Cascadia today: Happy Cascadia Day! + Seattle's new public restrooms + OR primary ballots due tomorrow
Happy Cascadia Day! May 18 every year remembers the day that Loowit (aka Mount St. Helens) erupted in 1980. Though the eruption was a catastrophe it was also a reminder of the immense power of geology and natural forces here in the Cascadia bioregion. And it reminds us of the resiliency of both nature and the people who call Cascadia home.
To celebrate, please join Cascadia Democratic Action in Seattle for a poetry reading this evening at 7 pm at Vermillion on Capitol Hill at 1508 11th Ave. Poets Paul Nelson, Matt Trease, Nadine Maestas, and Rhea Melina will be reading and we'll be raising money for the Migrant Survival Fund, a mutual aid effort for immigrant families in south King County and KOI, a mutual aid org that assists trans people who've moved to the Seattle area from hostile states. Hope you'll join us!
In Portland, the Gathering Cascadia festival takes place at Taborspace in Portland from 4 to 8 pm, Monday May 18. The event has an action-packed lineup of info booths, musical performances, discussion pods, workshops, local food, visual art, and a film screening. Get your tickets here.
Trial of three Spokane protesters opens today
The felony conspiracy trial of the three protesters against ICE abductions in Spokane opens today. The New York Times reports that legal scholars are skeptical that the Trump administration can secure a conviction on a conspiracy charge, which can carry up to six years in prison. The three were among a spontaneous crowd of protesters who gathered at an ICE facility last June, attempting to prevent two Venezuelan men legally in the US from being sent to the Tacoma detention center. Acting US attorney for eastern Washington Richard Barker resigned in protest rather than pursue an indictment, which the Trump regime is using to test how far it can go to criminalize dissent and hinder first amendment rights to protest.
In one additional twist in the story, RANGE Media, which has reported in detail on the protest and preparations for the trial, announced this weekend it had successfully pushed back on a federal defender's attempt to subpoena one of its journalists to testify in court.
Seattle tests public restroom pilot
KUOW reports that Seattle is testing a pilot program of self-contained public restroom units known as "Thrones." The Pioneer Square toilet arrives just in time for the World Cup, and advocates of the restrooms (similar to Portland Loo units found in the city of Roses) say it especially helps tourists and transit users. In other transit news, the Urbanist urges King County Metro to expand the popular Trailhead direct buses that take hikers to foothills trails outside of Seattle. And CBC reports that advocates for the disabled are criticizing TransLink and the city of Vancouver for its plan to cut 13 stops on the popular Hastings street route.
Oregon primary ballots due tomorrow
The Oregon primary election, in which voters will select a candidate to run against governor Tina Kotek, and whether or not to approve a gas tax measure passed by the legislature, are due to either be postmarked by tomorrow, May 19 or dropped in a ballot box by 8 pm May 19. OPB has a guide to the major races. The Portland Mercury has a good, progressive endorsements guide to races across the state.
Seattle theater raises funds after copper wire theft
KNKX reports that Taproot Theatre in Seattle's Greenwood neighborhood has successfully raised $300,000 to help repair its damage aircon system, after thieves broke in and stole copper wire from the units. The theater is still short of its $400,000 goal but will likely be able to continue its 2025 season. Donate here.
Thanks for reading. Keep loving and keep fighting! --Andy
