Everything is Fine in SWWA

Karissa explores the recent complaint lodged by random dude and related developments as Kim Harless' re-election campaign heats up. Let’s not just lay down and let the establishment railroad us, shall we? Let's make the Columbian Editorial Board's endorsements even more irrelevant by SHOWING UP for Harless in the coming days. Sign up here: https://votekimharless.com/get-involved (They even have phone banking! You can do that shit in your PJ's---no excuse!) If you appreciate this podcast, consider supporting the work on Patreon for as little as $5 a month! patreon.com/EverythingisFineinSWWA Music by LT Page: https://soundcloud.com/eltee-page/sets/onewhoplantsagarden

It's been a long time coming! Karissa and Phillip got a chance to sit down with Vancouver City Councilmember Kim Harless, who is running for re-election---with the primary election being THIS Tuesday, August 5th! We ran the gamut of topics, including the climate crisis and the environment, housing and homelessness (root causes, real solutions, and what the city has done), equity (including the promising utility of the City of Vancouver's recently passed equity statement), policing, wealth inequality/affordability, campaign finance, tribal knowledge, Kim's primary opposition, Karissa's pet peeve (the city's Visit Vancouver tourism industry expansion efforts), annexation, how to organize and advocate to the Vancouver City Council, local defenses against fascism---AND MORE! This might be the most refreshing and substantive conversation we've ever had here on the podcast. Not only did we get to understand Kim's positions on basically everything, but they gave us some serious insight into what material policies we can win for the working class via the City of Vancouver---IF we get organized. We cannot lose this gem of a councilmember! First and foremost, get your ballots in by 8pm on Tuesday, August 5th, or if you’re voting by mail make sure your ballot is postmarked and in the mailbox by August 5th BEFORE your mail carrier comes, tell your friends and family to do the same, sign up for final GOTV efforts, and don’t forget to ALSO vote YES on the library levy lid lift, Proposition 1, while you are at it! We need ALL HANDS ON DECK for the final days of the primary campaign to get Kim coming out strong and on to win the general! Sign up to volunteer at https://votekimharless.com/get-involved OR email info@votekimharless.com with the volunteer option you're interested in and they'll set you up! If you're not a Patron but your appreciate this effort, please consider becoming one for as little as $5/month for early access to episodes and to support all the hard work that goes into this advocacy journalism project for SWWA! Go to patreon.com/EverythingisFineinSWWA to sign up!

You likely watched in horror as Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill passed Congress just before the Fourth of July, with only 2 Republicans voting against it, and have been trying to wrap your mind around everything that’s in it since then. This is being called the largest EVER upward transfer of wealth from the working class to the rich, with huge tax cuts for the wealthy paired with the slashing of Medicaid---which will gravely cut Apple Health in Washington--- and food stamps that are relied upon by the poorest Americans, higher Affordable Care Act insurance premiums, and a truly terrifying boost to mass surveillance and ICE (the ICE funding, by the way, is set to increase to heights greater than many of the world’s militaries, including Israel), as well as a massive assault on clean energy. So guys, what are we going to do about it? Better yet, what are our local electeds going to do about it? Karissa offers a call to action for listeners. If you appreciate this effort, PLEASE HELP by sharing to spread this call to action far and wide, and by sharing contact information for local elected officials in the comments on the podcast's social media post. Democrats, especially Ferguson, will need their arms twisted to act here, so it's up to us to amp up the pressure. BIG SHOUT OUT to Hannah Krieg of the Burner's citizen journalism work up in Seattle that inspired this call to action. Check out the article covered here: https://www.theburnerseattle.com/post/no-call-for-celebration-this-july-4-60-wa-elected-officials-and-candidates-commit-to-immediate-a

