Cascadia today: A fee on ICE + WA considers tax on wealthy + Portland restaurants offer meals to SNAP holders
Happy Halloween! 🎃 It's a scary world out there right now, but Cascadia Journal is here to help you make sense of it. If you enjoy this newsletter, and can help out, a monthly subscription of $5 makes this possible. I'm just three subscriptions short of my goal by the end of the month – so if you could subscribe TODAY, that would be fabulous! --Andrew
Portland considers fee on ICE site
OPB reports that Portland city councilor Angelita Morillo is planning to introduce legislation that would impose a fee on any property owners that lease to detention centers – and the only property that currently fits that description is the federal ICE detention center. I'm thinking $1 billion would be sufficient. It's time to play hardball. Meanwhile, the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is hearing final arguments today in the lawsuit against Trump's invasion of Portland.
Ultimately, it doesn't matter what the feds rule. It's time for Cascadia to do the work and to peacefully go it own way.
Andrew Engelson
WA Democrats considering a wealth income tax
In a welcome development, Washington State Standard reports that Democratic legislators are looking at options to balance state budgets and make the state more resilient in the face of a federal government that's hostile to the people of Cascadia. One thing they're considering: an income tax on those making over $1 million. That will involve court challenges and likely resistance from timid moderate and governor, Bob Ferguson. Washington is one of only nine states without an income tax, and has the second-most regressive tax system in the US.
Ghost students 👻 draining financial aid
In case you want another example of the ways AI is destroying everything good, read this article at KUOW about fraudulent students that are seeking out financial aid, pocketing the money and not attending classes. To turn in assignments, they're using AI. Cool, cool.
BC grape growers struggle as wineries use US grapes
CBC reports that grape growers in British Columbia's southern Okanagan region are struggling to harvest grapes because many local wineries are importing grapes from the US. Perhaps an open border between BC and WA would free up commerce so that local wineries could get their products to market north or south of the colonial border. Indigenous nations are already figuring this out, vowing to create tariff-free commerce across the 49th parallel.
Portland restaurants offer free meals to people on SNAP
Willamette Week notes that a wide range of restaurants in Portland are planning to offer free or reduced-cost meals to folks on federal SNAP food aid benefits – which are set to expire thanks to the empathy-lacking Trump administration.
If you have empathy for your neighbors (and I know you do), please join the SNAP to Action food drive I've helped organize as part of Cascadia Democratic Action. We'll be at Seattle's Cal Anderson Park on Saturday, Nov 1 from noon to 3 pm. You can donate food items or make a financial donation to Rainier Valley Food Bank.
Hope to see some of you there! – Andrew
