Cascadia today: Court to rule on Portland deployment + Seattle mayoral debate + ghosts of Beacon Hill
A quick request. It's a troubled time, and Cascadia Journal seeks to report on how our region is responding to various threats, whether it's authoritarianism or climate change. I also try to keep things light with coverage of arts and culture news from across the Pacific Northwest. And I'm one of the few writers in Cascadia starting the conversation about autonomy and independence. If you appreciate this unique voice, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Thanks. --Andrew
Court hears arguments in Guard deployment case
OPB reports that the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is hearing arguments this morning in a lawsuit attempting to prevent the Trump administration from deploying 200 Oregon National Guard troops in Portland. A federal judge last week halted the deployment, saying the feds hadn't made a case it was necessary, writing "The President’s determination was simply untethered to the facts." Meanwhile, a debate continues over whether to revoke the land use permit for Portland's ICE facility. OPB also reports that Oregon Republicans have been largely silent about the potential deployment.
Meanwhile, in Seattle, mayor Bruce Harrell signed two executive orders designed to push back against any deployment of troops. However, the orders simply create a task force on keeping local control over the Seattle Police Department (I would hope so) and one re-emphasizes that police won't cooperate with the feds in immigration matters (state law already prevents this).
Seattle and King county extend benefits in shutdown
KUOW reports that Seattle and King County will partner to offer vouchers designed to continue food assistance benefits to some 30,000 women and children who depend on them, if the US federal government shutdown continues. Both Washington and Oregon are offering unemployment benefits to many of the 110,000 federal workers in Cascadia affected by the shutdown.
The shutdown offers a chance to consider what Oregon and Washington might do on their own without interference from the feds. With independence, tax reform, and freedom from bloated military and immigration enforcement budgets, Cascadia could begin to deliver what its residents actually want from government: affordable health care, protection of our environment, and a free public education system including technical school or college.
Andrew Engelson
Local right-wing influencers felate the emperor
In an embarrassing roundtable discussion on the supposed dangers of ANTIFA™, at the White House yesterday, a number of former journalists and other right-wing provocateurs from Cascadia went on about the dangers of this imagined boogeyman, ignoring the proliferation of right wing violence and hate groups. Multiple reports show that between 75 and 80% of all fatal domestic terror attacks since 2001 were committed by those on the right.
Portland's Andy Ngo, known for associating with right-wing groups including Patriot Prayer, was there, as well as fired KOMO journalist and Seattle-based TPUSA video blogger Jonathan Choe, who suggested that the Democratic Socialists of America should also be declared a terrorist organization. Local right-wing podcaster Brandi Kruse thanked Trump for his crackdown and told the president that becoming a Trump supporter made her more attractive.
How will Seattle's next mayor help the Black community?
Marcus Harrison Green, writing for the South Seattle Emerald, looks at the complicated politics of race in Seattle's mayoral contest. Some in the city's Black community are steadfast in support of Bruce Harrell, while others disappointed with a lack of progress on housing affordability, climate change, and true public safety are supporting Katie Wilson. You can watch the most recent debate between Harrell and Wilson here:
"If Katie Wilson wants our votes, she owes us real answers about equity and accountability — who she'll be responsible to, and how we'll know. And guess who else owes us those same answers? Bruce Harrell. If he truly seeks another term, he must offer more than his presence, and memories of Garfield High. He owes us a record that can stand in the daylight, on the very ground we're still struggling to hold." – Marcus Harrison Green
The ghosts of Beacon Hill
Over at the Stranger, Bess Lovejoy writes about the creepy history of the Comet Lodge Cemetery in Seattle's Beacon Hill Neighborhood – a place that fell into disrepair, where homes may have been built on parts of the abandoned boneyard, and kids once played among brambles and the graves of children.
“The kids who came, they felt a connection to the kids who had died. You know, our culture doesn’t let us really face death directly. So we have to do it through ghost stories.” --Former Rainier Valley Historical Society director Mikala Woodward
Thanks for reading! --Andrew Engelson
