VOL 35 NO 52 | DECEMBER 24 – DECEMBER 30, 2016

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA

VOL 35 NO 52

DECEMBER 24 – DECEMBER 30, 2016 FREE 34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

2016 TOP ST

Bob Santos

SEE P AGE 1 1

Pramila & Cyrus

Homeless camps

oliver pong

Sebastian Pong

Ruth Woo

ORIES

Rachtha Danh

New chancellor for Seattle Colleges

Peter Liang Seattle protest

Bush Garden closed Donnie Chin murder still unsolved

Publix reopens

Streetcar

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34 YEARS

DECEMBER 24 – DECEMBER 30, 2016

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS

China Machado, a legendary supermodel and fashion editor who was one of the first women to break high fashion’s color barrier, has died at 86. A Facebook page associated with Machado’s fashion line announced on Dec. 18 that she had died. The New York Times, citing Machado’s family, says she died of a heart attack.

Machado, who was of Chinese and Portuguese descent, was born in Shanghai.

She began her career in the fashion industry after moving China Machado to Paris in 1954, where she walked her first runway show for Givenchy. In 1959, she broke barriers when she became the first non-white model to appear on the cover of a major fashion magazine, according to Harper’s Bazaar.

New York Magazine interviewed her in 2011, and Machado said she was the highest-paid freelance runway model in Europe back in her prime. 

House on Dec. 17 and Dec. 18 — where local independent artists sold their arts and goods.

“Mahou to” means “magic and.”

Artists from all over the Pacific Northwest offered up their wares that were inspired by Asia, all things kawaii and anime, and everything else related to Japanese culture. 

Photo by John Liu/NWAW

Model who broke industry barriers dies

■ BRIEFLY

Holiday Mahouto market

Thousands celebrate Sounders’ MLS Cup victory

Dr. Mari Kim has joined Homestead Community Land Trust as Manager of Philanthropy and Community Engagement. Kim brings to Homestead two decades of commitment to nonprofit service among communities of color and experience in transitional housing.

Her work in nonprofit development follows a distinguished career in higher education. She is responsible for grants, special donor cultivation events, and stewarding a stronger donor base.

Dr. Mari Kim “Mari brings her positive energy and considerable drive to Homestead’s mission to promote inclusion and diversity because she believes, as we do, that doing so creates thriving communities,” said Kathleen Hosfeld, Homestead’s executive director. 

Holiday Mahouto market

Holiday shoppers flocked to Mahouto market at the Nagomi Tea

Photo by JB/NWAW

New hire at Homestead Community Land Trust

Seattle Sounders FC head coach Brian Schmetzer (left) and Seattle Sounders soccer player #6 Osvaldo Alonso (right) are holding the MLS cup.

Seattle honored the new MLS champions on Dec. 13 with a jubilant march through downtown Seattle.

Thousands of blue- and rave green-clad Seattle Sounders fans lined the streets — fans chanted, clapped, and showed appreciation for the club that brought the city just its fifth championship in a major professional sport in the past half century, joining the Seahawks, two titles by the Seattle Storm (WNBA), and the SuperSonics.

After eight years of regularly being regarded as the most successful expansion franchise in MLS history, the Sounders finally reached the pinnacle of the league by defeating Toronto 5-4 on penalty kicks on Dec. 10 in Canada. 

Upset Hindus urge Amazon to apologize and withdraw Lord Ganesha skateboards U p s e t Hindus are urging Amazon to remove skateboards, bed covers, duvet covers, and bedspreads carrying the images Hindu deity Lord Ganesha — calling it “highly inappropriate.”

In a Dec. 16 statement, President of Universal Society of Hinduism Rajan Zed, said that Lord Ganesha is highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines, and not to put your feet on or touch with your feet or sleep on it.

Zed also wants a formal apology, in addition of removal of the products. 

YOUR VOICE

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

DECEMBER 24 – DECEMBER 30, 2016

asianweekly northwest

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Vietnamese woman dies from gunshot during robbery

By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY A woman shot during a robbery in South Seattle on Dec. 15 has died. Officers responded to 39th Avenue South and South Warsaw Street at 8:30 p.m. to reports of shots fired. Eyewitnesses said 45-year-old My-Linh Nguyen was walking in the area when the suspect approached her and tried to steal her purse.

Assistant Police Chief Robert Merner said at a briefing on Dec. 16 that Nguyen had taken light rail and a bus home from her job at a downtown nail salon. He says there is evidence Nguyen fought with her assailant over her purse before she was shot multiple times. The suspect then ran away.

Medics rushed the woman to Harborview Medical Center, where she later died.

Police said Nguyen was gunned down just steps from her house. She was married with a 15-year-old son.

A disturbing trend

The Northwest Asian Weekly reported in September about the rise in purse snatchers targeting Asian women in their 60s and older. Mark Solomon, crime prevention coordinator based out of Seattle Police Department (SPD)’s south precinct, told us that women have had their gold chains snatched from their necks. Victims sometimes get pushed or shoved in the midst of robberies — resulting in injury. Last week’s robbery is the first of its kind this year that resulted in a fatality.

Merner said there have been 62 street robberies in the south precinct in the last four months. Twenty-six of the victims were women and five were men of Asian descent,

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the majority of them 50 or older, according to Merner.

Police think they’re being targeted due to a belief that they’re likely to be carrying large amounts of cash.

Top brass at the SPD have convened as recently as Dec. 12 to address this crime wave, Merner said.

Police have also published personal-safety pamphlets in a variety of languages, including Vietnamese and Chinese, and have printed ads in community newspapers to warn people that they may be vulnerable to robbery.

Vietnamese-speaking officers have been assigned to work around the clock on this case. So far, police do not have a detailed description of the shooter. Ballistic testing on shell casings left at the scene is in progress and police are looking for video-surveillance footage.

Reporting crime

Often, immigrant victims of theft or robbery either don’t report the crime at all or they wait too long before calling the SPD. Many take hours, not making a 911 call until they get home and have someone who can translate into English for them. “We want them to call us as soon as possible,” said Solomon. “As soon as they are in a place of safety. …

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If English is not their first language, we do have language lines. All they need to do is say what language they need and we can set up a three-way call.”

Solomon states that beyond language gaps, the reasons why crime is underreported in Asian immigrant populations (and immigrant populations in general) include the desire to save face. Being the victim of a crime creates feelings of shame and embarrassment sometimes — fear of retaliation, distrust of police due to experiences with corrupt government in other countries they have lived in, and legal status. “Sometimes, people are undocumented,” said Solomon. “And it’s illegal for us to ask about it.”

Solomon said that SPD officers cannot inquire about legal status — so any victim of a crime can and should report it.

“Sometimes, Asians don’t want to disturb the police,” said Linh Thach, SPD’s Asian community liaison. “They say, ‘If [the police] come, and they can’t find the suspect, I will be blamed for calling and wasting their time.’ And I say, ‘No, no, we get paid to serve you. We are happy to show up. Please call.’” “[Distrust of police is] one of the things where, as long as I’ve been doing this — and I’ve been doing this for 26 years — that’s one of the hardest things for us to overcome. Convincing people that it is okay for them to call the police,” said Solomon. “You are not going to get in trouble. We’re not going to charge you. You can trust us.”

Anyone with information about the Nguyen homicide is asked to call the Seattle Police Department’s tip line, 206233-5000, or Crime Stoppers, 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).  Staff can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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DECEMBER 24 – DECEMBER 30, 2016

34 YEARS

■ NATIONAL NEWS

Fijian man found guilty of trying to sell devices to China

By Martha Bellisle ASSOCIATED PRESS

SEATTLE (AP) — A jury has found a Fijian man guilty of coming to the U.S. to buy devices used in aircraft, satellites, and missiles so he could sell them to China, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act. After a three-day trial in U.S. District Court in Seattle last week and three hours of deliberations, the jury rejected claims by William Ali that the case was entrapment by

An international ‘Rogue One’ cast for a new ‘Star Wars’ era

By Lindsey Bahr AP FILM WRITER

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — “Star Wars” has always had a wide variety of faces and languages in its films, but, besides a few outliers, the diversity was mainly limited to that of the various creatures inhabiting the planets. “The Force Awakens” cracked that seal a bit, but it’s the spinoff film “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”

that really bursts through the arbitrary barrier with a large international cast, including Mexican actor Diego Luna, Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen, the British-Pakistani actor Riz Ahmed, Chinese stars Donnie Yen and Jiang Wen, Australian Ben Mendelsohn, African-American actor Forest Whitaker and British actress Felicity Jones. see STAR WARS on 13

agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Ali, who lives in New Zealand, had claimed that an undercover agent induced him to come to Seattle to purchase the devices.

