Cascadia today: Closing schools in Seattle, PDX & Salem + glaciers disappearing in Cascadia + film about Portland's iconic elk sculpture

Good morning. I'm still short of my goal of thirty new paid members during my fall subscription drive. If you have the means, will you consider become a paid subscriber for $5 or $10 per month? Your support keeps Cascadia Journal going, with its feisty commentary and roundup of news from across the bioregion. Thanks! --Andy

Plans to close schools in Seattle, Portland & Salem

KUOW reports that Seattle public schools is considering another plan to merge at least six elementary schools in order to deal with budget shortfalls. The district has floated the idea of school closures off and on for the past two years, stirring parent opposition. Meanwhile, OPB reports on plans to close schools in Oregon's two largest districts: Portland and Salem-Keizer. Portland is looking to close up to 12 schools and Salem Keizer at least 6. The plans are designed to close a $65 million budget gap in Portland and a $46 million deficit in Salem.

It's time to tax wealth in WA and OR and give students the schools they deserve.

NDP lost in BC in part because of low turnout

CBC looks at stats from British Columbia's recent provincial election, in which turnout was only 48%, the lowest showing in a BC election since 1949. Yes, some voters split the vote and voted for the BC Greens, but CBC's analysis finds that in 12 ridings, even if every BC Green voter had switched to the NDP they still would have lost to the conservatives. Meanwhile, the Tyee looks at what will likely be a momentous decision for new premier Lorne Doerkson: who will be the conservatives' minister for Indigenous relations?

WA election officials lift cap on campaign spending

The Seattle Times reports that Washington state election officials have lifted a cap on campaign spending in the final weeks before election day, worried that federal courts will toss the limits. This will likely impact state supreme court races and three ballot initiatives sponsored by wealthy investor Brian Heywood. Note to the state: YOU DON'T HAVE TO OBEY IN ADVANCE. Wait until a court actually tells you to do otherwise.

Glaciers disappearing across Cascadia

The Guardian has a detailed report on how glaciers are disappearing across western North America thanks to climate change. Glaciers in the North Cascades have been particularly hard hit, losing 33% of their surface area between 1970 and 2015.

“When I realized this it was like, ‘Yikes – that’s a lot more than I thought,’” – Andrew Fountain, geographer, Portland State University

How an elk sculpture became a flashpoint in Portland

The Portland Mercury has a great article about a new documentary, The Elk, about Portland's iconic bronze statue, the Thompson Elk. Commissioned in 1900, the statue was a meeting point during 2020 Black Lives Matter protests – and it was put into storage for six years after multiple acts of vandalism. Opinions are divided about the massive statue and the complicated history behind it. Find out more about the film here.

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