VOL 37 NO 32 | AUGUST 4 – AUGUST 10, 2018

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Police department under fire for using ‘Y’ to categorize Asian officers

The Aug. 7 primary election is just days away. We asked how local Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders can get involved in the political process, and why it’s so important.

Photo from Nassau County Police Department

VOL 37 NO 32 AUGUST 4 – AUGUST 10, 2018

By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY MINEOLA, N.Y. — The Nassau County Police Department has been using a “Y” for yellow to categorize its officers of Asian descent, according to the New York Civil Liberties Union. When a person, male or female, became an officer in the Nassau County Police Department, a letter was put near their name on their personnel paperwork. The

letter was a B, H, W, Y, or I. The Y stood for “yellow” and referred to someone who is Asian, while the I stood for “Indian” and referred to someone who is Native American, a representative admitted. The practice was uncovered by the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU). Michael Sisitzky, the lead policy counsel for the NYCLU, told The New York Post, “These see NASSAU COUNTY on 13

36 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Dexter Tang

Nadine Shiroma

Rosa Melendez

Jean Kang

Jerry Lee

Sachi Madan

Anvie Gowrishankar

Alex Thai

Jonah Egger

Youngjin Ma

Compiled by Ruth Bayang and Edison Wong NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

organizations that make our community better.

Nadine Shiroma

Dexter Tang

Civic engagement at its heart is about caring for our community. Whether it is volunteering on campaigns, donating to candidates, or spending time helping your favorite nonprofit organizations, every action — large or small — makes our community better. I encourage everyone to support candidates they believe in and volunteer at CISC, ACRS, or the many other great

ACRS has a vital civic engagement program funded by local donors and matching funds from the Coulter Foundation, which has made a substantial contribution to AAPI civic engagement across the country. Work with George Cheung of Seattle, and learn how to create a more equitable democracy. George see VOTE on 15

Radio hosts suspended for slur against Sikh attorney general By MICHAEL RUBINKAM The hosts of a popular New Jersey radio show were suspended for 10 days for calling the nation’s first Sikh attorney general “turban man’’ — the latest slur against a career prosecutor who says he faces countless “small indignities and humiliations’’ no matter how far he rises or how important his position. WKXW-FM hosts Dennis Malloy and Judi Franco issued a written apology to Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and

Judi Franco (left) and Dennis Malloy

the Sikh and East Asian communities, writing they were “deeply sorry’’ for the pain they caused. The station also

apologized and suspended the pair without pay until Aug. 6. The longtime hosts of the “Dennis & Judi’’ show uttered the slur on their July 25 show while talking about Grewal’s directive to prosecutors to temporarily suspend marijuana prosecutions statewide. Malloy said he couldn’t remember Grewal’s name, telling Franco: “I’m just going to say the guy with the turban.’’ Malloy and Franco acknowledged see RACIAL SLUR on 15

Fog Rose » 7

Blog » 10

Bai Ling » 8

On the Shelf »9

Torchlight Parade » 16

Harvard slams group alleging bias against Asian Americans

BOSTON (AP) — Harvard University is defending its admissions practices in new court records that also offer a scathing rebuke of the group that’s suing over alleged discrimination. Records filed by the school in Boston’s federal court

on July 27 say the legal case made by Students for Fair Admissions amounts to a “45-page press release’’ with a “misleading narrative.’’ Both sides have been sparring over the group’s 2014 lawsuit accusing Harvard of discrimination against Asian-

American students. An analysis presented by the group says Harvard’s Asian-American applicants have the strongest academic see HARVARD on 14

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36 YEARS

AUGUST 4 – AUGUST 10, 2018

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS CISC’s new executive director

The Chinese Information & Service Center (CISC) announced on July 27 that its Board of Directors appointed Michael Itti to be its new executive director. He will assume responsibilities effective mid-September. Prior to this appointment, Itti served as executive director of the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs since 2013. He led a cabinet-level agency that advises the Michael Itti governor, state agencies, and legislature on changes in programs and laws to improve the wellbeing of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Itti is currently vice president of the board of the Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority. He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from George Washington University. 

Nolen Lee at Kinokuniya

of its new location with a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 22. The new location is at 614 South Jackson Strett. Seattle Deputy Mayor Mike Fong, Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scroggins, and Seattle Police Lieutenant Adrian Diaz were among the dignitaries who attended, as well as State Sen. Bob Hasegawa, Vincent Yao, the Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle, and various Taiwanese officials. The Taiwan delegation was in town to participate in the Chinatown and Torchlight parade. 

“The Panda is Fat” Nolen Lee (Photo by Assunta Ng)

Nolen Lee celebrated the release of his new book, The Panda is Fat and Other Haikus at the Seattle Kinokuniya Bookstore on July 7. Lee briefly talked about his book and gave live drawing demonstration. Lee is a cartoonist based in the Seattle area and creator of “The Punching Pandas.” He freelances in illustration and comics from his home. 

Natsu Matsuri Outdoor Summer Festival

New location

Photo by George Liu

The King County Council has unanimously appointed Peter Kwon to the 4Culture Board for the remainder of a three-year term to expire on Dec. 31, 2020. Kwon, a SeaTac City Councilmember, has been a King County resident since 1989. He serves on the Administration and Finance, Land Use and Parks, and chairs the Transportation Peter Kwon and Public Works Committee. Kwon has been active as a community resident as the program founder of the Neighborhood Locking Mailbox Program, a block watch organizer, and a volunteer yard work party organizer. 

Photo by John Liu

Peter Kwon appointed to 4Culture Board

From left: Seattle Deputy Mayor Mike Fong (fourth from left), State Sen. Bob Hasegawa, owner Felicity Wang, and Vincent Yao, the Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle.

Asian Pacific Tours and Travel celebrated the opening

Attendees flocked to the 2018 Natsu Matsuri Outdoor Summer Festival at Uwajimaya in Seattle on July 21 and 22. The family friendly event featured live entertainment, eating contests, games, and over 15 food booths. 

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YOUR VOICE

AUGUST 4 – AUGUST 10, 2018

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

3

Celebrating the cultural importance of water

During the 2018 Water Festival, hosted by ECOSS (formerly known as Environmental Coalition of South Seattle) at the Duwamish Waterway Park, many communities of color came together to celebrate the cultural importance of water and Seattle’s only river, the Duwamish River. ECOSS Staff and Ken Workman of the Duwamish Tribal Council gave introductions in English, Spanish, Cambodian, and the native tongue of the Duwamish tribes. Throughout the festival, environmental education and sustainable practices were presented in subtle, yet effective ways for the

very diverse audience members. The lead organizer for the event, Joycelyn Chui, said the purpose of the event was to raise awareness of the Duwamish River and to learn how to appreciate and celebrate how water is connected to everyone. “We need to continue to celebrate water because it has brought us life and impacted different cultures throughout the world,” said Chui. “Rather than polluting it, we should be taking care of this essential source of life.” ECOSS intertwined environmental education throughout the program’s action-packed show by Lucha Libre Volcánica, storytelling see WATER FESTIVAL on 15

Photo by Sam Le

By Sam Le NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

ECOSS Staff, Ruben Chi Benotni, Judith Panlasigui, and Sophorn Sim, with Ken Workman of the Duwamish Tribal Council introducing the 2018 Water Festival.

Two men arrested in Bellevue rape By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY BELLEVUE, Wash. — Bellevue police have arrested two men in connection with the rape and robbery of a Chinese woman — believed to be a victim of human trafficking. Officers responded on July 19 to the Days Inn at 3241 156th Avenue Southeast, for a report of a robbery. When police arrived, they learned that the victim was a Chinese female who spoke little English, and, through an interpreter,

ultimately reported that she had been raped, assaulted, and robbed in a room at the hotel. Detectives identified and arrested two men — they continue to seek additional suspects. Police say the suspects know these types of incidents aren’t usually reported due to the victim’s fear of being arrested or deported. These suspects are believed to have committed several similar robberies in the greater Seattle area and Bellevue. The Bellevue Police Department is strongly encouraging victims who have not reported these robberies to come

forward by contacting Crime Stoppers online or by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). “Victims are reminded that the Bellevue Police Department does not enforce federal immigration laws, and our investigators are committed to bringing these suspects to justice,” a news release said.  Staff can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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36 YEARS

■ WORLD NEWS

Malaysia’s civil aviation chief quits over Flight 370 lapses KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s civil aviation chief has resigned to take responsibility after an independent investigative report highlighted shortcomings in the air traffic control center during Malaysia Airlines Flight 370’s disappearance four years ago. The report released on July 31 raised the possibility that the Azharuddin Abdul Rahman jet may have been hijacked even though there was no conclusive evidence of why it went

off course and flew for over seven hours after severing communications. Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said the report didn’t blame the civil aviation department for the plane’s loss but found that the Kuala Lumpur air traffic control center failed to comply with operating procedures. “Therefore, it is with regret and after much thought and contemplation that I have decided to resign as chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia,’’ he said in his statement, adding he has presented his resignation and will step down in two weeks. The jet carrying 239 people from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing vanished March 8, 2014, and is presumed to have

crashed in the far southern Indian Ocean. The investigative report, prepared by a 19-member international team, said the cause of the disappearance cannot be determined until the wreckage and the plane’s black boxes are found. However, the report said the investigation showed lapses by air traffic control, including a failure to swiftly initiate an emergency response and monitor radar continuously, relying too much on information from Malaysia Airlines and not getting in touch with the military for help. New Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the government has formed a committee to investigate see MH370 on 6

