Cascadia Report

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  • A new newspaper empire in Washington

    The sale of the Knight Ridder newspaper chain may have a big impact in Cascadia. As part of the 32-paper deal, the McClatchy Co. takes ownership of a 49.5 percent stake in the Seattle Times and total ownership of the 23,000-circulation Bellingham Herald and 33,000-circulation Olympian. Add that to the Tacoma News Tribune, which it already owns, and McClatchy is the new giant in western Washington’s mainstream media.

    Changes aren’t obvious yet, but a Seattle Weekly article points out the new clout of the new owners here. McClatchy’s new major presence in the area will affect competition and news coverage throughout the Puget Sound region. Time will tell how staffing, budgets and the size of news hole change.

  • Cascadia needs infrastructure and ideas

    California is exploring partnerships between the government and private industry as a way to meet its staggering need for roads, railways and other infrastructure. Why can’t parts of Cascadia aspire to the same thing? The new Narrows bridge in Tacoma will be the first highway in the Puget Sound area with tolls. Why not explore deeper use of the market to solve some of the transportation problems?Images_3

    The Seattle Times printed yesterday’s Neal Peirce column on the issue here. He concludes that public-private partnerships are the way to go. But here’s a final takeaway point:

    It sounds like a good deal, as long as the new partnerships with business are negotiated professionally, with an eye to long-term sustainability — a reminder that we do need quality people in government! Add in transparent terms, clear performance standards and protection of the public against unfair charges, and the tapping of pools of private investment capital could prove one of the best deals of the century.

  • Green challenge for Cantwell is official

    It’s official: Sen. Maria Cantwell is getting a challenge from the Green party. Activist Aaron Dixon announced on Thursday, with an anti-war platform. Could he spoil the election for Democrat-leaning voters? Here’s the logic from his speech, quoted in the P-I:

    “If she was against the war, then I would be a spoiler, stealing her anti-war votes,” Dixon told a roomful of supporters and news media. “If both the Republican challenger (businessman Mike McGavick) and Cantwell are in support of this war, then they are competing amongst themselves for the voters who are pro-war. I am the anti-war vote.”

  • Washington passes business legislation

    Images_2The Washington legislature wrapped up its session Wednesday with several changes that affect Cascadia business. The pro-business results from the Democrat-dominated legislature could blunt GOP criticisms ahead of the November elections. Here are the highlights of what passed, from The Olympian:

    MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: Passed a medical liability package which protects doctors who apologize from having it used against them in lawsuits and addressing other elements of patient safety, insurance rate-setting and legal procedures.

    ENERGY AND BIOFUELS: Approved a requirement for 2 percent biofuel mixtures in diesel products sold in Washington; approved financing to assist the construction of seed crushers to help stimulate biofuels-oriented agriculture; approved emergency heating-bill assistance money for the poor. Lawmakers also exempted farm fuels from sales and use taxes.

    Among what didn’t pass:

    EMPLOYEE INSURANCE: The so-called fair-share bill requiring large employers such as Wal-Mart to spend 9 percent of payroll on health insurance died in favor of a study to identify employers of workers who use state Medicaid and Basic Health Plan services.

  • Port deal offers chance for GOP

    Cascadia’s Republican Congressmen are threading the needle by vowing to oppose the deal to transfer control of some U.S. port operations to a Dubai-owned firm. They can say that the stance proves they’re for tough security and the unpopular Bush Administration, which supports the deal, still has a week to compromise.

    Today House Republicans reportedly have 290 votes against the deal, where Dubai Ports World’s planned $6.8 billion purchase of London-based Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. would give it control over terminal operations at five U.S. ports. It wouldn’t affect Cascadia, though.

    Republican Dave Reichert (R-WA, 8th) supported a proposal to suspend the deal on Feb. 21. In a statement, he said: “While I am a free trader and believe in the benefit of foreign investment, our national security should never be compromised.” Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR, 2nd), who represents some of landlocked southwest Oregon, asked for an investigation of the deal the same day.

  • Green candidate to challenge Cantwell

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    Community activist Aaron Dixon is running for the Green Party’s nomination to challenge Sen. Maria Cantwell. This is the second challenge to Cantwell over her voting record.

    The two rivals could siphon Democratic votes and help Republican Mike McGavick. According to the P-I, it’s a flip of the 2000 Senate race:

    Dixon could do for McGavick what another third-party candidate, Libertarian Jeff Jared, arguably did for Cantwell when she unseated Republican Sen. Slade Gorton in 2000. Cantwell won by 2,229 votes, and many Republicans think the 64,734 votes for Jared cost Gorton the election.

  • Momentum builds to tear down the Viaduct

    With plans to replace Seattle’s damaged waterfront with a tunnel or bigger overhead freeway looking costlier than ever, momentum may be building for a simpler alternative. See a Seattle Times column today about the option of replacing the viaduct with surface-road improvements.

    This would be a smart move for the development of the city — and follow the example of Cascadia neighbors Portland and Vancouver. See a previous post here.

  • Airport aims to meet Cascadia growth

    The town of Delta, British Columbia this week passed funds to start an expansion of low-profile Boundary Bay airport. The airport, which now serves mostly small private planes and flying schools, hopes to capitalize on its location a half-hour from downtown Vancouver and near Highway 99, which connects to I-5.Plan

    The first step is relocating nearby roads, which is supposed to begin next month. Plans call for longer runways, a terminal, customs and other changes to accommodate corporate jets and commerical service to the Gulf Islands, Vancouver Island, Victoria, Bellingham, Seattle and Calgary.

    Alpha Aviation, the operator of the privately run airport, is meeting with neighbors to soothe concerns about noise, according to the South Delta Leader newspaper. One big reason for the expansion push? Yep, the 2010 Olympics.

  • How Washington businesses can profit from the olympics

    The first step toward getting a share of the $2 billion in goods in services needed by the 2010 Winter Olympics is to actually make an effort, according to the Washington Association of Business. Most companies haven’t even considered the potential market, the group said. Small firms should set their sights on being vendors to larger companies operating in Canada, and Washington companies need to start looking for ways to draw visitors through the state.

    While they’re at it, the AWB, which functions as a state chamber of commerce, asks the state government for four things:

    — Expedited cross-border travel.
    — Improvements for travelers. For example, a rest area for people waiting on the U.S. side at Blaine.
    — State help matching small businesses with Canadian counterparts.
    — An actual effort to draw visitors into the state.

    The list doesn’t mention improved transportation. While there are several road improvements ongoing near the border, traffic is assured if there is any significant spillover from the games. Why doesn’t the AWB push for expanded passenger train service, a Seattle-Vancouver-Squamish ferry and smoother airport customs?

    To get businesses on board, the Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development (CTED) scheduled meetings around the state beginning March 21 to bring state business owners, trade officials and the Governor’s 2010 Olympics Task Force.

  • Cantwell gets a challenge from the left

    Images_1Sen. Maria Cantwell, already facing a well-financed Republican opponent, is taking fire from the left too.

    Suquamish Marine veteran Mark Wilson is running as a Democratic challenger, based on opposition to Cantwell’s votes for the Iraq war, the Patriot Act, President Bush’s appointments and other issues. An article in today’s Wall Street Journal highlighted a group, called Impeach PAC, that supports candidates who want to impeach the president if Democrats can reclaim Congress. Wilson is one of three such candidates for U.S. Senate.

    How formidable is the challenge? Wilson is apparently traveling the state to drum up support. He’s been mentioned in the press, including this Seattle Weekly article. He could become a larger gnat for Cantwell if anti-Bush sentiment in the state continues to grow. But the Federal Election Commission’s Web site shows only one $500 contribution.