VOL 41 NO 48 | NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 2, 2022

Bellevue restaurateur overcomes challenges

Doing business in Bellevue vs Seattle

By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Through the plate glass window, Oliver Bangera could see three heads looking at his restaurant. After a moment, they moved on.

“It’s the sign again,” he said. “Last

week, a Japanese couple came in and thought we were serving sushi.”

The sign for his restaurant, “Khushi,” was originally underlined by another smaller block of text that said, “Indian Street Food.”

But after struggling with the City of Bellevue over height requirements for

the sign, the explanatory text ended up being only two inches tall.

“You couldn’t even read it from the sidewalk,” said Bangera, who opened a successful restaurant in Seattle seven years ago.

see BELLEVUE on 12

Patricia Lee appointed as first Asian, Black woman on Nevada Supreme Court

Gov. Steve Sisolak appointed attorney Patricia Lee on Nov. 21 to fill a vacancy on the Nevada Supreme Court.

Born in South Korea to an Black military father and a Korean mother, Lee becomes the first Black woman and first Asian American on the court.

She fills the seat vacated by Abbi Silver, who resigned in September.

Lee was selected from a list of three candidates nominated by the Nevada Commission on Judicial Selection. She will serve until the expiration of Silver’s term in January 2025. She will have to seek election if she wishes to remain on the court.

Lee is a partner in the law firm of Hutchinson and Steffen. As a partner, she runs the firm’s summer internship program, heads the pro bono program providing legal representation to those who can’t afford a lawyer and manages and trains associates.

In a press release from the governor’s office, Sisolak stated, “The breadth and depth of her skill set and her personal and professional experience make her an incredible addition to the State’s highest court.”

Lee is a partner at the Hutchison & Steffen law firm, where she has worked since 2002, according to the statement. She practices complex commercial litigation, trademark law, family law, appellate law and collections cases.

She graduated from George Washington University Law School in 2002 and was admitted to the Nevada bar that year, according to the statement. In 2019, Attorney General Aaron Ford named her a member of a sexual harassment policy task force created by Sisolak. 

By Nina Huang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

There is a $756 million reason to visit downtown Seattle again: the waterfront park project.

“The decision to build the tunnel provided the city with an opportunity to reclaim and connect downtown to our waterfront. The goal of this program is to create a waterfront for all, for people of all walks of life to enjoy,” said Angela Brady, waterfront program director of the City of Seattle. see WATERFRONT on 14

Patricia Lee

Khushi, from the street. The name means “joy.”

Maria, a food runner, prepares “to go” bags at Khushi

Photo by Mahlon Meyer

Photo by Mahlon Meyer

Joy Shigaki, President & CEO, Friends of Waterfront Seattle

Rendering of the future waterfront park

Photo by Joshua Lewis

Indian street food served at Khushi.

Seniors

SIAF was founded in 2006 to promote civic involvement and community service among the elderly population in the Seattle area.

LIHI raises $430K

The Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) ran a virtual gala and silent auction from Oct. 30- Nov. 14 and raised over $430,000 to help people most in need.

Anna Hau

Vice

Lee held the pre-Thanksgiving celebration on Nov. 20. Seattle Deputy Mayor Greg Wong, Police Chief Adrian Diaz, and 2022 Miss Chinese Chamber of Commerce Vanessa Lee helped at this event to spread joy and great cheer to the seniors this holiday season. 

people who are living unsheltered, and for Urban Rest Stops, which are hygiene centers for homeless people to shower, use the restrooms, and launder their clothes.

The LIHI gala had over 65 sponsors from businesses, foundations, community leaders, and individuals. LIHI just opened Miracle Village, a new Tiny House Village in Tukwila, and is working on building three new villages. 

CACA Seattle Annual Rice Drive

After two years’ suspension due to the pandemic, Chinese American Citizens Alliance (CACA) Seattle partnered again with the Chinese Information and Services Center (CISC) and held its Annual Rice Drive and Voter Assistance event on Oct. 29.

This year, Boy Scout Troop #254, led by scoutmasters Tim Louie and Kent Wong, volunteered to help re-bag rice into five pound bags and handed out food items to those

identified by CISC.

Each senior citizen received a bag of rice, a can of Spam, and a red packet with a lucky quarter for good fortune and good health. Additionally, three volunteers, speaking multiple Chinese dialects, assisted almost 40 voters in reading the ballot.

Sun Foods donated more than half a ton of rice. Other donors included Costco (gift cards), Christin Chou, Christine D’Amore, the Gee sisters, Lily Eng, Erika Lim, Dan Yee, Julie Sun, Jerry Lee, and Warren 

Pre-concert talk on Tan Dun’s Buddha Passion

Conductor Tan Dun and Mimi Gates held an in formal discussion before a Seattle Symphony per formance of Tan Dun’s “Buddha Passion” earlier this month.

Gates is a Seattle Symphony board member and Dunhuang Foundation board co-chair.

Buddha Passion was underwritten by Jeff and Rita Xiong, and also supported by Yoshi and Naomi Minegishi Tan Dun Buddha Passion was presented as part of the Seattle Symphony’s New Music WORKS initiative, which is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Jerry Lee (right) stuffing red packets with friends.

Volunteers of the Annual Rice Drive, 2022

Tan Dun (middle) and friends.

Photo provided by LIHI

Photos provided by Cathy Lee

Photo by Tony Au

In Action Foundation (SIAF) handed out 500 gift bags last weekend to seniors in the Seattle Chinatown-International District.

President

and

President Timothy

The money raised will support Tiny House Villages for

Top progressive Jayapal passes on Dem leadership race

By FARNOUSH AMIRI ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pramila Jayapal, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, took herself out of the running on Nov. 18 for Democratic leadership in the next Congress by announcing a bid for a second term to lead one of the largest groups of lawmakers in the party.

In a letter to her progressive colleagues, Jayapal, of Washington, noted the series of achievements the caucus had during her tenure as chair. She also acknowledged the challenges

House Democrats face as they become the minority party in January.

Jayapal’s tenure began when President Joe Biden—whom she has dubbed the most progressive president in history—came to office.

“The next two years are going to be important in a very different way than the last two years were,” Jayapal said in an interview with The Associated Press last week. “The last two years were about governing, about pushing, about getting the most that we could get.”

“The next two years are going to be about

being an opposition party, which I am extremely good at because I fought on immigrant rights and I came in 2016 when (Donald) Trump was elected,” she added.

Jayapal, who became the first Indian American woman elected to the House, spent the last few months exploring a run for a senior leadership post after the midterm elections, as Speaker Nancy Pelosi and much of her team were expected to step down and make way for new leaders.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal

2020 Olympic champ Sunisa Lee to make a run at Paris 2024

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Sunisa Lee is going to make another run at Olympic glory.

The 2020 women’s all-around gymnastics champion announced on Nov. 15 that she will return to training at the elite level following the end of her sophomore season at Auburn next spring.

“I’ve been able to experience that once-in-a-lifetime feeling and the indescribable emotion when a gold medal is draped around your neck,“ Lee said in a social media post. “But I don’t want it to be just once in a lifetime,”

Lee, 19, became the fifth straight American woman to earn the Olympic title when she edged Rebeca Andrade of Brazil in a taut final at Ariake Gymnastics Centre, a victory Lee never envisioned until U.S. teammate and 2016 Olympic champion Simone Biles took herself out of the competition to focus on her mental health.

The victory made Lee, who is Hmong American, an instant celebrity. It also, however, did not keep her from see LEE on 13

Sunisa Lee of the United States, poses after winning the bronze medal on the uneven bars during the artistic gymnastics wom en’s apparatus final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

AP Photo/Ashley Landis

Some like it hot: Eating spicy in China’s WWII shelters

CHONGQING, China (AP) —

The city of Chongqing, dubbed one of China’s four “furnace” cities, is known for both soaring temperatures and spicy cuisine— notably its hotpot, a peppery bubbling tabletop broth into which diners dunk bite-size pieces of food to cook and eat.