Phillip and Karissa sat down with a special guest to talk about World War III for this episode! Who better to discuss the selling of another bullshit American war at this precipice in human history than an Iraq war veteran? Jake Dailey, who served as a combat medic in Iraq and currently lives in Olympia, WA, graced us with his presence to talk about his time in Iraq, the cost of war, the US-Israeli genocide in Gaza, the similarities between our current moment with the Israeli/US attacks on Iran and the selling of the war in Iraq, what kinds of actions we should be taking to be effective (even if they make us uncomfortable), the climate crisis, how very small the ruling elite really are, and Jake’s revolutionary back-to-the-land vision with his Civilian Conservation Corp-inspired business, Rake Force. This is a deep but necessary one, guys. Let’s face the military industrial beast together! Follow Jake Dailey’s Rake Force: https://www.facebook.com/USRakeForce Jake wanted us to share this Jesse Welle’s song. Check it out! https://youtu.be/Vcc3kdxbLYI?si=zbwXEKQdQxtc-0Xl *This was a long-distance virtual discussion, so apologies for the weird edits here and there! Have any enlisted loved ones? According to Mike Prysner, getting out of the military is much easier than the Pentagon wants you to think. Go check out the GI Rights Hotline, which provides secure, free and expert support to any service member who wants to leave the military. CALL the hotline anytime at 1-877-447-4487 for advice, or visit them online at girightshotline.org Music by LT Page: https://soundcloud.com/eltee-page/innocent-as-a-new-day-2-28-24?si=05925b80fe6e4bdda972b3558b9ced01&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing Please consider becoming a Patron for as little as $5 a month to help sustain this podcast: patreon.com/EverythingisFineinSWWA

Karissa covers a controversial new decision made by Vancouver Pride Block Party organizers this year to hire the Vancouver Police Department for security, rather than using the combination of community defense and BIPOC private security used in previous years. We talk a little history, detail the criticism coming from the local queer community (many of whom were very close to the Pride Block Party organizing), explore the conflicting claims from the new non-profit who is running the show this year (Queer Community Network) about how the decision was come to, discuss QCN’s response to the backlash, and dig deeper to discover how all this really came about---which appears to be an intentional, corporate pivot made by QCN to turn Vancouver Pride Block Party into a commercial tourist attraction. Please consider becoming a Patron for $5/month (higher tiers are available) to support the work and for early access to episodes! You can also support by sharing the podcast among your networks to help us gain new local listeners and comrades! patreon.com/EverythingisFineinSWWA

Hey guys! This little snip should explain everything. It's not exactly a podcast episode; rather, it's an urgent action alert. Here is the link to the free Patreon video clip version of the call to action: https://www.patreon.com/posts/action-alert-for-128061872?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Below is a link to the Clark County meeting agenda where you can find the meeting information. The agenda item is 4.2 Comprehensive Plan Update under Old Business. If you can't make it in person or online, you could at least write Councilor Yung and/or Little urging them to ensure the Clark County Comprehensive Plan Update passes on time. However, I seriously question whether they adequately read public comment and their behavior thus far as been so shameful that I think the pressure of a full room and lots of testimony is the only thing that could move them. Yung is the weakest link for turning in our favor IMO. https://clark.wa.gov/councilors/clark-county-council-meetings Emails: glen.yung@clark.wa.gov matt.little@clark.wa.gov

56. The Betrayals of Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Part 2 Karissa and Phillip team up again to talk about the day they (and hundreds of others) met up in the flesh to join the protest at Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez's Vancouver town hall at the Leupke Center.

Karissa returns solo from a long hiatus to talk about Clark County Councilor Michelle Belkot's recent rogue behavior at the CTran Board to stop light rail on the Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) project, her ouster by fellow councilmembers, and the backlash. Karissa also uncovers through hard research another Belkot scandal that was long rumored but never proven, and discusses the skewed presentation of public sentiment the Council experiences thanks to corporate interests and the loud voices of the privileged. Please use this rundown as a launchpad for action when a hearing about light rail (but not really about light rail) comes before the Council! We need mass local mobilization to protect light rail as climate action and accountability for those in power.

