Cascadia today: Feds cancel citizenship celebrations + BC transit projects cut + saving Portland's music venues
Good morning, hope you had a good weekend! If you aren't a paid subscriber of Cascadia Journal yet, will you consider becoming a paid supporter of the Pacific Northwest's feisty news source that fights fascism? Thanks! --Andrew
Do you appreciate Cascadia Journal's exclusive reporting on the ways the Pacific Northwest is pushing back against US fascism? If you have the means, please consider a paid subscription of just $5 per month. Each subscription helps me produce original reporting and opinionated notes on Cascadia's fight to build a more resilient and autonomous bioregion. And to those who already subscribe, thank you! --Andrew
Citizenship ceremonies canceled across Cascadia
It used to be that the US government treated immigrant naturalization ceremonies as something to celebrate, but under Trump's racist, anti-immigrant regime, at least 25 naturalization ceremonies for immigrants from Latin American and other countries have been canceled across Cascadia, KUOW reports. Meanwhile in more fallout from an administration that cares nothing for the rule of law, scores of attorneys have fled the US Dept of Justice in Oregon, refusing to support Pam Bondi's politicization of the DOJ. And Real Change reports on Steven Chavarria Portillo' 29-day hunger strike at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, protesting poor medical care and widespread use of solitary confinement.
BC transit projects on hold
The Tyee reports that dozens of towns and cities across British Columbia are having to halt or scale back bus line expansion plans thanks to cutbacks from the provincial government. British Columbia's ruling NDP party's approval rating is at a new low, just 37%. In other transit news, King county is beginning work on rapid ride bus lines in the suburbs of Auburn, Kent and Renton south of Seattle. Meanwhile, Oregon and Montana are teaming up to press the feds to fund the road network on federal lands, which provide access to outdoor recreation and rural communities.
Autonomy is the path forward for Cascadia's transportation backlog. Taxing the immense wealth in this region, disconnecting from the federal tax system, and the creation of a public banks in Cascadia are ways to build a transportation system that meets our region's needs.
Andrew Engelson
OR issues largest fine for pollution
Columbia Insight reports that the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued the largest fine in its history – $3 million – against a privately owned landfill in Benton county for methane emissions. In related news the operators of a dam on the north Umpqua River in southern Oregon are being sued by environmentalists for a massive kill of lamprey during 2023 repairs to the dam. Find out more about the movement to remove the 135-year-old dam, which merely creates a private lake for wealthy boaters.
Can Portland's remaining music venues survive?
The Portland Mercury has a detailed, very good article on Portland's threatened live music venues – in the past year and a half, venues including Landmark Saloon, Lollipop Shoppe, and The Heights have closed their doors. One of the solutions is if you appreciate live music (especially at small independent venues) buy tickets and see live music! Check out calendars at the Portland Mercury, the Stranger, and the Georgia Straight.
Thanks for reading! Keep loving and keep fighting! --Andrew