The inland metropolis on the Yangtze River has the perfect escape to enjoy hotpot, even in what has been a summer of unusually stifling heat: World War II-era air raid shelters, converted into restaurants, where the temperature is naturally cooler.

Locals call it “cave hotpot.”

Chongqing was the temporary capital of China during World War II, as a Japanese invasion drove the government out of the then-capital, Nanjing, and occupied eastern China. Leader Chiang Kai-shek, the military, foreign diplomats and

others set up in what was then a remote city in the southwest.

At the sound of air raid sirens, residents crowded into the often dark shelters dug into the hilly cityscape to protect people and military weapons. Thousands died in the Japanese aerial bombing attacks.

Today, the stone arch doorways of the former shelters still dot the city. Some have become cafes and mahjong parlors and others, restaurants.

Red Chinese characters hang over one entrance, its stonework half-hidden by a refrigerated drinks display case and stacked up plastic chairs. The characters read: “Cave Pavilion Hotpot. Founded 1989.”

Inside, tables and chairs line two long and narrow tunnels

CAVE on 13

Chinese leaders face anger over 2nd child’s quarantine death

By JOE McDONALD ASSOCIATED PRESS

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese authorities faced more public anger after a second child’s death was blamed on overzealous antivirus enforcement, adding to frustration at controls that are confining millions of people to their homes and sparked fights with health workers.

The 4-month-old girl died after suffering vomiting and diarrhea while in quarantine at a hotel in the central city of Zhengzhou, according to news reports and social media posts. They said it took her father 11 hours to get help after emergency services balked at dealing with them and she finally was sent to

a hospital 60 miles away.

The death came after the ruling Communist Party promised this month that people in quarantine wouldn’t be blocked from getting emergency help following an outcry over a 3-year-old boy’s death from carbon monoxide in the northwest. His father blamed health workers in the city of Lanzhou, who he said tried to stop him from taking his son to a hospital.

Internet users expressed anger at the ruling Communist Party’s “zero-COVID” strategy and demanded that officials in Zhengzhou be punished for failing to help the public.

“Once again, someone died because of excessive epidemic prevention measures,” one user wrote on the popular Sina Weibo

platform. “They put their official post above everything else.”

The ruling party promised last week to ease quarantine and other restrictions under its “zero-COVID” strategy, which aims to isolate every infected person. But Chinese leaders are trying to dispel hopes the measures are about to end as other governments ease controls and try to live with the virus.

“Zero-COVID” has kept China’s infection numbers lower than those of the United States and other major countries but shuts down neighborhoods, schools and businesses for weeks at a time. Residents of some areas complain they are left without food and medicine.

A spike in infections over the past two

weeks has led officials in areas across China to confine families to their cramped apartments or order people into quarantine if a single case is found in their workplace or neighborhood.

The government is trying to deal with “simple and crude” over-enforcement in response to public complaints, the deputy director of the National Bureau of Disease Control, Shen Hongbing, said at a news conference.

The government has received 130,000 complaints including local officials improperly isolating visitors arriving from low-risk areas, according to Shen.

IAEA: Decision on Fukushima wastewater release up to Japan

By MARI YAMAGUCHI ASSOCIATED PRESS

TOKYO (AP) — The head of a taskforce from the International Atomic Energy Agency said it is examining whether Japan’s planned release into the sea of treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant meets international standards, but the decision on whether to go ahead with the plan is up to the Japanese government.

Gustavo

Caruso, director of the

IAEA's Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, said his team has no power to decide whether Japan should suspend the release even if it does not fully follow international safety standards.

The government and the plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, announced a plan last year to begin releasing the treated wastewater into the sea beginning next spring. They said more than 1 million tons of water stored in about 1,000 tanks inside the plant hampers

its decommissioning and poses risks of leaks in case of a major earthquake or tsunami.

IAEA is cooperating with Japan’s government to increase the safety and transparency of the water discharge.

Caruso said the IAEA’s independent evaluation of the plan “will provide confidence to the society, Japanese society, neighbors, other member states.”

His 16-member team, including experts from nine countries, including China and South Korea,

was in Japan last week to study the water discharge plan. During their visit, the second this year, they met with government and utility officials and visited the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant on Nov. 17=6.

A massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011 destroyed the Fukushima plant’s cooling systems, causing three reactors to melt and release large amounts of radiation. Water used to cool

Customers eat hotpot in a hotpot restaurant located in a converted WWII-era air raid shelter in Chongqing, which dubbed one of China’s four “furnace” cities, is known for both soaring temperatures and spicy cuisine - notably its hotpot.

AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

Gustavo Caruso

THE UNITED FEDERATION of Asian Perfect-ness

By Wayne Chan NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

I am a superhero. I’ve always known there was something different about me but until recently I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.

I made this startling discovery after reading an article on Asian stereotypes and why, according to the author, all stereotypes, whether good or bad, are offensive. I’m not sure I agree with his point considering how many of the stereotypes he mentioned were just so, gosh darn complimentary. But particularly with the U.S. Supreme Court currently hearing arguments about whether affirmative action policies are creating disadvantages to Asian students in the country, I thought it might help to look at some of these stereotypes.

Let’s do a quick run through of the stereotypes in question:

Asians are smart! Ok, yes...me.

Asians are born with PhD-level math skills! Umm hmm…me again.

Asians are hard working! Again...me.

Asians are humble! Stop already! You’re embarrassing me!

The evidence is in. I am a superhero. I mean, who wouldn’t want to have these traits?

But because I’m a superhero by virtue of my Asian-ness, that also means the other billion or so Asians in this world are my fellow superheroes.

In fact, with so many of us around, we have formed an alliance. We’ve put together a kind of brainiac superhero organization dedicated to the pursuit of solving all mathematical equations with one slide rule tied behind our backs. A crack squad of overachievers that can leap tall physics equations in a single bound, be faster than a

JAYAPAL from 3

That happened on Nov. 17 when the 82-year-old Pelosi took to the House floor to announce that she will be stepping aside after leading the party for nearly two decades.

Democratic Reps. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Katherine Clark of Massachusetts and Pete Aguilar of California are seen as likely to replace Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Whip Jim Clyburn as the new leadership team.

Jeffries, a member of the Progressive Caucus, could make history as the nation’s first Black speaker of the House if Democrats regain control of Congress in the future.

Jayapal said that it was only in the last few weeks that she made her own decision not to pursue a leadership post.

In October, Jayapal retracted a letter from the caucus that had urged Biden to engage in direct diplomatic talks with Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. The letter generated intense blowback, exposed Democratic divisions and left some questioning if Jayapal is prepared for leadership.

She denied the letter as being one of the factors for her decision.

Instead, Jayapal said it was the work the caucus had done over the past two years that inspired her to run for chair

speeding calculator, and more powerful than a supercomputer.

Look! Up at the Pi! It’s a bird. It’s a plane! It’s Superasian!!!

We’ve already taken this to the next level - conventions, tupperware parties, the whole nine yards (or 8.2296 meters, in case you were wondering). We have an annual dinner and instead of a keynote speaker, we just pour out a box full of used vacuum cleaner parts, batteries, duct tape and other odds and ends on stage and see where our imagination leads us.

Last year, I lost to Bonnie Yurimoto who won in the “Most Innovative” category, but I still say my hovercraft was way better.

All right, enough. Let me just take a moment to forcefully unstick the tongue placed firmly against my cheek and state, obviously, that I am being facetious.

In point of fact, I am a living, breathing example of an Asian that dispels most Asian stereotypes. I don’t really fit most of the positive ones or the negative ones for that matter.

My math skills are beyond embarrassing. I routinely go to the “15 items or less” counter at the supermarket with 17 or more items. When I use a calculator, I do each calculation twice because I don’t trust my ability to type the right keys. I boast to my wife that I got a B+ in Advanced Calculus in college but I neglect to mention that I didn’t understand it even when I was taking the class. If I recall, my calculus finals used a multiple- choice format and I was on a hot streak that day (Let’s see...I chose answer “B” last time so this time I’ll go for a “D”...).