■ NATIONAL NEWS Manzanar Return by NK of possible detainee who found reason remains stir relatives’ hopes for WW2 internment dies By JOHN ROGERS ASSOCIATED PRESS LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aiko HerzigYoshinaga, who uncovered proof that thousands of Japanese Americans incarcerated in the United States during World War II were held not for reasons of national security but because of racism, has died at age 93. Bruce Embrey, co-chair of the Manzanar Committee, told The Associated Press that Herzig-Yoshinaga died July 18 at her home in the Los Angeles suburb of Torrance. Her discovery of a 1942 document revealing the real reason that approximately see INTERNMENT on 12

Chinese national dies while hiking in Mount Rainier National Park MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK, Wash. (AP) — A hiker has been killed in Washington state after being swept away by rushing river waters inside Mount Rainier National Park. Park officials said the woman was swept away on July 25 while attempting to cross the West Fork of the White River while hiking the Northern Loop Trail. The News-Tribune reports that the Pierce County medical examiner identified the woman as 22-year-old Qing Yue, a Chinese national who was attending college in the United States. Other hikers watched the woman get swept away but could not locate her. A ground crew found her body on July 27 with assistance from a King County Sheriff 's Office helicopter. 

By MARGERY A. BECK ASSOCIATED PRESS

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — News that North Korea is sending home 55 sets of remains is being welcomed by relatives of those missing from the Korean War. But most know they still face long odds at achieving any closure: Thousands of soldiers are still unaccounted for, and identifications could take decades. Ruth Santella, 84, of St. Paul, Minnesota, doesn’t hold much hope of living long enough to discover whether her older brother’s bones are among those released by North Korea on July 27. Private 1st Class George D’Amico was killed in action on Sept. 27, 1950, near Taejon, Korea, according to a U.S. Army letter his family received in October 1950. Her mother died still waiting for news that his remains would be coming home, Santella said. “My mother went to her coffin with tears over George,’’ she said. “She kept everything he ever sent her — a suitcase full of letters and things. He sent a typewriter for me. I still have it.’’ Ted Barker, of Dallas, is a co-founder of the Korean War Project, which helps families of missing Korean War veterans submit their genetic information, among other things. The DNA

samples are processed at a military DNA lab at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, and compared to remains stored at a military lab in Hawaii. The process is painstakingly long; some remains returned from North Korea in the early 1990s still haven’t been identified, Barker said. “It typically takes six to seven years, if the remains have been recovered,’’Barker said. “If the family has already given a DNA sample, it could go quicker, but it’s still not an overnight process.’’ Santella said her family is still waiting since submitting DNA samples about 15 years ago. Their only clue arrived in an Army letter two years after his death, which said D’Amico’s remains had been buried in a temporary United Nations cemetery in Korea, and would be removed to Japan as soon as it was deemed safe. “If they just could have gotten my mother his dog tags, that would have put her mind at ease,’’ she said. “As it was, she always held on to hope that he was still alive somehow, wandering around in that country. That, maybe, somebody had taken him in.’’ Jan Curran, 70, of Gilbert, Arizona, was 3 when her father, naval aviator Lt. Charles Garrison, died in captivity after he was shot down and captured in May 1951. see REMAINS on 15

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YOUR VOICE

AUGUST 4 – AUGUST 10, 2018

■ WORLD NEWS

5

China says 4 American airlines missed Taiwan deadline

By JOE McDONALD AP BUSINESS WRITER

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese regulators appear to have rejected a possible attempt by U.S. airlines at a compromise over Beijing’s demand to call self-ruled Taiwan a part of China, an order Washington opposed. The communist mainland’s latest effort to use China’s growing economic clout to isolate Taiwan’s democratically elected government is further straining ties between Beijing and the U.S. amid a deepening trade dispute.

The Chinese airline regulator says United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Hawaiian Airlines missed a July 25 deadline to change their websites while 40 other carriers obeyed. The U.S. carriers had hoped that listing Taipei without a country would be good enough because Korean Air took a similar approach. Korean Air, however, began changing its website far ahead of the deadline, while the U.S. carriers waited until the last minute. Before the deadline, U.S. airline officials had cautioned that it could take several days to make changes across their

Opposition says Cambodian election was death of democracy By SOPHENG CHEANG and JERRY HARMER ASSOCIATED PRESS

Prime Minister Hun Sen

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — The ruling party of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen congratulated itself on its election victory, while the opposition party unable to contest the polls said they marked the

websites — including drop-down menus, search-result pages and maps — and other sales outlets. On July 27, American Airlines was “in the process of implementing changes,’’ said spokeswoman Shannon Gilson. The other U.S. airlines declined to comment or did not respond. The industry’s main U.S. trade group, Airlines for America, said the carriers made “initial changes’’ to address China’s concerns. “All flights are operating normally, and see AIRLINES on 13

World’s oldest person, a Japanese woman, dies at 117

death of democracy in the Southeast Asian country, making its government and any dealings with it illegitimate. Sok Eysan, the spokesman for Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party, described the July 29 vote on a public message sent over the Telegram chat application as a “brilliant

TOKYO (AP) — The world’s oldest person, a 117-year-old Japanese woman, has died. Chiyo Miyako died on July 22. Her death was confirmed by Kanagawa prefecture, her home state south of Tokyo. Miyako, born on May 2, 1901, became the world’s oldest person in April after Nabi Tajima from Kikai island in southern Japan died at the age of 117. Miyako’s family called her “the goddess’’ and remembered her as a chatty person who was patient and kind to others, according

see ELECTION on 13

see MIYAKO on 13

ACRS ad 1_NW Asian Weekly_57.5in.pdf 1 7/10/2018 11:20:02 AM

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36 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR AUG

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Scattered pieces of debris that washed ashore on African beaches and Indian Ocean islands indicated a distant remote stretch of the ocean where the plane likely crashed. But a government search by Australia, Malaysia and China failed to pinpoint a location. And a second, private search by U.S. company Ocean Infinity that finished at the end of May also found no sign of a crash site.

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Grace Subathirai Nathan, whose mother was aboard the plane, said the outcome could have been different if Malaysia’s air traffic control didn’t commit “horrible mistakes.’’ Malaysia’s government has said it will resume searching if credible evidence of the plane’s location emerges. 

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asianweekly northwest

AUGUST 4 – AUGUST 10, 2018

7

By Tiffany Ran NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Owner Quyen Dang (right) serving a customer

research on sourcing and technique. For Dang, the leap from engineering to food industry was risky, but is one she hopes will lead to new experiences — not just for herself, but for customers. The ice cream boutique features unique flavors Dang developed alongside pastry chefs and from bringing ideas she encountered in her research. The quirky quinoa butter ice cream with a nutty, buttery aroma began as an eyebrow raiser, but has since become a Fog Rose signature. The boutique also features weekly seasonal flavors like pistachio rose or rhubarb. “People don’t expect quinoa to be on our menu. Some of the flavors I tasted in California was so good, I felt it had to be on the menu. Olive Oil was a flavor I had in California. It’s something you don’t think would be good in ice cream, but it’s very popular. Part of the menu development is getting people to try things that they wouldn’t typically want to try, and get them to

Photos provided by Fog Rose

Bellevue’s Fog Rose Ice Cream Boutique is the closest one can come to eating fresh churned ice cream. That is because each flavor is spun with liquid nitrogen, becoming ice cream only upon customer request. Customers choose a flavor of their choice and pick from a range of toppings to design their own crafted sundae. The idea is one that owner Quyen Dang brought over from California, where the concept had gained popularity in the last three to four years. Dang left her job as a civil engineer to open Fog Rose Ice Cream, a small ice cream boutique in a shared marketplace at Bellevue’s Soma Tower North. While ice cream has gained popularity in the Seattle area, Fog Rose is the first known shop to utilize liquid nitrogen in making their craft ice cream and sorbets. “I was just fascinated by the process,” said Dang about liquid nitrogen ice cream. “I think it’s cool that you can make something to order and the texture and taste is better than your average ice cream. I kept on coming back to it. Eventually, I realized there wasn’t really anything like that in Washington.” The process of using liquid nitrogen flash freezes the liquid base to order as it is incorporated in a mixer. This eliminates the possibility of ice crystals and provides a smooth, thoroughly creamy ice cream that emerges from a veil of wispy, spun fog. The process also allows for fruit flavored ice creams to include chunks of fresh cut fruit. The journey to open Fog Rose took about a year, which included staff training and buildout, but also extensive