Federal prosecutors argued successfully that Ali sought the accelerometers and gyroscopes for a customer in China. Anyone exporting the devices must first acquire a license from the U.S. Department of State. Ali, 37, opted against getting a license, despite warnings that he would be violating the law.

His sentencing was set for March 16.

The felony charge of conspiracy to violate the Export Control Act carries a maximum sentence of five years and a $250,000 fine. Attempting to violate the act is punishable by up to 20 years and a $1 million fine.

Messages sent to Ali’s lawyer seeking comment were not immediately returned.

Ali is an engineer who has worked for Air Fiji and Air see ALI on 13

Lawrence Colburn dies; helped end Vietnam’s My Lai massacre

By Chevel Johnson ASSOCIATED PRESS Lawrence Manley Colburn, a helicopter gunner in the Vietnam War who helped end the slaughter of hundreds of unarmed Vietnamese

villagers by U.S. troops at My Lai, has died. He was 67.

Lisa Colburn, speaking with The Associated Press on Dec. 15, said her husband of 31 years was diagnosed see COLBURN on 14

Lawrence Manley Colburn

Vietnamese comic Minh Beo sentenced in sex crimes case WESTMINSTER, Calif. (AP) — Vietnamese comedian Minh Beo has been sentenced to 18 months in state prison for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy in California.

Orange County prosecutors said on Dec. 16 that the 38-year-old must also register as a sex offender. see HONG on 12

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YOUR VOICE

■ WORLD NEWS

Smog alert: Chinese city cancels flights BEIJING (AP) — A smogshrouded Chinese city canceled airline flights on Dec. 18 due to poor visibility and parents took children to hospitals on the second day of a pollution alert across the country’s north.

The official Xinhua News Agency said 35 flights in Tianjin, east of Beijing, were delayed or canceled. Highways into the city of 7.5 million people were closed “due to extremely low visibility.”

Beijing and 22 other Chinese cities imposed emergency measures, including ordering cars off the road and telling factories

Weekends at last: Taiwan workers to get 2 days off a week

By Ralph Jennings ASSOCIATED PRESS TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Since Taiwan industrialized in the 1960s, its workers have strived to do whatever their employers asked, including putting in free overtime, out of fear of being replaced.

“We wanted to contribute to our company, and in return, we want the company to respond in positive ways to our contributions,” said Chou Hsun-Rong, 43, a worker at a bonding material factory in suburban Taipei, Taiwan’s capital, who says he has long sacrificed personal time for the sake of his job.

Many workers in Taiwan, a manufacturing powerhouse and democratically ruled island off the coast of China, would like a better work-life balance to match their society’s growing affluence.

After 15 years of long work days, factory worker Chou is hoping to spend more time with his two small children.

“When we work overtime, it’s true that we are sacrificing our family time, or that we even neglect the fact that we feel unwell,” said Chou, adding that he and his colleagues worry about chronic illness from overwork. “So I wish working hours were shorter.”

The progress toward shorter working hours comes at a time when, unlike in many western countries, workers in Taiwan have been gaining leverage, with the unemployment rate at under 4 percent and the ratio of job openings to job seekers at 1.72 times, according to the Labor Ministry.

On Dec. 6 lawmakers approved changes for the Labor Standards Act requiring companies to limit work to 40 hours a week and give full-time workers at least two of every seven days off. Hourly overtime pay will ratchet higher as extra hours accrue.

“To go from 48-hour weeks to this new see WEEKEND on 12

and schools to close, after pollution soared to more than 10 times safe levels.

On Dec. 18, news websites said the number of children being taken to Beijing hospitals with breathing trouble soared.

Photos showed waiting rooms crowded with parents carrying children who wore face masks.

Chinese cities are notorious for noxious air blamed on emissions from older cars and trucks, coal-fired power plants and factories.

Members of the public closely see SMOG on 13

Tokyo breaks ground on new 2020 Olympics National Stadium TOKYO (AP) — Tokyo held a groundbreaking ceremony on Dec. 11 for a $1.5 billion National Stadium to host the 2020 Olympic Games.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, and other dignitaries launched the construction at the site of the demolished National Stadium, which was used during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, by putting their hands on a glass sphere that rotated through pastels of the colors of the Olympic logo.

The ceremony ended with a video replete with computer graphics showing how the stadium is expected to look and function once completed by November 2019.

Work on the stadium in the center of the city fell behind schedule because the government abandoned the original design amid spiraling costs and complaints over its scale and appearance.

Koike, Tokyo’s first female governor, took office in July pledging to use her platform to host a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly 2020 Olympics. She has lambasted

organizers of the 2020 games for failing to keep costs under control.

An expert panel she appointed put the price tag of the 2020 Games at over $30 billion, barring drastic cost-cutting measures, a more than a four-fold increase from the initial estimate when the city was awarded the games in 2013.

Fans of the old stadium, built in the late 1950s, had lobbied to keep and renovate it. But in the end the government opted to replace it with a more modern facility. see OLYMPICS on 13

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Iran says it’s finalized $16.6B Boeing deal to buy 80 planes

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran said it has finalized a $16.8 billion deal with Boeing to purchase 80 passenger planes, a deal made possible by last year’s landmark nuclear agreement.

The state-run IRNA news agency said 50 Boeing 737s and 30 Boeing 777s would be delivered over the next decade, in the biggest agreement to be struck with an American company since the 1979 revolution and U.S. Embassy takeover.

Boeing had no immediate comment to the Dec. 11 announcement.

In September, Washington granted permission to Boeing and its European competitor Airbus to sell billions of dollars’ worth of aircraft to Iran. The U.S. and other world powers agreed last year to lift crippling sanctions on Iran in exchange for it curbing its nuclear activities.

President-elect Donald Trump and several Republican lawmakers have criticized the nuclear deal, but it’s unclear whether they would scrap the agreement, which was reached with Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China.

Most of Iran’s aging fleet of 250 commercial planes were purchased before 1979, and as of June only 162 were operational, with the rest grounded because of a lack of spare parts. Iran Air, whose website lists a fleet of 43 planes, offers direct flights to over 30 international destinations, including London. 

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DECEMBER 24 – DECEMBER 30, 2016

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR JAN 4

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View the solution on page 14

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The only weekly English-language newspaper serving Washington’s Asian community. The NW Asian Weekly has one simple goal: “To empower the Asian community.”

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YOUR VOICE

■ AT THE MOVIES IN A

DECEMBER 24 – DECEMBER 30, 2016

■ YEAR IN REVIEW

Every year, there is no shortage of amazing feats accomplished by Asian Americans around the country. Aside from all the bad things that happened in 2016, these individuals took it to another level and achieved greatness. This list highlights 10 of those amazing accomplishments.

“Don’t forget about where you come from. It’s very, very important in your life, where you come from.”

These are the first words uttered

by Satnam Singh Bhamara in the documentary “One in a Billion,” recently released on Netflix,

see SATNAM on 12

7

achievements

By Nina Huang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

chronicling his arduous journey in trying to become the first-ever Indian-born player to be drafted in the NBA. Satnam, at 7’2” and almost 300 lbs., explains that he is from Ballo Ke, a small farm-village in India with a population of 800 people. He describes his family as “really low-level,” and “don’t have

northwest

Asian American

The weight of a country on a young man’s shoulders

By Eric Card NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

asianweekly

(D-N.Y.) sponsored the bill, which was passed unanimously in the House and Senate. The words were replaced with “Asian Americans” and “African Americans,” respectively. In addition, other terms that were affected by the law include “Spanishspeaking,” which became “Hispanic”; “Indian,” which became “Native American”; and “Eskimo” and “Aleut,” which became “Alaska Natives.”

