Cascadia today: WA tallies flood damage + Portland hospital cooperates with ICE + Train Dreams get accolades
More rain expected as WA tallies flood damage
Washington State Standard reports that waters were receding after major flooding caused extensive damage in Snohomish and Skagit counties in Washington, with more rain expected this week. Cascadia Daily News reports on damage along the Nooksack River, which reached a record flood stage. Remarkably, Donald J. Trump signed an emergency declaration, paving the way for FEMA emergency funds. The Narwhal looks at BC's slow response to prepare for floods of this magnitude.
If you or people you know have been affected by flooding, KUOW has a good list of shelters, free sandbag locations, and other emergency services. If you're interested in making a donation to help those who've been impacted, the Washington Secretary of State runs the Washington State Combined Fund Drive, which ensures donations go to organizations doing active work on the ground. Find a list of organization the drive works with here.
Nurses call out Portland hospital's cooperation with ICE
The Portland Mercury reports that the Oregon Nurses Association says Portland's Legacy Emmanuel hospital is collaborating with ICE to allow agents access to immigrants admitted to the hospital, and pressuring nurses not to inform patients of their legal rights. Meanwhile, RANGE Media reports the Trump administration appointed Pete Serrano as a "special attorney" for Eastern Washington in a workaround to keep him as the region's federal prosecutor, despite lack of Senate confirmation. Serrano has ties to White Christian Nationalists including Sean Feucht, and agreed to aggressive prosecution of Spokane protesters against ICE.
A $70 million plan to boost Portland's Black community
The Portland Mercury has a detailed look at the $70 million development plan for Albina, Portland's historically Black district. The project, coordinated by the 1803 Fund, will revitalize many areas along the Willamette River, some impacted by the devastating flood of 1948.
“Today is about an amazing investment, but for me, it’s acknowledgment, it’s restoration. This is a promise that the next generation of Black Portland will not inherit my wounds. They will inherit opportunities we could only imagine.”
--Ed Washington, Albina community elder
Seattle budget deficit may grow
The South Seattle Emerald looks at Seattle's recently passed $9 billion budget, which addresses some shortfalls, but still leaves gaps that could result in a $125 million deficit by 2027. New city council member Eddie Lin says new, progressive revenue will be required. As Cascadia grapples with massive federal cuts, Lin's approach is the right path. If you live in Washington, call your legislators and let them know you support SB 5796, which would create a new statewide employer tax on those making over $176,000 per year. The measure is being pushed by Rep. Shaun Scott (D-Seattle). Also, if you haven't read it yet, last week I argued that Washington and Oregon should pass legislation to impound federal taxes, creating more autonomy for our region and leverage against the authoritarian Trump administration.
Andrew Engelson
Train Dreams, historic film set in Cascadia, draws accolades
Clint Bentley's moody, elegant film Train Dreams, set in early-twentieth century logging camps in the Pacific Northwest, is drawing a ton of attention, including a review in the Guardian, a review at Rolling Stone that calls it a masterpiece, and NPR's Bob Mondello calling it "almost unbearably beautiful." Time looks at how the film was adapted Denis Johnson's 2011 novella, and smooths out a some of the book's moral ambiguity.
Thanks for reading! – Andrew