One of Fog Rose’s unique creations

enjoy something beyond their typical chocolate mint,” said Dang. Dang looks to extend this experimental platform to the Fog Rose Atelier, a full-service dessert oriented restaurant set to open in the fall. The Atelier will allow for Fog Rose to operate out of their own kitchen in the see FOG ROSE on 15

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AUGUST 4 – AUGUST 10, 2018

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT In actress Bai Ling’s new f ilm, white def initely means death White. The color of mourning. The color of snow. In Chinese, Bai has a rising tone. The surname, Bai, which means white, belongs to the central character in one of the latest films out of mainland China, The Fatal Contract. If you sit down to watch this movie, I hope you can handle being up close and personal with death. A lot of it. Pain. A lot of it. And love. A lot of it. This movie won’t necessarily make you cry. But it is going to break your heart. An internet search on the film and its main actress, Bai Ling, reveals way too much conversation about how Bai pissed off China about a million years ago (1997), when she starred in Red Corner with Richard Gere, and how the actress has, or had, a penchant for showing off her boobs in public. Ok. Enough of that. Yes, it’s the first time in 20 years that Bai has been allowed to star in a mainland Chinese movie, and that is a landmark and reason enough to watch the film. Yet there are many other reasons, not the least of which is Bai’s entrancing

Photo provided by TriCoast

By Jessica Kai Curry NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Bai Wei and Tu La are trapped in a cycle of death in The Fatal Contract.

performance and the powerful punch of the movie’s storyline. Everything in this movie is a surprise, even though you sort of know from the beginning what is going on. You just don’t want to believe it. The movie starts with a murder. The victim is a painter, and it turns out there is a rash of deaths of painters and their models in this town. In regards to the dead painter we get to know best, we are told that, due to romantic fallout, he was a violent, drunk bastard that treated women like junk and was estranged from

his wife. We find out quickly that our heroine, Bai Wei, played by Bai Ling, was one of his models. We’re not sure if she’s the one who caused the fallout, the murderer, one of the women he treated like junk, or all three. Brush into the painting a ridiculously icy David Lynchesque lady art collector, Lu Li, played by Tao Hong, who loves to ambulance-chase dead painters and stock up on their most soulful works. We learn later that she’s got rules as to what she will purchase, and when. As her art dealer

■ WAYNE’S WORLDS

Photo by Han Bui

Fusion and fried rice – a match made in heaven

By Wayne Chan NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Beef noodle soup, Asian tapas, and sushi? Thanks, but no thanks. I try not to be a foodie elitist, but I’ve never been attracted to restaurants that mix and match cuisines from two or more cultures. And don’t even get me started on fusion restaurants. Szechuan tostadas topped with a green curry coleslaw? I think I’ll pass. My theory on fusion food is that the

entire menu was created by some chef in New York who was bored and just started experimenting with things. He wanted something new and suddenly he thought, “I wonder how Peking Duck would taste if I added chili sauce and put it in a tortilla?” And thus, “fusion” cuisine was born. It’s hard enough making one dish well. Who has the gumption or even the skills to make two or three cuisines at the same time? Well, I was about to find out. see WAYNE on 12

explains, “The story behind the piece is especially important… this is the soul of the work. If it has a soul, then it naturally has artistic value. At the same time, it will have spiritual value.” Whether this is Lu Li’s real motivation is up for debate. But let me tell you. She’s devoted. The next element in the demented canvas is the bar owner, Tu La, Bai Wei’s love interest, played by Zhao Yanguozhang, who persistently claims he is not a painter, and who spends a lot of time with dead people, um,

painting. Of course, the movie is confusing for awhile, as any good murder-mystery should be. Don’t worry. Although the movie starts with a lot of jumpy scenes and flashbacks, and you pray that if you hang on, you’ll eventually understand what the hell is happening, it does deliver. In the best, cliff hanger way. Welcome to The Fatal Contract. Like the plot, the characters are hard to figure out at first and a bit jarring. What is up with icy lady? Why is Bai Wei so whacked out? Why doesn’t Tu La ever smile? And why does this old man at the crematorium (I told you to get ready to be up close and personal with death) act so mysterious? Oftentimes their actions seem forced — why the big pause after Bai Wei says, “Let’s enjoy winter” and before she flings snow joyfully into the air? The entire film moves in a lockstep that is at first quick, and then slows down so that we can fully share and agonize over the way that no one is getting away from what is happening and what is going to happen. And that’s death. And also love. People fall in love hard in this movie. see LING on 12


asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

AUGUST 4 – AUGUST 10, 2018

■ ON THE SHELF

9

Book recommendations By Samantha Pak NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

The Kiss Quotient By Helen Hoang Berkley, 2018

For Stella Lane, math is everything and her job of coming up with algorithms to predict customer purchases has given her more money than she knows what to do with, but not enough experience in the dating department. So when her parents tell her they’re ready for grandchildren, 30-year-old Stella, who is on the autism spectrum and thinks French kissing is like a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish, must come up with a strategy. That strategy involves practice — with a professional. Enter Michael Phan, a Vietnamese and Swedish escort with the swoon-worthy looks of a K-drama star. Michael, whose family has recently taken a hard financial hit, can’t afford to turn down Stella’s proposal and agrees to help her. As with many romance novels, Stella and Michael’s professional arrangement quickly turns into more and the pair begin to develop feelings for each other. What sets their love story apart is the insight Hoang gives readers into how living on the autism spectrum can be. From her very specific nightly pre-bed routine, to her difficulty reading social cues, there are a number of things that set Stella apart from others. But there is more about her that shows she is not that different from anyone else. She just wants to fit in and be accepted and loved for who she is, which is what

most of us want. As a lover of romance novels, I can count on one hand the number of stories with Asian male love interests. So it was refreshing to meet Michael. The Vietnamese side of his family plays a large role in his life and, Stella, who is white, is brought into the fold. What I appreciated was how relatable Michael’s family was. Whether it’s two siblings bickering and bantering or various members helping with day-to-day chores around the house, she shows that they are just like any other family. But Hoang also highlights their Vietnamese heritage, showing that their culture is just another layer to these characters.

It Takes Two

By Jenny Holiday Forever, 2018 Wendy Liu’s best friend is getting married and she should be thrilled. But she’s trapped spending time with Jane’s brother, Noah Denning, the boy who broke her heart, during all the wedding festivities. Fortunately, she’s had more than a decade and a half to perfect her poker face around him and engage in their usual MO of competing and one-upping each other. This snowballs into a high-stakes bet

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to see who can throw the best bachelor or bachelorette party. Wendy finds herself dropping her guard around Noah, and those feelings come rushing back. Wendy has always held a special spot in Noah’s heart. As they are thrown together more and more, he comes to realize that the love he feels for her is of the more romantic variety. But it’s an uphill battle as he senses an underlying hostility from Wendy and doesn’t know where it’s coming from or how to diffuse it. Wendy, who is Chinese Canadian, is a see SHELF on 12

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AUGUST 26, 12-8PM FUNKY DANCE PARTY / LIVE MUSIC ON THE WATERFRONT F O R E V E N T D E TA I L S , V I S I T www.friendsofwaterfrontseattle.org/events Photo by Robert Wade. Gypsy Temple playing at Hot Spot 2018

COME OUT AND PLAY ON THE WATERFRONT!


asianweekly northwest

10

36 YEARS

AUGUST 4 – AUGUST 10, 2018

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

A newspaper publisher’s unglamorous side

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Recently, a young Asian woman surprised me with her wish at a community gathering. “I want your job,” she said. While I was flattered, her words baffled me. She said she read Northwest Asian Weekly online, fascinated by all the things we did... Yet, she has no clue about the “dirty” work I have to do behind the scenes to get the job done. Literally — dirty and disgusting!

Carmen Best with staff (Photo by Rebecca Ip)

off financially. But no, many drag on without paying, for months and years. When you call them, you get the usual excuses like, “I thought it’s been paid.” “You made a mistake.” “The check was sent yesterday.” One client cheated by showing us a copy of the check he sent. The truth is, he never sent the check as

Michelle Kwan (Photo by Stacy Nguyen)

Perhaps, she likes the stories we do and how they impact the community, that’s significant. If she envies the dinners we hosted for mayors and elected officials, I agree it is fun, prestigious, and exciting. If she admires the awards and recognition (close to 100) we received for journalism, arts, and community services, that’s pretty impressive for a small media company. If she’s enamored by the who’s who visiting our office, including ice skating world champion Michelle Kwan, Olympic gold medalist Apolo Ohno, former governors Christine Gregoire, Jay Inslee, and Gary Locke and many more, that’s glamorous for many people! The number of women of color and community leaders we honored over the past decades is significant. The hundreds of youth leaders we trained every summer for more than two decades is incredible. Jeff Lew, one of our summer leadership program graduates, was invited by pop singer John Legend to attend his concert. Legend donated $5,000 to Lew’s fundraising efforts for school lunches. And oh, the powerful editorials we’ve published condemning the bad and ugly, and pointing out the good, illustrating our boldness, while some ethnic media would shy away from controversy. Raising two University of Washington scholarship endowments in celebration of our 35th anniversary, is our latest achievement. But is she aware that I’ve received a death threat? Is she aware that I have been practically a volunteer for the Asian Weekly for the past few years, and when money was tight? So is my husband, who took himself out of the payroll since 2016. Yet, he is the computer engineer, accountant, and office maintenance manager of the whole company.

