Pacific Northwest Tribes Call for the Removal of River Dams

Leaders from two Pacific Northwest tribes called for the U.S. government to remove three major dams from the Columbia River in Oregon and Washington, claiming that the dams violates a treaty signed more than 150 years ago. Jeremiah Julius, chairman of the Lummi Nation, and JoDe Goudy, chairman of the Yakama Nation, said that the treaty, which ceded 11.5 million acres to the U.S. government, guaranteed them fishing sites that have been devastated by three hydroelectric dams. The Columbia River Basin used to produce between 10 and 16 million salmon per year, but now produces only about one million. “The Columbia River dams were built on this false legal foundation and decimated the Yakama Nation’s fisheries, traditional foods and culture sites. On behalf of the Yakama Nation and those things that cannot speak for themselves, I call on the United States to … immediately remove the Bonneville Dam, Dalles Dam and John Day Dam,” said Goudy. Julius pointed to the lack of salmon as a reason that there are only 70 orcas left in the Northwest, the lowest number recorded in three decades. “We are in a constant battle … to leave future generations a lifeway promised our ancestors 164 years ago. Our people understand that the salmon, like the orca, are the miner’s canary for the health of the Salish Sea and for all its children,” he said. Environmental groups are supporting the tribes’ request, saying that the dams have disrupted the entire ecosystem of the region by preventing the river from flowing normally. Brett VandenHeuvel, executive director of the nonprofit Columbia Riverkeeper, said that climate change will exacerbate problems caused by the dams. “The stagnant reservoirs behind the dams create dangerously hot water, and climate change is pushing the river over the edge. Year after year, the river gets hotter,” he said. The dams power more than two million homes in the Pacific Northwest each year. Northwest RiverPartners, a group that advocates for ports and businesses, said that the dams are needed for reducing reliance on fossil fuels. “We have great respect for the Yakama and Lummi nations … but we believe that the lower Columbia River dams are a critical carbon free resource in our fight against the climate crisis that threatens the health and well-being of the entire Northwest,” the group said. [Seattle Times; Oregon Public Broadcasting; TIME]

LATER START TIMES | California will become the first state to mandate that middle and high schools start later in the morning, a change spurred by research that shows later start times and more sleep are beneficial for students. Though some rural districts will be excluded from the mandate, by 2022 all other public schools will be required to push their start times back. Middle schools should start no earlier than 8 a.m. and high schools no earlier than 8:30 a.m. “The science shows that teenage students who start their day later increase their academic performance, attendance, and overall health. Importantly, the law allows three years for schools and school districts to plan and implement these changes,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom at the bill’s signing. Some legislators, including Democratic state Rep. Patrick O’Donnell, a former teacher, said the decision should be made at the local level by individual districts. “We should not set the bell schedule from Sacramento. Sacramento does not know best,” he said. Other legislators, including Democratic state Sen. Anthony Portantino, said that students were facing a sleep deprivation crisis. “Generations of children will come to appreciate this historic day and our governor for taking bold action. Our children face a public health crisis. Shifting to a later start time will improve academic performance and save lives because it helps our children be healthier,” he said. [Los Angeles Times; CNN; The Hill]

POLICE CUTS | Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said that the city may have to make cuts to its police force unless the the county approves an increase in sales tax from 0.5% to 1.5%. Barrett’s proposed 2020 budget decreases the police force in the city by 3%, but would do it through retirements instead of layoffs. "If [the sales tax increase] does not happen, there will be even more cuts to the Milwaukee Police Department next year, which is something that I am trying to avoid," Barrett said. Republican state legislators from the area have criticized the proposed force cuts in the 2020 budget, and sent a letter to Barrett earlier in the month. "Your proposed reduction in the police force would not only deplete Milwaukee's scarce law enforcement resources but it would also endanger the safety of all the city's residents,” the letter reads. But city leaders who are seeking permission from the state legislature to increase the sales tax, which could bring in $160 million in the first year, said that state-imposed limits on raising revenue have left them no choice. “Let us assure you that our highest priority is the safety of our citizens. We need not be lectured about that...it is equally your responsibility to provide the resources necessary for the safety and security of our constituents. For too long our hands have been tied and you control the strings,” reads a letter sent to Republican legislators signed by 11 of the city’s 15 city councilmembers. [Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel; The Daily Cardinal]

OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE | During a radio interview this week, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo used the n-word when discussing discrimination against Italian Americans. He was discussing a recent New York Times article about the history of discrimination against Italian Americanse. “They used an expression that southern Italians were called quote-unquote, and pardon my language, but I’m just quoting The Times, n----r wops … as a derogatory comment,” he said. Cuomo has since faced backlash for his use of the word. Maurice Mitchell, the national director of the Working Families Party, called the word “a stain” on America’s soul. "No white person should use it in any context, for any reason—least of all as an example of how he thinks HE has been unfairly treated. Governor Cuomo needs to apologize right now,” he said. Others have risen to Cuomo’s defense, including State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. “The Governor was quoting a New York Times story and was using it for context,” he said. [New York Daily News; New York Post]

DOG RESCUE | A 190-pound Mastiff named Floyd was rescued after sustaining an injury while hiking in Millcreek Canyon in Utah. Salt Lake County Search and Rescue was dispatched to assist, and a volunteer crew of rescuers spent four hours strapping the dog to a stretcher and carrying him down the mountain. "The owner was really surprised when we showed up because he didn't know people had called 911. There's no cell service up there and he was prepared to spend the night with his dog and get him in the morning," said Todd Taylor, the leader of the rescue squad. "Hopefully, Floyd will be up and hiking again soon!" the team posted on Facebook. [Buzzfeed; KUTV]