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VOL 39 NO 29 JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2020 FREE 38 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Trump rescinds new policy towards international students Photo from Bellevue College website

Image from Jonathan Choe’s Twitter feed

Reflections from SPD Lt. Paul Leung

SPD Lt. Paul Leung at a June 1 protest in Seattle

By Becky Chan NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The Seattle City Council wants the Seattle Police Department (SPD) budget cut by 50%— drawing criticism from Mayor Jenny Durkan and Police Chief Carman Best at a July 13 news conference.

The millions of dollars would be redirected to community-based solutions, affordable housing, and a new approach to public safety.

“Defunding the police. What does that mean?” asked SPD Lt.

Paul Leung.

“The last three, four years, we’ve had problems getting recruits so we’re always short handed,” Leung said.

Leung spoke with the Northwest Asian Weekly recently about the calls to defund the police, and vacating and reoccupying the SPD’s East Precinct during the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests.

After the death of George Floyd during his arrest by Minneapolis police officers, see LEUNG on 4

By Alexander Chan NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The Trump administration abruptly rescinded a new rule that would have required international students enrolled in schools that will be conducted fully online for the fall quarter to

leave the United States or transfer to another school with in-person instruction. This directive had been set to take effect on July 15 and would have subjected international students who failed to comply with the regulations to immigration sanctions such as deportation. This rule also would have prevented the State Depart-

ment from issuing any visas to international students currently overseas who wished to study at a school or program operating entirely online.

Seventeen states, including Washington, had joined a lawsuit filed by Harvard University and see STUDENTS on 3

How can we bridge the racial divide?

AT THE MOVIES

Asian American girls saw pivotal icon in ‘BabySitters Club’ 5

PUBLISHER’S BLOG

An unexpected gain during the coronavirus pandemic 6

ON THE SHELF

Book recommendations 7

■

By Kai Curry NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Sometimes, difficult conversations are necessary to get to a good place. We need to know where each side is coming from before we can advance together. Such was the overarching message of Bridging the Racial Divide: How Communities Can Come Together, an online town hall on July 11, moderated by Dr. Bharath Gopalaswamy, Senior Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, and organized by the Alliance for Persecuted Peoples Worldwide

(APPWW).

A nonprofit based in Washington, APPWW “strives to build bridges across communities irrespective of race, caste, skin color, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.” Their aim in hosting this event, to which they invited several active community members, was “to have a forward-looking conversation on how we can listen, learn, and help each other.”

“We all have to understand that we come from our own communities with our own see BRIDGE on 9

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asianweekly northwest

JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2020

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS

38 YEARS

John Yatsutake on inaugural Central District CPDA Board

John Yasutake

John Yasutake is one of 11 people on the inaugural board of directors for the Central District Community Preservation Development Authority (CDPA).

Originally from Chicago, Yasutake is a former Conciliation Specialist for the Department of Justice and a

resident of Seattle.

He’s also a host on Rainier Avenue Radio, where he talks with guests about contemporary community-based issues, and he guest lectures on sociology at South Seattle Community College. 

foreseeable future. We wanted to thank everyone who has supported us all these years. Our last day of operation will be July 31st, 2020.”  Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu

Asian Pickles at Home

Author Patricia Tanumihardja is releasing her second book, “Asian Pickles at Home.”

Described as a DIY guide to classic and creative pickling from all over Asia, the title will be released on July 21.

The book contains 75 easy recipes for quick, fermented, and canned pickles, and pairing guidance on various preservation techniques.

Tanumihardja is Patricia Tanumihardja a former writer for the Northwest Asian Weekly and she published her first book, “The Asian Grandmothers Cookbook: Home Cooking from Asian American Kitchens,” in 2010. 

Discussion with Embassy of India

Ambassador of India to the United States Taranjit

Screenshot of virtual meeting

Singh Sandhu held a virtual meeting with Gov. Jay Inslee on July 7, where they discussed the potential for further cooperation in aerospace, IT, retail, healthcare and pharma, and agricultural sectors. The discussion also covered the important contributions of Indian and Indian American companies, professionals, and community to the state of Washington. 

Bamboo Garden closing

Bamboo Garden, located on 364 Roy Street in Lower Queen Anne, is closing its doors at the end of the month.

