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Seattle is moving to Spokane
Spokane is having a moment, and King County residents (which encompass Seattle and its suburbs) are taking notice, moving at a rate of about 2,000 people per year. The Inlander reports that Spokane is increasingly attracting home-buyers — and more people are staying there (perhaps because the median home-price is $290K, nearly half of Seattle?)
Over at Cascadia Magazine, you can read about the Lilac City’s growing arts scene. For many years, creative people fled Washington’s second-largest city, but now that’s changing, thanks to a group of arts promoters dedicated to building a creative community in Spokane. In Carrie Scozzaro’s feature, you’ll meet the people behind Terrain, Spark Central, and Laboratory — three organizations that are making Spokane more welcoming to the arts. But the story also finds that there are problems — the city has under-funded the arts for years, and ethnic and cultural diversity is still rare.
Read the full article here.
OR governor’s budget includes $2 billion boost for schools
According to OPB, Oregon governor Kate Brown unveiled her proposed budget for next year, and it includes a $2 billion increase in K-12 education spending to address the state’s low graduation rate. Also included in the bill is $455 million for affordable housing and a proposal to pay postage on all mail-in ballots. In other education news, the Seattle Times looks at how a new measure passed in Seattle will provide two years free community college tuition to all graduates of the city’s high schools. And the Idaho Statesman investigates a student loan company that’s saddling Idaho college students with excessive debts and interest.
WA transgender activist seeks asylum in Sweden
Seattle Weekly reports that Seattle-based transgender activist Danni Askini is now in Sweden seeking political asylum. Askini was executive director of the Gender Justice League and was leading opposition to the Trump administration’s ban on transgender people in the US military when she was subjected to a barrage of threats. Meanwhile Julian Paquette, writing for the Tyee, looks at how British Columbia has become a leader in protecting transgender rights — but also notes the gains are fragile and could be reversed. The Vancouver Public Library sparked controversy by allowing a talk by Meghan Murphy, the Vancouver-based critic of transgender and #MeToo activists.
WA tribes join First Nations opposing BC pipeline
According to the Seattle Times, leaders of four Washington state tribes were in Vancouver BC testifying before Canada’s National Energy Board against the proposed expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline across BC. The tribes, who have fishing rights on the Salish Sea, noted that a 7-fold increase in tanker traffic could endanger salmon and orcas. Eugene Kung, writing for the National Observer, looks at the flawed NEB process that will probably bring a new round of lawsuits against the pipeline.
Olympia ends single-family zoning & Seattle could learn from that
The Olympian reports that Olympia, Washington has voted to allow duplexes, triplexes, and four-unit apartments throughout the city in order to address a housing shortage. Charles Mudede, writing for the Stranger notes that Seattle could become truly progressive and follow Minneapolis’s example in ending single-family zoning monopolies. Architect George Gibbs, writing for Arcade, calls for more aesthetic approaches to afford housing as Seattle builds to meet demand.
Why Seattle does not love Dave Matthews
Allison Williams, writing for Seattle Met, has a detailed feature trying to figure out why Seattle has never warmed to rocker Dave Matthews, who’s lived in the city since 2001. Maybe it’s the bro-fans, or maybe it’s his band’s earnest jam-band pop that packs outdoor venues nationwide. “Try it. Mention Dave Matthews Band anywhere in Seattle and look for the knowing cringe….”
“The Stage Divers,” fiction by Kevin Sampsell
The story “The Stage Divers,” by Portland-based writer and bookseller Kevin Sampsell went online a while ago at Joyland, but I missed it, so here you go… It’s the story of a couple middle-aged guys who are down on their luck, smoke a lot of weed, reminisce about 90s punk bands, and try to figure out what to do after divorce.
““It’s weird getting older,” Benjamin said. “When I was married, I was content but restless. Now, I’m not content or restless. Just aimless and uncomfortable. Who would have guessed?””
Read the full story here. That’s today’s roundup of news, arts, and other stuff from the Great Northwest. Hope you’re enjoying the rain and darkness by snuggling up with a good book or a movie… –Andrew Engelson
Photo credits: Dave Matthews by Wikimedia Commons user Moses CC BY-SA 2.0