I do work hard but that has less to do with being Asian and more to do with having three kids, one dog, a big mortgage, and a steady craving for Krispy Kreme donuts.

As far as whether I match up with negative Asian stereotypes, let’s see. I’m six feet tall, have never owned a laundry, did not study to be an engineer, don’t know what a pocket protector looks like, and I was a running back on my high school football team. And while my math

again, this time to lead the largest number of progressive members in the group’s history, including the more than a dozen new members of the group elected to Congress this month.

If Jefferies announces his run for minority leader when Congress comes back after the Thanksgiving break, Jayapal said, there are

skills have never taken me very far, I’ve always had a knack for writing. None of that makes me super, but it suits me just fine.

Wayne can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

a number of things she would ask of him and his leadership team before pledging the progressive group’s support.

“I do want to sit down with him,“ Jayapal said, “just to make sure we’re talking through the role of the CPC as it relates to the leader.”

SATURDAYS THROUGH JANUARY 2023

SEATTLE’S FORMER IMMIGRATION & NATURALIZATION SERVICES (INS) BUILDING TOURS

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tickets at wingluke.org/ insbuildingtour Tours do not run on 11/19, 11/26, 12/24 1/21

NOW THROUGH 1/15/2023

EXHIBIT: SRIJON

CHOWDHURY: SAME OLD SONG

Frye Art Museum, 704 Terry Ave., Seattle Admission is free Wed-Sun: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

NOW THROUGH 2/19/2023

EXHIBIT, “WE ARE CHANGING THE TIDE: COMMUNITY POWER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE”

The Wing Luke Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle Thu-Sun, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. wingluke.org/we-are-changingthe-tide

NOW THROUGH 9/18/2023

RESISTERS: A LEGACY OF MOVEMENT FROM THE JAPANESE AMERICAN INCARCERATION

The Wing Luke Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle Thu-Sun, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. wingluke.org

NOV 26

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

Seattle’s C-ID 11 a.m.-4 p.m. https://fb.me/e/2ldqIFKp1

DEC 1

DANISHA JEFFERSONABYE WILL SPEAK

ABOUT THE WORK OF THE TUBMAN CENTER, WHICH IS WORKING TO ADVANCE HEALTH JUSTICE, CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE CARE AND INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

Tubman Center for Health & Freedom 11:30 a.m-1 p.m. Register at https://bit.ly/3EOESY3 seattleidrotary.org

3 & 4

INSCAPE ARTS OPEN STUDIO TOURS

Wing Luke Asian Museum 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tickets at wingluke.org/insbuildingtour

JENNY LIOU DISCUSSES “MUSCLE MEMORY”

Seattle Public Library, 1000 4th Ave., Seattle 7-8 p.m. Register at https://bit.ly/3hPXRZa

8

3SANTA IS COMING TO THE C-ID! PHOTO WITH SANTA 12-3 p.m. Wing Luke Museum wingluke.org

GSCCC SCHOLARSHIP FOR WOMEN 2022

Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE 6th Street, Bellevue 5-9 p.m. https://conta.cc/3V0Vx0m Tickets $38 - $170

6BOOK TALK WITH CHRISTOPHER MARQUIS, “MAO AND MARKETS: THE COMMUNIST ROOTS OF CHINESE ENTERPRISE”

Via Zoom 4-5 p.m. RSVP at https://bit.ly/3i33gw7

KOREA, THE UNITED STATES, AND THE INDOPACIFIC FRAMEWORK FOR PROSPERITY: TRANSFORMING ECONOMIES AND MANAGING THE THREAT FROM CHINA Via Zoom 12-1 p.m. world-affairs.org

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON

NOTICE TO PROPOSERS

Sealed bids will be received for KC000740, CIVIL AND STRUCTURAL CONSTRUCTION WORK ORDER; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, via the E-Procurement system, until 1:30 pm on DECEMBER 14, 2022. Late bids will not be accepted. The public bid opening will only be conducted on-line following the Bid Close Date and Time; see Section 00 10 00 for details.

There is a 3% minimum Apprentice Utilization Requirement on this contract.

There is a 5% minimum requirement for King County Certified Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS) on this contract.

Brief Scope: The scope of work for this work order contract includes,

CELEBRATE SCIDPDA’S NEW CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

Ocean Star, 605 7th Ave. S., Seattle 5:30-7 p.m. RSVP at https://bit.ly/3V1StR6

15

JOE HUNTER WILL DISCUSS HOW R.A.R.E. IS WORKING TO INCREASE RACIAL EQUITY

Restorative Justice Coalition 11:30 a.m-1 p.m. For zoom link contact rotaryofseattleid@gmail.com

but is not limited to demolition, erection of structures, general carpentry work, mill and casework, site work, concrete structure installation, flexible pavement repairs, and all other work necessary to keep Solid Waste facilities in working order.

Estimated contract price: NTE $1,000,000.00

Prospective bidders can view more details at: https://kingcounty.gov/ procurement/solicitations

Complete Invitation to Bid Documents, including all project details, specifications, and contact information are available on our web page at: https://kingcounty.gov/procurement/supplierportal

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Account Executives

KeLLy LiAo kelly@nwasianweekly.com John Liu john@nwasianweekly.com geoRge hiRA ghira@nwasianweekly.com

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

The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject any advertisement, letter or article. Subscriptions cost $40 for 52 weeks of the NW Asian Weekly and $30 for 52 weeks of the Seattle Chinese Post. The NW Asian Weekly owns the copyright for all its content. All rights reserved. No part of this paper may be reprinted without permission.

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New year, new plan

By Terry Tang, Senior Manager HUMANA

As 2023 quickly approaches, many may start to consider their New Year’s resolutions. If exercising more, eating healthier, losing weight, and living more economically are on your list, you’re not alone. In fact, a survey found those were among the top five resolutions for 2022.

For those 65 or older or individuals eligible for Medicare due to disability, it may be easier than you think to choose a healthcare plan that aligns with these goals, as many Medicare Advantage plans provide coverage and benefits to help you live a healthy, active life.

While selecting a Medicare plan that suits your individual needs can feel overwhelming, it’s an important task since the plan you select by the Dec. 7 Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan deadline is the plan you’ll likely have for all of the coming year. Whether you are new to Medicare or re-evaluating your plan options, I urge anyone who is eligible to enroll to conduct a personal assessment to identify the type of plan that’s best suited for your unique health needs.

This can include checking to see if your doctors and hospitals are in network, as well as whether dental, vision, and hearing coverage is included. It’s also important to make a list of your current medications so you can compare estimated prescription costs as you evaluate plan options. Some plans even offer $0 copays for certain prescriptions, which can result in a significant savings if you take several medications.

When you compare Medicare plan options, also consider the innovative benefits you’d use.

For example, if losing weight and increasing activity are part of your New Year’s goals, look for coverage that includes free exercise programs such as SilverSneakers®, a health and fitness program that is included at no additional cost for most Humana Medicare Advantage members. You may also look for a plan that includes allowances for eligible members that can go toward groceries and over-thecounter products.

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Celebrating

Since the Chinatown-International District (CID) narrowly escaped catastrophe this year, it reminds me to be grateful for the good in our community.

Two major government projects were paused after community resistance. First, King County backed down from building the mega SODO homeless shelter on the CID border. Secondly, Sound Transit is beginning to grasp the impact of a second light rail station in the CID, pushing 5th Avenue South to be a viable location to connect West Seattle and Ballard.

These wins are rare for us after years of racism, exploitation, and neglect in the neighborhood. What is most phenomenal is how the community banded together to combat these encroachments through protests, meetings, and lobbying officials behind the scenes, while openly expressing their oppositions through the Northwest Asian Weekly.

In our 40 years of publishing, I have never seen the community being so fed up that the CID has always been the chosen location to endure harmful projects. Yet, there is beauty drifting out of the struggle: the united front of our community. That would not be possible decades ago under the rivalry of old guards in a factionized community.