Small vs. big publishers

Big publishers including The Seattle Times, Everett Herald, and Tacoma

verified by the bank. Those tasks not only consume us, it can be upsetting when people are dishonest. Big publishers would add interest to unpaid bills. For us little guys, we can’t. People curse and even yell if we add penalties. Why not give the job to a collection agency? Asian businesses take it personally, they would never forgive us if we did that. So we have to endure the work ourselves. If you told me I was going to be a debt collecter when I was a child, I would probably have reacted by saying, “Holy smokes, that’s the worst job in the world! Do I have to?” Often, I am grateful when ID clients call us to pick up the checks. Once, I walked into a restaurant, and the owner handed me a check. “Save a stamp. I figured you will come to eat one of these days.” I wonder how long he kept the check in his drawer. Big publishers have a big credit department, staffed with tough guys who demand to have payment immediately. For us, it’s almost like polite begging. We never raise our voices. Do you think the young Asian woman likes to collect money? It’s crucial for survival. see BLOG on 14

Apolo Ohno with staff

Tribune just thumb at someone, and the job gets done. For me, a little publisher of two ethnic community publications, who can I delegate the work to? Let me see, I don’t have many choices. Mostly ME! Big publishers don’t have to distribute papers if their delivery people call in sick — they have backups. My son, my husband, and I became the instant substitutes last week, to help deliver papers to businesses in the ChinatownInternational District. Some people were shocked, seeing me running around distributing. Actually, I don’t mind. Whatever it takes to bring the papers to our readers. Big publishers don’t need to clean up filthy newspaper boxes. Sometimes, I bring along wipes to clean the repelling mess. A few years ago, I was really concerned — one Seattle City councilmember wanted to get rid of all the news boxes in the city. Good thing he didn’t succeed. Each day, I roam in the International District (ID), refilling six to seven newsstand boxes. Uwajimaya cashiers know I carry papers in my bag to refill the newspaper shelves, and use the bag for groceries afterwards. Once, I wore a pedometer, tracking the number of steps I walked daily. Not anymore. The exercises from checking the news boxes is sufficient to strengthen me physically each day.

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asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

AUGUST 4 – AUGUST 10, 2018

■ EDITORIAL

11

Covered in stigma

The two hosts of one of New Jersey’s top radio stations have been suspended by their employer after they called the state’s Sikh American attorney general “turban man” on the air. Dennis Malloy and Judi Franco made the comments about Attorney General Gurbir Grewal on their show last week, while talking about his plan to suspend marijuana prosecutions. Grewal, 45, who was appointed to his post by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy in January, is the son of immigrant parents and the country’s first Sikh American attorney general. “You know the new attorney general? I’m never going to know his name, I’m just gonna say the guy with the turban,” Malloy said in an apparent quip. “Turban man!” Franco could be heard saying. Grewal wrote on Twitter, “This is not the first indignity I’ve faced and it probably won’t be the last. Sometimes, I endure it alone. Yesterday, all of New Jersey heard it. It’s

time to end small-minded intolerance.” Closer to home in 2017, a Sikh man was shot outside his home in Kent and told to “go back to your own country.” Turbans are an important article of faith for Sikhs, who call them dastaars. They are thought to have been worn by early Sikh gurus, and they symbolize a devotion to the divine and values like honesty, compassion, generosity, and humility. The hijab (headscarf) is another often-misunderstood piece of religious headgear. Hijab-wearing Muslim women are often targets for violent and verbal assaults. “There’s a misconception that we’re secret terrorists,” Rabail Sajjad, a Pakistani American told the Northwest Asian Weekly. She works at the University of Washington’s Diversity Center on campus. “I feel like I have to overcompensate, when I meet new people, based on assumptions that they may already have about me.” Wearing a hijab is mostly a personal choice that is made

after puberty and is intended to reflect one’s personal devotion to God. Why is there such a stigma or bias against people who wear hijabs or turbans? Perhaps, it’s because you’re not used to seeing it — or you’ve developed an unconscious bias from images you’ve seen in movies and TV. It’s not unlike yarmulke worn by Jewish men. The thing about unconscious bias is that, once you are aware of it, you can be more mindful when it happens and adjust your thoughts accordingly. Here’s a fun image — six sisters, all wearing hijabs, who play in the summertime league of the Toronto Girls’ Ball Hockey Affiliation. Asiyah, Nuha, Husnah, Sajidah, Haleemah, and Mubeenah all wear their hijab, and hockey helmets over it. While some pieces have religious significance, it’s still an article of clothing — a thing that you wear. And that doesn’t change who you are as a person. 

■ COMMENTARIES

I can’t shake this cough and now I know why

By Jimmy Lee ID RESIDENT Do you ever notice that you have a nagging cough? How about when you wake up in the morning and you always seem to have some phlegm in your throat that you need to clear out? If you live or work in the ChinatownInternational District (CID), you may be wondering about the air quality in this neighborhood. I live in the CID. So when I saw that there was going to be a presentation on air quality in the CID by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA), I knew this was a meeting that I couldn’t miss. I attended the July 10 meeting of the International Special Review District Board to hear about the state of our air quality here. Unfortunately, it was not good news –– the air quality in the CID is very poor… one of the poorest in the state of Washington. There are a number of air monitor devices located in different locations within the CID. The readings from these monitors indicate high levels of contaminants circulating in the air we breathe, particularly high levels of a harmful substance known as nitrogen oxide. The PSCAA representative indicated that a major contributor to our poor air quality are exhausts released from vehicles that run diesel engines. Major

By Sun Lee Chang Growing up as a first generation immigrant, I used to wonder what my life would have been like if my parents hadn’t brought us to the United States nearly 40 years ago. My father used to speak sadly of the large extended family and friends that they had left behind. There were six brothers on his side and my mother had four siblings of her own. During the past four decades, they have felt the loss of parents, uncles, aunts, and some siblings while struggling to make a foothold in their new home. With the studies touting the life sustaining benefits of having a decent social circle, it must have been very isolating for them to be here. They were very busy making ends meet and raising my brothers and me, but every so often — usually during holidays and birthdays — you could see

highways such as I-5 and I-90 cut through and alongside the CID, providing the pathways for diesel engine trucks and diesel engine cars to deposit their daily and deadly bounty of toxic, nitrogen oxide air pollution. All of us in the CID breathe air containing nitrogen oxide and other harmful contaminants. Epidemiology studies have shown these pollutants to be associated with higher rates of diseases in exposed populations … illnesses and premature deaths due to cancer, cardiovascular abnormalities, and asthma. Is there anything we can do to improve our situation in the CID? We could just raise our arms up and say we can’t do anything, and tell ourselves that’s just what you get when you live in the big city. Or we can do something about it. One suggestion made by the PSCAA representative is to purchase an effective room air purifier. This could cost $400-$800 or more per unit. But he mentioned another solution that may be a better option — building and using a relatively inexpensive do-it-yourself box fan air filter purifier. Through a search on Google or YouTube, you can see how simple it is to put together a DIY air purifier, using an inexpensive 20” x 20” box fan (retailing for $16-$20 each) and a 20” x 20” furnace filter. A furnace filter with a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating of 13 or better will run you $15-$20 each, and these should be

replaced at least every three months. MERV is also a rating of the overall effectiveness of air filters based on filtration capabilities. I mentioned at this meeting that it is now widely known that German car manufacturers (such as Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Audi) were cheating our government, our environment, and their customers by generating false low emissions data in a laboratory situation, substantially under-reporting the actual, much higher levels of toxic pollutants that are being released in the air when these cars were being driven. So why not seek funds from these and other guilty companies to finance the purchase of box fans and MERV 13+ furnace filters and distribute these to residents of our community? Washington state is one of 10 states that have or will be receiving compensation in a settlement with Volkswagen for their emissions scandal. We can ask the Attorney General for his help and to direct funding for our air purifiers in the CID. Volkswagen was a start, and we need to ask BMW, Daimler, Audi, and the others to pay as well. In the CID, we’ve been victims for far too long. Can we demand that the state of Washington help enable us to take a clean breath in our homes? 