Its website reads, “To all of our beloved customers: Bamboo Garden will be closing indefinitely for the

“Community treasure” Tomio Moriguchi

Former chairman and CEO of Uwajimaya Tomio Moriguchi was named as this year’s Seattle-King County First Citizen Award recipient, along with the Moriguchi family.

The award will be presented at a civic celebration at a date to be determined.

The award recognizes the Tomio Moriguchi collective contributions of the Moriguchis in enhancing the quality of life throughout the area. They are only the fifth family to receive the prestigious award, joining Mary Gates & Family (1995 recipients), the Bullitt Family (2000), the McCaw Family (2004), and the Pigott Family (2018).

Phyllis Campbell, Pacific Northwest chairman of JPMorgan Chase & Co., said, “[Moriguchi] and his family were early pioneers in the specialty grocery business, catering to Asian and Asian American tastes. However, he is mainly deserving because of his lifetime of generosity, giving back to our community in countless ways to make it a better place. He is truly one of the icons in business and is a role model for up-and-coming diverse leaders, as his inspirational acts transcend generations.” 

YOUR VOICE

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2020

asianweekly northwest

3

Project at former Keiro site to honor indigenous, Pan-Asian communities SEATTLE — The King County Equity Now Coalition announced on July 3 that Shelter Holdings agreed to halt its development of the former Kiero site—nearly a full block, situated squarely in the Central Area.

After immense public pushback from the Black community for Shelter Holdings’ role in gentrification and the Central Area’s displacement, Shelter Holdings agreed to transfer the property to the Black community.

Shelter Holdings planned initially to convert the former elderly care center into largely market-rate housing, but recently stated it recognizes and “respect[s] the desire for a use of the property that provides greater benefit than [Shelter’s] previous proposal…”

Supporters call the move a historic win for the Central Area’s Black community, “for a truly equitable

development that honors Kiero site’s legacy as a cultural institution, pays homage to the long history of Black and AAPI solidarity work in Seattle, and paves way for future cross-community building.”

Central District (CD) resident Teatmaei Wokoma said, “The last month, the national uproar over the Capitol Hill Organized Protest illustrated the importance of land, space, agency, and ultimately ownership. Halting a full block of predatory development in the rapidlygentrifying Central District is beyond monumental—it’s a watershed moment that signals the Black community will not idly be forced out of the CD.” 

Photo by Assunta Ng

Uwajimaya parking Uwajimaya is making changes to its free parking program.

As of July 15, you are required to take a parking ticket upon entering the lot at Uwajimaya Village. If you stay less than two hours, you will not need a parking validation and will not be charged to leave the lot. After

two hours, normal parking rates of $7.50 an hour will apply—up to a maximum of $22.50.

Whether you’re getting takeout from a restaurant, grabbing some bubble tea, or supporting a local area business in any way—you can use the Uwajimaya Village Parking for free up to two hours. 

Uwajimaya parking lot

STUDENTS from 1 the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that sought to block the implementation of this rule.

The Trump administration originally published these rule changes immediately after Harvard announced that all of its courses will be offered online this fall in response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

At a hearing in federal court in Boston on July 14, U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs announced that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had reached an agreement with the two schools to reverse the rule change and return to the previous status quo involving international students.

On July 13, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson had filed a separate motion in federal court in Seattle, seeking a temporary restraining order on the Trump administration’s revocation of international student visas.

Ferguson argued that the now rescinded rule change would have severely hampered this state’s colleges and universities.

“The rule harms nearly every Washington state higher education institution, reduces state revenues, and threatens public health and safety. Approximately 27,000 international students attend higher education institutions in Washington state and spend approximately $1 billion in state each year.”

Bellevue College sent a message approving of the rule’s rescission on its official Twitter account.

“When we work together to take action, change is possible. The support for international students

and education was made clear, and a potentially harmful policy was reversed.”

Ana Mari Cauce, the president of the University of Washington (UW), applauded the reversal as well.

“This news is extremely welcome to both the UW and to our international students who should never have been asked to choose between their safety and their education.”

The UW alone has 8,300 international students. A 2017 report from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information indicated that 77% of international students arrived from Asian countries. A 2018 report from the same entity showed that 49% of all international students hailed from either China or India.

International students had become a

wedge issue in the political debate over whether schools can safely reopen this fall.

