Cascadia today: WA gov wants to borrow $3 billion for roads + OR has high vaccine opt-out + checking in on beavers

How to get help recovering from floods

If you or someone you know has been affected by flooding, KUOW has a detailed list with information on shelters, where to drop off storm debris, and other resources. Cascadia Daily News has a good list of resources for those who live in Whatom and Skagit County in north Puget Sound. And if you're looking to help those in need who've been impacted by the storms, read my post from last week.

How to help those affected by floods

Good afternoon. It’s been a bonkers week of weather here in Cascadia, with flooding, windstorms, road washouts, and blizzards in the mountains. The good news is that the feds agreed to a disaster declaration. And governor Ferguson is going to put a request for $50 million in housing rebuilding and

Cascadia JournalAndrew Engelson

Gov Ferguson wants to borrow $3 billion to pave roads

Ryan Packer at The Urbanist looks at Washington Governor Bob Ferguson's proposed transportation plan, which instead of raising taxes will borrow $3 billion to repair and maintain state roads and bridges and to purchase three additional ferries. Ferguson's plan faces serious headwinds, since bonds require 60 percent majorities in the legislature, and the fact the bill adds $1.78 billion in borrowing costs to a budget already laden with debt payments.

Despite having strong majorities in the legislature and governor's mansion, Democrats seem obsessed with avoiding new taxes and trying stupidly to get bipartisan support from Republicans. Cascadia is in crisis with federal cuts to health care, housing, and education threatening us. Rather than placing the burden on future generations by putting the state in debt, our region needs to respond by raising revenue and funding services our residents need. It can do that by:

• raising the 1% property tax increase cap to 3%
• passing a 5% employer wealth tax on those making more than $176,00 per year
• tax stocks and other assets worth more than $50 million

It also needs to perform an audit of its freeways and and highways and create re-prioritized transportation budget more focused on transit and high speed rail.

OR has third-highest child vaccination opt-out rate

Willamette Week reports that Oregon has the third-highest rate of parents choosing not to vaccinate their children, below Idaho and Utah. More than 50,000 Oregon families chose not to vaccinate their kids. The federal CDC, under public health monster RFK, Jr., plans to drop recommendations for childhood vaccines, which experts say will endanger lives. Measles cases have jumped in the US, as have cases of whooping cough. The Western States Health Alliance, which includes Oregon and Washington, says it will continue to recommend hepatitis b vaccines for newborns, despite the CDC revoking of that recommendation.

The World Health Organization recently put out an analysis the reconfirmed that there is no absolutely no evidence that vaccines cause autism, despite years of vaccine skeptics, MAHA moms, and anti-vax influencers promoting this lie.

Volunteers help monitor beaver status

Columbia Insight reports on a program in Oregon's Blue Mountains, in which volunteers cooperate with the US Forest Service and Oregon Department of Forestry to monitor the health and activity of beavers in riparian areas.

“By understanding where beavers are active and where they could return, we can better plan for watershed restoration, habitat connectivity and long-term ecosystem health,” – Beaver Works Oregon

Student journalists report on ICE, do investigative work

Street Roots has a great profile of how high school journalists in Portland are pushing back on federal immigration crackdowns, and doing valuable investigative reporting.

“Students and younger people’s opinions are often not taken too seriously. I hate that. Everyone should have an equal voice. Just because you’re younger doesn’t mean you should be disregarded.” --Connor Stewart, South Salem high school journalist

Thanks for reading! I'll be on a lighter schedule this week and next for the holidays, but will still send occasional posts. Happy winter solstice! The Northwest days get a little longer from here on out... --Andrew