Cascadia today: Seattle hearing on trans civil emergency + BC seaweed farms on the rise + humorous dad memoir by Nisga'a author Jordan Abel
Good morning. I'll be traveling the Friday through next week, and this daily news roundup will be replaced with some brief book notes – I'll be updating you on what I've been reading during my Cascadia Summer Book Bingo challenge. Want to join the fun? Download your bingo card here, and try to read as many books about Cascadia or by Cascadian authors in each category. Need book suggestions? You'll find them here! If you fill in all 24 squares by September 18, email a photo of your completed sheet to cascadiademocratic@protonmail.com or mail your completed sheet to Cascadia Democratic Action, PO Box 20022, Seattle, WA 98102 to be entered in a drawing for cool Cascadia merch. Happy reading!
Andrew Engelson
Seattle considers declaring trans civil emergency
The Seattle city council will hear public comment today at 2 pm on a potential declaration of a trans civil emergency in Seattle. The city has seen an influx of "internally displaced persons," – meaning trans folks who've fled other US states that have passed anti-trans legislation. You can sign up here to make public comment, or activists are urging that people testify in person at city call – meet there at 1:30 pm June 25. What's critical is that the city find real funding to support this declaration to assist these refugees with relocation.
In related news, Washington State Standard reports that the Washington state supreme court is hearing a case about whether an incarcerated trans woman can remain in a state women's prison.
Portland tweaks budget while Seattle may slow cop hiring
The Portland Mercury reports that the Portland city council is doing some post-budget tweaks after passing an $8.5 billion city budget last week. Two proposals including raiding a new police accountability program to hire more cops instead and another effort by progressives to prevent layoffs of city staff. Meanwhile, the South Seattle Emerald reports that the Seattle city council could --gasp!– slow hiring of police officers after SPD reported it's $1.7 million over budget. PubliCola reports that the council's pro-cop contingent, including Rob Saka, insists that SPD's bloated budget is "sacrosanct."
Seaweed farms on the rise in BC
The Tyee reports on the growing seaweed agriculture industry in coastal British Columbia, but notes that environmental regulations aren't well established for this new industry. Seaweed-based products (including plastics and biodegradable plant pots) show immense promise in sequestering carbon and reducing global emissions.
Nisga'a writer Jordan Abel's lighthearted look at parenting
At CBC, there's an interview with Nisga'a writer Jordan Abel's humorous and irreverant memoir about being an Indigenous parent, Dad Era. The British Columbia author has previously written five award-winning novels, but for this one he wanted a change of pace: “My previous five books contain exactly zero laughs,” he says.
Thanks for reading! Keep loving and keep fighting. -Andy
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