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Seattle rents decline, but will it be enough?
The Seattle Times reported last week that the average price for rental apartments declined for the first time in 10 years. Thanks to a new wave of construction, rents in King and Snohomish counties fell 2.9 percent from the previous quarter. In related news, legislators introduced a bill in the WA state legislature to make it more difficult to evict tenants. And in Vancouver, the Georgia Straight interviews a family that’s been priced out of the city: “The real kicker is that in our own building there are two huge three-bedroom units, just sitting vacant. They’ve been empty for years because their offshore owners don’t need the income.”
Seattle immigrant-rights leader targeted for deportation
Maru Mora Villalpando, a nationally-recognized immigration activist in Seattle, received a notice from ICE agents that she must appear in court, the first step toward deportation. “ICE is finalizing the transition from law enforcement into a political-oppression apparatus,” Villapando said in a statement. Meanwhile, WA governor Inslee ordered the department of licensing to cease sharing driver’s license data with ICE without a court order, after a Seattle Times investigation found the agency was cooperating with the federal immigration crackdown.
Two First Nations file suit against BC dam project
The Georgia Straight reports that two First Nations — West Moberly and Prophet River — have filed civil suits aimed at halting construction of the $11 billion Site C dam project, which would flood the Peace Valley in northwest BC. In other dam news, a new federal project to increase flows into the North Santiam River in central Oregon are being met with controversy, since the project would effectively drain Detroit Lake.
Debating an array of gun safety measures in Olympia
Victims of the Las Vegas shooting testified in Olympia as legislators debated several gun-safety measures, including the banning of bump-stocks that convert assault rifles to automatic fire. Other bills Democrats hope to pass include limits on large magazines, rigorous background checks for assault rifles, and mandatory safe storage of guns. But well-organized gun lobbies in rural districts may make passage difficult.
Margaret Atwood wades into controversy over fired UBC professor
Acclaimed novelist Margaret Atwood has attracted controversy after writing an essay “Am I a Bad Feminist?” for The Globe and Mail, defending fired UBC creative writing professor Steven Galloway, accused of sexual harrassment: “A fair-minded person would now withhold judgment as to guilt until the report and the evidence are available for us to see.” There’s more background on the case here, in which Galloway admitted to a consensual relationship but denied accusations of harassment. The Walrus has a detailed account of how UBC botched the investigation.
Susan Robb will create public art in Tacoma about homelessness
Washington artist Susan Robb specializes in installations and video art that explore “psychogeography”– the ways place influences how we think. Robb and Austin-based artist Roni Chelben have been hired by the city of Tacoma to create an installation that explores the ways homelessness affects how we perceive public space. You can watch a video about Robb’s super-rad art projects at the Seattle Channel.
Donna Miscolta’s story “The End of Roller Skating”
On Friday I posted about Donna Miscolta’s amazing story “The End of Roller Skating,” but got the link wrong, so here’s a correction. You should read it! And not to brag, but Donna will have an original story in the first issue of Cascadia magazine, so stay tuned…
That’s all the news and arts coverage for today from the offices of Cascadia Magazine. –Andrew Engelson
Photo credit: Seattle construction by Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 4.0