Cascadia today: Vancouver passes plebiscites + a dumb plan for golf course in WA state park + Wen Wei Wang's last dance

Good morning. If you live in British Columbia, Washington, or Oregon, make sure to VOTE. There are big issues at stake in each province and state, and especially at the local level, your vote really does make a difference.

Here at Cascadia Journal and at Cascadia Democratic Action, we're planning for how we'll respond if the Trump regime interferes with free and fair elections. Today, the US attorney general said his office might consider not certifying midterm election results. Our region needs to prepare for what happens if the on the pathway toward increasing fascism.

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Vancouver voters pass plebiscites on drug use, mental health

According to CBC, Vancouver voters overwhelmingly passed two non-binding ballot measures, one calling for actions that would reduce public drug use and one recommending an old hospital be used for involuntary care of drug users and people with mental health issues. Thankfully, the measures require no specific policy changes, and frankly, the new mayor and city council will likely be more focused on researched-based solutions rather than "tough love" approaches favored by former mayor Ken Sim and his ABC party.

In related news, the Tyee looks at how each party in BC's provincial election would address criminal justice and drug policy. And while the NDP and BC Conservatives are battling over how many new prosecutors to hire, the BC Greens have come out in favor of what actually works: harm reduction. Read the BC Greens' full platform (it's very impressive) to learn more about that and other issues. Vote BC Green.

Dumb plan for golf course in WA state park draws ire

Washington Standard reports on a plan to convert the rolling dunes of Westport Light State Park on the Washington coast into an 18-hole golf course. The plan is understandably drawing anger from locals and fans of keeping public parks actually public.

I've walked that lovely stretch of beach many times as it's near where I stay with extended family every Thanksgiving weekend. About this proposal, I'll just say:
OH HELL NO.

Company wants new fossil gas pipeline in OR & WA

Oregon Capital Chronicle reports on a proposal by fuel pipeline company Williams to add a new pipeline to its network in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho that would bring 275 million cubic feet more fossil gas per day into Cascadia. The expansion is likely driven by data center demand, the article notes. Note to leaders in WA in OR: what part of climate change did you not hear about? The drought? The wildfires? Rising oceans? Threats to vulnerable wildlife? Do your jobs and stop building more climate killing infrastructure.

At least Portland city councilor Candace Avalos gets it. She's introduced a bill that would require large commercial and residential buildings to reduce their emissions to zero by 2050 or face increasing fines.

Nch’i-Wàna river faces major threats

Columbia Insight has an article looking at whether the Nch’i-Wàna river (also known as the Columbia) will face the same fate as the Colorado river: water shortages, declining fish, and a dying river. Things aren't looking good, with continued drought caused by climate change decreasing stream flows, and demand for energy for stupid data centers taxing the existing hydro dam infrastructure.

Cascadia needs a real plan to save the Nch’i-Wàna and Snake river drainages that restores salmon and meets our obligations to Indigenous nations.

Wen Wei Wang's last dance

Composer and dancer Wen Wei Wang has been a fixture in Vancouver's dance community for more than thirty years, and in a performance this weekend, he'll dance his last solo performance, according to The Georgia Straight. Looks like it will be a profound and moving event – buy tickets here.

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