Karissa interviews John Saulie-Rohman, Independent Candidate for the 3rd Congressional District, spanning the spectrum of topics, from foreign policy and the US war machine, environment, abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, campaign financing, education, healthcare, economy, free speech, national debt, and immigration! This is a comprehensive deep dive into John's positions focused on facts and honesty, which is what he wants to keep at the forefront of this race that has sadly devolved into partisan show politics and special interest corruption. The 3rd CD deserves better! Important to note: John is the only pro-Palestine candidate in this race against Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez, Joe Kent, and Leslie Lewallen and is foregoing PAC donations of ANY kind---opting for only individual donations. Learn more at John's website: https://www.saulierohmanforcongress.com/ Follow John on X: https://x.com/JohnnySR6288

Karissa uncovers some oddities around Joe Kent's FEC filings, rants about campaign finance, and briefly discusses the only anti-genocide candidate in the 3rd Congressional District race.

Karissa and Phillip dig into some of the evidence that proves that the FBI has not been a “good tenant” at Camp Bonneville---that they have routinely been violating the terms of their agreement for years, contaminating the property, detonating explosives, and putting law enforcement at risk, and that the county knows about it. They also review more false information provided by 2 members of Parks staff over the last few months regarding Camp Bonneville and identify the biggest lie along with the smokiest gun… Action item: SHOW UP May 22nd at 1pm to or attend virtually to Clark County government discussion on Camp Bonneville items. You can write in public comment, provide testimony, or just show up to keep the pressure on the county. We are trying to crank these episodes as quickly as we can for you to get you the full lowdown! If you are willing to provide public testimony, we will help you in crafting your remarks. PM us on socials! Let’s speak out against this abuse of power, protect this carbon-sequestering forest from wildfire, and oppose this secret Cop City right here in Clark County, WA! As always, please consider becoming a Patron for as little as $5 a month (other tier options available) to support this work. We would like to build something more sustainable and avoid burnout as we try to bring you more deep dives on issues and efforts that are timely, to continue filling the void in honest perspectives in southwest Washington, and to shine a light on the actions of local government for accountability and meaningful change. https://www.patreon.com/EverythingisFineinSWWA

Karissa and Phillip continue the journey into the story of Camp Bonneville by diving into the current process that is underway to review the environmental cleanup by Clark County with the Camp Bonneville Community Advisory Group (CAG) and discussing misinformation provided by staff about CB today and over the years. We uncover many shenanigans, more falsehoods, and question whether CAG members---or anyone in the community, for that matter—should suspend all logic and “assume positive intent” given what we know at this point. Action item: Mark your calendars for May 22nd 1pm to SHOW UP or attend virtually to Clark County government discussion on Camp Bonneville items. We are trying to crank out these episodes as quick as we can for you to get you the full lowdown! If you are willing to provide public testimony, we will help you in crafting your remarks. Just reach out via social media! As always, please consider becoming a Patron for as little as $5 a month (other tier options available) to support this work. We would like to build something more sustainable and avoid burnout as we try to bring you more deep dives on issues and efforts that are timely, to continue filling the void in honest perspectives in southwest Washington, and to shine a light on the actions of local government for accountability and meaningful change. Patreon link: https://www.patreon.com/EverythingisFineinSWWA

50. Camp Bonneville, Part 1: The Army, the FBI, and the Dirty Transfer Karissa and Phillip join forces once again to talk about Camp Bonneville, an old 3,800-acre forested piece of Clark County property located 5 miles from the Vancouver city limits, bordering both sides of Lacamas Creek and about seven miles north of the Columbia River, that was once owned by the United States Department of Defense. Camp Bonneville was used and abused for its 85 years as a US military base before it was closed in 1995. It was transferred to Clark County in 2011 before the environmental cleanup was finished, and the safety status of the site remains credibly in question to this very day. On top of this, the FBI---yes, the FBI---has been squatting here since it was owned by the Army, and we have done our homework showing that years of mismanagement, covering up of fundamental facts about this property, and rampant misinformation about all aspects of Camp Bonneville---as well as FBI and Clark County Sheriff’s Office activities at the site---have gone on for years and continue to this very day, with HUGE implications for public health and safety, as well as liability that will cost Clark County taxpayers. This is the most complex, convoluted, and outrageous story we have ever covered…and we’re just getting started. Part 1 is a scratch of the surface. Action item: Mark your calendars for May 22nd 1pm to SHOW UP or attend virtually to Clark County government discussion on Camp Bonneville items. We are trying to crank these episodes as quick as we can for you to get you the full lowdown! More details to come. As always, please consider becoming a Patron for as little as $5 a month (other tier options available) to support this work. We would like to build something more sustainable and avoid burnout as we try to bring you more deep dives on issues and efforts that are timely, to continue filling the void in honest perspectives in southwest Washington, and to shine a light on the actions of local government for accountability and meaningful change. https://www.patreon.com/EverythingisFineinSWWA