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For the third year in a row, the Scripps National Spelling Bee awarded two cochampions, 13-yearold Jairam Hathwar and 11-year-old Nihar Janga. After dueling back and forth for 22 rounds, both winners aced their final word. In addition, Janga became the youngest winner in the competition’s 91-year history.

Disney featured its firstever Polynesian princess in the animated film “Moana,” which has been at the top of the box office for several weeks. The film also hit new records for the film company. Moana has helped Disney bring in nearly $2.5 billion in North America, the most grossed by a studio in North America. Also with “Moana,” Disney has taken in $4 billion overseas, a first and another milestone for the entertainment company.

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Earlier this year, President Barack Obama signed a bill to eliminate the words “Oriental” and “Negro” from the federal law. Rep. Grace Meng

Hmong American poet Mai Der Vang won the American Academy of Poets’ 2016 Walt Whitman see ACHIEVEMENTS on 15

asianweekly northwest

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■ FOOD

34 YEARS

DECEMBER 24 – DECEMBER 30, 2016

Asian food paradise at Uwajimaya’s food court

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

see UWAJIMAYA on 14

Uwajimaya’s food court

Photos by George Liu/NWAW

Last week, eight hungry souls bundled up in thick jackets, with Seahawks hats and scarves, were hovering around the Uwajimaya Food Court in the International District. I recognized one of them as my former mentee.

“Hi, Joseph, going to the game?” I asked. “It’s going to be cold at the stadium.”

“Not with these,” he said, pointing to the donburi boxes he ordered from Uwajimaya’s deli. The stadium is so cold that even bringing blankets might not be enough. But Joseph and his friends were smart to have those boxes of food. First, they taste much better than hot dogs or burgers inside the stadium. Also, prices are high, and lines are often long. Most people don’t know that Uwajimaya was the first Asian grocery store to build a large Asian food court 17 years ago in the Pacific Northwest.

From $6 to $10.45, you can combine sukiyaki beef with just eggs or one other item. I can’t finish one up myself.

So these young people could cheer and shout during the game, while getting a bite now and then to refuel their energy.

For hungry folks, Uwajimaya’s Food Court is a paradise for a variety of Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Hawaiian, and Vietnamese food. You and your family and friends can look at the deli counter filled with over 15 yummy items cooked with veggies and meat, before you decide what appeals to you.

Across from the Uwajimaya deli is Shilla’s (Korean food), Saigon Bistro (Vietnamese), Aloha Plates (Hawaiian), Noodle Zen, Thai Place, and Tako Kyuuban (modern Japanese food). Don’t miss Beard Papa’s cream puffs and

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DECEMBER 24 – DECEMBER 30, 2016

YOUR VOICE

■ EDUCATION

asianweekly northwest

9

An Elementary Effort Addressing inequity in education

Kert Lin’s boisterous fourthgraders at Lakeridge Elementary arrive well before the bell to help prepare for class or to go over math problems from their last assignment. Though it makes for a long day, Lin, ’07, ’11, relishes the routine. “The reason I’m passionate about my job is not necessarily the teaching,” he says, “but teaching these kids.”

Lakeridge, in the Renton School District, is one of the most diverse public schools in the state. Nearly 90 percent of the students are black, Latino or Asian, and about half speak a language other than English at home. Additionally, about 90 percent of students are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals.

In 2010, Lakeridge was in crisis.

Only one in five students could pass the state mathematics assessment test. The elementary school was in the bottom 5 percent in the state.

With a federal School Improvement Grant in hand, school ad-

Photo credit: Dennis Wise

By Meg Cressey This story was originally published in Columns Magazine (December 2016) REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION

Kert Lin

ministrators reached out to the UW College of Education for help developing new methods for teaching reading and math. The teachers threw themselves into the effort, exploring new techniques.

In just two years, the percentage of Lakeridge students passing Washington’s math assessment nearly tripled and the school became a model for the state. The

assessment scores continue to improve and, thanks to the exceptional efforts of teachers like Lin, Lakeridge was named a 2016 state School of Distinction.

Lin knows firsthand the difference a school can make. He grew up in one city, but “it felt like two different worlds,” he says. While his family lived in a predominantly white, middle-class neighbor-

hood in North Seattle, they owned a grocery in the Central District.

Lin attended grade school near the store. “It was very similar to Lakeridge,” he explains. “Near public housing, very diverse, a large immigrant population. That’s where my friends were and where my identity was set.”

So when Lin shifted to a middle school closer to home, “I went

from being at the top of my class to struggling to stay afloat,” he says. “I thought to myself, ‘If I’m having this much trouble, how are my friends in the Central District doing?’ That was the first time I realized that there was this idea of inequity in our education system.”

Lin’s own school switch put him on a different trajectory than that of his grade school peers— one that led to college and graduate school at the UW. Two years ago, he realized just how different.

He was helping a student with behavioral issues who also had challenges at home. He struggled to reach the student’s parents. When Lin finally heard back, he recognized the name on the caller ID: it was a former classmate from the Central District.

Now Lin is focused on helping his students learn to reason, discuss and work together. Math class no longer means memorization and drills; it’s a place of discussion-based learning and exploring different routes to solve a problem. This sets the students up for learning new mathematical concepts, says Lin, from trigonometry in high school to calculus in college. see LIN on 13

NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY / SEATTLE CHINESE POST PRESENTS 8TH ANNUAL

LUNAR NEW YEAR COSTUME CONTEST

january 21 * 1:30 pm

CHINATOWN-IINTERNATIONAL DISTRICT LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL

no age limit!

Please submit completed application through one of the following methods: Mail: Northwest Asian Weekly Lunar New Year Costume Contest 412 Maynard Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98104 Name:

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Contestants must adhere to all rules and regulations. Contest officials will remove any contestant failing to cooperate with officials or failing to comply with the rules and regulations. If you have any questions, please contact Northwest Asian Weekly at 206.223.5559 or via email at rsvp@nwasianweekly.com.

Children’s Parade Competition Schedule: • 11 AM — Registration • 1 PM — Line up • 1:30 PM — Parade begins • 2:15 PM — Parade winners announced • Start from Northwest Asian Weekly’s front door, march to main stage • Contestants must be present at the announcement of finalists (2:15 PM).

• Finalists will be lined up in numerical order.

• The first 20 registered will get a gift.

Registration/Sign-Up: • You may pre-register for the contest by filling out this application and sending it in or sign-up on the day of the contest (Saturday, January 21) beginning at 11 a.m. at the registration table. Registration table will be located in front of Seattle Chinese Post/Northwest Asian Weekly – 412 Maynard Ave S. • Contestants must sign-in at the registration table 30 minutes prior to parade.

Rules/Guidelines: • Adults & children are welcome to participate • Parents are welcome to accompany their children during the Parade • All contestants will be given a contestant number for order of Parade lineup • Contestants’ attire should be culturally relevant to the Lunar New Year Celebration Judging: • All contestants will be judged by the provided judging criteria.

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asianweekly northwest

10

34 YEARS

DECEMBER 24 – DECEMBER 30, 2016

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

OPINION

King Donuts’ closing brings

Photos by John Liu/NWAW

sadness & joy

King Donuts storefront and logo (right)

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The contrasting emotions between the two generations of King Donuts, a family business, couldn’t be more obvious at its farewell party last weekend.

Located at 9232 Rainier Avenue South, King Donuts announced early this year that the husband and wife owners, Chea Pol and Heng Hay, would be retiring after nearly 30 years in business. Through Facebook, the Hays invited community members to their closing party with pizzas and goodies on Dec. 17.