Acting Deputy Secretary of DHS Ken Cuccinelli originally defended the dropped-rule change in an interview with CNN. “If [schools] don’t reopen this semester, there isn’t a reason for a person holding a student visa to be present in the country. They should go home and then they can return when the school opens. That’s what student visas are for.”

Rep. Pramila Jayapal had characterized the now rescinded regulations as xenophobic in a bicameral letter that she sent to the ICE and the DHS with Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Jayapal celebrated the news concerning the policy reversal on her Twitter feed.

“A victory not only for students but for the

campuses, communities, and country they contribute so much to. Thanks to all of you who joined me in standing up and speaking out-YOU made this happen. Let’s never stop fighting back against this admin’s cruel and xenophobic attacks.”

Advocates for international students have long been at odds with the Trump administration over policy, even before the announcement and subsequent reversal of these guidelines. On June 3, the DHS submitted a proposed rule for review that would establish a fixed period for which international students could legally stay in the United States.  Alexander can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2020

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LEUNG from 1 demonstrators in Seattle moved nightly protests from downtown to the area in front of the East Precinct on Capitol Hill, demanding justice for police brutality. The precinct on 1519 12th Avenue and its surrounding area became the hub of activities.

On June 1, Leung and Capt. Bryan Grenon, after negotiating with Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) zone demonstrators, each took a knee to show support for the demonstration.

“They asked to speak to the commander who is in charge of the precinct. That’s Captain Grenon, and I am second in command…so we were up there talking to the protesters,” Leung said.

The demonstrators had a list of demands they wanted the police to meet.

Leung said, “We cut a deal and basically negotiated. ‘Hey, we could do this, but we couldn’t do that…and explained why we had to put up the fence line.’ We were actually having a dialogue with the protesters.”

Because of what’s happened to some of the police precincts around the country, Leung and Grenon wanted to protect theirs. The pair did not want the East Precinct, a critical infrastructure of the city, compromised or set on fire, like Minneapolis’ 3rd Precinct, where Floyd’s four arresting officers worked.

Leung and Grenon explained that to the protesters.

“They understood it,” Leung said.

The demonstrators asked the two senior officers to support their movement and kneel with them. Leung said he and Grenon support a nonviolent movement and the First Amendment.

The protesters wanted all officers to kneel. Leung told them, “It’s not negotiable since the officers had a job to do.” It was agreed that Leung and Grenon would take a knee when the protesters knelt to show their support.

A few days later, the “summer of love” in Capitol Hill turned violent. Leung attributed it to the anarchists who mixed in with the peaceful demonstrators, especially in big crowds, which made them difficult to be identified. Leung said the peaceful protesters were

38 YEARS reasonable and understanding. It was the anarchists who threw bottles and rocks.

“We are reactive to it,” Leung commented. The police’s response with tear gas escalated the situation. Tension mounted and continued until the officers left the precinct to avoid more violent confrontations.

Leung received the directive from the department’s Special Patrol Operations Center to evacuate the precinct.

“It’s still being debated” who ordered it. Chief Best has said publicly that it was not her decision to leave the East Precinct.

In the wee hours of June 12, a man tried to set fire to the precinct while it was vacant and boarded up. The fire was put out by people nearby.

After the establishment of CHOP, four separate shootings in the span of 10 days killed Horace Lorenzo Anderson, 19, of Seattle, and Antonio Mays, Jr., 16, of Southern California. Four others were injured. Those in CHOP complained that police and paramedics were slow to respond. Investigations on the shootings are pending.

Officers have since moved back to the precinct as of July 6. In the meantime, Leung believes the response time to incidents will be quicker. Because of the presence of armed guards protecting CHOP, responses there put his officers at high risk. A minimum of four officers would be required to respond to incidents in or near the area to ensure the officers’ safety. The Seattle Fire Department’s policy also requires the police to secure a potential violent situation before it would respond.

“Our staffing is already short enough,” Leung said, “That really affected the response time.”

The future of the precinct is up to the community and the city. “I’m hoping the precinct will remain here,” Leung said, “But I don’t have a lot to say about that.”

Leung, an officer for SPD for 36 years, was promoted to his current position in 2017. He has served in the precinct, in various times, throughout his career.

