Cascadia today: OR faces deep health care cuts + Seattle mayor turns off surveillance cams + invasive mussels in OR

Good morning! As you may know, in addition to writing this newsletter, I'm helping organize a movement for Cascadia autonomy at Cascadia Democratic Action (if you're not receiving CDA's action alerts, sign up here).

CDA wants to know what YOUR priorities are in the Oregon and Washington state legislatures next year. In the past, we've advocated for existing legislation, including creating state banks, withholding funds to the feds, and Washington's millionaires tax. We're considering pushing legislation of our own, including renaming the highest volcanic peaks in Cascadia.

If you have a few moments, please take the survey, thanks!

OR faces deep Medicaid cuts

OPB reports that Oregon is facing the need for deep cuts to the Oregon Health Plan, which covers 1.4 million children and low income residents. Thanks to steep federal cuts to Medicaid by the Republican controlled US congress, Oregon governor Tina Kotek is facing a $421 million deficit in the upcoming 2-year budget with no solution in sight.

There actually is a solution: taxing the wealthy and creating a system of universal health care in Oregon.

Seattle mayor turns off surveillance cameras

Making good on a promise she made prior to the World Cup, Seattle mayor Katie Wilson turned off new police surveillance cameras in Pioneer Square and near Lumen Field, PubliCola reports. Activists, including Community Not Cameras, are calling for the cams to be physically removed, however.

Feds threaten prosecution of WA election officials

Stepping up their attack on vote-by-mail and pushing a phony narrative about non-citizen voters, the Trump regime is threatening to criminally prosecute Washington state election officials if the feds find any evidence of non-citizens voting, Washington State Standard reports. It's yet another anti-democratic scare tactic for the mid-term election that has included demanding blue states hand over voter rolls, and threats to send ICE goons to patrol ballot boxes.

“Attempts to revive disproven claims of rigged elections will not deter election professionals from doing their job of overseeing accessible, accurate, auditable elections." --Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs

Invasive mussel discovered in Oregon

Researchers have discovered evidence of the highly invasive quagga mussel at the Prineville reservoir in central Oregon, Oregon Capital Chronicle reports. The invasive mussels quickly multiply and have been a huge problem in Idaho's Snake River after being discovered there in 2023. The mussels can clog irrigation systems, disrupt hydropower, and push out native species.

Seattle Symphony upgrades its performance hall

KNKX reports that the Seattle Symphony is upgrading Benaroya Hall in downtown, with $20 million in work to improve the lobby, seating and other amenities in the space, which opened in 1998. The Symphony's season begins on September 19.

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