Karissa was fortunate enough to be joined by a panel of amazing experts and advocates who have been leading the charge against the Freight Rail Dependent Uses (FRDU) mining expansion and industrial railroad plan in Clark County that is STILL being supported by the majority of the Clark County Council despite vast and growing opposition by its citizens. First things first: Everyone participating in this episode spoke on their own behalf, not on behalf of any organizations we cited that have been working on this issue. John Nanney is a resident of Chelatchie who lives at ground zero of Eric Temple/PVJR’s illegal destruction which is currently being investigated by multiple state and federal agencies, and which is also ground zero for the Chelatchie Bluff Mine and other mining expansion plans that have cropped up in response to Clark County opening the floodgates for industrial landowners with an illegal Surface Mining Overlay (SMO) and their dogged pursuit to implement the FRDU at all costs. You can listen to our coverage in the previous 6 episodes of this series where we covered all different aspects of this story, including Temple’s behavior and county corruption. But, this episode is the definitive case against the FRDU and mining expansion plan, where John, Jim Byrne (fish biologist), Dick Dyrland (hydrologist), and Teresa Hardy (Friends of Clark County and Sierra Club) present the irrefutable facts and the dire reality we face as a community should this project go through, including devastation of nearly 1000 acres of carbon sequestering forest (probably with more to come), contamination of the Troutdale aquifer where we get our drinking water, fish and wildlife, and of course, human health, safety, and well-being---impacts that will reverberate for generations. Be sure to access the photos and maps provided from John’s presentation on our social media pages as you’re listening along, and we will be uploading the video version of the podcast to YouTube at a later date, so stay tuned for announcements on socials for that! The panel also debunks the outrageous talking points we are hearing spouted from industry shills in the community and on the council like Chair Gary Medvigy, such as lines about the dire need for rock, jobs, and the greenwashing of this plan as a climate solution. We also discuss how the county can ACT NOW in several ways, despite their feigned impotence, and how we’ve got two very important seats on the council up this election year. This episode is meant to be your ultimate resource that can be easily shared via a simple link, whether it is the audio podcast version or the YouTube link. We need YOUR help sharing this episode (and series, for that matter) with elected officials and this year’s election candidates, friends, family, and neighbors so that we can give this issue an extra boost to force the county to ACT NOW! Additional Resources: Email John Nanney: jnanney56@gmail.com You can find John’s report (and more write-ups about the FRDU) on the Friends of Clark County (FOCC) website here: https://friendsofclarkcounty.org/consolidated-report-chelatchie-bluff-mine-and-surrounding-industrial-plan/ Follow Friends of Clark County for FRDU, mining, and other environmental issue updates on Facebook and IG. You can also PM to plug in to volunteer! Follow the Chelatchie Bluff Mine Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/StopCBM Local Sierra Club Loowit Chapter: https://www.facebook.com/loowit.group Link up with Friends of Central Vancouver (FOCV)’s monthly forums here: https://www.focv.info/ Coalition for Sustainable Land Management: https://cslm.us/

Today, we cover the public outrage over budget cut proposals being made by the Evergreen School District. It was revealed at the last school board meeting that the overpaid district administrators were paid EVEN MORE in the form of supplemental contracts during the teacher’s strike at the beginning of the year, raising the question of whether they were incentivized to negotiate with the union in bad faith. First, we’ll provide you a rundown of just how many hundreds of thousands of dollars these district administrators make, and demonstrate how their salaries have been increasing every year at the same time they’ve been cutting vital roles and activities at the district---all while claiming to be underfunded. We then turn the mic on the community, where you’ll hear from the badass parents, educators, and students standing up for the kids and against the district’s greed. Video of March 12th Evergreen School Board Meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NDCMseL6kw Evergreen School Board Meeting and Public Comment Info: https://www.evergreenps.org/school-board