Be the bridge that they yearned for what had been left behind. The great distance of being an ocean apart made it easier for them to lose touch. Without the regular interaction, I’m sure both sides began to fill in the blanks of why one side did not reach out as much to the other. Any disagreements or suspicions would grow into wide gaps, then huge ravines over time. The frequency of contact lessened to the point where we don’t really have a relationship anymore. I am now a grown woman with two young children of my own. I see firsthand, how it could have been so different if someone had taken it upon themselves to just reach out in some small way to stay in contact. My husband’s parents did this with their relatives overseas. They regularly call, write, and visit one another. Weddings come with visits from family overseas. Births are

Family gathering (Photo by Han Bui)

celebrated on two continents. It is something I am made keenly aware of each time we visit my husband’s side of the family. There is someone to greet us, to show us around, to introduce us to other extended and distant parts of the family. There is a connection that can be visited in the form of burial sites and ancestral homes. Even more than that, there are stories and photos to be shared, while regional foods are tasted and recipes are traded.

I don’t blame my parents at all for not maintaining their relationships the same way as my in-laws. They were busy trying to provide for each other and their kids. All the while, there were illnesses and other circumstances that made it difficult to think too far down the road — that is the immigrant experience for many. It is with this past in mind, that I have decided on a different path for my kids. I want them to know where they came from and to pass on to them a community of support and history. It is a great gift. It isn’t monetary. It isn’t a family heirloom or something really tangible, and yet it is ever so much more valuable. It is a powerful realization to know that my husband and I have the power to give that sense of community to our children. All it takes is creating opportunities for our kids to get to know their

cousins and the family of friends that we have created here. This is as simple as casual play dates or vacations together, meeting up for special (or even not so special) occasions. It just takes a willingness on our part to “be the bridge” that spans the gap to bring folks together. Sometimes it is very easy, and sometimes it takes a bit more effort, but the end result is worth it for what you can pass on and also give to yourself. If you are on the fence about sending that birthday card or that once a year holiday card, do it. It might be a small gesture, but it will keep that connection alive. An address, a phone number, and an email address — whatever way that works, keep it working. Let people know you are out there and ready to receive them with an open heart and mind. At the end of the day, isn’t family worth it? 


asianweekly northwest

12

AUGUST 4 – AUGUST 10, 2018

WAYNE from 8 We stopped in to a restaurant which specialized in Taiwanese beef noodle soup, as well as a wide range in sushi. To top it off, they had fried noodles, fried rice, and Korean BBQ. I knew which one I was going for first — fried rice. Basic fried rice, it’ll tell you everything you need to know. In the movie, “The Hundred-Foot Journey,” the owner of the Michelin rated restaurant asked her apprentice to make a simple omelet. If he could prepare a simple omelet, that would tell her a lot about his basic cooking skills.

SHELF from 9 highly successful criminal defense lawyer and a strong character readers can look up to. While strong female leads in romance novels are not new, Asian lead characters are still few and far between. So it was refreshing to see Wendy as a complex and multifaceted character. However, other than the fact that Holiday refers to her Chinese and Asian heritage twice — once in the middle of the book and once at the end — there were no indications of Wendy’s background. And while it was nice to read about someone just living their life and falling in love, who happens to be Asian, it felt as though her background was an afterthought. “It Takes Two” is the story of two damaged people who are still dealing with the trauma of having lost their fathers at an

36 YEARS

Well, with Chinese food, it’s fried rice. It’s such a simple dish, but I can count on one hand how many times I’ve truly had great fried rice. And if the fried rice is working, you can bet that everything else on the menu will probably work, too. I’m not a food critic, but I know my fried rice. It needs to be glistening in oil, not swimming in it. The rice needs to be loose and not clumpy. If you can easily form fried rice into respectable looking snowballs, you might as well start a fried rice snowball fight because that rice is not worth eating. Getting back to my meal. I dug my chopsticks into my bowl of freshly made

fried rice and gave it a little sniff. The steam from the shrimp and barbeque pork seemed enticing, but now for the real test — I took my first bite. It was awesome. It was probably one of the best fried rice I’ve had in years. And this, coming from a restaurant that served sushi along with this Asian taco thing that I’ve never seen before. Now, I don’t know if their sushi is any good, and I wouldn’t be the best judge of that since I’m not a huge sushi fan, but the beef noodle soup was amazing, too. My friend even had the Asian taco and while it didn’t taste like any taco I’d ever eaten,

whatever it was tasted pretty darn good. Apparently my whole disdain for Asian or fusion food may have been misplaced. Maybe I need to give this whole fusion culinary thing another try. I’m all in. Give me your best shot. Bibimbap pizza? I’d love a slice! Chicken fettuccine kung pao style? Don’t mind if I do! Clam chowder with matzoh ball? Just try and stop me. But please, don’t mess around with that fried rice, OK? I’m a reasonable guy, but don’t push me. 

early age. Both were deeply affected and they still carry that with them as adults. Holiday does a great job of showing how difficult overcoming this can be and how even if you know the problem, it’s not easy to fix.

her days shelving paranormal romances at It’s Lit, the bookstore where she works with her best friend Leah Kim, and hanging out with and bumming rides from her other best friend, Sam Fujikawa. But when a mysterious being starts contacting Bea, hinting that a new evil is on its way to take over the city, she sees this as her chance to come out as the superheroine she was destined to be. This is all on top of her attempts at playing matchmaker for Leah, establishing a more stable relationship with her sister, and trying not to notice how attractive Sam is after their spur-of-the-moment, drunken make out session. “Journey” is Kuhn’s third story in her Heroine Complex series. While this is Bea’s story, we get to see what everyone else has been up to since Aveda’s story. Kuhn does a great job of showing the characters’ growth

and development over the years, but is able to keep the key qualities that make each of them individuals. In addition, we get to see how their relationships have changed and how they’ve stayed the same. For example, Bea and Sam are still just as competitive as they were in their teens in the previous stories. Despite this new layer to their relationship, the pair continues to compete at almost everything and keep score. While a lot of the focus of “Journey” is on this new evil Team Tanaka/Jupiter, one thing I love about Kuhn’s stories is how down to earth everyone is. Take away the action and you have imperfect people who are just trying to live their best lives. And that’s all any of us could ask for. 

Heroine’s Journey By Sarah Kuhn DAW Books, Inc., 2018

With the power of emotional projection, all Beatrice Tanaka has wanted to do was join her older sister Evie, and Evie’s best friend Aveda Jupiter, in protecting San Francisco from demons and other supernatural phenomenon. But the duo still see Bea as the impulsive and temperamental teenager she once was. So instead of fighting the good fight, Bea, who is half Japanese and half white, spends

INTERNMENT from 4 120,000 Japanese Americans were kept in camps around the country led to formal apologies from President Ronald Reagan and others and the awarding of $20,000 each to those locked up. Before she came across the document buried in the National Archives the government had maintained Japanese Americans were sent to the guarded camps during the war because there was no time to determine who might be spies. But the real reason, according to the document drafted by Lt. Gen. John L. DeWitt, and uncovered by HerzigYoshinaga in 1982, stated incarceration was because authorities considered it “impossible to separate the sheep from the goats’’ when looking for spies among Japanese Americans because of the cultural similarities of all. “Her discovery of that original published justification, which was then later altered 180 degrees, revealed that the motivation for incarceration was not really a military necessity but outright racism,’’ said San Francisco attorney Dale Minami, who used it as evidence in getting wartime convictions vacated for those who refused to report to relocation camps. Until Herzig-Yoshinaga found it, Minami said, the government believed every copy had been destroyed. He called her a pre-eminent researcher who knew her way around the National Archives perhaps better than anyone.

LING from 8 Romeo and Juliet type love. It’s raw, tragic, and beautiful. As the film moves along, you realize that the plot is carefully crafted and the characters are pleasingly consistent. Bai Wei isn’t flaky — she’s an innocent. Tu La has reasons for not smiling — and when he does smile, it has all the more meaning. Icy lady is just icy lady. What at first seems odd about, well, all of them, falls into place as the story takes shape. The Fatal Contract definitely has the feel of a mainland China movie — without the pomp and circumstance you might be used to from someone like Zhang Yimou. The setting is bleak and not just because it’s winter. There seems to be almost no one living in the town where the story takes place. The characters appear almost all of the time with just each other, even in public locations, and the interiors are run-down (in an artsy kind of way) except for that of Lu Li, whose comparatively opulent white and gold mansion is nonetheless, well, empty. There’s also a strange juxtaposition between the put-

Wayne can be reached nwasianweekly.com.

at

info@

Samantha can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

Born Aug. 5, 1924, in Sacramento to Japanese immigrant parents, Aiko Yoshinaga moved with her family to Los Angeles as a child. She was a 17-year-old senior at Los Angeles High School when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, plunging the United States into World War II. Soon after, she learned she and 14 other Japanese American students at her school would not graduate with their Class of 1942. “You don’t deserve to get your high school diplomas because your people bombed Pearl Harbor,’’ she recalled her school’s principal telling them. Forty-seven years later they would receive those diplomas, at a special ceremony held at Southern California’s Santa Anita racetrack, where numerous Japanese American families had been housed in horse stables before being shipped to relocation camps. Denied graduation, Herzig-Yoshinaga instead eloped with her fiance, and the couple was shipped soon after to Manzanar. Now a historical site, it was then a sprawling, barbed-wire enclosed makeshift prison perched on a dry, dusty, barren region of California’s high desert and surrounded by guards. It was there, in a tarpaper-covered barracks shared by three families, where she gave birth to her first child. After the war she moved to New York, divorced, remarried, gave birth to two more children and divorced again.