Fans raved about King Donuts online as the best donuts in the world. Over the years, the couple added teriyaki to the menu and more than 20 laundry machines (at the back of the restaurant). Originally from Cambodia, Pol and Hay escaped genocide to come to America in 1981.

How much did the closing have to do with the owners being attacked in the business parking lot last year? They were robbed, beaten, and severely injured. The suspect was later caught. And what does the closing tell you about immigrant family businesses? Why didn’t the owners pass on King Donuts to the next generation?

Why didn’t the Hays sell their business?

The two generations

Pol told the Northwest Asian Weekly, “I am sad (about the closing).” And she has no future plans. “I don’t know what I will do yet.” The last day of business was on Dec. 20.

The landlord would have asked for a lot more money if the Hays wanted to continue the lease after it expired. So the lease expired and potential buyers backed out.

However, Pol’s three children didn’t appear to be sad. Their clients have become their friends. People continued to show up at the door. The lines kept growing around the food table. Pizza boxes for hundreds of guests piled high on the counter. It didn’t matter that the place needed paint and repairs. It didn’t matter that the place was crowded, and it was literally standing room only. Customers took pictures with the family. Some performed music to entertain guests. People thanked the owners and hugged each other.

Quite a few strangers, like me, were curious about the event. Once we walked in, we felt like part of a family. It was one big, welcoming community gathering.

Sokha, Pol’s younger daughter, who works for Morgan Stanley, was laughing

and hugging friends of all ages and races.

“I didn’t know so many people would come,” she said.

“Many of them I have not seen for a long time.”

Channa, Pol’s oldest daughter was busy, greeting friends too. There was no sign of grief on her face. Instead, she looked relaxed and relieved. “(King Donuts) is my parents’ passion, not mine,” said Channa. When asked if she felt sad that the business had no buyer, she replied, “We have to move on.”

Channa was pursuing her master’s degree in health administration during her parents’ robbery. She disrupted her education to help them run their business.

She and her two other siblings had worked in the shop since they were 11 and 12 years old.

The shop has raised a family of three kids, all educated, including a son, Davie, who has another job.

From left: Chea Pol, Davie, Sokha, Heng Hay, and Channa Hay

“One of the greatest supports to a person’s happiness is passion.” Discontinuing the parents’ business was simply a natural evolution, and a sign of progress for the next Hay generation. They aim to work for fulfillment and positive contribution, not for survival like their parents.

Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

PRODUCE

Different dreams

Despite what skeptics believe that immigrants mooch off welfare, Pol and Hay relied on themselves through hard work, determination, and endurance.

They have fulfilled the American Dream by starting their own business and raising a family successfully. Instead of working for others, they became selfemployed. Like many immigrant family businesses in labor-intensive trades such as restaurants, laundromats, cleaning, and owning motels, their kids were part of the labor pool. That’s the secret of success for immigrant businesses. The business also serves as a function to unite the family so it can strive through sacrifice and hard work.

Since the children grew up in America, they have their own dreams, different from their parents. Once they are ready, they can spread their wings and fly with the knowledge and skills acquired in their new country.

Most are not keen on repeating the long hours and laborious demand in running their parents’ business. Unlike their parents, the second-generation has choices — beyond their imaginations.

They possess the freedom and flexibility to explore endless possibilities and enjoy a decent living, unrestricted by language and cultural barriers. That’s another version of the American Dream.

Knowing your own passion is a path to happiness. Author Gretchen Rubin wrote,

As author Joe Robinson wrote in the Huffington Post, it is important not to just making a living, but how to do the living we are making. 

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YOUR VOICE

■ YEAR IN REVIEW

DECEMBER 24 – DECEMBER 30, 2016

asianweekly northwest

11

2016 top stories

Seattle’s Chinatown loses its Uncle, a new man in charge at Seattle Colleges, and the fight over homeless encampments Compiled by Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

two grown sons.

Pan replaced Chancellor Jill Wakefield, who retired in June.

10. STREETCAR On Feb. 13, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and community leaders celebrated the First Hill Streetcar’s start-of-service with a party full of lion dancing, firecrackers, and red envelopes. The streetcar line, which runs along Jackson street through the International District (ID), connects the ID to Pioneer Square and Capitol Hill, and runs every 10–15 minutes.

Voters approved the $135 million streetcar project within the massive “ST2” regional ballot measure in 2008.

Streetcar service was originally slated to be up and running in 2013, then in early 2014. The project was hampered with delays and setbacks due to mandatory testing, damaged inverters, and ironing out glitches in the street braking systems and software.

4. RUTH WOO The political mentor to people like former Governor Gary Locke, state Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, former King County Executive Ron Sims, and Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu, died on July 13 at the age of 89.

Well known in the Asian American community, Ruth got her first taste of politics when she worked for Seattle mayors Gordon S. Clinton and Dorm Braman.

She met her husband Ben Woo in 1966 at a New Year’s Eve dinner party. They quickly hit it off and were together for nine years before Ben popped the question and Ruth accepted in 1975. Ben Woo died from heart failure at age 84.

9. PUBLIX REOPENS The historic Publix Hotel — which had been shut down for 13 years — reopened on Aug. 24 as a shiny new apartment tower.

The project cost a total of $40 million — which included the rehab of the building, constructing a new six-story building over the existing parking garage, and creating a total of 125 new apartments and 12,000 square feet of ground floor, commercial space.

The Publix Hotel lobby and original storefronts were fully restored with high ceilings, wood paneling, and original marble detailing. Former boarding rooms were combined to create modern studios, and one- and two-bedroom apartments with large, classic wood windows.

Amenities include a penthouse community room with a kitchenette, rooftop deck with BBQ grills, outdoor lounge with views of the Seattle skyline and Elliott Bay, dog area, gym, community kitchen and party room, media lounge, and bike storage.

Twenty percent of the apartments are available to households making between 65 to 85 percent of the area’s median income, approximately $46,605 and $60,945 per year for a family of two.

8. DONNIE CHIN MURDER STILL UNSOLVED More than 50 residents and business owners in the ID gathered on Nov. 28 for the third time in a series of community meetings to discuss public safety and the investigation in the murder of International District Emergency Center (IDEC) Executive Director Donnie Chin.

Assistant Police Chief Robert Merner told the crowd that his investigators visited a “state in the Midwest” last month to interview an individual who potentially had information relative to Donnie’s case.

Chin died on July 23, 2015, a victim of crossfire.

Also at that meeting, Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell discussed parts of the city budget targeted at improving public safety: an additional $200,000 for more frequent (bi-weekly) garbage pickup and street cleaning, and funding in 2017 and 2018 for a CID public safety coordinator.

Artist’s rendering of the Publix Hotel.

7. BUSH GARDEN CLOSED Bush Garden Restaurant, once a hangout for the powerful, closed on Oct. 29 after operating for over 60 years in Chinatown.

The bar remains open.

The second oldest Japanese restaurant in Seattle and Washington state, Bush Garden was the first to offer Karaoke entertainment in the 1970s.

The late political guru Ruth Woo used to have a regular spot at the restaurant, wheeling and dealing with influential politicians. Hostesses recalled that Sen. Maria Cantwell and former governors Mike Lowry and Gary Locke used to visit the restaurant. The late Bob Santos, a community leader and activist, was a regular karaoke performer, packing the bar every Tuesday with friends, for decades.

Solterra, a real estate development company, purchased the building in January.

6. PETER LIANG SEATTLE PROTEST More than 500 people showed up at a rally in February to protest the conviction of 28-year-old New York Police Department (NYPD) officer Peter Liang, who shot and killed an unarmed Black man, Akai Gurley, also 28.

There was also a counter-rally aligned with the Black Lives Matter movement.

Gurley supporters, many of whom are Black, have invoked images of slavery and racism for hundreds of years. Liang supporters, many of whom are Chinese, have spoken of similar history of racism.

Local Chinese American community representatives spoke during the rally — and a group of about 10 Gurley supporters pushed their way through the crowd and onto the stage. A struggle to gain control of the microphone quickly ensued.

