Cheers: To a plaza proposal. The city of Vancouver has unveiled a proposal for the Waterfront Gateway Plaza, which would help connect waterfront development with the downtown core. For the area south of Sixth Street and north of a railroad berm, plans call for a promenade, seating grove, lighting, gardens, a gathering area and other amenities. A city spokesperson said the proposal meets “a range of goals and objectives, based on what we heard from neighbors and the broader community during earlier engagement.”
The Waterfront Vancouver development has been successful in transforming the city and connecting the public with the Columbia River. The Terminal 1 project promises to add to that success. The next step is to provide public attractions that connect the riverfront with the residences and retail outlets surrounding Esther Short Park. Construction on Waterfront Gateway Plaza is expected to begin in 2026, providing a missing link to a vibrant part of the city.
Jeers: To the Vancouver City Council. Councilors this week collectively weighed in on five measures on the November ballot. They voted to support a local proposition to boost funding for law enforcement, and they opposed four statewide initiatives supported by conservative group Let’s Go Washington.
While individuals are free to express their opinions and help inform voters, government bodies should focus on implementing policy and following the dictates of the public. Trying to influence those dictates leads to questions about how diligently council members would implement the will of the people following the vote. Taking one side or the other only adds to the divisions that are all too prominent in our politics.
Cheers: To a new orca. Authorities report that a calf has been born to the L pod of southern resident orcas in the Puget Sound area. L128 was born to 31-year-old first-time mom L90, and reportedly is nursing and moving normally. Only half of orca newborns survive their first year, but any addition to the endangered population is welcome.
Meanwhile, officials also report a sighting of L25, who is believed to have been born in 1928 and might be the oldest orca on record. In many ways, the health of the orca population is an indicator of the Northwest’s environmental health.
Jeers: To dangerous encampments. The threat of homeless encampments was demonstrated this week with a fire among a dozen tents and shacks on a hill between Highway 99 and Interstate 5. Nobody was injured in the blaze, which authorities believe started when a warming fire got out of control.
The Columbian reported that two tree trunks were charred up to 20 feet and “a pile of belongings, including a dresser, twin bed frame, barbecue, oxygen tank and a gumball machine were also scorched.” One resident said: “Everybody is OK here. But it could have been bad. If this got any worse, this whole place could have caught on fire. It was very scary.”
Cheers: To basketball in Portland. The WNBA is returning to Portland; officials for the world’s best women’s professional basketball league have announced the addition of a team in the Rose City beginning with the 2026 season.
Portland has a grand tradition of supporting women’s sports; for years, the Portland Thorns have been a leading franchise in women’s soccer. Public interest in the WNBA has grown exponentially since Portland last had a franchise in 2002, and the city is a logical choice for continuing that growth.
