Cascadia today: Local leaders condemn violence + rural hospitals at risk + Seattle galleries for everyone
Cascadia leaders condemn political violence
After right-wing podcaster Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at an event in Orem, Utah yesterday, leaders across Cascadia condemned political violence in the US, including Oregon governor Tina Kotek posting on social media: "The attack on Charlie Kirk is inexcusable. Violence has absolutely no place in our democracy." Washington governor Bob Ferguson posted "There is no place in our democracy for political violence, and I condemn the murder of Charlie Kirk in the strongest terms," and Washington state attorney general Nick Brown said in a statement, "No matter your beliefs, we should live without fear of expressing ourselves."
Make no mistake, Kirk's beliefs were reprehensible. Regardless, he did not deserve to be killed in political violence (similarly, Minnesota legislator Melissa Hortman did not deserve to be assassinated by a right wing gunman this past June). It should be noted that Kirk regularly attacked LGBTQ rights, called for an end to the separation of church and state, and often expressed racist beliefs in his podcast, claiming Black airline pilots were unqualified, disagreeing with passage of the Civil Rights act and blaming the high death toll in Texas floods on diversity programs.
Kirk also said in 2023 that deaths from gun violence were an "unfortunate" cost of the US second amendment.
Washington state-based right-wing influencer Christopher Rufo chose a different path and fanned the flames, posting on X that Kirk's death was the fault of the "radical Left" and called for the feds to "infiltrate, disrupt, arrest, and incarcerate all of those who are responsible for this chaos."
Rural Cascadia hospitals at risk after cuts
Cascade PBS reports on how hospitals in eastern Washington, like a small facility in the town of Dayton, are at risk of closure thanks to the GOP's $1 trillion in cuts over ten years to Medicaid. Meanwhile, KUOW reports that small-scale Washington farm are struggling after Republicans eliminated a federal program that pushed local produce in local schools.
What are health impacts of BC's LNG boom?
The Tyee reports that First Nations and medical professionals have called for a halt to British Columbia's expansion of LNG export facilities until the health impacts are studied. The groups are asking BC to look at pollution impacts of fracking and methane leaks as well as the climate impacts of LNG including wildfires and heat domes. In related news the Narwhal reports that oversight of BC's expanding LNG and oil pipeline infrastructure is subject to inadequate oversight.
Cascadia angry about fed plan to open roadless areas
Washington State Standard reports on opposition from tribal leaders and environmentalists against the Trump administration's plans to scrap a 2001 rule prohibiting expansion of roads in 45 million acres of public lands, most of them in western states. Meanwhile, in a good example of local management of wildlands in Cascadia, OPB reports that Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation are planning to purchase and c0-manage 11,438 of wildlife habitat in the Blue Mountains.
Cascadia needs to work now to declare its sovereign right to its public lands and work with Indigenous groups to better manage them sustainably free from federal interference.
Andrew Engelson
Seattle galleries are for everyone
KUOW looks at Seattle's vibrant visual art gallery scene – and reminds residents that while most folks can't afford the art on display, we can still enjoy the art it in multiple ways, either during First Thursday open houses, or other public events such as Art+ Culture Week Sept 20-27 at various venues across Seattle.
--Andrew Engelson
