Cascadia today: OR pushes police mask ban + Portland mayor evicts homeless + another Seattle cinema closes
Oregon legislators push police masking ban
Oregon Capital Chronicle reports that the Oregon legislature, in addition to Washington, is considering a bill that would ban police officers from covering their faces. In related news, the Portland-based Innovation Law Lab is suing the feds in order to stop ICE arrests without warrants. Both efforts are directed at federal ICE goons, who have engaged in a lawless, racist mass deportation effort and who face little accountability. Unfortunately, many legal scholars argue that the US constitution's supremacy clause would make masking bans unconstitutional.
Sadly, this is yet another reason we're forced to talk about autonomy or independence for Cascadia. ICE is now acting like an occupying army – asking non-white residents to show their papers or face arrest, shooting and killing a single mom for defying an order, and using excessive force against peaceful protesters.
Cascadia needs to kick ICE out. And the surest way to do that is through peaceful separation from the United States.
Andrew Engelson
Portland mayor forcing people to leave shelters
The Portland Mercury reports that Portland mayor Keith Wilson, who's made a big deal about trying to solve the city's homeless crisis, will be kicking about 100 people out of temporary shelters who've stayed beyond the 120-day limits. Trouble is, there are few other options for these unsheltered folks. In related news, Street Roots uses some graphs to illustrate the rate and impact of sweeps under Wilson.
Aide to former Seattle mayor won't be charged for assault
The Stranger looks at a disturbing case involving an aide to former Seattle mayor Bruce Harrell, Pedro Gomez. Cheryl Delostrinos, a Seattle activist and organizer, has accused Gomez of having sex with her when she was incapacitated from alcohol and who continued even after Delostrinos told him no. Unfortunately, the King County prosecutor's office says it doesn't have enough evidence to charge Gomez, telling the Stranger ""Our system is inadequate to provide healing to most survivors."
A silent, deadly risk to BC residents: radon
The Tyee does a deep dive into an under-reported health risk in central and eastern Cascadia: radon gas. The radioactive gas, a product of uranium in the soil, can increase the risk of lung cancer and is more common in interior and eastern British Columbia than most of Canada. It's also a concern in northeast Washington, northeast Oregon, and Idaho, where 2 out of 5 homes have an elevated risk. Homes can be mitigated, but that can often cost thousands of dollars, and state and federal assistance has been inadequate.
Another Seattle cinema closes
The Seattle Times reports that the historic Varsity Theatre movie house in the city's U-District will be closing. It's been a bad time for film theaters in Seattle lately, with the Egyptian and Ark Lodge both shutting their doors last year. But the Georgia Straight reports on some good news: a group of movie lovers and film industry creators have worked to restore and reopen the the Park Theatre, one of Vancouver's last single-screen, historic movie palaces.
"We’re losing too many screens, especially the single-screen theatres. It’s time to step up.” – Sean Baker, Academy Award winning director of Anora
That's your daily roundup of news & arts from across the bioregion. Thanks for reading and offering your financial support! --Andrew