It was while living as a single mother in the 1960s, she would recall years later, that she began to seriously question why her government had her locked up. “I hooked up with a group called Asian Americans for Action,’’ she said during a Manzanar Committee event in 2011 honoring her with a legacy award. “They turned my head around. They got me to think, `Yeah, I never thought about all the reasons why the government did this to us.’’ Her third husband, Jack Herzig, a lawyer who fought against the Japanese as an Army paratrooper in World War II, aided in her search after the couple married in 1978 and moved to Washington, D.C. “She was just a regular person who was wondering, ‘Why was I plucked out of high school before my senior year and not allowed to graduate?’ And that drove her personal crusade,’’ Minami said. “She was just a lovely woman, very kind and generous,’’ he added. “You could even call her sweet and cute. But that belied a real commitment to social justice. Not just for Japanese Americans but for all marginalized groups.’’ Herzig-Yoshinaga is survived by her son, David Abe, and daughters Lisa Furutani and Gerrie Lani Miyazaki. Her husband, Jack Herzig, died in 2005. A memorial is planned Sept. 2 at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. 

together appearance of the main characters and the extras who pop in, maids and ticket agents and such, that look like they were grabbed off the street (hopefully I haven’t offended some really famous character actor or actress who just wanted a bit part this time around). There’s a low budget yet purposefully constructed feel to the whole thing that is perplexing and fascinating. Full disclosure: For those in the United States that are used to a certain look from the male romantic interest, you might have to adjust your thinking a bit for this movie — all for the good, believe me. Tu La is a spiffy dresser, yet he doesn’t have the manicured features a U.S. audience expects. The primary female characters, though, are more in-line with what we usually see on screen — either flawless or funky. The Fatal Contract is as macabre and absurd as Fargo, but without the funny parts. It’s not funny. That’s not the genre. It’s definitely in the tradition of a dark detective film. And there is no quirky, smart “Marge” to figure everything out and save the day. Nope. The detective in this story, Li Lu, played by Xuan Miao, is in lockstep with everyone and everything else, except she’s one step behind and so she

is never going to stop the inevitable. She’s not stupid. She just can’t extricate herself from the wheel that is already turning, not of karma, but of vengeance. As Tu La says (to a dead person), “It had to be this way.” Let’s face it. Any movie that plays “It’s a Wonderful Life” in the background, at least since Good Morning, Vietnam, we’ve known that means things are not going to go well. The miraculous and deeply Shakespearean thing about the movie, though, is that in spite of its obsession with death, when it’s over — you want to live. As fully as possible. And love. As fully and as quickly as possible. It makes you want to grab your significant other and well, you know. Let’s hope he or she hasn’t stepped out for coffee or anything. The Fatal Contract is going to give you some serious separation anxiety.  The Fatal Contract is available via online video platforms. Jessica Kai can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.


asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

AUGUST 4 – AUGUST 10, 2018

■ ASTROLOGY

13

Predictions and advice for the week of August 4–10, 2018 By Sun Lee Chang

Rat — You have a knack for landing on your feet, even in the toughest of situations. There is no reason to believe that this time will be any different. Ox — Are you looking for other options or even a way out? The alternatives may not be as sweet as you initially anticipated. Tiger — The opportunity to actually make a choice is an important one. Act quickly before that chance is lost. Rabbit — Attempting to satisfy two competing interests could be a tricky proposition. You may eventually have to pick one over the other.

Dragon — If your vision doesn’t quite align with what your partner’s, then you should make the effort to reconcile the two.

Monkey — Many combinations are possible, so if it doesn’t feel right at first, keep adjusting until you find the perfect fit.

Snake — Your influence is stronger than you think. Use your powers of persuasion to get things moving in a positive direction.

Rooster — All the pieces appear to be coming together, but your help is still needed to ensure that the trajectory remains as it should.

Horse — Is there something that separates you from being truly in the moment? Remove it for a much more authentic experience.

Dog — There comes a point when walking away is the best thing that you can do, especially when you realize your energies can best be used elsewhere.

Goat — Does it seem like there are roadblocks that keep coming up in your current path? Perhaps the trip is better saved for another day.

Pig — Your next adventure could originate from a surprising source. What you dismissed at the start may be just what you have been 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, 2017 Dog 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 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.

AIRLINES from 5 we do not anticipate any service disruptions to occur,’’ said Alison McAfee, a spokeswoman for the group. Taiwan and China separated in 1949 following a civil war on the mainland but Beijing claims the island, formally known as the Republic of China, as part of its territory. The Civil Aviation Administration of China acknowledged on its website that the U.S. airlines had made some changes “but rectification of the content still is incomplete.’’ It gave no details and phone calls to the agency went unanswered. Beijing demanded airlines call Taiwan’s capital “Taipei, China.’’ Three of the U.S. carriers cited by CAAC switched

ELECTION from 5 victory’’ and said the country would move forward “under the umbrella of peace and political stability.’’ Although 20 parties contested the election, the only one with the popularity and organization to mount a real challenge, the Cambodian National Rescue Party, was dissolved last year by the Supreme Court in a ruling generally seen as political and ensuring that Hun Sen would extend his 33 years in power by another five-year term. The opposition CNRP, in a statement issued by some of its former leaders in Jakarta, Indonesia, said that following the “sham election ... what was left of a democracy in name only has been replaced with an outright dictatorship.’’ The statement predicted that in reaction to the polls, foreign countries would apply punitive sanctions that would cripple the economy. Declaring Hun Sen’s government illegitimate, it warned “governments and businesses across the world that the agreements, deals and accords signed as of today by Cambodia’s de facto regime will have no legal validity and will be revised by the future democratic government of Cambodia.’’ Provisional but complete results issued on July 20 by the state National Election Committee showed Hun Sen’s party winning 4,875,189, or 76.8 percent, of a total 6,349,389 valid ballots cast. Under the election’s system of proportional representation, the party is almost certain to take more than 100 of the 125 seats in the National Assembly. There were almost 600,000 spoiled ballots, generally interpreted to have been cast as protests by voters who wished to keep their identities secret. The committee said it would announce full totals on Aug. 11, with the final official count to be released on Aug. 15, along with seat allocations in the assembly and the names of the new lawmakers. The disbanded CNRP’s former leaders had urged people not to vote in what was dubbed a “clean finger’’ campaign because those who cast ballots had to dip a finger in indelible ink, a practice meant to thwart multiple voting.

to saying only Taipei, with no country, on their websites. Other destinations have city and country names. “We complied within the deadline with what we thought was a nice solution for everyone,’’ American Airlines chairman Doug Parker said in a conference call last week to discuss the airline’s financial results. The Trump administration rejected the order in May as “Orwellian nonsense’’ and expressed dismay that airlines obeyed. Other airlines including British Airways, Air Canada and Lufthansa started using “Taipei, China’’ to avoid Chinese penalties. Hawaiian Airlines doesn’t fly to Taiwan. It has a codesharing agreement with Taiwan’s China Airlines but its

But its campaign fizzled, if the official turnout tallies are accurate. According to the National Election Committee, more than 6.8 million registered voters, or 82.2 percent, cast ballots. Criticism of the election as unfree and unfair came from Western governments and other groups. The United States said it regretted the “flawed elections’’ and would consider its response, including expanding visa restrictions that were announced in December. A statement from the White House press secretary’s office said the U.S. was disappointed in the government’s decision to disenfranchise voters, citing the exclusion of the principal opposition party, the jailing and banning of its officials, and threats to punish nonvoters. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said in a statement that Hun Sen’s moves to eliminate his political opponents had reversed more than 25 years of progress toward democracy in Cambodia. “Australia is concerned the election took place in an environment where not all political parties, civil society organizations and media could operate freely,’’ Bishop said. She added that Australia will continue to urge the Cambodian government to take steps to allow free and open political debate without violence and intimidation. A veteran Indonesian politician and lawyer who has championed human rights said the Cambodian election was a “sign of danger’’ for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations that could set back democracy across the region. Former Indonesian Attorney-General Marzuki Darusman, who currently heads the U.N. Factfinding Mission on Myanmar investigating abuses by security forces in Rakhine state, said Indonesia as one of the world’s largest democracies must “seriously address’’ the Cambodian situation. He told a news conference held by the disbanded CNRP in Jakarta that “I think we’re looking at a possible domino effect of what is happening in Cambodia across ASEAN as a whole if this is not addressed.’’ 

website has no mention of Taipei. In mid-July, an airline from the Pacific nation of Palau said it shut down due to a drop in tourism from China. Chinese officials last year reportedly told tourist agencies to stop booking trips to Palau to punish the tiny nation for having diplomatic ties with Taiwan. In January, hotel chain Marriott was ordered to shut down its China website and app for a week after it sent out a customer survey that included Taiwan, Tibet and Hong Kong in a list of countries. News reports said Marriott executives were questioned by police. The government also criticized fashion brand Zara and other countries for referring to Taiwan as a country on their websites. 