Historically, there was often bickering between the Chinese and Filipinos, Chinese and Japanese, and Filipinos and Japanese. Conflicts grew not just among different Asian segments, but within the Chinese, Filipino, and Japanese communities themselves. Issues such as identity between immigrants and American-born, generational frictions, fighting for territory and competing for funding, attention and favors from public officials, and how Chinatown should be named. These issues consumed the older generation instead of finding common ground. Decades of old wounds and grudges from the older leaders, who believed in historical stereotypes and assumptions of other ethnic groups, are also major factors in contributing to a dysfunctional and divisive community. So what has changed that enables us to stick together?

HIERARCHY IS OUT

Why it has worked so far is because the organizers share the belief, “We are all in this together. There is no No. 1, No. 2, or No. 3 in the group.”

Aside from not having titles, there is no particular organization named to head the movement.

I have witnessed nothing but respect and grace exhibited among these community members and leaders towards one another. Their goal is to share information and recognize each other’s expertise to proceed in fighting outside forces. Their actions signal the right attitude. Titles are unimportant, but results are. For that, I am proud of our community. How far we have come! There are so many heroes among the group that it would be hard for me to name them all. I don’t want to risk leaving someone out.

CREDIT IS SECONDARY

During the fight, no one individual or organization claimed any credit. When no one is interested in getting credit, our community can overcome monumental obstacles. And that’s exactly what happened during the last few months.

In the old days, some leaders were notorious for seeking recognition and credit not only for themselves but the group they represented. And they became obstacles for the community to move forward when confronting challenges and even pursuing meaningful endeavors. That’s why it took the Chinese community more than 40 years to build the Chinatown historic gate on South King Street.

SHOW UP AND DO THE WORK

Our community organizers deserve praise for showing up and doing the work. Fighting bureaucracy is nothing glamorous, but time-consuming and tedious. There are many big and small hearings with elected officials. Showing up in numbers projects the community’s strength.

The community can work together because new blood has been infused in the group without the old baggage. Under the leadership of several

organizers, the community had a consistently strong turnout in the Sound Transit and City and County Council hearings.

Size and diversity matter, too. Diversity means visibility in terms of the difference in age groups and gender. The officials can’t tell if you are Cambodian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, or Filipino. But the Asian presence and confidence were deeply felt. With the protest signs

they held and the testimony they gave, even in their native tongue, the Asian audience became dynamic.

Organizers had also done their homework before and after. They studied how the system worked and recruited volunteers to share the load in organizing. Division of labor was critical. Those who know how to connect with the media, contacted them.

Save the CID army

CID protestors going to a King County Council meeting.

Photos by Assunta Ng

rare phenomenons during Thanksgiving

BLOG from previous page

This is essential in amplifying messages of injustice. Those who can spread the word, distribute flyers, put up posters and posts on WeChat to encourage participation, and organize other logistics make the protests go smoothly. After the meeting, some wrote briefs to inform other members who were unable to attend. They also worked on their next steps to manage the meetings with the elected officials. The CID’s organizing machine is incredibly powerful.

A CLEAN AND RESILIENT CID

If you notice that trash has been decreasing in CID for the past two months, it is because the City has hired custodians to clean much more often than past administrations. I have seen them clean the streets as early as 6:30 a.m. on a Saturday. Sometimes, they clean the alleys twice a day. Weekend cleaning was unheard of in the past. Thank you, Mayor Bruce Harrell, for your commitment to improve the CID.

Cleaner streets might have attracted more people to visit CID on weekends during the day. Like downtown, CID has been affected by the homeless and crime issues, and labor shortages, too. But CID restaurants are recovering far better than downtown restaurants.

Most CID restaurants are mom-andpop businesses. They have less labor shortage problems as much of their labor force comes from family members and they didn’t lay-off relatives during the pandemic, no matter how lousy business was. Some CID restaurants even applied for several relatives from China to work for them before Covid.

However, some downtown restaurants laid off everybody except a few chefs to cook for take-out meals during the lockdown. Now, they are desperate for employees to return, and few have.

BEYOND EXPECTATIONS

I have to confess the SODO homeless project and Sound Transit’s abrupt decision to push the 4th and 5th Avenue South stations in CID have impacted the

Asian Weekly, too. Those crises gave us opportunities to do good work.

“You have the best coverage,” community members have been telling us. Some even forwarded our stories to elected officials and friends. It meant so much as I passed the feedback to our team. We savor those

three years. So the question is, “How does it affect us financially?”

Prior to the pandemic, we used to organize as many as six events during the year.

2022 has been a good year for us. For the first time in my career, I have reversed how I spend my work time. 90% of my time focuses

on journalism, and little on the business side. This switch is made possible because of our changing fortune.

Advertising agencies have knocked on our door and given us unsolicited business. Strangers see BLOG on 15

moments. And we have been energized and inspired by our community’s response to those fiascos created by our officials.

One such person who has touched me deeply is community leader Bettie Luke. A month ago, she wanted three different issues which contained those stories. She requested 30 to 40 copies of those issues to give to the Sound Transit board, and City and County Council officials, with her own written notes attached to each of them. Those stories not only educated the officials, but highlighted the Asian Weekly’s reporting. Luke is an original. Her actions are consequential. We are so grateful that she knows how to use the Asian Weekly well.

A RARE JOURNEY

Some have noticed that the Asian Weekly has not produced big events for the past

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The Northwest

Asian

Weekly &

Seattle Chinese

Post would like to thank the following persons and organizations for advertising their political campaigns before and after the election. We appreciate your business and support during these challenging times. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Candidate Cliff Moon

Rep. Adam Smith

King County Prosecutor-elect Leesa Manion

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray

WA Secretary of State Steve Hobbs

State Sen. Joe Nguyen

State Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos

Candidate Jamila Tayler

King County Proposition 1 (KC Prop 1)

Judge Adam Eisenberg

Organizations:

Office of the Secretary of State of Washington

ACRS

King County Elections

APACE

AARP

Filipino American Political Action Group of WA

AAPI Victory Fund

CID protesters outside City Hall, ahead of a Seattle City Council meeting.

CID protesters on their way to the site of a proposed SODO homeless shelter.

Bettie Luke at a rally at Hing Hay Park.

Photos by Assunta Ng

BY ANDREW HAMLIN NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Julie Kim grew up in Toronto, and learned culture from a Korean-Canadian point of view.

Two of her main influences, though, turned out to be stuff most American kids can relate to as well—comedy and candy.

“Most of my earliest memories are in the convenience store operated by my parents. We lived and played in our upstairs apartment and in the store as if it was one place,” remembered Kim, who plays a set at the Here-After comedy club inside the Crocodile in Belltown, on Dec. 1.

“I remember loving sugar. I stole candy bars and cans of pop (which you Americans call soda). All of my front top teeth were removed long before my adult teeth were ready. I had a speech impediment for a while and I spit when I talked.”

The speech impediment slipped away as her adult teeth came in. But she paid close attention to the family television, always with an emphasis on the funny stuff.

“My parents were always working, so my siblings and I watched TV all the time. Cartoons, sitcoms (with content that was not suitable for small children), SNL…anything

funny. Mainly because other things like dramas and mysteries scared me. They were also less visually appealing, usually dark and somber. I gravitated toward the light, and also it was more age appropriate.

“I grew up watching comics like Seinfeld and Robin Williams, and the intelligence that came through in their comedy told me that stand up was done well by smart people. I’ve always been open to changing, and so my influences change. I’m Ronny Chieng’s number one fan. Atsuko Okatsuka is a delightful killer. I love how fierce and fearless Ali Wong delivers everything.”

Her professional career dates to 12 years ago, when she studied standup in Toronto. She’d always been funny, but paying for the class motivated her to study humor seriously.

“I remember doing my first standup set at our class recital. I had cold sweats and could think of nothing else for the days leading up to it. Then I forgot one of my jokes. What a mess! It’s all continued to be a beautiful and enjoyable mess.

“The first year was full of flops! I did open mics and small local shows all over Toronto, multiple times a week. Sometimes there were six audience members, and they see KIM on 13

Seattle celebrates

Asian Mayor Bruce Harrell at Joyale Seafood Restaurant.

