing, and Indigenous coastal life. 🏖️
Thanks for reading, Cascadia. --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