Eventually, there was a compromise and the counter-ralliers spoke for five minutes.

Both groups shouted, “We want justice.”

5. NEW CHANCELLOR FOR SEATTLE COLLEGES In a controversial move, Dr. Shouan Pan was selected as the new chancellor for Seattle Colleges. Pan beat out Mark Mitsui, former president of North Seattle College.

Some Asian community members were surprised that the trustees didn’t pick Mitsui, who is also President Obama’s deputy secretary of education.

Pan came from Mesa Community

College in Mesa, Ariz., and has over 25 years of teaching and administrative experience in higher education.

Born and raised in Mainland China, Pan immigrated to the United States in 1985. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education from Iowa State University, a Master of Education in College Student Personnel from Colorado State University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from China’s Hefei Polytechnic University.

Pan’s wife is from Taiwan. The couple has

3. PRAMILA & CYRUS Pramila Jayapal became the first Indian American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Jayapal, who was endorsed by former presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, will fill the seat vacated by retiring Rep. Jim McDermott in Washington’s 7th Congressional District.

Cyrus Habib is our state’s next lieutenant governor — he will be the nation’s highestsee TOP STORIES on 13

asianweekly northwest

12

DECEMBER 24 – DECEMBER 30, 2016

SATNAM from 7 anything back home.” While similar rags-to-riches stories involving athletes talk about them idolizing their sports heroes and playing their respective sport with makeshift equipment at a very young age, Satnam reveals that he was forced into the sport by his family. Already 5’9” at the age of 9, Satnam’s father pushed him to pursue basketball as a way to support his family in the future. He was told by his father, “Satnam, you have only three things … basketball, study, and go sleep. Now you have a responsibility for everything. Your family. To your coaches. For this country.” Satnam’s response: “That’s a lot. [long pause] That’s a lot.”

The documentary immediately delves into the landscape of the NBA and its vision and roadmap to globalize the sport of basketball to untapped markets around the world. In a country with over 1.2 billion people that has a huge following in cricket and soccer, India has great potential as a market for the NBA. People like Adam Silver, commissioner of the NBA, and Troy Justice, NBA Senior Director of International Basketball Operations, state that having a player from India could potentially open the floodgates in gaining popularity for the sport. Former Chinese NBA player Yao Ming is mentioned numerous times throughout the film as a prominent example of a player that single-handedly created an international market for the sport. Satnam is well aware of this. He understands that people from his home country are looking to him as an inspiration. The film efficiently juxtaposes two stories: an unassuming and poor young boy with God-given potential thrown into a situation with unprecedented expectations, and its possible implications for popularizing basketball to new heights.

The film documents Satnam’s path to the 2015 NBA Draft,

WEEKEND from 5 labor law indicates that the voices of workers have been heard,” said Huang Chien-tai, secretary of the Taipei City Confederation of Trade Unions.

President Tsai Ing-wen promised to push for two-day weekends while campaigning for office. She has pledged to sign the bill before the year’s end.

The changes to Taiwan’s onerous labor regimen come despite resistance from employers used to demanding their staff work long and odd hours to meet customers’ fast shifting demands.

Foxconn Technology Group, the giant Taiwanese assembler of Apple products, has faced criticism for worker deaths and overwork at its China plants.

“Taiwanese people do work too much, I’d acknowledge that,” said Liang Kuo-yuan, chairman of the economic think tank Yuanta-Polaris Research Institute in Taipei.

“The owners of businesses need to consider both employer and employee perspectives.”

Taiwanese worked 48-hour weeks until 2000, when the standard changed to 84 hours every two weeks, often spread over six days with no overtime pay. That limited many workers to just one day off. The 84-hour scheme was scrapped in January, with workweeks capped at 40 hours that could still be spread over more than five days.

Factories making appliances and gadgets, machinery and petrochemical products have long relied on flexible, constantly available workers willing to prove their loyalty by putting in long hours.

“We’ve got to take care of workers and we need to go in that direction,” said Luo Huai-jia, spokesman for the Taiwan Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers Association, a group of 3,200 companies representing the backbone of Taiwan’s half-trillion-U.S. dollar economy.

“But for labor to want it all, we don’t think that’s fair,” Luo said. “A lot of enterprises are dependent on orders and you have to maintain some flexibility to complete them.”

Since exports make up about 60 percent of Taiwan’s GDP, productivity generally has been the top priority, even for workers.

“There may be more emphasis in Taiwan now on leisure, but if you don’t work, how can you afford that lifestyle?” said Wang Ya-wen, 35, who works for a manufacturing company with fluctuating orders she says the management cannot always control. “If you don’t get your work done, it’s always on your mind.”

At 2,124 working hours in 2015, Taiwan ranks fourth

HONG from 4 The comedian, whose real name is Minh Quang Hong, pleaded guilty in August to oral copulation of a minor and attempting to commit a lewd act on a child under the

starting with his humble upbringing and being made a priority to attend the Ludhiana Basketball Academy, merely due to his sheer size. The academy itself suffers from poor conditions.

The “indoor gym” has holes in its roof, allowing birds to enter and make the court unsanitary. The gym is not heated, nor does it have air conditioning, often times making playing conditions either extremely cold or warm. Satnam has to wear makeshift shoes, made up of canvas stitched together from two pairs of shoes, to fit his size 19 feet. He can’t run properly in them. He is finally given proper shoes when he is discovered

by Troy Justice, who makes a visit to India to scout players.

This eventually leads him to move to the United States, at age 14, to attend the IMG Basketball Academy, located in Florida.

For the next five years, we see him develop into the man he is today, but as mentioned before, none of it comes easy. We see him struggle to evolve into his ever-growing body. We see him struggle due to language and cultural barriers. We see him struggle due to homesickness and having to adapt to a whole new world, one that he does not choose for himself. But as one of his teachers would later reveal, he never complained or gave up, he never showed frustration or anger. He was disciplined and determined. His cultural upbringing and influence is made apparent, as he shows respect and gratitude for coaches that matches his esteem for his parents. He never loses sight of what is at stake, as this undertaking goes beyond just himself. This is for his family. For his coaches. For his country.

Although Satnam’s background and path differ from your typical athlete, the viewer gets an interesting glimpse into the behind-the-scenes process for an NBA prospect.

We see Satnam pick an agent to represent him, go through interviews with team executives, and participate in private workouts with teams. We see him go through the pressure,

worldwide in terms of the average number of hours worked, after Mexico, Costa Rica and South Korea.

Workers in Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore also often stay on the job 10 or more hours a day, leaving only after their supervisors go home.

Taiwan workers and regulators also share the same concern over karoshi, or death from overwork, that is prompting stricter regulation of overtime in Japan.

“The reason we need this law is to make sure employees are not tired and overworked,” said Wang Chin-jung, a senior Labor Ministry official. “We think employers should adjust their own policies.”

But democracy in Taiwan can be messy, and the new labor standards were no exception.

The latest change drew protests because it involved giving up seven holidays that were declared just this year as an interim measure to allow more time off.

About 3,000 trade union activists rallied outside parliament on Oct. 25 demanding to keep the new holidays.

Some tried to break into the legislative compound, clashing with police. In later protests demonstrators lobbed stink bombs. At a Dec. 2 demonstration, protesters doused a lawmaker with water and wrestled him to the ground.

The new holidays had caused confusion since teachers and public servants fell under a different schedule and did not qualify for most of the new holidays.

In the end, lawmakers sided with business, cancelling all but one of the seven, giving private sector and government workers the same number, 21, each year.

“We’ve got to take care of workers and we need to go in that direction,” said Luo Huai-jia, spokesman for the Taiwan Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers Association, a group of 3,200 companies representing the backbone of Taiwan’s half-trillion-U.S. dollar economy.

“But for labor to want it all, we don’t think that’s fair,” Luo said. “A lot of enterprises are dependent on orders and you have to maintain some flexibility to complete them.”