AVOID overspending holiday

By Bao Tran Chase Private Client Banker

Consumer purchasing power is more diverse than ever, with Asian consumers as central drivers of seasonal spending. As you prepare your holiday shopping list, and your budget, remember, a little bit of planning can go a long way to achieving a financially healthy holiday season.

Here are seven essential money-saving tips for consumers ahead of the busy spending season.

1 Build a holiday budget, and stick to it.

There’s so much pressure during the holiday season to buy and it’s easy to spend more money than you planned. Consider using tools budgeting apps to help you stay on track and prevent overspending.

2 Open a dedicated savings account.

You might consider opening a holiday-specific savings account to put money aside each week. Saving for later will help make a difference when it’s time to buy gifts for your loved ones.

3 Explore your credit card offers.

Many credit cards have special offers based on your previous purchases that can help save money on holiday gifts, while others give special cash back deals for online purchases. Take advantage of those discounts and be flexible. If you can’t find a good deal on the gift you originally planned to buy, see if any of the special offers you qualify for might appeal to someone on your list.

4

Use credit responsibly.

Credit cards are handy financial tools, as long as they’re used responsibly. Make sure you pay the balance each month by the due date to avoid interest charges or pay at least the minimum payment to avoid late fees. Resist the temptation to spend more than you can pay in any given month.

5 Take advantage of coupons and discounts.

Retailers have already started holiday sales and, of course, all of the popular discount days—Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday—present opportunities to save. You can also use money-saving apps like RetailMeNot, Honey, and Rakuten to get cash-back deals and discounts automatically when you shop online.

6 Cut back on other expenses.

The holiday season is a good time to cut back on impulse shopping or frivolous spending. Cutting out those unnecessary expenditures will allow you to account for the season’s natural surge in discretionary spending.

7

QUARANTINE DEATH from 4

“We have sorted out the problems reported by the masses,” Shen said. He didn’t mention the girl’s death in Zhengzhou.

Local governments are being given more flexibility in possible preparation for gradual reopening of the country, but a timetable is unclear, said economists Helen Qiao, Benson Wu and Xiaoqing Pi of Bank of America in a report. They pointed to the major cities of Guangzhou, Chongqing and Shijiazhuang, which all are coping with an uptick in infections.

“Their responses and reopening paths will be useful for other cities to prepare for their reopening,” they said. “No matter what measures they undertake, we do expect a short term shock on the local economic activities.“

Economists and health experts have said “zero-COVID” might stay in place for up to another year because the government needs to vaccinate millions of elderly people before it can lift curbs that keep most foreign visitors out of China.

Videos on social media last week that said they were shot in Guangzhou showed angry residents knocking over barriers set up by white-garbed health workers. The 1.8 million residents of the city’s Haizhu district were confined to their homes but some restrictions were lifted on Nov.14.

A total of 1,659 cases were reported in Henan province, another hot spot where Zhengzhou is located.

Access to a Zhengzhou industrial zone that is home to the world’s biggest iPhone factory was suspended this month following outbreaks. Apple Inc. said deliveries of its new iPhone 14 model would be delayed.

Last month, thousands of employees walked away from the factory operated by Taiwan’s Foxconn Technology Group after complaints that coworkers who fell ill received no treatment.

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News reports say the ruling party has ordered “grassroots cadres” to take the place of missing workers and Foxconn is offering bonuses to others who stay. Foxconn has not responded to requests for confirmation or details.

The 4-month-old girl in Zhengzhou and her father were sent into quarantine on Nov. 12, according to news reports and social media.

An account on social media that said it was written by the father, identified as Li Baoliang, said he started calling the emergency hotline at noon that day after she suffered vomiting and diarrhea. It said the hotline responded that the girl wasn’t sick enough to need emergency care. The account said health workers at the quarantine site called an ambulance but the crew refused to deal with them because the father tested positive for the virus.

The girl finally arrived at a hospital at 11 p.m. but died despite efforts to revive her, the account said.

The account attributed to the father complained the emergency hotline acted improperly, nearby hospitals weren’t ready to help and the hospital where they ended up failed to provide “timely treatment” and gave him “seriously false” information.

“Epidemic prevention and control people, do you not have a heart?” said another posting on Sina Weibo.

The Zhengzhou city government said the incident was under investigation, according to news reports.

A report on the social media account of news outlet China News Weekly was reposted 11,000 times and received 45,000 “likes,“ according to Sina Weibo.

In the capital, Beijing, access to elite Peking University was suspended on Nov.16. People who visited a vegetable market in the city’s southeast where a case was found were ordered into quarantine in a hotel at their own expense. Some shopping malls and office buildings have been closed.

WASTEWATER from 4

the damaged reactor cores, which remain highly radioactive, has since leaked into the basements of the reactor buildings and has been collected and stored in tanks.

The release plan has been fiercely opposed by fishermen, local residents and Japan’s neighbors, including China and South Korea. Fukushima residents worry the reputation of their agricultural and fishing products will be further damaged.

Most of the radioactivity is removed from the water during treatment, but tritium cannot be removed and low levels of some other radionuclides also remain. The government and TEPCO say the environmental and health impacts will be negligible if the water is slowly released after further treatment and dilution by large amounts of seawater.

Some scientists say the impact of long-term, lowdose exposure to tritium and other radionuclides on the environment and humans is still unknown and the release plan should be delayed. They say tritium affects humans more when it is consumed in fish.

TEPCO plans to transport the treated water through a pipeline from the tanks to a coastal facility, where it will be diluted with seawater and sent through an undersea tunnel, currently under construction, to an offshore outlet.

Caruso said his taskforce plans to visit again in January to meet with nuclear regulators, and will release a final report before the planned release begins. A report on last week’s mission is expected in three months.

BELLEVUE

from 1

In fact, it was his experience in Seattle, where he said he received ongoing help from the city, that had led him to expect a similar experience in Bellevue.

But he found what appeared to him a series of ongoing challenges—epitomized by the sign. In the end, he simply took down the description of the fare.

Moreover, Bangera said he is not alone. He said he has spoken to many small business owners in Bellevue, along with restaurant owners, who say they’ve encountered similar problems—which Bangera sums up as a feeling that the city doesn’t care if he is there.

In a response to the issues raised by Bangera, the city’s Development Services staff said, “The City of Bellevue aims to deliver exceptional customer service and an understandable and predictable permitting process. We value the feedback we receive from our customers and stakeholders as it allows us to better adapt our services to meet the needs of the community.”

Still, city officials say the location is particularly challenging.

While Bangera’s story reflects the experience of only a single restaurateur and cannot be taken to mirror the experience of every, or perhaps even most, small businesses in Bellevue, his interactions with the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce seem to highlight some of the growing pains of the city.

ANXIETY IN THE BUILD-OUT STAGE

Joe Fain, the president and CEO of the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce, for his part, said he had spoken to multiple restaurateurs in Bellevue in advance of his conversation with the Northwest Asian Weekly.

He said restaurant owners that were farther along the process of development, as compared with those that were just starting out and were concerned with the kinds of issues that Bangera faced, such as permitting and inspections, gave rave reviews to the city.

“If you’re operational and your engagement is around public safety, taxation, and ongoing regulations, there are a lot of positive feelings,” he said. “But in the early stage, the build-out and inspection stage, there is a lot of angst. This is one of the primary aims of the chamber’s work with the city—to focus on this area.”

GROWTH BOOM ADDS TO CITY’S CHALLENGES

Fain has tried to assist Bangera through many of his problems—and admits there is room for improvement. Still, he said, the massive boom of development in Bellevue, with “very sophisticated actors” coming in, and the record number of developments being put up, has exhausted city staff, who nevertheless have the best intentions.

The “high velocity” of growth has slowed issues such as Bangera’s coming down the pipeline, he said.

“The thing that is most exciting to see about Bellevue city leaders, from the city manager to elected officials, is that they have this attitude, which is, ‘Help me do this better.’ They are willing to rethink the way they do things,” said Fain.

