Cascadia today: Wildfires force evacuations + MAX service faces cuts + native youth create art of "rematriation"
Wildfire in Columbia Gorge forces evacuations
According to KGW, the Burdoin fire on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge is now burning in more than 11,000 acres and has destroyed a dozen homes, with areas near the towns of Klickitat and Wahkiacus still under evacuation orders. Over the weekend, the town of Lyle on the north shore of the Columbia was evacuated, according to Columbia Insight. Meanwhile, the Cram fire in central Oregon has grown to more than 95,000 acres, making it the largest wildfire currently burning in the U.S. In related news, an aging and important irrigation canal near Yakima was severely damaged in last year's Rimrock Retreat fire, and will take $229 million and ten years to repair.
It's going to be expensive for Cascadia to confront the crisis caused by ignoring climate change – a state-commissioned report in 2022 estimates that the total economic impact of wildfires in Washington state in just one year – 2021– was more than $49 billion. If the federal government continues to ignore the climate crisis, actively promote fossil fuel use, and deliberately hinder production of clean energy, the states of Washington and Oregon have a duty to their residents to consider the benefits of a peaceful separation from the United States.
Andrew Engelson
Miners trapped in north BC gold & copper mine
CBC reports that three miners at the Red Chris mine in northern British Columbia are trapped by a 30-meter deep tunnel collapse. Though the three are safe and have enough food, water and air for several days, rescuers lost communication after a second tunnel collapse. The Vancouver Sun reports that excavations are underway to clear the blocking debris. The mine is one of many projects in BC that the government is hoping to fast-track and with reduced consultation with First Nations. A report in 2014 said the Red Chris mine could produce a waste dam failure worse than the Mount Polley disaster, one of the worst mine disasters in Canadian history.
Seattle voters to decide on vouchers, city attorney
Seattle's primary election is underway with ballots due back by mail or drop boxes by Aug 5. Besides mayor, city council, and county executive, voters will be asked whether to renew the city's innovative democracy voucher program, which provides funds to qualifying candidates and reduces the need to fundraise or be independently wealthy to run for office. Also on the ballot, Republican city attorney Ann Davison, who has tried to cultivate a tough-on-crime persona, is facing three challengers, and Cascade PBS profiles all the candidates.
Portland area considers cuts to MAX service
TriMet, the transit agency that serves the greater Portland area, is considering deep cuts to MAX light rail and bus service to deal with a $300 million budget deficit, OPB reports. This, as governor Tina Kotek called a special session of the legislature starting on Aug 29 in order to try to pass a substantial transportation budget, which lawmakers failed to do this year. Kotek's plan includes raising the gas tax and vehicle registration fees to deal with a $345 million deficit at the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Indigenous youth create art for "rematriation"
The South Seattle Emerald profiles a collaboration between two organizations in the Rainier Beach neighborhood of Seattle that involves Indigenous youth building a pavilion focused on "rematriation" a women-led effort to reconnect people with the land. The project involved young people from the yəhaw̓ Indigenous Creatives Collective and Sawhorse Revolution.
--Andrew Engelson