Even before the new law was enacted, many companies already were giving their staff two-day weekends.

Mobile phone film designer TeamChem Co.’s 14 workers leave before 5:30 p.m. on weekdays and stay home on weekends because they are doing brainwork rather than time-sensitive manufacturing jobs, Chief Executive Todd Yeh said.

“To have them take these days off doesn’t affect us much,” Yeh said. “We’re focused on knowhow. If employees have more time to rest then they aren’t so tired and are keener, so they’re less likely to make mistakes.” 

age of 14. The second charge stemmed from a meeting he arranged with a police officer posing as a 13-year-old boy.

He is known in Vietnam as Minh Beo, meaning “Fat Minh.” He has been popular in stage, TV and movie comic roles and has his own theater in Ho Chi Minh City. 

34 YEARS stress, and tribulations leading up to the 2015 NBA Draft.

The documentary does a great job covering a myriad of topics and blending them to create a cohesive and in-depth look into Satnam’s astonishing journey. The transitions are seamless and the pacing is consistent. The time spent on each subject is efficient and economical, as not one subject overshadows another. To cover as much ground as they did in its runtime of 70 minutes is quite impressive. Satnam’s story, as well as the documentary itself, is ambitious and inspiring.

Whether he gets picked in the NBA draft, I’ll leave for the viewer to find out. Regardless, Satnam has already made history as an Indian-born player to make it this far. He is already an inspiration. But being picked would mean the world, not just for Satnam, but possibly for India and the NBA. In regards to the significance of Satnam being drafted, Indian journalist Karan Madhok explains, “It would be historic. For an Indian-born person, someone who was a national, who’s been through the same things we have … who can relate to those things that we have gone through. For someone like that to make the NBA was always gonna be huge. Hopefully he can be that role model that Indian basketball solely desires.”

Regardless of the outcome, his influence and impact is yet to be seen. Before the draft, someone says to him of his influence and role in providing opportunities for Indian players, “Already you open the door.” Satnam jokingly responds, “Just opened the lock. Not door. Just opened the lock.” He remains humble. He remains grateful. You can’t help but cheer for him.

You can’t help but hope that he opens that door.  “One in a Billion” is available for streaming on Netflix.

Eric Card can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

RESTAURANTS from 16

JADE GARDEN RESTAURANT

424 7th Ave. S. (206) 622-8181 Jade Garden has been around for more than 15 years. It is famous for its siu mai and meatballs. They are perhaps the most popular items among non-Chinese customers.

Its pineapple bun with bbq pork, bbq pastry, egg roll, and egg tart are exceptional. If you don’t see your favorite dim sum, you can always order them and the kitchen will be glad to make it for you.

If you are vegetarian, ask for the rice roll (cheung fun) with three kinds of mushrooms, Chinese broccoli, and Hong Kong-style fried noodles with veggies.

OCEAN STAR RESTAURANT

605 7th Ave. S. (206) 623-1670 New owners took over the former Sun Ya Restaurant last year and did a thorough job remodeling.

A huge restaurant with a capacity of over 300, seats are always available. Ask for its colorful, bilingual dim sum menu with nice photos of each item, just in case you miss seeing some of those foods in the cart.

Wow! The menu is listed with 56 types of dim sum. Why does it have more items than other restaurants? It’s because it includes many dinner items, such as salt and pepper shrimp, Mandarin ribs, clams with black bean sauce, roast pork, BBQ pork, and roast duck.

Now that’s quite a variety for lunch. And for your holiday celebration, a feast is what you and your family would enjoy.  Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

DECEMBER 24 – DECEMBER 30, 2016

YOUR VOICE LIN from 9

ALI from 4

Lin often thinks about the limited resources his classmates once had.

“I don’t want that for my students,” Lin says. “I don’t want them to grow up and continue this cycle. That’s why I’m here, to give them a future that is successful.” 

New Zealand, court records said. He also ran a small company called Aircraft Mechanics and Logistics that sells aircraft parts.

Last year, a customer in China contacted Ali about acquiring accelerometers, which used to measure how fast something is accelerating or slowing down, and gyroscopes, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Woods.

Ali sent emails to the company that makes the device seeking information about exporting them, and the company alerted the Counter-Proliferation Investigations agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Special Agent Christy Clerf testified.

The agency tries “to prevent foreign adversaries from acquiring sensitive weapons technology” and sent an undercover agent to determine if Ali knew that exporting the devices was illegal, and to find out where he planned to sell them, Clerf said.

The agent, who pretended to be a broker, warned Ali in emails that

You can read more about Kert Lin— and the dramatic transformation at Lakeridge—at uw.edu/boundless/ expanding-education.

STAR WARS from 4 For director Gareth Edwards, it just made sense for the story.

“The rebellion is in chaos,” he said. “There are different sections of the alliance that are coming together and they can’t agree on much. We wanted to reflect the different areas of the galaxy and, you know, you obviously have things like talking fish in the rebellion, so it’s like, we should definitely represent the world. The great thing about that is when you do that, you can choose any actor you want. We are spoiled with the cast we have.”

Meet a few of the new characters in “Rogue One.”

DONNIE YEN AND JIANG WEN

Edwards, inspired by George Lucas’s love of Akira Kurosawa’s “The Hidden Fortress,” wanted to have two actors who would squabble but still venture out together on a mission. It was where Lucas got the idea for R2-D2 and C-3PO, but Edwards wanted to go back to the source.

“I thought ‘I really like those two characters, two Asian guys who don’t really get along but really they’re best friends.’ At the same time the writer was saying ‘I want to do two characters who represent the themes of the film — war and peace,” Edwards said.

It resulted in Donnie Yen’s blind “warrior monk” Chirrut and Jiang Wen’s always heavily armed Baze Malbus.

Yen, a Hong Kong resident and star of Chinese blockbust-

ers like “Ip Man,” said that “Star Wars” was not really part of Chinese culture until recently — even though it was so inspired by Asian cinema.

“I realized, ‘Oh, my God, this is something very special.

I’m going to make history,”’ he said. “Particularly, I started to realize, ‘Hey, you know, I’m the first Chinese actor in the ‘Star Wars’ universe.’ That is so rewarding.”

RIZ AHMED

Riz Ahmed, who broke out this year as the star of HBO’s “The Night Of” plays Bodhi, an Imperial cargo pilot living on a planet, Jedha, that’s occupied by the Empire.

“He’s just someone who is trying to keep his head down and earn a living, and the only job in town when you live on an occupied planet is to work for the Empire,” Ahmed said.

“It’s when he comes across certain kinds of information ...

The name Bodhi means ‘awakening,’ so he wakes up to certain realities. He questions allegiances and what he’s doing with his life.”

DIEGO LUNA AND ALAN TUDYK

Luna wanted so badly to be in a “Star Wars” film, he said he would have paid to be part of it. In the film, he plays Cassian, an intelligence officer for the rebellion, or, a spy charged with leading the dangerous mission that culminates in the rebels stealing the plans for the Death Star.

“He’s a very lonely character. His best friend is a droid basically — that says a lot about him — and a droid that

TOP STORIES from 11

Kengo Kuma, the architect of the new, open-air stadium, chose a wooden lattice design that echoes traditional styles seen in Japanese shrines and pagodas. It is intended to blend in with surrounding parkland and will be structured to minimize costs for heating and cooling.

The structure will use Japanese-grown larch in its wood and steel composite roof and prefabricated panels to help speed the work along and contain costs. 

ranking Iranian American elected official.

Habib’s parents emigrated from Iran, and Habib overcame childhood blindness to become a lawyer and legislator. He replaces Brad Owen, who has served as lieutenant governor for 20 years.

watch levels of PM2.5, particles measuring 2.5 microns across that are easily inhaled and damage lung tissue.

Visibility in some areas was as little as 3,280 feet, according to the weather agency.

Authorities in Jinan, south of Tianjin, raised that city’s alert to the secondhighest level after the city “basically disappeared” in the haze, the newspaper Jilu Evening News reported. Photos on its website showed downtown office towers as ghostly silhouettes at midday.

