Daily digest: Public land sell-off hits snag + pretty Cascadia trains + Spokane homeless study is crap
Public land sell-off scaled back but not dead
Yesterday, I wrote for Columbia Insight about Utah Senator Mike Lee's proposed plan to sell off up to 3.2 million acres of US Forest Service and BLM lands across the West, including wildlands in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Lee walked back the largest sale of public land in U.S. history after pushback from hunters, hikers, and environmental groups – plus a procedural violation of Senate rules. Not to mention opposition from the two GOP senators from Idaho – which gives you some idea how unpopular the idea of selling Cascadia's hiking trails to rich developers is. Lee's new proposal now only includes up to 1.2 million acres of BLM land. And even if the government moves forward, it might have a hard time finding buyers, the Seattle Times reports.
It's time to consider how an independent Cascadia might better manage our wildlands free from the whims of shifting US administrations.
Spokane homelessness study inaccurate
If you're not reading and supporting RANGE Media in Spokane, you should. The indie news sight has a fantastic in-depth look at a study widely cited in local TV news media claiming that more than half of homeless people in Spokane are from someplace else. RANGE, in a detailed analysis, found that the Spokane Business Association-funded study was biased and based on a small sample size. When the study's methodology was applied to the publication's staff, RANGE found that nearly all the news site's employees wouldn't have been counted as being "from here," despite many having lived in Spokane for more than forty years. Take some time to read their amazing story this weekend.
BC premier opposed to "some" tankers
CBC reports that British Columbia premier David Eby is opposed to any plans by Alberta to create an new oil pipeline to the BC's north coast and ship petroleum from there. That's all very nice, but Eby failed to point out his government is totally fine with a fleet of LNG tankers plying the north coast once a new gas pipeline to Ksi Lisims is complete. Among those opposed to the new gas pipeline are the Gitanyow First Nation, who've blockaded the line and worked to create an Indigenous protected area, claiming the pipeline will hurt salmon recovery and accelerate climate change.
Pretty trains coming to Cascadia 🚄
The Seattle Times reports that the Amtrak Cascades route between Eugene and Vancouver, B.C. will be getting beautiful new Airo trains that can go up to 125 mph on the passenger route through the heart of Cascadia in 2026. This is fabulous news, as the existing trains are aging and often in need of repair. It's another step toward a true high speed rail corridor between the major cities of Cascadia – which is backed by Fast Forward Cascadia, a consortium of the region's largest employers, including Microsoft, Amazon, Costco, and Fred Hutch.
See you at Pride in Seattle!
Yesterday, in my weekly essay at Cascadia Journal, I wrote about how Pride has helped me feel more at home Seattle. This year, with the Trump administration's assault on LGBTQ rights, it's difficult time, with many of us feeling fearful but empowered, and it's important to remember that Pride has always been both a protest and a party. This weekend in Seattle, I'll be doing a bit of both at PrideFest on Capitol Hill. There's also Seattle's Pride parade and today is Trans Pride Seattle. Enjoy your weekend! 🏳️🌈
--Andrew Engelson
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