Cascadia today: Trump's trade war will hit Cascadia hard + Spokane wildfire damage to top $1 billion + a Seattle coffee shop trains at-risk youth
Trump's trade war on Canada will hurt Cascadia
After a week of negotiations between the US and Canadians failed, Donald Trump has announced he'll impose 50% duties on a range of Canadian imports, and prime minister Mark Carney said Canada would respond with equal tariffs of its own by September 8. The new, stupid trade war will hit British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon hard. CBC reports that businesses in BC are deeply concerned, especially wood product manufacturers. KING-5 notes that Washington businesses on the border are expecting even steeper drops in business and visitors from British Columbia, with border crossings between British Columbia and Washington having already plummeted 50% in the past two years.
Carney said in a speech today he'll turn to Europe to build trade and defense alliances. It's a wise move, and if Cascadia is ever independent from the US, it should pursue similar agreements.
Cost of Spokane wildfires likely more than $1 billion
The Spokesman Review reports that the Spokane county assessor has estimated that the total cost of wildfires that destroyed 833 homes in north Spokane will likely top $1 billion. In related news, RANGE Media finds that voter turnout in the primary election declined steeply in the north Spokane precincts where evacuations occurred.
In order to better assist those impacted by natural disasters in Cascadia, we need to create a state public bank in Washington (as well as one in Oregon). As I've reported previously, North Dakota's immensely popular state bank is able to provide reliable disaster relief – unlike the feds and FEMA, which recently denied two wildfire emergency grant requests from Oregon.
Andrew Engelson
Blazers dragging their feet on Moda Center deal
Sports Business Journal notes that a Oregonian article (behind paywall) found that in a public records request of documents in the negotiations between Portland and the TrailBlazers NBA team on a deal for $600 million renovation of the Moda Center venue, the Blazers have dragged their feet and may not be ready to sign on to the crappy deal in December. Portland, Multnomah County, and Oregon state have decided to foot the entire $600 million bill.
Logging org blames environmentalists for OR wildfire
Columbia Insight reports that the The American Forest Resource Council, the largest lobbying organization for the timber industry, went on social media to accuse the environmental organization Oregon Wild for being at fault for the 35,000 acre Grasshopper wildfire near Mount Hood. Long story short, AFRC contents that Oregon Wild's lawsuit trying to stop a small portion of mature timber from being cut in the area was to blame – even though Oregon Wild actively supports thinning of commercial forests. Turns out mature old growth forests are actually more resilient in the face of wildfire.
Vacant space in Seattle's central district becomes apprentice coffee shop
The South Seattle Emerald reports that a long-vacant former Starbucks in Seattle's historically Black central district is finally reopening as Coffee TAB. The nonprofit coffee shop will focus on job training for foster teens, youth facing housing instability, and other at-risk young people. Find out more at their website.
Thanks for reading. Keep loving and keep fighting.
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