Cascadia today: Columbia River bridge costs soar + Idaho passes harsh anti-trans bill + Portland art tax mismanaged

Good morning! If you appreciate this newsletter, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. I'm trying to hit 100 paid members by the end of March! Thanks for your support! --Andrew

Cost for Columbia River bridge skyrockets

The estimated cost for replacement of the I-5 bridge over the Columbia has more than doubled, to between $13.5 billion to $15.2 billion, OPB reports. The 109-year-old bridge is at risk of failure in an earthquake, and costs have soared due to rising labor costs, inflation, and tariffs. Governors Bob Ferguson and Tina Kotek have committed to a stripped-down plan that would still include light rail from Portland to Vancouver, WA at a cost $7.65 billion, the Urbanist reports. Much of the plan depends on federal funds, which have been rarely awarded in the second Trump administration.

Time to pass bills creating state banks in WA and OR so the the massive interest paid on this project stays in our region.

Oregon wealth tax aims for ballot

The Portland Mercury reports on a proposed Oregon ballot measure that would place a 2% tax on wealth and assets over $30 million, generating some $2.7 billion in revenue each year. The effort comes as Washington successfully passed a tax on income over $1 million. As Cascadia increases autonomy from an increasingly fascist federal government, fiscal independence with measures like these will be crucial.

Idaho moves harsh anti-trans bill forward

Erin in the Morning reports that the Idaho house has passed a harsh trans bathroom ban in government buildings that carries penalties up to five years in prison for repeat offenses. More on the bill at Idaho State Standard. Idaho's legislative session this year has been a horror show of cruel bills, with cuts to Medicaid disability and a bill requiring nationality and immigration status be recorded with every arrest. Extensive cuts to Medicaid in Idaho are putting huge pressure on eastern Washington hospitals, the Spokesman Review reported last month.

Tribes from WA & AK criticize BC mining plans

Ha-Shilt-Sa reports on a fascinating cross-border sovereignty issue in which US Indigenous tribes in southeast Alaska and Washington state are criticizing mining plans on Vancouver Island and in northern BC. The tribes say the mines will affect river water quality and hamper salmon runs the tribes historically depend on.

“British Columbia is transforming the headwaters region of our wild salmon rivers into a mining district without our consent while excluding our sovereign Tribal governments from meaningful participation,”
– Esther Aaltséen Reese, President, Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission (SEITC).

Audit shows Portland arts tax managed poorly

Oregon Arts Watch reports that an audit released this week found that the Portland art tax passed in 2012 has been poorly managed and that small arts organizations have often been ignored in funding decisions. The agency has $8.5 million in unspent funds even though orgs have seen funding cuts in the last cycle. A new organization, Portland Arts & Culture for Equity is advocating for changes that increase the number of BIPOC and small organizations that receive funding from the program.

Thanks for reading! --Andrew