Cascadia today: Seattle pauses surveillance cams + OR judge rules against feds' trans policy + Seattle Torrent are brawlers

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Seattle mayor pauses new surveillance cams

PubliCola reports that Seattle mayor Katie Wilson has ordered a "pause" on new surveillance cameras used by SPD. She will, however keep existing cams on, and install cams near the city's stadiums in advance of World Cup games, but says she'll only turn them on in the event of credible threats. The move is a step in the right direction, but activists hoping the cams will eventually be shut down are likely to be disappointed, in light of what Wilson said during a press conference yesterday:

"I think that if, if the audit comes back and says everything’s totally secure, we’re not at all worried about this data getting into the hands of federal government I think likely my decision at that point would be to move forward with the expansion of the pilot." – Seattle mayor Katie Wilson

BC govt pondering changes to First Nations consultation

CBC reports on BC premier David Eby's negotiations to amend DRIPA, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, passed in 2019, after several court rulings granting aboriginal title over some lands in British Columbia. Eby's NDP hasn't announced its proposal yet, but it's frustrated at having to slow down massive resource extraction projects including LNG terminals and logging. Meanwhile, many Indigenous leaders are saying "no thanks" to the changes, noting consultation is rushed and minimal. Last month the British Columbia Association of First Nations announced it opposes any modification of the law:

“Multiple sources have suggested that the Declaration Act must be amended to protect private property interests in B.C. This is misinformation and categorically incorrect,” – ʔaʔsiwɬ Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, UBCIC President.

Federal judge in OR rules against feds' trans health policy

OPB reports that a federal judge ruled against the Trump administration's Dept of Health and Human services when it issued a health warning against gender-affirming care for trans youth. Meanwhile, Idaho's legislature continued its assault on trans people, as it considers a ban on gender-affirming care for youth and another bill that would force outing of trans youth to parents. Want to help trans people in Seattle who've fled hostile US states? KOI, the Kawaguchi O'Connor Initiative, is a great new mutual aid effort helping trans people relocate:

Kawaguchi O’Connor Initiative – KOI is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations are fully tax-deductible as allowed by law. Washington State EIN 39-3400585.

Forget the Blazers & Sonics, this Torrent player is a bruiser

Some folks in Seattle are excited to hear that governor Bob Ferguson is planning to meet with NBA officials, presumably about an expansion that would return the Seattle Sonics men's basketball team to the city. And fans of the Blazers seem intent on convincing Oregon to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on a renovation of Portland's Moda Center. My advice: let the mogul owners pay for it themselves. But for my money, the Seattle Torrent women's hockey team gives you more joy, brawling and excitement than anything men's sport offers. The Stranger has a great interview with the team's most physical player, delightfully titled, "I Want Megan Carter to Punch Me in the Face."

Thanks for reading! Keep loving and keep fighting! --Andrew