Beijing and other cities have tried to improve air quality by switching power plants from coal to natural gas and rolling out fleets of electric buses and taxis.

The Beijing city weather bureau says that despite the latest spike, air in the Chinese capital has improved. It says days on which was it was rated good in the first half of the year increased by 19 to 107, while the number of heavily polluted days fell by two to 14. 

2. HOMELESS CAMPS ID residents and business owners and other community members, packed the house at a Sept. 6 Seattle City Council meeting. Councilmembers Mike O’Brien, Lisa Herbold, Rob Johnson, and Kshama Sawant introduced an ordinance to address the city’s protocols on cleaning up homeless encampments. The “30-day” legislation proposed that the city must wait 30 days before doing a sweep.

During public comment, representatives from the ID opposed to the legislation said they have seen an increase in assaults, robberies, drug dealing, and prostitution, as well as garbage, urine, feces, used condoms, and used hypodermic needles piling up on the streets. On Dec. 1, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray announced three of the four sites where he wants to place new, authorized homeless encampments of tents and tiny houses.

With this plan, Murray wants to put an end to the “30-day” legislation.

1. BOB SANTOS Long-time Seattle community leader “Uncle” Bob Santos died on Aug. 27.

Over 2,000 people gathered at the WaMu Theater at CenturyLink Field on Sept. 23 for a celebration and in remembrance of Santos.

Born in Seattle to a Filipino immigrant father and a Native American/Filipino mother, Santos served in the U.S. Marines Corps in the 1950s and he became involved with Seattle’s civil rights movement in the 1960s.

He was one of the Gang of Four, also known as the Four Amigos — a group of racially diverse friends who hung out, sang karaoke, and fought injustice.

Santos also served as the executive director of Inter*Im from 1972 to 1989, and he was the regional director of the Department of Housing and Urban Development in 1994.

Bob Santos was 82 years old.  Staff can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

northwest

13

his plans violated U.S. law, but Ali “laughed and joked” that he hoped his emails were not intercepted, Clerk testified.

Ali flew to the U.S. in April to meet the agent and was arrested in a Seattle hotel.

Ali’s lawyer, John Crowley, argued that it was the agent who suggested criminal activity. He said Ali was “extremely reluctant to participate in the offense” but was persuaded by the undercover agent, Crowley said.

Although the device was used in aircraft, satellites, and missile systems, “Mr. Ali has no knowledge of the utility of that part outside of its application to commercial aircraft and in particular the Chinese built Y-12” turboprop aircraft, Crowley said.

Not true, said Woods.

“The defendant knew perfectly well what these parts were and what they were for... missile and space technology,” Woods told the jury.

“He went forward with the deal anyway.” 

OLYMPICS from 5

SMOG from 5

asianweekly

he reprogrammed! It’s that kind of character,” Luna said.

“He has so much information, he has seen terrible things he would love to forget.”

That droid is K-2S0, voiced by Tudyk, who is being hailed as one of the breakouts of the film for his deadpan humor.

“I’d like to think that we’re a team. Kind of like a cop team, and I’m the smart-ass cop and he’s the one who’s like ‘Come on K-2!”’ said Tudyk.

Ahmed chimed in: “It’s funny, you think of you guys as a team but he doesn’t think of you that way at all. He thinks of you as his butler.”

Tudyk: “He thinks of me as dead weight or as his chauffeur because I do fly the spaceship which is pretty cool.”

BEN MENDELSOHN AND MADS MIKKELSEN

Mendelsohn’s Orson Krennic is the known baddie of the group, the one in charge of making sure the Death Star works. He came up in the Empire alongside Mikkelsen’s Galen Erso, a scientist who tried to leave the planet killermaking ways behind, only to be drawn back in. He’s also the father of Jones’s lead Jyn Erso .

“As a scientist you have morals of course but often you just dive into a project that will consume you completely and before it’s too late you realize what you’re creating,” Mikkelsen said. “I think he’s one of those.” 

Homeless camp

Proclamation of Bob Santos Day in Seattle by King County (April 22, 2006)

asianweekly northwest

14

DECEMBER 24 – DECEMBER 30, 2016

UWAJIMAYA from 8 Ellenos Real Greek Yogurt.

I have eaten at most of the restaurants at the food court, and they cook fast. I will never forget how hot and spicy the Portugese sausage was at Aloha Plates. While Shilla’s is good, it takes a little longer to serve.

Uwajimaya’s Food Court is filled with

COLBURN from 4 with cancer in late September and died Dec. 13.

“It was very quick,” she said by phone from her Canton, Georgia, home near Atlanta. “He was a very peaceful man who had a great desire for there to be a peaceful world.”

She also called him “a compassionate person who was a hero in many people’s eyes.”

Colburn was the last surviving member of a U.S. Army crew that ended the My Lai massacre of March 16, 1968. According to accounts, pilot Hugh Thompson landed the helicopter between unarmed villagers and American troops and ordered Colburn and crew chief Glenn Andreotta to cover him.

Thompson then persuaded members of Charlie Company to stop shooting. The

customers of all races and backgrounds.

From singles to families, friends to workers in the area, the food court has something for everybody. One thing these diners have in common is that they enjoy their food. I give credit to the food workers for serving their customers efficiently during busy hours, and keeping the place clean. They often carry a smile on their faces, even though it can be stressful.

company’s soldiers had begun shooting that day even though they hadn’t come under attack, authorities later said. They added that it quickly escalated into an orgy of killing that claimed as many as 504 civilians — most of whom were women, children and the elderly.

In an initial Facebook post, Lisa Colburn confirmed the death and wrote: “As most of you know, Larry has been very ill for a while but his suffering ended today, 12/13/16.” She added: “Your friendship meant a lot to him.”

She added the she and their son, Connor, “appreciate your love and support during this difficult time.”

Trent Angers, the biographer for Thompson, who wrote “The Forgotten Hero of My Lai: The Hugh Thompson Story,” said Colburn played an indispensable role in stopping the massacre at My Lai.

34 YEARS

Anything you buy from Uwajimaya’s stores, you can eat at the food court. It’s convenient.

You might not be aware that you can order your party food at the Uwajimaya deli. I ordered sushi plates a few times, barbecue pork, and duck. Their sushi platters start at $26 — the most expensive is the Hakata platter at $69. The platters are beautifully arranged. It’s usually eaten up fast when I

“He stood up, shoulder to shoulder with Hugh and Glenn, to oppose and stand down against those who were committing crimes against humanity. Without his assistance, Hugh might not have done what he did,” Angers said.

Colburn and Thompson were nominated for the Nobel Peace prize in 2001 for their actions and received the Soldier’s Medal, the highest U.S. military award for bravery not involving conflict with the enemy.

Thompson, who lived in Lafayette, Louisiana, died in 2006. Andreotta was killed in the Vietnam War three weeks after My Lai. A memorial service for Colburn is planned Saturday, Jan. 7, at the Darby Funeral Home in Canton, Ga., the funeral home said on its website. It said that in addition to his wife and son, Colburn is survived by three sisters. 

serve it at parties.

Its department has many Japanese and Chinese-speaking staff, and you can order in your native Asian language.

Uwajimaya only closes on Dec. 25 and will open on Jan. 1.  Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

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DECEMBER 24 – DECEMBER 30, 2016

YOUR VOICE

■ ASTROLOGY

asianweekly northwest

15

Predictions and advice for the week of December 24–December 30

By Sun Lee Chang Rat — You are eager to find a solution that works for all, but you may have to settle for something that isn’t quite what you had in mind.

Dragon — With a keen ability to assess a situation quickly, you know exactly what is needed and how best to bring it in.

Monkey — Watch that you don’t spread yourself too thin this time of year. An opportunity to allow yourself to recharge is important, too.

Ox — When you join in the middle of the game, beware of undercurrents that existed before you made your entrance.

Snake — If there is no penalty for trying, then it makes sense to keep practicing until you reach the level that you are satisfied with.

