Cascadia today: Seattle to vote on more bus service + tribal police agencies often hire fired officers + PDX sets ebike record
Good morning, friends! In case you missed this week's report – ICE is violating King County airport rules in its deportation flights by refueling while detainees (many in shackles) are on board. Tell King County Executive Girmay Zahilay to enforce the rules at Boeing Field by emailing kcexec@kingcounty.gov. Thanks!
Seattle sends measure expanding bus service to ballot
The Urbanist reports that the Seattle city council agreed to send a transportation levy measure to the ballot in November that would increase bus service by 100,000 hours and create increased frequency (including nighttime and weekend hours) on up to 15 different routes. The council defeated a raft of amendments that would have watered down the proposal. Meanwhile, the Urbanist also reports that SDOT is rolling out a new bus lane to improve service for the "Late 8" bus line, one of Seattle's busiest.
Seattle votes on universal free school lunches
The Seattle city council votes later today on a dumb budget cutting measure that would save the city of Seattle about $3 million (the cost of a couple high-end condos) and would eliminate a proposed universal free lunch program for all students. Meanwhile, Mike Davis at the South Seattle Emerald has is right: the Black Panthers fed all students, and Seattle can too.
Portland city council candidates illegally swapped donations
Willamette Week reveals that 12 candidates for Portland city council in the fall 2024 elections illegally exchanged campaign donations to qualify for city-sponsored campaign funds. Among those involved was current councilor Eric Zimmerman, a pro-cop centrist. The offenders won't likely be charged because election officials say this was the first ranked-choice election in Portland and the rules may have been confusing. Nonsense. Vote out Zimmerman.
WA tribal police often hire fired officers
Investigate West reports that tribal police agencies in Washington hire officers that have been fired from other agencies at a higher rate than other law enforcement agencies across the state. Facing tight budgets and difficulty finding candidates, tribes sometimes hire officers who can have a tendency to engage in misconduct, the report found. Meanwhile Divest SPD reports that a Seattle police officer was arrested in May for attacking and imprisoning his wife. And OPB looks at allegations that a candidate for Deschutes county sheriff, lieutenant James McLaughlin may have attempted to cover up an incident where he ordered a SWAT team to arrest someone over a $700 theft.
WA company applies for fusion energy permit
Columbia Insight reports that a Everett-based company, Helion, has applied for the world's first permit for a fusion-powered electricity generating plant in the central Washington town of Malaga near the Columbia River. The 50 MW plant, if successful, would power a Microsoft data center. Meanwhile the Spokane city council is considering a moratorium on new data centers and OPB looks at the air quality impact of data centers in eastern Oregon.
Portland sets an e-bike record
The Portland Mecury reports that Portland set a world e-bike riding record with more than 1,000 riders participating in an event celebrating the city's Biketown rideshare program. Portland beat the old record, set by Seattle. So, Seattle, gonna take up this rivalry and show what you can do?
Thanks for reading. Keep loving and keep fighting. --Andy