In 1981, the city had proposed to build a precinct on a Central District city lot on 23rd and Yesler. Demonstrators occupied the area to demand housing, not “jail houses.” Leung said the Black

community, the SPD, and the city came to an agreement to house the precinct in the current location—on the corner of 12th and Pine, which opened in 1986.

“Seattle is not Minneapolis. Not all police departments are the same,” Leung said.

He believes the SPD to be a leader in innovation and integrity. “Maybe there are some isolated situations, but, I think, the SPD is doing a very good job in educating our officers about diversity.”

The SPD has a mandatory of a minimum of eight hours of annual training on diversity and discrimination for all officers. In the April 11, 2019 issue, the Northwest Asian Weekly reported a two-day implicit bias training for the SPD’s new officers.

One of the demands of the BLM movement around the country and in Seattle is to defund the police.

“Because of the number of people we employ, the police is costly,” Leung said, “You got to look at the staffing.

Is everybody doing what they are supposed to do? Statistically when you cut the police department or if you have fewer officers, the crime rate also goes up.”

“Is the community going to sacrifice the polices’ response?” Leung asked.

“There’s got to be a balance.”

Of Seattle’s $6.5 billion budget in 2020, SPD had the fourth largest allocation with $409 million, ranked after Seattle City Light, Seattle Public Utilities, and the Department of Transportation. The SPD employs 1,444 sworn officers and 580 civilians.

A majority of its budget goes to wages, benefits, and overtime.

Councilmembers Tammy Morales, Kshama Sawant, Teresa Mosqueda, and M. Lorena Gonzalez have said that 50% of the SPD’s budget should be redirected, though they haven’t yet said exactly how they believe that should happen.

Durkan said a preliminary review has found that $76 million in cuts to the SPD’s 2021 budget could be made safely, without jeoparding 911 service.  Becky can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject any advertisement, letter or article.

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JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2020

YOUR VOICE

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5

■ AT THE MOVIES Asian American girls saw pivotal icon in ‘Baby-Sitters Club’

By TERRY TANG ASSOCIATED PRESS Author Ann M. Martin had no master plan when she decided to make one of the core members of “The Baby-Sitters Club’’ a Japanese American girl named Claudia.

Claudia Kishi happened to be everything the “model minority’’ stereotype wasn’t.

She got bad grades. She thrived in art and fashion. She wasn’t struggling to belong. For those reasons and more, Asian American girls in the 1980s and 1990s idolized Claudia and felt seen in teen fiction.

Some of those now grown fans concede the books fall short dealing with race, but a new Netflix adaptation is bringing Claudia (and her pals) into the modern age.

In addition to the series that’s available now, the streaming service released on July 10 “The Claudia Kishi Club’’ documentary.

It’s filmmaker Sue Ding’s love letter to Claudia-philes.

“I want the vibe of the film to be you’re at a ‘Baby-Sitters Club’ sleepover with your closest friends and you’re reminiscing,’’ Ding said.

In the short documentary, a handful of Asian American writers and illustrators effuse about how influential the character was for that time.

“For some, their parents were actively not supportive of them pursuing more artistic career choices,“ Ding said. “Even for those

whose families were supportive, they didn’t necessarily see people like themselves working in media as directors or painters.“ Among those she interviewed was Naia Cucukov, one of “The Baby-Sitters Club“ series producers. She remembers Claudia’s “aura of cool’’ jumping off the page.

“As an Asian American kid growing up having only seen depictions of nerds, geishas, the villain, having that extra layer

of someone who could be aspirational was incredible,“ Cucukov said.

Another documentary participant, Sarah Kuhn, whose fourth novel in her “Heroine Complex’’ sci-fi series came out on July 7, called Claudia “this connective tissue between a lot of Asian girls.’’

“Just when you mention her name on Twitter, it summons an entire generation,’’ Kuhn said. “It speaks to her lasting

CID Community Art Mural Contest PRESENTED BY

contribution.’’

With 180 million copies in print worldwide, “The Baby-Sitters Club’’ books were a juggernaut during their 19862000 run. They follow Claudia, Kristy, Mary Anne, Stacey and Dawn and their babysitting adventures in the fictional suburb of Stoneybrook, Connecticut. The books are often credited with showcasing teenage girls as entrepreneurs.