Fain admits though, that from Bangera’s perspective, the struggle has been a “hardship.”

POSITIVE EXPERIENCES

Oliver Bangera came to the United States in 1991 and attended Washington State University, where he said the university did everything it could to accommodate him.

Because, in India, it takes 15 years to get an undergraduate degree, Bangera was lacking the single extra year he would need to qualify for graduate school here, where it takes 16 years for a bachelor’s degree.

At first, school officials allowed him to take a single year of undergraduate studies to prepare him for graduate school. But he did so well that after a semester, they allowed him to go straight into the master’s program in Political Science. He was so enthused by the encouragement and sense of welcome that he got, that he ran for student body president of the graduate school—and won.

“The percentage of Indian students there was tiny, but even the grocery store clerk would ask me, ‘How’s the campaign going?’”

When he opened a restaurant in Pioneer Square, seven years ago, he felt the same warmth and welcome.

“The City of Seattle wanted to make sure I was okay,” he said, while sitting in his Bellevue restaurant, sipping Chai, a brown Indian tea. “I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t even know whom to ask questions.”

It started when he discovered that Seattle had recently changed its building codes so that it was no longer

permissible to have a fire escape through the kitchen.

“That of course makes sense,” said Bangera, who has a fine rounded down mustache of salt and pepper hair that adds a gentleness and fastidiousness to his face. “Since most fires start in the kitchen.”

But the building he had chosen and was about to lease was a landmark building and it was not possible to make the kind of modifications necessary.

Fortunately, a neighborhood association had approached him and told him about the city’s restaurant liaison, a staff member whose job was designed to help restaurant owners in such situations as this.

Bangera met with her and explained the situation.

One week later, through her intervention, city officials met with Bangera and grandfathered in the prior coding requirements, allowing him to sign the lease and open what has now become an award-winning restaurant.

Before that restaurant opening, Bangera had assumed, because there was a standard gas meter in the basement of the restaurant, that it would be hooked up. Dismayed, with only a few weeks before opening, and having already made the announcement about the opening, he discovered there was no working gas line.

In a panic, he called the head of the Alliance for Pioneer Square, who had first encouraged him to open up a restaurant in the neighborhood.

“She knew someone at [Puget Sound Energy] and made a call and they came and repaired it the same day,” said Bangera.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

So, coming to Bellevue, he no doubt had similar expectations. In 2019, he leased the old California Pizza Kitchen building, which had gone out of business. In India, where he had grown up poor, although to a very hardworking father who owned an auto repair shop, Bangera and his sisters ate mostly street food. It was all they could afford.

But in India, street food was also eaten by many office workers, who did not have the time for long meals. Besides, it was healthy, filling, and you could choose meat or vegetarian options.

So Bangera chose the location also because it was in the midst of a forest of high rises.

“At 11:00 or 11:30, the office workers would come down to the streets and I would be able to offer them this food,” he said.

THE SIGN

But a few months later, the pandemic hit. Suddenly, all the office workers he had counted on were working from home.

That made it even more essential—a matter of pure survival, actually—for him to reach any remaining workers or pedestrians or anyone in the vicinity.

That was where his woes began.

The first letter of his sign, “K,” was written larger than the rest. It was a bare six inches taller than allowed. And with the lettering underneath that said, “Indian Street Food,” it was determined too large by the City of Bellevue, he said.

Bangera couldn’t understand it. Standing out on the

street outside his restaurant, he asked this reporter to look at the enormous signs on the sides of buildings.

“You see,” he said. “Those are permissible.”

But when he raised the same question with the city, he was told it was because they weren’t at street level, he said.

He then pointed out that Macy’s had a street level sign that was gigantic.

“And what about McDonald’s? Their ‘M’ is a lot bigger than six inches,” he told the city officials.

But they told him these were exceptions, and he would still have to abide by the six-inch rule, he said.

So today, the pink glowing sign of his restaurant is so small, you can barely read it from the street. And worse, there is no indication of what the exotic and unique fare is inside.

During the interview, a couple in masks roamed inside. Bangera stopped and looked up and said warmly, “Welcome! Welcome!”

A LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Fain worked with Bangera on the sign.

“The sign was problematic, I reviewed the code, and the sign he had constructed was not within the code,” said Fain. “And then, the question was, ‘What was the process or possibility of getting a variance?’”

But Bangera contrasted his experience working with the City of Seattle when he was allowed to grandfather in a code exception.

Fain agreed with Bangera that the City of Bellevue could learn from Seattle in several areas.

“He has a fair point there and the thing that heartens me is I think the City of Bellevue also believes he has a fair point,” said Fain. “The question is, ‘How do you create a customer service environment where you ensure public and consumer safety and at the same time prioritize the success of the business owner? The experience of Seattle should be applauded. And I know that Bellevue would look at that and say, ‘How can that be replicated?’”

Bangera thinks it boils down to his not having enough resources.

“I don’t have time to be bitter,” he said. “Life is too short. But if I were a big company like McDonald’s, I would have my own legal team that could fight this, and I would win.”

THE PLUMBING

Another instance came when the city required that he provide a drawing of existing plumbing.

“Those documents are supposed to be stored with the city,” said Bangera.

But when he asked for assistance, he said the city told him he would have to provide them himself.

So he reluctantly hired a licensed plumber who painstakingly reproduced the original drawings.

But when he submitted these, Bangera said he was told they were insufficient and he would need to hire a mechanical engineering company, which he did, costing him double what he had already paid the plumber.

COMING CHANGES

Fain said in working with Bangera to try to resolve this issue, he worked with some excellent and well-intentioned people in the city, but unfortunately the results were not as desired.

Getting permits for such a commercial space in Bellevue, a fast-growing city, compared to getting permits for a landmark building in Seattle, which had its growth boom a decade ago, also involve different processes.

Still, Fain said, the City of Bellevue would be the first to admit they are trying to do better with issues of the kind raised by Bangera.

Even as the city has tried to hire more permit reviewers, planners, and other related staff, the tight hiring market has slowed the growth in capacity.

Still, he said, the chamber has backed modest increases in city revenues, including fees for land use code amendments, in this year’s budget. These will help the city increase its ability to alleviate issues such as Bangera’s.

“We are working with the city to have the city increase capacity in permitting and inspections,” he said.

OUTSIDE SEATING

Bangera said he has lost a half-million dollars due to what he feels is neglect from the city when he needed help the most, and also due to property taxes he had to pay during the further devastation of COVID-19.

Needing to attract customers to his restaurant, Bangera

Photo by Mahlon Meyer

A fold-out sandwich board describes the restaurant’s fare.

Predictions and advice for the week of November 26–December 2, 2022

By Sun Lee Chang

Rat—There are those who just worry about getting by, but you will find a way to soar above the rest.

Ox—Your advice has helped many—just remember to take and practice your own good advice as well.

Tiger—Is the puzzle nearly complete? A little extra effort should help you get the last few pieces together.

Rabbit—You are in demand this week, but that does not mean you have to accept or even entertain every offer.

WHAT’S YOUR ANIMAL SIGN?

Dragon—The more limited your time is, the more important it is to be selective about what you choose to take on.

Snake—Your timing has landed you in an enviable position. Use that leverage to your advantage at work.

Horse—In order to move the ball forward, you will need allies to help you. Emphasize shared goals and interests.

Goat—Are you confused by someone else’s reaction to your news? They may have something else unrelated going on.

Monkey—A narrow win should be celebrated, but think of ways to widen the margin of victory for next time.

Rooster—Does it seem like the tide is turning in your favor? If so, get ready to make your move very soon.

Dog—Your visibility is quite high right now. As such, a job well done could have some additional unforeseen benefits.

Pig—Reach out to a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while. The connection could spur an interesting conversation.

RAT 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 OX 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 TIGER 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 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, 2019

BELLEVUE from previous page

resorted to stunts such as leaving the lights on all night. “At least they’ll know we’re here,” he said.

