WA election results mean big policy changes

Last week’s election could mean big changes for the region. Most significantly, Manka Dingha won a special election in the Seattle suburb of Kirkland, giving control of state government to the Democrats. The Seattle Times previews what governor Inslee’s new agenda, including insurance coverage for birth control, gun safety, and capital-gains tax.

Meanwhile, Seattle has its first female mayor in 90 years, and the Seattle suburb of Burien rejected a slate of candidates opposed to sanctuary for undocumented immigrants. In Spokane, voters cleaned house in its city council, replacing it with a much less conservative city government. And a candidate opposed to a new oil terminal in Vancouver, WA won the race for Port Commissioner, likely dooming the massive oil project.

Harassment cases come to light across the region

The fallout from the Harvey Weinstein and Louis CK sexual harassment allegations continues to expose men who’ve taken advantage of positions of power. Seattle writer Ijeoma Oluo has a must-read essay on toxic masculinity at The Establishment:

“For many cis, straight men, to fight the patriarchy is to risk discomfort. For the rest of us, it’s to risk your livelihood, your health, even your life.”

Surprising absolutely no one, allegations have now emerged of inappropriate behavior in the Washington state legislature, and repeated harassment by a state senator from Roseburg, Oregon. The film industry in Vancouver isn’t immune either, as Warner Brothers executive producer Andrew Kreisburg, whose shows are produced in BC, is suspended for numerous incidents.

“Blob” continues to threaten BC salmon runs

The Vancouver Sun reports that British Columbia’s Fraser River has seen an alarming decline in salmon runs: only 1.5 million sockeye returned, down from a projected 4.4 million. One culprit is “the blob,” what scientists have nicknamed the unseasonably warm mass of water in the Pacific between 2013-2016.

Twenty years of Oregon’s “Death with Dignity” law

Willamette Week offers poignant stories of the people involved in Oregon’s bitter fight over North America’s first assisted suicide law, approved twenty years ago this month.

Why is Seattle such a creative city?

Seattle, which was recently designated a UNESCO City of Literature, is a supportive place to be creative (although increasing rents are making it increasingly difficult to live there). KUOW asks Seattle creatives (including artist Susie Lee and director Zia Mohajerjasbi) what makes it such a good place to make art.

Michael Wasson’s Mourning Ceremony

At the Best American Poetry Blog, you can read Nez Perce Nimi’ ipuu poet Michael Wasson’s “Mourning Ceremony”:
“When grief is allowed to us it’s in the stern shape and voice of a man
who walks around ‘n yells at us and his hollering holds our faces
while we are handed polaroid photographs and old portraits
and lip-stained cups with either coffee or red Kool-Aid rings…”

Photo by BLM Oregon.