Cascadia today: Shooting in Seattle leaves 3 dead + OR grocery workers on Medicaid + Vancouver plans huge performance space expansion
Good morning. If you appreciate this opinionated, feisty newsletter rounding up news from across the Cascadia bioregion, as well as articles about the Pacific Northwest's pushback against fascism, please consider getting a paid subscription. This newsletter does not use AI to generate stories or roundups, it's made by a human being reading and writing the news. Your support makes Cascadia Journal possible, thanks! --Andy
Shooting in Seattle Center leaves three dead
What NBC describes as a "shootout" between two gunmen at the Bite of Seattle festival in Seattle yesterday has left three people dead and four others (including a toddler) were injured. KUOW is posting live updates. Through the Static reports there will be a candlelight vigil tonight, July 27 at 8:30 at the International fountain in Seattle Center.
I'll say two things: Washington state is currently suing the federal government for eliminating a billion-dollar fund for student mental health in the wake of endless shootings. The US is in a mental health crisis and a crumbing moral and ethical culture. Add the ease of purchasing guns to that and it's a recipe for disaster.
If it turns out this is gang-related, we know what works: organizations like Community Passageways doing the painstaking, slow work of connecting with youth and providing meaning and a sense of belonging. You can donate here.
Wildfires growing in central OR, central BC
OPB reports that 34 wildfires are growing rapidly in central Oregon, with the town of Warm Springs under an evacuation order. CBC reports that in central British Columbia, 70 Mile House is under evacuation as the Pear Lake fire has grown to 66,000 hectares.
To help people living without shelter in Seattle to deal with wildfire smoke, Cascadia Democratic Action is organizing a water bottle and N-95 mask drive this Saturday August 1 from noon-4 pm at Cal Anderson park:
OR Amazon & Walmart employees need Medicaid
Huge corporate retailers and grocers with billions of dollars in profits have the highest number of workers in Oregon on Medicaid, Oregon Capital Chronicle reports. As these programs face steep federal cuts, the list of corporate retailers that fail to give their employees health insurance is long: Walmart, Safeway, Amazon, and Fred Meyer topping the list. These freeloading corporations need stronger unions. And Oregon and Washington need universal health care. We can't afford not to anymore. Oh, and in other economic news, employment in the tech industry in Seattle is cratering: job openings for software engineering jobs have plummeted 56% thanks to AI.
Harm reduction advocates make final court arguments
The Tyee reports that harm reduction activists with the Drug User Liberation Front (DULF) who were running a compassion club that sells medical-grade versions of opioids and meth wrapped up their case in BC Supreme Court last week. Eris Nyx and Jeremy Kalicum are making the case that being charged with illegally selling safe versions of drugs violates the the Canadian constitution, especially the charter of rights and freedoms prohibiting the state from "depriving people of their rights to life, liberty and security of the person." Nearly 20,000 people in BC have died because of the toxic drug supply crisis.
Vancouver announces huge arts center plans
The Vancouver Sun reports that 32 arts organizations are working on plans for a huge expansion of performance spaces in Vancouver, that would include a 2,000-seat theater for plays and other productions, a 1,700-seat concert hall, and two smaller spaces with 850 and 400 seats. The location has yet to be finalized. Find out more at the Vancouver Cultural Precinct.
Thanks for reading. Keep loving and keep fighting. --Andy