MIYAKO from 5 to Guinness World Records, which had certified her title. Miyako enjoyed calligraphy, which she had practiced until recently, and eating sushi and eel, Guinness said. Guinness said the successor to her world record is yet to be confirmed. NASSAU COUNTY from 1 derogatory denotations don’t only represent slurs against members of the department, they also raise questions about the way the police department thinks about Asian Americans and the communities they are sworn to protect.” While the practice had been going on since the 1980s, it was immediately stopped when it came to the attention of the police commissioner. “In this particular situation, this computer program was developed

The new oldest person in Japan is a 115-year-old woman, Kane Tanaka of Fukuoka on the southern island of Kyushu, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said. The world’s oldest man, Masazo Nonaka on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, celebrated his 113rd birthday on July 25. 

over a quarter century ago and in no way has the use of these letters reflected any bias toward our Asian American or Native American residents,” Nassau County police Detective Lt. Richard LeBrun said in a statement. “We are immediately modifying the use of these demographic notations. Asian Americans and Native Americans will be properly identified in the revisions to this IT system.”  Staff can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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asianweekly northwest

14

EMPLOYMENT

AUGUST 4 – AUGUST 10, 2018

EMPLOYMENT

METROPOLITAN KING COUNTY COUNCIL LAND USE SENIOR LEGISLATIVE POLICY ANALYST Closes: August 31, 2018 at 11:59 p.m.

Salary Range: $102,777.38 - $130,276 (DOQ) The Council is searching for a Senior Legislative Policy Analyst with primary policy areas of growth management, land use, comprehensive planning and regional planning. This position is a member of a team responsible for leading or conducting objective and non-biased legislative, policy, fiscal and operations analysis for the Metropolitan King County Council and its committees. The most competitive candidates will have experience with the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA), long-range land use planning and policy interpretation, and development regulation. Successful candidates also have a passion for the legislative process; have experience working for elected officials; are creative and intellectually curious; have strong analytical, problem solving and communication skills; and have a desire to collaboratively work as part of a team. To apply online, go to www.kingcounty.gov/jobs A King County application is required to be considered for this opportunity. Interested applicants must complete the supplemental questions and submit a resume and letter of interest with your application. Auto repair in Burien is looking for experienced auto mechanic. Must have own tools. Call 206 - 235-7103 Hiring a wok chef. F/T or P/T. Need to have a work permit. 206-697-7771

Help with easy Computer Tasks. P/T Entry level computer worker wanted. Hardware and software. High school student ok. Flexible hours. Call George 206-223-063.

EMPLOYMENT

Outdoor Research is hiring experienced fulltime sewing operators, especially Flatseam, Coverstitch, and Single needle machine operators. This position will be eligible for medical insurance and paid vacation benefits. Please come apply in person at 2203 1st Ave S. Seattle, WA 98134 or fax resume to 206-467-0374 or email jobs@orgear.com Chinese Information and Service Center Accounts Payable Specialist/ Accounting and Administrative Projects Assistant: Full Time. Provides financial, administrative and clerical support by ensuring payments are completed and expenses are controlled by receiving payments, processing, verifying and reconciling invoices. High school diploma and 2 years accounting payable experience, college courses in accounting preferred. Starting salary at $17 per hour DOE plus benefit. Details refer to www.cisc-seattle. org. Cover letter and resume to kevinc@cisc-seattle.org. Open until filled.

Service Directory Just $10 a week! Call 206-223-0623

BLOG from 10

Hustling for business

The struggle for us is to create opportunities for ourselves and businesses to advertise against the tirade of digital media. However, when advertisers say yes, that’s only half the battle. Many small businesses simply have no concept of what ad content they should have. “You come up with something,” they say. It’s not that simple for us if these businesses don’t know how to articulate the purpose or mission of their company of service. I am not griping, simply stating the facts. Big publishers don’t have to write ad copy or hustle for business. Sure, they have an advertising and sales team. In my role, I have become my clients’ advertising and business consultant, and we charge only for the ad space. The reward is, our relationship is much stronger with our community. We treasure our community’s trust in us. I am grateful to have the opportunity to write the ad copy in English or Chinese,

rather than not having enough advertisements in the papers. Advertisements make the publications more interesting and visually appealing. It’s my duty to bring in revenue to pay my staff on time. They deserve it.

Motivating writers

What motivates our writers to produce good stories? Without our writers, there wouldn’t be an Asian Weekly. Money is not the reason our freelance writers write for us. It’s the satisfaction they get after being published — when they see their piece being transformed into a great product with a dramatic layout, effective headlines, and high-standard editing. Readers’ feedback means a lot to our writers. So do send in your input on whether you like the article or not. Still, there are other incentives to write for Asian Weekly. One freelance writer wants to take only assignments worthy of winning journalism awards. Her zeal for winning drives her to perfect her writing — not our low pay with no benefits. The challenge is that, how do you inspire people to willingly take on sto-

HARVARD from 1 records but face lower acceptance rates than any other race. The school’s filing dismisses the analysis as “deeply flawed’’

SUB-BIDS REQUESTED All Subs (Except Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Fire Suppression) 501 Rainier 510 Rainier Ave S. Seattle, WA 98144 Owner: HOUSING AT LINC’S LLC C/O PLYMOUTH HOUSING GROUP BID DEADLINE: Thursday, August 16th, 2018, 3:00 PM WALSH CONSTRUCTION CO./WA 315 Fifth Ave. S., Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 547-4008 WMBE / SECTION 3 / APPRENTICESHIP PARTICIPATION: WCC actively encourages participation of Women and Minority Business Enterprises (WMBEs) and Section 3 Residents on this project. WMBE, Apprenticeship Participation and Section 3 subcontractors are strongly encouraged to submit bids. PREVAILING WAGES: All subcontractors must comply with Washington State Residential Prevailing Wage requirements – see specific information under project posting. LOCATION OF CONTRACT DOCUMENTS - Current plans, specifications, bid packages and bid forms can be accessed: Builders Exchange at www.bxwa.com. (Click on: Posted Projects, General Contractor - Project Areas, WA, Walsh Construction Co. Seattle, Projects Bidding. Username: walsh Password: safety). All subcontractors are advised to frequently visit Builders Exchange to check for any Addenda to the Bid Documents. CCO1 WALSHCC990D1

ries they would normally reject? As each writer’s needs and strengths are different, how do we balance that with our goals in presenting a quality issue every week?

term solutions to reinvent ourselves. Things we have been doing, are not innovative at all. Lots of media outlets rely on grants, which restrict them to doing certain types of stories. Consequently, those outlets are not doing stories relevant to the community. By now, the young lady has a glimpse of the unglamorous portions of being the publisher of the The bullies Big publishers don’t have to take crap Asian Weekly and Chinese Post. Yes, I’ve had my share of nightmares over the years. like, “You made a mistake in my ad copy. You have to write a story on my business My mind turns those nightmares into adventures. to make it up.” “You ran the wrong ad, you Does the young lady still think my job is cool?  have to give me a free run and an additional free ad (called make-good ad).” “If you Assunta can be reached at don’t run a story on us, we won’t give you assunta@nwasianweekly.com. an ad.” Many businesses favor only positive stories. When we are reporting the truth SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 6. (sometimes not in their favor), they instantly stop their advertisements. Their grudges could last a decade or longer.

Print media is dying

That’s a sad fact. Young people get their news from Facebook. Some young people don’t care much about current affairs. I can’t change their values. As of today, I still have been unable to come up with long-

and says the group has no proof of discrimination. A statement from the group says it looks forward to going to trial in October. 

SERVICE DIRECTORY CONTACT JOHN TO PLACE AN AD ON CLASSIFIED PAGE 206-223-5559 JOHN@NWASIANWEEKLY.COM

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asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

AUGUST 4 – AUGUST 10, 2018

15

VOTE from 1 was the first executive director of the Win Win Network in Seattle, a civically powerful network of progressive organizations.

Rosa Melendez

I am mentoring a few women of color to run for political office.

Jean Kang

At a time when we feel outraged yet powerless to make a difference and bring about change, there are ways to connect. There have been various events and programs around the Seattle area to promote political action, engagement, and empowerment. “Community Conversation on Trauma Healing” “Never Again” — A presentation and conversation examining Japanese American incarceration during WWII and how it relates to racism today. “Seattle Indivisible Activist Fair” — Recognize Trump’s actions are a threat to our democracy. Come to the Activist Fair to meet local organizers and activist groups to learn where you belong. Leave feeling energized and empowered. “Women of Color & Allies for Women of Color Candidates” — This event is for women of color and their allies to support women of color’s political leadership.