Martin, who wasn’t available for interviews, was not trying to make a statement about Claudia’s ethnicity, said David Levithan, an editorial director and publisher at Scholastic who’s worked with Martin since 1992. She based the character on a Japanese American friend from elementary school. In present day, Levithan thinks authors writing a protagonist of a different ethnicity would have “to be doing it for a reason, to have a connection to it and make sure they got it right.’’

It may seem odd that a white female author created an Asian American icon, but the `80s weren’t exactly conducive to Asian American writers.

Sarah Park Dahlen, an associate professor of library and information science at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a “BSC’’ fan, said Claudia is only one of two Asian American characters she can cite from her own childhood reading. see BABY SITTERS on 10

The art murals are located in different parts of Chinatown International District’s storefronts. Finalists will be announced on July 30 on social media, our website www. nwasianweekly.com and the current print issue. Winners will be announced on Aug. 20 print and online.

Awards categories: People‘s Choice Award 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, and honorable mentions. The public will be invited to vote online. Voting period will be July 31—Aug. 13.

Judges‘ vote: 1st, 2nd and 3rd place

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A special issue will be published, including many of the art murals on Aug. 27. A virtual celebration will be held to present awards and plaques to the artists with sponsors and partners, live-stream on Facebook, Aug. 29 at 2 p.m.

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38 YEARS

JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2020

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

An unexpected gain during the coronavirus pandemic

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY In times of uncertainty and disruption, can there be positivity during the coronavirus pandemic? My friend is celebrating her loss, which she has dreamed of, working at home. Actually, it’s excellent news.

Pearl (not her real name) has lost ten pounds during the lockdown. Struggling with weight issues, since I have known her for more than 20 years, she looked great when I saw her last week. Isn’t a lockdown a perfect excuse for gaining weight due to overeating from anxiety and stress? How and where do we burn off our calories with gyms closed?

I have a confession, too. I have lost three pounds during the past four months, though it was never my intent. The assumption is, when we work at home, we tend to gain weight because we are confined, and have little chance to be active. Many have turned to home activities like baking and cooking—enhancing calories. Yes, I am one of those who cook a lot more at home.

So we eat more?

Not true. How do we lose weight? What we discovered is, the pandemic creates an environment for us to get fit.

It’s not enough to have healthy eating habits yourself. How do you encourage your family and loved ones to pursue healthy eating? If all family members in the same household are to be on the same page, it diminishes a lot of conflict.

You are the real boss

During the pandemic, the world has turned upside down, and everything around us shifts. The only thing we have control over is ourselves. You are in charge when you work at home, not your boss.

My friend decided this was a good time to lose weight. She made a stay-at-home resolution, to lose weight as her personal goal.

You can do so by writing down your daily goal to discipline how and what you eat. Once you write it down, you show commitment and are more inclined to make it happen.

Have a fixed meal and exercise schedule

Regularity breeds success, especially for weight loss.

Since everybody is supposed to be social distancing, it cuts our chances of dining out with friends. When I entertain friends at lunches and dinners, I tend to order an abundance of food. I end up eating more. When I attend events, the meals are usually late. I dish up lots of butter for my rolls even though I realize it’s unhealthy.

What can I say, I was hungry! Cooking at home has eliminated our chances of extravagant and excessive eating. Plus, I eat every meal on schedule, with dinner no later than 6 p.m. “No more food after dinner” is my motto. Stick to your meal schedule.

The same applies to your exercise routine—schedule it. I exercise three times a day, morning (aerobics), late afternoon (walking in the neighborhood), and evening (on treadmill). If I miss one routine, my penalty is to double my

occasionally with my friends. But strong liquor tastes like bitter medicine to me. I used to think, “Why do people drink this when it doesn’t even taste good?” Drinking is more fun with company. My husband doesn’t drink, and I never liked to drink by myself. After a while, my body developed a violent reaction when I sipped alcohol.

Another reason for me to abstain is I have been studying many health issues, including how alcohol can damage our brain cells. I learned about brain health and the right foods for our brain. The wine in my kitchen is for cooking only. Knowledge convinced me to give up alcohol, and I am thankful. workout in my next round. Just don’t make any excuses for skipping.

Change your snacking habits

One of my staff members realized that she likes snacking, she has got to change her habit of eating. The first step is to think about reducing her carbohydrate intake.

