Capitol Hill’s Optimism Brewing got the city’s first free street closure permit. The brewery is expanding their existing beer garden on Broadway Court which will double their capacity. In an effort to meet demand and also generate revenue, they’re offering “work tables” for $15 that includes unlimited sparkling water PLUS a “happy hour” beer. (Eater Seattle)

Here’s some data that the Seattle Times put together showing just how much Seattle Police Department employees are making. They found that 374 employees made at least $200,000 last year and that the median gross pay of more than 2,000 employees was around $153,000 not including benefits. The Times found that retroactive payments and overtime contributed to the large salaries.  (The Seattle Times)

Local journalist David Ryder has a new series highlighting some of the “crowd control” tools used by SPD in recent protests. After finding an intact blast ball from protests on July 25, David had the realization that nobody ever sees these weapons actually intact. The idea behind the project is to present the objects used by SPD in an objective and judgment-free setting letting people draw their own opinions. (Crosscut)

Kamala Harris was announced as Joe Biden’s pick for vice president making her the first Black and South Asian American woman to run on a major party’s ticket. While not exactly the most local news, South Seattle Emerald got some takes from politically active women of color in the South End what they thought about the news. No surprise—everyone’s pretty stoked. (South Seattle Emerald)

This series is sponsored by VertueLab , a nonprofit that’s fighting climate change by providing funding and holistic support to cleantech entrepreneurs. VertueLab did not have editorial input.

Written by: Ben DeJarnette

Black Americans are more likely to breathe polluted air, more likely to live near a landfill, more likely to be displaced by rising oceans, and more likely to die from the combination of these things than other Americans.

So what can we do to make sure Black lives are front and center in the climate movement?

Annalise Servin asked that question for our series on climate action, and as it turns out, we have a lot of work to do.

For one, the climate movement needs to look more like the diverse communities it claims to represents. 

A 2018 survey of environmental nonprofits found that 85 percent of their staff members are white — and critics say that’s reflected in their priorities.

To their (slight) credit, the Sierra Club and other mainstream nonprofits have acknowledged their mistakes and promised to do more for racial justice, and we should hold them to that.

But we should also look to new leaders, especially those who’ve been prioritizing racial justice all along.

So what else will it take to bring racial justice to the climate movement? 

Read the full story on our website, and stay tuned for another reader question and answer next week.

This genuinely made me laugh and also think of this Portlandia sketch. If anyone sees me out on run please know I use crosswalks/stoplights as an excuse to stop running because I am weak from all the bread consumed during quarantine. 😬

Catch ya back here tomorrow! ✌️

—The Evergrey