Jerry Lee

Since I’ve joined the Seattle Chinese American Citizens Alliance, I’ve become more aware of social justice issues. I believe

REMAINS from 4 Curran has spent decades seeking ways to repatriate her father’s remains. Years have passed since she persuaded several family members to provide DNA. In 2013, she was able to fly over the site where her father was taken captive. “It was a healing experience for me to see that, and know that he had

Photo provided by Fog Rose

same Soma Towers North building, which will function as a test kitchen to pilot new and creative flavors that may be featured on the menu for only a few days. Dang also hopes to invite guest pastry chefs to feature their desserts alongside Fog Rose offerings. “The idea is every time you step in, you’re going to be looking at a different menu and be able to try something different,” said Dang. She hopes the Atelier will foster a creative exchange between the customers and the shops. Since developing a blueberry lavender flavor at the boutique at a customer’s request, Dang has welcomed continued input from customers about flavors they would like to see on the menu. Along with a wider range of ice cream and dessert offerings, the new Fog Rose Atelier will also feature a bar with craft cocktails, boozy ice cream shakes, and champagne floats. The Ice Cream Boutique downstairs will continue to feature its diverse ice cream offerings with

Photos by Sam Le

FOG ROSE from 7

Ice cream made by liquid nitrogen

select weekly specials.  For more information about Fog Rose Ice Cream Boutique and Atelier, visit fogrose.com. Tiffany can reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

we can make changes if we work together.

Sachi Madan

I’m the director for the Washington state chapter of BackPAC, which is a student-run political action community, that originated in Texas. I’ve definitely seen how this organization has engaged so many students in politics.

Anvie Gowrishankar

Do covers (of songs) with lyrics that are more politically related.

Judith Panlasigui, Sophorn Sim, Emcee Aleksa Manila, and Joycelyn Chui at the 2018 Water Festival.

Audience members sending off prayer lanterns into the Duwamish River as part of the traditional Cambodian Lantern Launch.

WATER FESTIVAL from 3

contaminated with PCBs, polychlorinated biphenyl, an industrial product that can lead to rashes, acne, liver problems, and cause cancer. These chemicals are found in the sediments and seafood that has lived in the river their entire lives. We encourage people to fish only salmon from the river, as they only pass through and will have lower PCB levels.” Emcee Aleksa Manila, a renowned Seattle drag queen, guided the audience through performances highlighting the Cambodian, Hmong, Japanese, and Hawaiian cultural perspectives of water. Either being known as a passage of safety, a powerful storm, and peaceful ocean, the cultural concept of water took on many meanings and connected many of the cultures and audience members together. “I was deeply touched by the community involvement across cultures, across nationalities, and across waters; truly celebrating how water connects all of us,” said Manila. Ending with a cultural tradition, audiences were given a chance to participate in the Cambodian lantern launch by sending hand crafted prayer lanterns into the Duwamish River. Sim and Song Vann, a Cambodian priest, explained the Cambodian lantern launches’ significance and the history of the Cambodian diaspora. Sending off small prayer lanterns was a practice to “give gratitude to nature and the Duwamish River, Seattle’s only river,” as explained by Chui. 

performances led by Aleksa Manila, and the traditional Cambodian lantern launch. Unlike a seminar or lecture, the knowledge being shared was easy to understand by both the children and adults. With temperatures reaching over 90 degrees and hundreds of audience members in attendance, ECOSS kept the audience and volunteers hydrated, while reducing the amount of plastic waste — one of the key points they wanted to convey. Waste reduction for this event was achieved through placing water stations and asking audiences to mark their compostable cups for reuse. Chui explained, “When we hold different cultural events, we often times don’t pay attention to how much waste is created. Just because you are celebrating your culture, doesn’t justify the amount of waste left behind.” Another key issue the festival hopes to address is the consumption of unsafe seafood from the Duwamish River by specifically local Vietnamese, Cambodian, Pacific Islander, and Latino communities. Through a research by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Duwamish River in South Seattle was labeled a superfund site, meaning it has been contaminated by hazardous waste. ECOSS invited King County Public Health’s Community Health Advocates to present cooking demonstrations on how to safely consume salmon from the Duwamish River. Sophorn Sim, ECOSS’s community outreach associate, said, “The Duwamish River is very

Sam can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

Alex Thai

Volunteer for my mom’s (My-Linh Thai) campaign! Or volunteering for any politician.

Jonah Egger

Personally, I feel like young people are already very involved politically, and everyone claims they are “woke,” and everyone believes their opinion is 100 percent right and stuff. I think it would be smarter to take their current passion for politics and teach them how to express, question, and argue their political views effectively through things like seminars or inclusive clubs.

Youngjin Ma

People care the most about building something up when they’re involved in the process. The issue is getting people involved, so providing incentive for an event with something that they can gain/ benefit from is key (like if friends are going, or it’s convenient). 

been there,’’she said. “It gave me some peace.’’ Now, the thought that her father’s remains might be among those sent stateside has stirred up all those emotions again. It’s “too much to hope for,’’ she said. “It would be wonderful,’’ she said, pausing to stifle sobs. “It’s amazing, after all these years, how much it can still hurt not to have him.’’ 

RACIAL SLUR from 1 their words might be offensive, but Malloy said “if that offends you, then don’t wear the turban and maybe I’ll remember your name.’’ The pair continued to refer to Grewal as “turban man’’ throughout the segment. Grewal, who wears a turban and full beard, took to Twitter the following morning to call for an end to “small-minded intolerance.’’ Advocacy groups condemned the radio hosts’ remarks, as did Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, who said hate speech “does not belong on our airwaves.’’ Neither host responded to emails seeking comment. For Grewal, the son of Indian immigrants, the slights stood out only because the audience for them was bigger. He said he’s been called a “towel head’’ and a terrorist, and told to “go back home’’ — Grewal was born and raised in New Jersey — more times than he can count. He said he’s felt eyes on him everywhere he goes. “Throughout my life and regardless of the positions I’ve held, I’ve faced these small indignities and humiliations,’’ Grewal said in May. And it continued after he took office in January. Grewal said he was invited to give a speech at a corporate office. His staff arrived ahead of him and had no problem gaining admittance. When Grewal showed up, a security guard told him he “wasn’t on the list’’ and wouldn’t let him through. Grewal said he spent 15 minutes explaining who he was. He was finally let in and delivered his speech — on diversity and inclusion. The Sikh Coalition, a New York-based advocacy group, said the visible markers of the faith — unshorn hair and turbans — have long made Sikhs a target for bigotry and hate crimes. The group requested religious and cultural sensitivity training for the radio station’s staff. “These statements against the top law

enforcement official in the state of New Jersey are particularly egregious coming from amplified voices of radio hosts, given the prominence of racism and xenophobia against Sikhs across the country,’’ said Satjeet Kaur, the Sikh Coalition’s executive director. On Twitter, Grewal noted he has three daughters “and I told them to turn off the radio.’’ In a follow-up tweet, he added: “It’s time to end the small-minded intolerance.’’ Grewal served as a federal prosecutor in New York and New Jersey before Republican Gov. Chris Christie tapped him to lead the prosecutor’s office in Bergen County, New Jersey’s most populous. Christie’s replacement, Murphy, picked Grewal to be attorney general, saying he wanted a prosecutor who would stand up to President Donald Trump. As attorney general, Grewal has threatened to sue firearms companies unless they stop marketing and selling untraceable weapons; launched an investigation into the Cambridge Analytica privacy scandal; and joined other Democratic attorneys general in suing the Trump administration over the separation of migrant families. Grewal appeared eager to move on from the hosts’ remarks, tweeting later: “Ok, back to business.’’ Through his office, he declined an interview request. The “Dennis & Judi’’ show has been a fixture on New Jersey radio for more than 20 years, and many of the show’s loyal listeners called the station on July 26 to protest the hosts’ removal. “I can tell you they’re not racist. They’re just not,’’ fill-in host Steve Trevelise, a longtime friend of Malloy and Franco, said on the air. “Not a racist bone in their body.’’ The station’s president, Ron deCastro, said the hosts are known for their “plainspoken brand of humor, but in this case, the language used was clearly demeaning and inappropriate.’’ 


asianweekly northwest

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■ PICTORIAL

36 YEARS

AUGUST 4 – AUGUST 10, 2018

ALASKA AIRLINES

On July 28, thousands of people showed up to watch more than 100 parade units march, float, and dance in celebration of Seattle. Now in it’s 69th year, the Torchlight Parade highlights and celebrates communities from the greater Seattle’s diverse cultural landscape including Sikhs of Washington and many more. PHOTOS BY JOHN LIU

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