Cascadia today: Hunger strike at ICE camp ends + OR public universities face budget crisis + new bio of Elliott Smith
Hunger strike at Tacoma ICE camp ends
The Stranger reports that a hunger strike by 140 detainees at the the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma has ended after GEO and ICE have said they'll improve meal quality and consistency. The strike was called by immigrants held at the camp in response to insufficient and unsanitary meals and inadequate medical care. I wrote about a protest and vigil organized in solidarity with detainees held in Tacoma's ICE concentration camp for this week's essay at Cascadia Journal:
Andrew Engelson
"Stay out" orders rarely used in Seattle
KUOW reports that the once hotly debated Stay Out of Drug Area (SODA) law – that allows Seattle police to exclude convicted drug users from certain areas of the city – is not being used. That's because mayor Katie Wilson and city attorney Erika Evans don't believe you can arrest your way out of the problem. They're right, and that's why they're investing $500,000 in outreach and non-arrest approaches to open air drug markets in Seattle's Little Saigon neighborhood, which is seeing incremental improvements, the South Seattle Emerald reports.
Oregon public universities face budget crisis
OPB reports that commissioners in charge of Oregon's public universities say the system is facing a deep budget crisis and may have to steeply raise tuition rates. If not addressed in other ways, tuition at the University of Oregon could climb to as high as $40,000 per year. Actually there is a different solution: the Oregon legislature needs to require wealthy residents to pay their fair share and increase revenue on high earners. Cascadia financial independence from a bloated federal military budget would also help, as would creating a state public bank. We owe this to the region's students and families.
Destructive ash borer beetle found in WA
The invasive ash borer beetle, one of the most destructive pests in North America, was recently discovered in Vancouver, WA Washington State Standard reports. The green beetle, which can destroy native and non-native ash trees, has been discovered in Oregon, but this is the first documented observation in Washington. The beetles were first spotted in Oregon in 2022 and in British Columbia in 2023.
New biography of singer songwriter Elliott Smith
The Portland Mercury reviews a new biography of the late Portland-based singer songwriter Elliott Smith entitled Nobody Broke Your Heart by Jamie Fisher. It's a detailed and well-rounded portrait of Portland's beloved songwriter, covering both his well-known drug use and depression, but also his silly and fun-loving character.
“I was just constantly surprised. Everyone who knew him had a slightly different Elliott, so every time I was able to talk to someone new, I knew I was going to get a perspective that I hadn’t heard before.” – Jamie Fisher
Thanks for reading! Keep loving and keep fighting. – Andy
