Cascadia today: Leaders sign Cascadia agreement + OR offers money for food banks + new species of bees in WA
Here's your roundup of news and arts coverage from across the Cascadia bioregion. Can you help me meet my goal of 70 paid subscribers by the end of the month? I'm close, and your support helps this newsletter continue. Thanks! --Andrew
WA, OR and BC sign Cascadia agreement
According to Cascadia Daily News, at the Cascadia Innovation Corridor conference in Seattle yesterday, the governors of Washington and Oregon and the premier of British Columbia announced the signing of an agreement strengthening cross-border cooperation on technology, economic development, housing affordability, clean energy, and high speed rail. The compact strengthens two previous memorandums of understanding signed in 2016 and 2018.
This is the way. Our region needs to continue to build ties and establish a firm identity and united sense of purpose as Cascadia. Not only in reaction to what's happening at the federal level in the Trump administration, but to work toward the natural, shared connection we have as a bioregion.
I'll have more reporting on the conference this week.
Amazon lays off 2,300 in Washington
Seattle-based retail giant Amazon announced it was laying off 2,300 employees in Washington, KUOW reports, part of a round of at least 14,000 corporate layoffs worldwide. CEO Andy Jassy said that some of the layoffs were due to the incorporation of AI into the company's workflow. This is part of a much bigger problem that's impacting Amazon and others – a leaked internal Amazon document indicates the company hopes to replace 600,000 workers worldwide with robots.
It's time for Cascadia to consider a universal basic income, a guaranteed income that would prepare our residents for the major economic shifts coming due to AI and automation.
Oregon announces $5 million for food banks
Just days after governor Bob Ferguson announced Washington would give $2 million to the state's food banks each day, Oregon governor Tina Kotek said her state will provide $5 million in assistance to food banks. Food banks are expected to face immense demand as federal SNAP food assistance is set to expire on November 1 because of the federal government shutdown.
To help Seattle residents affected by the ending of SNAP benefits, Cascadia Democratic Action is sponsoring a food drive in Seattle's Cal Anderson Park from noon to 3 pm this Saturday, Nov. 1. Please join us, or make a monetary donation to Rainier Valley Food Bank.
Join the SNAP to Action Food Drive at Cal Anderson on Nov 1!
Thousands of Seattle residents face hardship and hunger as SNAP food assistance benefits will likely end on Nov 1 due to the federal government shutdown. Join Cascadia Democratic Action in Seattle’s Cal Anderson park between noon and 3 pm on Saturday, Nov. 1 as as we gather food donations and facilitate online donation of funds in support of Rainier Valley Food Bank. We’ll have collection boxes available ONLY for Rainier Valley Food Bank specific requests (must be unopened): cooking oil, seasonings, soy sauce, flour, rice and pasta, infant formula, canned chicken, SPAM or tuna, and UHT (non-refrigerated) soy, rice or almond milk. Diapers and feminine hygiene products are also needed. Drop off at our station at the entrance to Cal Anderson Park at 11th and E. Howell Street.
For more info, visit www.cascadiademocratic.org or email cascadiademocratic@protonmail.com. Or make a donation online to Rainier Valley Food Bank at www.rvfb.org
Eby may call snap election over power legislation
The Tyee reports that BC premier David Eby may call a snap election to get a bill passed that would fast-track power transmission projects in north BC by partnering with First Nations and bypassing consultation. The BC Conservatives, in disarray over party leadership, remained united in opposition to the bill.
Eight bee species newly discovered in WA
Columbia Insight reports that scientists have discovered eight species of bees in Washington that hadn't previously been documented as being in the state.
“Such work would allow conservationists to have a complete understanding of regional bee populations, particularly in light of globally and regionally documented bee declines.” --Autumn Maust, University of Washington