He’s had a string of Bollywood celebrities. He is also planning to bring comedians, an open mike night, and other musical entertainment.

On the day of the interview, there was a sign on the street, a stand-up fold-out sandwich board that was about the height of a child, that said, “Indian Street Food.” But with parked cars and standing buses along the block, it was only visible from up close.

“We’ve started to go to office buildings and hand out fliers,” he said, half in despair and excitement.

Yet it seemed to be working, at least somewhat. By 11:30, orders “to go” were starting to come in. By noon, the restaurant was starting to fill up.

His newest plan is to put in outdoor seating.

“We’ve got to do something else to let people know what’s going on here,” he said.

But a familiar foreboding has crept again into his feelings about dealing with the city.

When he asked about regulations, he said he was told simply that he would have to commission an architect to submit drawings—there was no inspector who could come down and explain codes to him.

“All of this expenditure eats away at my ability to survive,” he said.

Fain commiserated.

“This is a good example of one of the places where there is room for improvement. Whether it’s local land-use

codes or state and federal regulations, the government must put forth clear conditions for success and have a permitting or application processes that is easy to understand and uniformly applied,” said Fain.

MOVING FORWARD— TOGETHER

Bangera wants to be clear that not all his experiences have been negative. His landlord allowed him to begin paying his lease after he opened, rather than during the height of the pandemic.

“Both Joe Fain and Lynne Robinson, the mayor of Bellevue, have been encouraging and supportive, and I’m hopeful that things can get better as Bellevue grows,” he said.

But, in the end, Bangera’s feelings of abandonment spurred him in another direction.

Despite his experiences in Bellevue, he has decided to open a third restaurant, and is in discussions to open two more—all in Seattle.

He still thinks Bellevue favors titans at the expense of the small fry.

“Supporting big business is good, but you have to support small business, too,” he said.

After his second cup of Chai, he waxed philosophical.

“The soul of a city is determined by how it treats the weakest and the least powerful, not how it treats the most powerful and the richest,” he said, emotionally. “Small businesses are the heart and soul of a community—they determine its vibrancy.” 

Mahlon can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

LEE from 3

fulfilling her commitment to compete for Auburn. The Tigers are coached by Jeff Graba, the twin brother of Lee’s personal coach, Jess Graba.

Lee became the first reigning Olympic champion to compete at the NCAA level, with attendance at meets spiking wherever she and the Tigers went. Lee is hoping to lead Auburn back to the NCAA championships after they finished fourth in the finals last spring.

CAVE from 4

connected by a corridor. A starry night sky has been painted on the semicircular roof to reinforce a feeling of coolness. A painting of a World War II fighter plane hangs on the wall.

Diners drop beef tripe, meat, fish and vegetables into a bubbling broth filled with floating red chili peppers and lip-numbing Sichuan peppercorns. A non-spicy broth is also available— in a smaller container.

“We stay away from the summer heat in these air raid shelters,” said Tang Ronggang, as wisps of steam

Yet with the 2024 games less than two years away, the Minnesota native will return to training at the elite level next spring in hopes of being ready in time to make the five-woman U.S. Olympic team. An American team led by 2020 Olympians Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles won gold at the world championships earlier this month.

“I have my sights set on Paris in 2024 and I know what I have to do to get there,” Lee said. “I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and putting in the work.” 

rose in front of his face from the hotpot on his table. “It’s cool in here, a good place to stay in summer.”

Chongqing, immediately east of Sichuan, was part of the province until the city and the surrounding area was broken off administratively in 1997.

Some date the city’s hotpot tradition to the 16th century, when porters ate meat and vegetables boiled with fiery spices after a hard day’s work on the docks on the Jialing River. The dish moved into abandoned air raid shelters in the 1970s, giving birth to a new tradition, the cave hotpot. 

KIM from 10

were all other comics on the show. The main lesson I learned was to just keep performing. That’s all I’m doing even now!”

She’s also hung out a shingle as a TV scriptwriter, working on “The Debaters,” “Laugh Out Loud,” “Run the Burbs,” and other shows.

“I didn’t pursue it strongly until a year into the pandemic when I wanted to find other ways to be creative in funny ways to broaden my skill set and pursue new goals,” she explained.

“I love to write funny things. I love funny conversations. I feel like the happiest and most fortunate person in the world when I’m writing. Whereas I write in my own voice for stand-up, writing for TV and movies have me immersed in other worlds and people. I love both.”

Her current comedy tour takes her to Los Angeles, Brea outside of Los Angeles, San Jose, Whistler in British Columbia, and hopefully, some international gigs early in 2023.

Asked about the essential difference between her country and the United States,

she had a fast and ready answer.

“Donald Trump. Or as my kid calls him, Donald Shrimp. She’s not making fun of his name. She thinks that is his name.”

For more information about Julie Kim’s set at the HereAfter inside the Crocodile, visit juliekimcomedy.com/ shows.

Andrew can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

*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.

EMPLOYMENT

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WATERFRONT from 1

Brady has been attached to this park project for over 10 years through planning, design, and now leading the construction phase. With 28 years of experience in engineering and project delivery, she is directly responsible for the design and construction of the Waterfront Seattle Program.

In addition, Friends of Waterfront Seattle is a key partner. They are the nonprofit organization responsible for funding, activating, and stewarding the park.

Joy Shigaki, president and CEO of Friends, said that their work is fundamentally centered in partnerships with the city, community, donors, and businesses to ensure that the park is deeply cared for.

She added, “Friends also contributes philanthropic funds to be a part of the build, to care for it in perpetuity after it opens in 2025, and responsible for the long-term care and activation into the future.”

Shigaki is a fourth generation Seattleite who was born and raised here. She returned to Seattle three months ago to lead Friends. She had spent the last 15 years working in the nonprofit, public, and private partnership space in Oakland and New York.

“It’s an extraordinary moment to come back for this transformative project,” she said.

History and project details

Brady noted that the waterfront program had its beginning in 2001 after the Nisqually earthquake. At the time, the city and state were already talking about replacing aging infrastructure, but the earthquake was the impetus to get them going and to start the conversation about getting a new waterfront.

The Waterfront Park is a linear 20-acre park that stretches from SoDo to Belltown paralleling Highway 99. There was the opportunity for the city and region to reinvest in the health and wellbeing of the waterfront, Shigaki added.

The overall park budget is $756 million, which comprises $268 million of city funding, $218 million of state funding, approximately $160 million of the Local Improvement District (LID) tax, and $110 million of philanthropy funds which Friends helped oversee. (The $756 million doesn’t include the seawall construction which cost $400 million.) The LID tax is a funding tool governed by state law, by which property owners in the downtown Seattle area pay a one-time fee to help fund the costs of public improvements that directly benefit their property.

Both Brady and Shigaki shared that one of the biggest challenges of the project has been staying on schedule. A myriad of contributors have caused the delay of construction—

Bertha delay, COVID-19 impacting the supply chains, and a concrete strike, among other factors.

Park design

Urban design and landscape architecture firm James Corner Field Operations (JCFO) won the international design competition for the waterfront park in 2010. JCFO also notably designed the High Line in Manhattan as well as the Navy Pier in Chicago.

Brady said that the JCFO team beat the other teams by their plan to weave Seattle’s past, present, and future, and sea and shore into the new waterfront.

“They talked about leaving spaces flexible so we could evolve over time with programming. There was a lot of discussion about habitat and shoreline, like how to incorporate some of the shoreline features into the waterfront program. What stood out was that they talked about stitching about Seattle waterfront landmarks, such as Pike Place and Colman Dock, back to downtown Seattle,” Brady said.

Programming

Pier 62 was the first piece of the waterfront park that opened in 2020. According to Brady, this was considered an early win since they were able to build it without relying on the tunnel or viaduct.

Since opening, over 180,000 people visited the pier and over 80,000 came out for the public programs.

“Pier 62 has been a great example of what the new park will feel like. Friends has done an amazing job programming that and bringing the community together,” she added.

Friends’ approach to programming has been focused on bringing in BIPOC communities into the space.