In the past, potato chips were one of her favorite snacks. No wonder PepsiCo sales have soared in potato chips, tortilla, Cheetos and Doritos. Not only are chips unhealthy, they have tons of calories, fat, and sodium. The food companies make chips addictive. I don’t know exactly what ingredients they put in the chips, they definitely stimulate and manipulate your taste buds. After you eat one, you want to swallow a whole bunch in your mouth. You are not only hooked, you are being tricked! So don’t get started on those unhealthy snacks because chances are, it’ll be challenging to stop.

To replace chips, she buys healthy nuts, such as walnuts, almonds, cashews, and pecans. Look for the unsalted ones.

It tastes great, especially the roasted yet unsalted nuts. You can eat a big chunk and never have to worry about getting fat. Nuts contain antioxidants.

were heavy drinkers, not beers and wines, but hard liquor.

Drinking was a status symbol and lifestyle choice. When their peer group indulged themselves in expensive cognac, it was hard for my parents to say no. After I graduated from high school, my stepfather invited me to join them drinking. He told my husband who doesn’t drink, “You don’t know how to enjoy life.”

Knowledge trumps over temptations

So what kept me from drinking?

When I was in my 30s and 40s, I enjoyed a glass of champagne or dessert wine

Food as therapy

Understand how different foods affect your body. Choosing the right foods can control your weight gain, and build up your muscles and strength. It is also effective in preventing pain and diseases.

Besides pleasure, I look for foods which can give me what my body needs, such as fiber, good fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.

Vegetables and fruits provide a great source of fiber. I love the natural sweetness of root vegetables, such as sweet potatoes and purple yams. They are good carbohydrates —filling and satisfying. Since I have see BLOG on 12

Weekly Specials J U LY 1 5 - 2 2 , 2 0 2 0

Rewind my brain

I am not a saint. Yes, I love all those goodies, such as chips, bacon, and double chocolate ice cream with cookie dough!

What’s my secret to resisting temptation?

I rewind my brain to enjoy eating healthy stuff and only crave fattening foods once every two months or longer. I have taught myself to embrace foods that I actually hated before. They have won me over by their nutritional value, and thankfully I have developed a taste for them.

Envision your skinny self after you succeed in making those changes, reinforcing those happy emotions in your head when you succeed.

Alcohol harms your body

Not too long ago, a study said moderate drinking is good for your health. Baloney!

On July 14, a New York Times article said even moderation consumption of alcohol is not good for our bodies. Alcohol is high in calories and raises the risk of some cancers.

I have seen what it did to my parents’ brains. They couldn’t even do simple chores like buying something on the phone when they were 70 years old.

I was raised around booze and smoke.

My aunt, who lived with us when I was a child, was a chain smoker. My parents

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YOUR VOICE

■ ON THE SHELF

JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2020

asianweekly northwest

Book recommendations

By Samantha Pak NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

The Night Tiger

By Yangsze Choo Flatiron Books, 2019

Ji Lin, a smart and ambitious dressmaker’s apprentice, has been moonlighting as a dancehall girl to help pay off her mother’s mahjong debts. When one of her dance partners leaves behind a gruesome souvenir, it may just be her chance for an adventure.

Meanwhile Ren, an 11-year-old houseboy, is on a mission. In order to fulfill his former master’s dying wish, he must find the man’s missing finger —lost years earlier in an accident —and bury it with his body within 49 days of his death. Otherwise, his master’s soul will wander the earth forever.

And then there’s the series of mysterious deaths and the possibility of a weretiger roaming the jungle on the outskirts of town.

As Ji Lin and Ren embark on their separate journeys, it’s only a matter of time before they cross paths. And it’s clear they are meant to meet.

“Night Tiger” gives readers a glimpse into a world of servants and masters in 1930s colonial Malaysia.

We see what it could have been like for the locals and British to live amongst each other. We see how things such as class, race, and gender can impact a person’s lot in life and what they might have to do to improve it.

Choo weaves a complicated tale filled with mystery and modern idealism, balanced with a healthy dose of superstition and folklore. Both Ji Lin and Ren are complex characters.

In a society in which they—as a woman and a servant—are seen as second-class citizens, they defy those expectations. Neither of them let their station in life stop them from doing what they believe is right. Their integrity and strength of character are admirable and something we can all strive for in the face of hard times and temptation.

