Cascadia today: Starbucks workers continue strike + why CEO donations won't save us + BC old growth at risk
Starbucks workers continue strike
About 1,000 baristas at 65 Starbucks locations across North America are on strike for more predictable hours, better wages, and an end to union-busting tactics, the Guardian reported. Seattle mayor-elect Katie Wilson spoke to members of Starbucks Workers United and vowed to not buy Starbucks during the strike. The "No Contract, No Coffee" campaign noted that Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol makes 6,666 times more than the average Starbucks barista.
Former Microsoft CEO to donate $170 million for preschools
Former Microsoft CEO Steve Balmer announced that his charity will donate $170 million per year for 10 years to help fund preschools in Washington state, Washington State Standard Reports. Governor Bob Ferguson called the gift "truly transformative.”
Look, that's nice and all, but the fact remains that Cascadia cannot meet the education and child care needs of its residents with philanthropic generosity from billionaires. Washington state has the second-most regressive tax system in the state. So, most likely if you live in Washington and aren't wealthy, you're paying a bigger share of the tax burden than people like Steve Balmer.
This needs to change. If you live in Washington, please let your legislators know that you support progressive tax reform, including re-introducing a version of last year's House wealth tax bill 2045, which would impose a tax on capital gains and other assets valued at over $50 million.
BC ostriches culled
The months-long battle over the proposed culling of 314 ostriches on a BC farm infected with avian flu has ended and the birds have been killed and buried in a deep pit, CBC reports. Opposition to the culling became a cause-celebre among right-wing figures like Dr. Oz and RFK, Jr. Never mind that the farm continues to raise plenty more ostriches --for food!– and that avian flu is a public health threat. Washington state health officials said yesterday that there was the first confirmed human case of avian flu in the state this year in Grays Harbor County, KING-5 reports. Meanwhile, the virus is running rampant in US poultry farms after the feds slashed funds for monitoring of H5N1.
Old growth threatened by logging increases in BC
The Narwhal reports on a new study by Sierra Club BC that finds efforts to protect old growth forests in British Columbia have largely failed since the ruling centrist NDP party has been in charge starting in 2013. The report found that "13,000 football fields worth of old-growth deferral zones were logged" in the past four years in BC. Meanwhile, premier David Eby has urged forestry production in BC to increase by 50 percent over 2024 levels.
To support the effort to protect old growth in BC, visit Wilderness Committee.
Oregon Biennial continues despite revoked fed grant
Oregon Arts Watch reports that that the north Portland gallery Oregon Contemporary will continue with its 2026 Artists Biennial exhibit even though the Trump administration canceled a $30,000 NEA grant to fund the exhibit. The feds have been eliminating arts and humanities grants for any projects that portray the United States in a critical light, including portrayals of slavery, the country's racist past, or the genocide against Indigenous people.
Show your support and attend the event or donate to Oregon Contemporary.