This is a short episode with a special and urgent call-to-action asking listeners to support Kim Harless by taking some time to write or testify to the Charter Review Commission, demanding a charter amendment to make changes to the Salary Review Commission to RAISE THE PAY for Vancouver City Councilmembers and make this a full-time position so that people who want to serve are no longer locked out on the basis of class and race. Listen to learn more, realize how crucial this issue is for advancing progressive policy, and use the talking points we’ve laid out for you. Email Aaron Lande, liaison for the Charter Review Commission, your comments and/or plan on attending the next Charter Review Committee meeting on Tuesday, March 19th from 5-7pm. Let’s get those comments in before then as well! More info on the Charter Review Committee meeting: https://www.cityofvancouver.us/government/calendar/ Email Aaron Lande: aaron.lande@cityofvancouver.us Karissa also makes a big pitch about supporting the Everything is Fine in SWWA Patreon and all the work that gets done to make this podcast happen! You can become a Patron at $5/month here: patreon.com/EverythingisFineinSWWA On top of this, we provide some updates on upcoming episodes and share a very special shout out from the Railroad Advisory Board, so stay tuned to the end to enjoy the exquisite sound of the powerful quivering in fear at the prospect of an informed public thanks to our work covering the FRDU!

TRIGGER WARNING: This intro includes public testimony about suicide and housing insecurity trauma. Speakers from intro (by order of appearance): Fatima Abarta (spoken through interpreter), Kerri Burnside, Monica Zazueta, and Boyd West. Karissa and Phillip come together again for a discussion about State Senator Annette Cleveland’s recent death blow to rent stabilization in the legislature. We deep dive into Senator Cleveland’s OBSCENE campaign finance corruption and discuss how this is obviously integral to the story, and to every story involving local politics. To ignore this influential element is journalistic malpractice, yet you will not get the full story from the Columbian and Karissa will tell you why. We also talk about the Columbian’s complicity in what went down with rent stabilization, as the Editorial Board provided a convenient off ramp for Annette the day of her vote when she was clearly feeling some pressure from constituents about this very popular and reasonable bill. (NO SHADE to the Columbian’s reporters, who have been doing great work covering the housing crisis in particular! This is wholly a criticism of the Columbian’s Editorial Board). Finally, Karissa and Phillip consider the merits of putting most eggs in the basket of electoralism versus organizing for a grassroots initiative or other direct policy pushes of our local elected officials as part of a broader, multiple front strategy to address the crises our community faces. THANK YOU to the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance and Council for the Homeless for sticking up for all the human beings in Washington who are being rent-gouged! CALL-TO-ACTION: It is important to note that while Cleveland singlehandedly killed the bill on the senate side, rent stabilization is NOT DEAD, although it has a difficult path forward. We need to up the pressure. Here is a convenient form from Futurewise that will connect you to writing a letter to your reps on rent stabilization and other great legislation to address living costs as well as climate and environment: futurewise.salsalabs.org/floorvote202…fbcb87fe9990 If you want to give Annette Cleveland hell for her shameful sociopathic vote, here is a link to her contact info: senatedemocrats.wa.gov/cleveland/contact/

Karissa talks with Tiffani of House Our Neighbors, the organization that spearheaded the social housing initiative in Seattle. We dug into the state of the housing crisis, the truth about the affordable housing solutions always offered by developers and decision makers which never seem to solve the problem permanently and at scale, the fundamental issue with housing as a profit-making venture instead of a right for all, the nitty gritty on how social housing works, addressing the climate crisis with social housing, how to start our own initiative, and so much more! This was SUCH an incredible breath of fresh air to break free from this narrow box our conversations about affordable housing solutions are confined to here in southwest Washington and to imagine something so much better. De-commodified housing is an internationally proven model for TRULY affordable housing in perpetuity and needs a local movement to force it into the policy discussion. PLEASE share this episode with everyone you know who cares about homelessness and the housing crisis, including local officials! Tiffani and House Our Neighbors consults with groups trying to achieve de-commodified housing all around the country. You can reach her at tiffani@houseourneighbors.org. Check out the House Our Neighbors website here: https://www.houseourneighbors.org/ Another artist showcase from local artist the Messy Jacksons! Here are some links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dEqqFXABX0 https://themessyjacksons.bandcamp.com/music