Rooster — When you are confused, a useful exercise is to get down to basics, then work your way out from there.

Tiger — Having reached a deal after much discussion, it is imperative that you stick to both the actual wording, as well as the spirit of the agreement.

Horse — Before you devote too much time to the extras, it is crucial that you take care of the essential items first.

Dog — Do not make apologies for what you have to offer. Not only is it enough, but it is a unique gift that you possess.

Rabbit — Your eyes have opened to something that was there the entire time. Thankfully, you still have the opportunity to benefit from it.

Goat — To the surprise of many, you have exceeded the goal that you had set for yourself earlier in the year.

Pig — While you may have many options before you, there are only a handful that really speak to what you are looking for.

What’s your animal sign?

Rat 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 Ox 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 Tiger 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Rabbit 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 Dragon 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 Snake 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 Horse 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 Goat 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 Monkey 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 Rooster 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005 Dog 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 Pig 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

*The year ends on the first new moon of the following year. For those born in January and February, please take care when determining your sign.

ACHIEVEMENTS from 7 Award for her collection, “Afterland.” The collection of poems to be published next year was inspired by the Hmong refugee experience and the “secret war” in Laos during the Vietnam War era. Vang received a $5,000 cash prize and a six-week residency in Umbria, Italy.

6

Indian American Aziz Ansari and Taiwanese American Alan Yang won Emmy Awards for their Netflix show Master of None in the Writing in a Comedy Series category.

5

Viet Thanh Nguyen, author of The Sympathizer, won the coveted Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in April.

The book is a “story of a man of two minds, someone whose political beliefs clash with his individual loyalties.” Nguyen, who is a professor of English and American Studies & Ethnicity at the University of Southern California, was also awarded the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, Edgar Award for Best First Novel in 2016, and Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature in 2015.

4

President Barack Obama awarded artist Maya Lin with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her career achievements, including her design of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. and the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, Ala.

3

On June 13, Ali Ewoldt became the first Asian American actress to star in the lead role of Christine in Broadway’s Phantom of the Opera. Ewoldt is of Filipino descent and has performed as Princess Jasmine in Disneyland prior to playing Cosette in Broadway’s Les Miserables in 2006.

2

This was a historic year for politics as U.S. P resident- elect Donald Trump From left: Seema Verma, Nikki Haley, and Elaine Chao appointed three women of color to his cabinet.

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley was appointed to be the country’s ambassador to the United Nations.

Former U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao was appointed to be the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

Seema Verma, president and founder of SVC, Inc., was appointed to be the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

1

On Election Day this year, a record number (14) of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders were voted to Congress.

California Attorney General Kamala Harris will be the first Indian American woman and second Black female senator to serve in the U.S. Senate.

Illinois elected its second-ever female Asian American and first Thai American senator, Tammy Duckworth.

Harris and Duckworth join Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono, who was the first Asian American woman elected to the U.S. Senate in 2012.

Seattle’s own Pramila Jayapal became the first Indian American woman elected to the House of Representatives.

KING COUNTY NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received for C01104C16, Fire Sprinkler Work Order; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 1:30 PM on January 5, 2017. Late bids will not be accepted.

Brief Scope Perform various maintenance, repair, and minor improvement work on the automatic Fire Sprinkler System at King County facilities on a work order basis.

Estimated contract price: $300,000 Complete Invitation to Bid Documents, including all project details, specifications, and contact information are available on our web page at: https://procurement. kingcounty.gov/procurement_ovr/default.aspx

Left to right, top to bottom: Kamala Harris, Tammy Duckworth, Pramila Jayapal, Stephanie Murphy, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Colleen Hanabusa, Doris Matsui, Judy Chu, Ted Lieu, Mark Takano, Grace Meng, Tulsi Gabbard, and Ami Bera.

Stephanie Murphy is the first Vietnamese American elected to Congress. She represents the 7th District of Florida.

Entrepreneur Ro Khanna beat his opponent and eighttime incumbent Mike Honda for a spot in California’s Santa Clara County.

Raja Krishnamoorthi will replace Tammy Duckworth’s spot in the House of Representatives for the 8th District seat in Illinois.

Colleen Hanabusa returns to Congress to represent Hawaii’s District 1, replacing the late Mark Takei, who passed away from cancer.

Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento), Rep. Judy Chu (DLos Angeles County), Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Santa Monica), Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside County), Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), and Rep. Ami Bera (D-Sacramento County) were also re-elected to their Congressional seats.  Nina can be reached at info@nwasianweeky.com.

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asianweekly northwest

34 YEARS

Photo by John Liu/NWAW

Photo by George Liu/NWAW

■ FOOD

DECEMBER 24 – DECEMBER 30, 2016

Dim sum items at Honey Court Seafood Restaurant

House of Hong’s interior

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Where do you go for great food, fast service, and variety? The Chinatown/International District (ID).

The ID will satisfy any hungry folks on a limited budget. The second alternative is to visit a dim sum restaurant. There are nine dim sum restaurants in the ID alone, within three blocks of each other. This article will focus on four of them.

If you have a large group of family members or friends celebrating holidays together, what better place to dine than at a dim sum restaurant.

Dim sum, meaning “heart’s delight,” is one of the most popular Cantonese lunches in Seattle.

The more guests in your group, the more variety you can experience. There are as many as 30 different dim sum varieties in each restaurant.

If you have a sweet-tooth, you are in heaven — desserts such as sesame seed balls filled with lotus paste, black sesame seed balls, egg tarts, rice cake, sweet buns of all kinds, and coconut cake are available.

While many mainstream restaurants will be taking a break on Dec. 25 or Jan. 1, ID dim sum restaurants never close.

On weekends, they are usually packed. Most dim sum restaurants don’t take reservations.

Because there are nine of them in the ID, you can always find a seat. Even if they are full, you don’t have to wait too long because of the quick turn-around time.

Once you sit down, food carts and freshly brewed Chinese tea will be served. All you have to do is to point to the plates that look appealing to you. If you don’t know what it is, just ask the wait staff. Most speak some English, and can tell you, “Shrimp, pork or …”

Usually, there are three to four items in an order, so it’s good to bring a group of friends.

My ideal count of guests is to bring four to 10 people. If your group consists of four people, and there are only three meatballs or hum bows, just ask the wait person to cut it so everyone will get a taste.

For about $10 per person, you can taste as many as six or seven items with four people.

Most of the dim sum chefs are owners too, so they are particular about maintaining quality.

How can you tell if a dim sum restaurant is good? Judge it by its freshness and heat. If it is cold, you shouldn’t eat it unless it’s meant to be served cold, like the mango pudding dessert.

Most dim sum has either pork or shrimp.

If you are Muslim, you can order beef balls, chicken hum bow, beef stir-fried noodles, and Chinese broccoli.

HONEY COURT

516 Maynard Ave. S. (206) 292-8828 Newly remodeled, Honey Court restaurant is often crowded. Eighty percent of its customers are Chinese-speaking, especially during lunch.

It also offers the newest dim sum, featuring many tasty Toishanese items. Each region in China has a slightly different style of dim sum.

Try the delicious chicken pie, and steamed spareribs on top of cheung fun (wide noodles).

Photo by George Liu/NWAW

16

Jade Garden Restaurant storefront

Also, their steamed rice with spareribs or chicken is excellent. If you are adventurous and bold, try the beef tripe and stomach.

They are very authentic.

HOUSE OF HONG

409 8th Ave. S. (206) 622-7997

Newly remodeled, House of Hong’s Mr. and Mrs. Po Lee returned a few months ago to run the restaurant themselves. It is one of the largest Chinese restaurants with a seating capacity of over 300, so you need not worry about not getting seats.

The dining area is comfortable and spacious, so you can have an intimate

Ocean Star Seafood Restaurant’s interior

conversation with friends. Since reopening, it has added new items. The owners are working hard to improve its quality and variety to satisfy its new and old customers. My non-Chinese friends give a thumbs-up for the Hong. see RESTAURANTS on 12