Shigaki said that their public programs team has developed over 159 programs with over 50 community partners in 2021. The programs included arts and culture programming such as the Langston Black Film Festival, indigenous storytelling, a Korean festival, as well as movement and fitness like kickboxing, Zumba, and more.

“We’re really centered on partnership with the community and doing it in a really deep way. We want to invite community members to take tours and to look at the changes happening. It’s about building that confidence of reconnection and showing excitement for programming on the waterfront,” Shigaki added.

Shigaki said their main focus is to continue building relationships, as well as evaluate this summer’s programming and build on best practices to adjust for next year.

For example, the community engagement

team has been working with the Wing Luke Asian Museum, SCIDPDA, and other organizations to make connections to inform programming.

“Part of our work is to elevate diverse stories along the waterfront, like telling the story of the Chinese American exclusion on the waterfront or the Japanese American incarceration—it was the first location of evaluation from Bainbridge Island. We recognize there are a lot of rich stories to be surfaced to reclaim the connection to place, that’ll be another way to connect more intentionally to the API community,” Sigaki said.

“We recognize it’s about how to find collective opportunities to make accessibility from the Chinatown-International District (CID) to the waterfront easier,” she said.

There are plans to have the waterfront shuttle going again next year. Friends is also thinking about creating easier and safer access during different times of the year for elders from the CID to experience the waterfront.

Waterfront safety

Ivar’s President Bob Donegan told the Rotary Club of Seattle on Nov. 2, “When you walk the waterfront, you won’t find homeless people or needles or tents because we’re so fastidious about it.”

Donegan said members of the Waterfront Association walk the area everyday.

“When they see a person who’s struggling, or they see a mess, they take a picture. And we send it to the Office of the Waterfront, Friends of Waterfront Seattle …the public defender’s office, the Department of Transportation, Seattle Parks Department, and within 90 minutes on average, there’s someone providing help.”

Shigaki explained that the park safety proposed model for Waterfront Park has a multi-tiered approach to nimbly respond to various situations in the park with care. A team will be formed between the City, Friends, and REACH via Evergreen Treatment Services to respond to incidents, utilizing the most compassionate approach possible in all situations.

In addition, they will have two full-time social workers available and on call when staff reach out to them to engage as needed. Shigaki noted that the social workers are experienced in understanding people who experience homelessness and that’s an important part of providing care for people.

They’re also transitioning private security to work with community ambassadors to provide an additional layer of engagement with anyone including the unhoused. They will call the Seattle Police Department only if the situation reaches the point of real public safety concerns.

“That’s been an important way to bring a humane approach to public safety for Pier 62, and the approach will continue as we gradually open up the park,” she added.

Through their work, within the waterfront park in 2022, REACH has had 497 encounters, 273 unique individuals in need, with a 15% to 25% of outcomes to services and resources. Over 90% of these interactions are face-to-face on the street, and often the background presence of city safety staff can provide a margin of safety and comfort for the REACH teams to be able to do their work as effectively as possible.

REACH provides various services, from assistance obtaining legal identification, to clothing, shelter, recovery support, access to legal support, violence disclosure, to simple engagement and rapport, phone and mail services, food, and so much more.

Looking ahead

With less than three years from opening, there’s a real moment to bring back an awareness that this park is coming online soon, Shigaki said.

They’re inviting more people to support the philanthropic campaign and new construction to build the future of Friends.

The next project slated to open next month is the Union Street Pedestrian Bridge project. The elevator and pedestrian bridge is at Union Street and connects Western Avenue down to the waterfront. Brady said that this project addresses public comments to increase accessibility for folks to visit the area.

As the 26 city block continues to be under construction, the public can look forward to new roads, and urban design and aesthetics for the waterfront are slated to be finished in phases through 2025.

The Seattle Aquarium is also going through an expansion with the Ocean Pavilion, a 50,000 square-foot exhibit space, to accommodate a 40% increase in expected visitors to the waterfront and aquarium.

“The water’s edge has always been a natural gathering spot for human beings throughout time. With Seattle’s creation of a community space on the waterfront as gorgeous as the views themselves, all of the waterfront businesses will now be the facilitators holding that space for locals and tourists alike. This will have a stimulating and thriving effect on the waterfront businesses as well as Seattle as a whole. As a visionary artist, I can clearly see and feel the creation of a new paradigm for Seattle,” Burgandy Viscosi, local artist and waterfront business owner, shared in an email.

Nina can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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approached us, telling us to apply for grants. It reinvigorates us to know that there are people who are aware of us and value our work. Unsolicited businesses are like presenting us deals on a silver platter. It saves us time, energy, manpower, and stress.

This year, we received a Washington State Health Department grant for the third time. (The first two grants were given to us in 2021.) In addition, we received a Washington State Secretary of State grant through a public relations agency, to do stories on elections. We are so proud that we have exceeded the number of stories and projects required for the proposal. Also, Google has informed us that we are one of the 450 winners of its global News Equity Fund. Bless a fellow publisher’s heart from out-of-state, whom I have never met or heard of, who urged us to apply.

We believe in sharing our good fortune. Our writers have been with us through thick and thin. The worst time for us was the 2020 pandemic. We almost couldn’t pay them, but we did. It was way below what they deserved with their quality writing and skills. They deserve to get a raise.

But one writer thought we made a mistake in her check.

“I picked up my goodie bag today and was astonished to find a check inside with what I thought to be a spelling error,” she emailed me. It was a joy for me to be able to quadruple all writers’ fees and give those who won the Washington Newspaper Publisher Association’s Journalism awards a goodie bag with their monthly check and bonus, chocolate, and jasmine tea. But the rate is still not at par with mainstream media.

This Thanksgiving has been unexpectedly wonderful for the Asian Weekly! Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Some say we are “partners in crime.” We are simply letting our community’s voice be heard. We are the mirror of our community. We serve as a bridge between the officials and the community. And we hold our officials accountable.

In our 40 years of publishing, I have

never seen the community work in sync with each other like 2022. Old grudges and power struggles which destroyed our community, have no place in building a healthier and vibrant Asian community and for developing our younger generation to take over. We are a family, period.

I don’t know what you called this cycle. It wouldn’t be appropriate to call it the end of the pandemic as different variants are still attacking us. The only defense is booster shot although some are still refusing to get vaccines. If you don’t want to go anywhere is fine, but for me that I have to go out often, it’s part of my job, I have a piece of mind when I got it.

This year’s Thanksgiving is early.

Thanksgiving is the best time to reflect why we are so blessed, and not messed up!

A big shoutout to everyone who has helped the Northwest Asian Weekly covering the community first-hand by sending us stories, commentaries, tips, updates and photos, and inspiring us along the way.

As the year comes to an end, we realize how privileged we have been to cover issues this year such as public safety and crime in the CID, Sound Transit’s CID station, the Sodo homeless shelter, Asian American candidates running for office, which affect the community, and how several community members help us to get those coverage by

What the pandemic has taught me, is to go with the flow and not overthink about the future.

Despite newspapers having been categorized as the “sunset” industry, we thrive through our coverage of the Asian community as well as business.

People have noticed and thanked us for our coverage in We have been invigorated through the pandemic.

When 2022 began, it was difficult to predict how the year would lead us. What we don’t know doesn’t matter. What we do know is that the Northwest Asian Weekly works tirelessly to tell the stories of the community. 

Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

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Understanding which plans offer these benefits and whether you qualify can be complicated, so be sure to use free, credible resources to help answer your questions.

Medicare-eligible individuals can turn to trusted resources, such as The Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.

gov to help compare plans, benefits and get an estimated cost for each plan. For more information, visit Medicare. gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY: 1-877-486-2048) 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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Advantage plans, which are recommended by USAA, by going to Humana.com/Medicare or calling 1-888-372-

HUMANA

Humana Medicare

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Humana is a Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal.

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Frank Irigon, Arlene and Will Lew at a rally.

Gei Chan at a rally at Hing Hay Park.

Bettie Luke order stacks of Asian Weekly newspapers to send to elected officials

Photos by Assunta Ng

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