Karissa had the pleasure of sitting down with Zorah Oppenheimer, who is Executive Director of Clark Conservation District and member of the Steering Committee for the Heritage Farm Sustainability Plan. Now, when you hear the word “sustainability” you probably envision we’re talking about regenerative farming or something of that nature. NOPE! This is a plan for financial sustainability of the nearly 80-acre Heritage Farm, a historic urban poor farm right off of 78th street in Hazel Dell that is used for many community educational agriculture projects. This Steering Committee and Sustainability Plan was put in motion by a previous iteration of the Clark County Council over concerns about the cost of this public asset to the general fund. There has been controversy and anxiety over the fate of Heritage Farm for years by those who appreciate the value of something as special as a large urban farm in a county that is undergoing severe loss of farmland and whose residents are experiencing extreme development fatigue. On top of this, adapting to the climate crisis means expanding local food production to prepare for the breakdown of the global industrial food system. Zorah brings us up to speed on the Sustainability Plan and what is likely in store for Heritage Farm. There is some good news, some legitimate concerns about the plan thus far, and more work ahead if we want to protect Heritage Farm FOR GOOD! We also discuss the larger issue of the undervaluing of agricultural land and the need for smart population growth planning that reduces sprawl and preserves nature. It was wonderful to have Zorah on the show and to hear about the good work of Clark Conservation District. You can learn more here: https://www.clarkcd.org/about-us More information about the Heritage Farm Sustainability Plan from the county website (including information about the public open house taking place on Jan 24th): https://clark.wa.gov/public-works/heritage-farm-sustainability-plan Following this process is a priority of the local environmental group Friends of Clark County! Follow them on FB and IG @friendsofclarkcounty and look out for updates on the draft coming out on January 17th, after which the public commentary period will begin. The music showcase for this episode comes from none other than our sound engineer/producer, LT Page’s new eclectic and collaborative outfit called Faces in the Wood! The song is called “Solstice”. Here is their Bandcamp link: https://facesinthewood.bandcamp.com/?fbclid=IwAR1OTwdpH47qoZDH0SYltQgUjf2W1d2CgxtWvmhCHqf4QkApT6_tcQlT7es

Karissa is joined by a panel of interfaith leaders, including Shirin Elkoshairi, Dexter Kearny, and Zemirah Willow Higgins (all of SWWA) who have taken up the much-needed task of organizing for a ceasefire in Gaza IN VANCOUVER! Willow discusses how the Jewish community in SWWA and across the US is responding to the genocide in Gaza, and Dexter similarly shares about the Christian community’s response, as well as explains the insidious motives of Christian Zionism. We talk about how there are powerful interests profiting off of this genocide, and the group discusses how bogus claims of antisemitism are weaponized against anyone trying to seek justice for Palestinians, as well as attempts to muddy the waters by claims that this is a complicated war of a religious nature. Finally, we consider how our representative, Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez, has been on this issue (spoiler alert---NOT FINE) and the need to push her to represent us in Congress and support a CEASEFIRE NOW, with NO MORE funding and weapons for Israel to carry out this genocide with the complicity of the United States! THANK YOU to those who joined this discussion and for stepping up to organize in our community. Be sure to SHOW UP for the teach-in taking place in downtown Vancouver on Sunday, January 14th from 2 – 4pm. Go to https://ceasefirecd3.org/event/ to sign up for notifications and updates, and follow @ceasefirecd3 on IG and FB. This is a fitting episode for an artist showcase from local band, Sorrows, whose recent shows have been benefits for Doctors Without Borders and the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund raising nearly a thousand dollars! The song is called “Shape”. Be sure to stick around for that shoegazy garagey goodness at the end of the episode and here is a link to their music: https://linktr.ee/sorrows.cool?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=860fef31-b76d-41d2-8f6d-1abb1b77503e ***CORRECTION: Karissa misspoke, mentioning the event is recommending masks but they are actually required and some will be provided.