Cascadia today: Celebrate Juneteenth across Cascadia + feds to triple logging in Blue mountains + addressing crime in Little Saigon

Good morning, friends! Tomorrow is Juneteenth, so have a look further into today's newsletter to find out about celebrations of Black freedom, arts, and culture Friday and through the weekend across Cascadia.

And to mark Juneteenth, take a moment to read Donovan Scribes' essay at the Portland Mercury about why it's time for Oregon to finally pay reparation to the state's Black community. That goes for the entire bioregion. Scribes notes that property seized from Black families for massive "urban renewal" projects in the mid 20th century stole generational wealth from those families:

"A Portland State University report commissioned in partnership with EDPA2 found displaced residents would control nearly $100 million in property wealth today—before accounting for commercial assets seized at the time."

Feds want to triple logging in Blue Mountains

OPB reports that the Trump regime has announced plans to triple logging in the Blue Mountains of southeast Washington and northeast Oregon from 106 million board feet to 364 million board feet. The proposal would eliminate the Roadless Rule protection in the federal lands there and also end size limits on trees that can be logged.

The feds are working to re-colonize Cascadia and re-impose a corrupt extraction economy on us, one that the majority of our residents don't want. We value protecting our environment and especially our forests: to find out how you can help oppose Trump's plan to clear cut Cascadia, visit Oregon Wild.

OR considers changes to school funding model

Oregon Capital Chronicle reports that both Democratic and Republican Oregon state legislators are considering reforms to the state's Quality Education Model, which was supposed to fix Oregon's low-ranking public education system by allocating funds to high-poverty areas but which has only led to moderate gains in reading, math, and graduation rates. Meanwhile, education advocates are urging reforms to the state's student literacy grant program, which has neglected to fund areas with the highest needs.

Seattle mayor plans to address crime in Little Saigon

Seattle mayor Katie Wilson yesterday announced a plan to deal with the longtime issue of crowds of people selling illegal drugs and stolen goods at 12th and Jackson, in what's known as Little Saigon. The community has long dealt with visible drug use and sales, as well as markets of stolen goods.

As I reported for PubliCola two years ago, the previous administration's a cop-heavy approach failed to address the problem, which merchants in the area's Asian American community say is driving down business. While Wilson's plan does involve more SPD presence, it focuses on diversion programs like LEAD and offers $1 million in new services to address substance use and homelessness. We'll see if it makes a difference.

BC Conservatives swing further right

The Tyee looks at how the BC Conservative party is becoming even more right-wing under new leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay. The former MP from South Surrey/White Rock is taking the party into full MAGA culture-war territory, with talk of Christianity and opposition to abortion.

Celebrate Juneteenth across Cascadia

Juneteenth, the holiday that marks the end of slavery in the United States and uplifts Black arts and culture, is tomorrow, June 19. There are celebrations all across the Pacific Northwest through Friday and the weekend. Check them out!

The South Seattle Emerald has a great guide to Juneteenth in central and South Seattle & South King county.

The Juneteenth Oregon Festival happens at locations across Portland on June 20

In Bellingham, check out Western Washington University's guide to Juneteenth events.

Tacoma's Juneteenth is the state's largest celebration, from noon to 6 pm June 19

In Olympia, celebrate Juneteenth on Sat. Jun 20 from 1 - 5 pm at Rebecca Howard Park

The Juneteenth celebration in Spokane is from noon - 4 pm June 19 in Riverfront Park

And in Eugene, celebrate Juneteenth from 3 - 8 pm June 19 at Farmer's Market Pavillion

Thanks for reading. Keep loving and keep fighting! --Andy