Cascadia today: BC Conservatives in disarray + Seattle to ban surveillance pricing + group protects WA forest by buying timber rights

Leader of BC Conservatives calls it quits

The Tyee reports that Kerry-Lynne Findlay resigned as leader of the BC Conservatives after more than a dozen MLAs left the party, which has remade itself into a MAGA-style social conservative party. The latest MLA rushing out the door was Linda Hepner, former mayor of Surrey and an MLA for Surrey-Serpentine River. Some who've left have started a new CentreBC party as the chaotic Conservatives have dropped to just 24 legislators after 14 MLAs have either resigned or were kicked out. The ruling NDP under premier David Eby is hinting he may call an early election.

Meanwhile, in Oregon, the governor's race between Tina Kotek and Christine Drazan is close in polling, and OPB reports on a required stop on the campaign trail: the Pendleton Rodeo.

Seattle likely to ban surveillance grocery pricing

The Stranger reports that a bill that would prohibit grocery store from shifting prices based on personal data will likely pass in a council vote tomorrow. In related news, KUOW reports on a new city program in Seattle that will assist grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods in order to prevent "food deserts" – neighborhoods without local stores.

WA fossil gas measure ruled unconstitutional

Last week, the Washington supreme court ruled that a 2024 initiative approved by voters that would have rolled back the state's plan to shift homes from fossil gas use to electric heat pumps is unconstitutional. The court found that the measure violated a constitutional provision forbidding ballot measures from covering more than a single topic. That's good news for the climate and bad news for Brian Heywood and his conservative initiative factory Let's Go Washington, which has several measures on the state ballot this November including a repeal of the millionaires' tax and a creepy measure that would force all girls wanting to play sports to undergo genital exams. Oh, and Heywood is also sponsoring a bunch of charter amendments in Snohomish county that would favor Republicans and their ideas (including a bonkers amendment that would require 80% majorities for any tax increase). VOTE NO.

Group raises funds to protect forest on Olympic peninsula

Washington State Standard reports that a grassroots effort has raised $620,000 to purchase the timber rights to a 29-acre state forest that had been slated for cutting by a logging contractor near the Elwha river on Washington's Olympic peninsula. Though this is good news, it begs the question: why doesn't the state Dept. of Natural Resources do more to simply protect these threatened forests so groups like this don't have to raise huge sums? Unfortunately Washington relies heavily on timber sale revenue to fund public schools. Yet another reason not to repeal the millionaires tax.

New Seattle coffee shop encourages art-making

Real Change reports on the opening of Inkling Art Cafe in Seattle – a former Fuel Coffee shop converted into a space for both coffee and the making of art – either good or bad.

“Make bad art, but drink good coffee. Come, explore, play, learn — that is the ethos, and part of it for me is really about creating a third space for people. There’s so few third spaces. Part of it is creating an atmosphere where I can build community.” --Jules Reid, co-owner of Inkling Coffee

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