Brown is set to assume office on New Year’s Day, January 1st, succeeding Republican Nadine Woodward, and will have no shortage of tough issues to tackle. Read her pre-Day One interview with the Northwest Progressive Institute.
Author Archives: Caya Berndt
Caya is a Northwest Progressive Institute contributor based out of Spokane, Washington, writing about Lilac City politics, the Evergreen State's 5th Congressional District, and related politics. She previously hosted the inaugural episodes of NPI's PNWcurrents podcast. She works at the Unemployment Law Project and is a graduate of Central Washington University, with a bachelor's degree in liberal arts and sciences. Caya also has a minor from CWU in law and justice.
Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward feigns ignorance after accepting Matt Shea’s blessing at a white Christian nationalist rally
Woodward was already facing a tough general election campaign to win a second term, as evidenced by her loss to Lisa Brown in the August Top Two election. Now her electoral prospects look even dimmer.
Where Spokane’s City Council candidates stand with initial 2023 Top Two results in
Who’s likely to move on from the elimination round of the Top Two election in this year’s Spokane City Council races? Find out in this Election Night recap from NPI.
Spokane mayoral hopeful Lisa Brown leads incumbent Nadine Woodward in early results
In a result that likely comes as a big surprise to many political observers, the incumbent Republican mayor of Spokane is losing to her Democratic challenger, who has a plurality of the vote in initial returns.
Spokane inaugurates service on City Line, its first bus rapid transit route
The service is a six-mile long bus rapid transit line that begins in Browne’s Addition, a historic neighborhood near Spokane’s Downtown area, and winds through downtown and the Gonzaga University District, all the way to Spokane Falls Community College.
Housing policy leaders discuss ways to get people into homes at 2023 YDWA Convention
Read a recap of the 2023 Young Democrats of Washington Convention’s housing-focused panel, which brought together local and state leaders in Spokane for a conversation moderated by NPI’s Kamil Zaidi.
Issues facing LGBTQ+ community take center stage at 2023 YDWA Convention in Spokane
Though Washington has historically been one of the safer states to be queer, the LGBTQ+ experience east of the Cascades is a very different one due to the Republican-leaning local governments. After all, it wasn’t that long ago that it wasn’t very safe to be out in Spokane, the biggest city in the region.
NPI at Netroots Nation 2022: Talking about the American Dream with Abigail Disney
In the ninth and final installment of NPI@NN (2022), NPI’s Caya Berndt spoke with activist and filmmaker Abigail Disney about her film “The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales,” labor organizing, and improving the lives of the workers at the Happiest Place on Earth.
NPI at Netroots Nation 2022: Talking about tech for volunteers with Samantha Boucher
In this eighth installment of NPI@NN (2022), NPI’s Caya Berndt spoke with Samantha Boucher, CEO and Co-Founder of Shire, a digital organizing platform, to discuss smart organizing strategies, engaging volunteers, and how to make campaign tools more accessible for the new generation of voters.
NPI at Netroots Nation 2022: Talking youth activism, plants with Brian Wingbermuehle
In this seventh installment of NPI@NN (2022), NPI’s Caya Berndt spoke with Brian Wingbermuehle, the youngest Democratic committee member for St. Louis County, about the challenges facing young progressive activists and protecting plants from climate damage.
NPI at Netroots Nation 2022: Talking worker organizing, ALU’s future with Chris Smalls
In this sixth installment of NPI@NN (2022), NPI’s Caya Berndt spoke with organizer and Amazon Labor Union President Chris Smalls about the unifying power of workers joining forces to bargain collectively and the future of the ALU.
NPI at Netroots Nation 2022: Talking utilizing technology in organizing with Brian T. Smith
In this fifth installment of NPI@NN (2022), NPI’s Caya Berndt spoke with Brian T. Smith about his organization’s new social network, Unified.
NPI at Netroots Nation 2022: Talking ending felony disenfranchisement with Nicole Porter
In this fifth installment of NPI@NN (2022), NPI’s Caya Berndt spoke with Nicole Porter, Senior Director of Advocacy for The Sentencing Project, about restoring fundamental liberties to those with felony convictions.
NPI at Netroots Nation 2022: Talking SCOTUS reform with Sarah Lipton-Lubet
In this fourth installment of NPI@NN (2022), NPI’s Caya Berndt spoke with Take Back the Court Foundation Executive Director, Sarah Lipton-Lubet, about adding justices to secure abortion rights