Miracle Creek

By Angie Kim Sarah Crichton Books, 2019 Pak and Young Yoo, Korean immigrants living in Miracle Creek, Virginia, own and run Miracle Submarine, a hyperbaric chamber used to treat conditions ranging from autism to infertility. Things are going well for them until one day, the chamber explodes and two people die —a woman and an 8-year-old boy.

And it’s clear that the explosion was no accident.

A year later, the lead suspect is put on trial and while it appears this individual is the obvious perpetrator, we quickly learn that things are not always how they seem and people are not always who they appear to be.

Told from various characters’ points of views, “Miracle Creek” is a courtroom thriller filled with see SHELF on 11

7

8

asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2020

■ WORLD NEWS Google CEO Sundar Pichai announces $10 billion ‘digitization’ Sundar Pichai

NEW DELHI (AP) — Google is investing in a $10 billion fund to help accelerate India’s transition to a digital economy in the next five to seven years.

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet Inc’s Google, said on July 13 that the project will focus on building products that are relevant to India’s needs and empowering businesses for their “digital transformation.’’

“Our goal is to ensure India not only benefits

■ NATIONAL

from the next wave of innovation, but leads it,’’ Pichai said in a digital keynote at a Google for India event.

The company also announced it will invest $1 million to support digital education in India.

It said the fund will enable 1 million teachers in 22,000 schools across the country to use see GOOGLE on 10

Cambodian province famous for Angkor Wat bans dog meat trade

By SOPHENG CHEANG ASSOCIATED PRESS PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — The Cambodian province that is home to the famous Angkor Wat temple complex, a major destination for foreign tourists, has outlawed the trade in dog meat, which animal rights activists have said is rife in

the area.

The authorities in Siem Reap province issued an order on July 6 banning the buying, selling and butchering of dogs for food. The trade remains legal in other parts of the country.

A recent report by two animal welfare groups estimated that see BANS on 12

Minnesota woman sentenced to 4 years in ginseng scam

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota woman has been sentenced to more than four years in prison after pleading guilty in an elaborate ginseng farm fraud scheme, prosecutors said.

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said Mai Vang, 51, of Brooklyn Center pleaded guilty on June 30 to theft-by-swindle charges.

Vang also must pay restitution of more than $480,000 to the nine victims she defrauded.

Vang had eluded arrest for two years after charges were filed against her in 2017. She was found in Georgia in March and extradited to Minnesota.

Prosecutors said Vang convinced members of Minnesota’s Hmong community to invest in a ginseng farm she claimed to own near Wausau, Wisconsin. One couple who knew Vang from church gave her their life savings.

Vang allegedly spent money from the victims to gamble at a casino. 

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Arts, Fitness and Social Opportunities for Ages 50+ We are Seattle Parks and Recreation, programs for ages 50+ offering arts, fitness and social opportunities for older adults in 26 Seattle Community Centers. Due to the COVID-19 virus, our in-person programs are suspended at this time, but we are offering online fitness classes featuring some of our great instructors, virtual field trips and more.

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JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2020

YOUR VOICE BRIDGE from 1 internal biases,” said Center for Latino Leadership Executive Director Maia Espinoza. “I am thankful for these moments to be able to talk about, embrace, and confront what’s going on.

Even the discussion about who’s right, who’s wrong…It’s still important to recognize that people from different backgrounds feel a different way about one issue to the next…if a community or individuals are feeling excluded, it is our responsibility to do something to make everyone feel welcome and heard.”

The participants themselves had to learn that sometimes, when having these hard talks, mistakes happenno matter how careful and well-intentioned we are—such as when Eddie Rye Jr., civil rights leader and recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service, stepped in to remind everyone that all Americans are not immigrants, as is often stated, and as was stated a couple of times at the start of this event.

Rye, who prefers to denote African Americans as African descendants of U.S. slaves, said, “The Native Americans were already here when Christopher Columbus allegedly discovered America, and also, America is [made up of] immigrants and slaves. We did not come here as immigrants. We were brought here as slaves, so we’re getting off on the wrong foot by dismissing, once again, the Black presence…We’ve got to make sure that we have the history correct…We can’t overlook that important fact when starting this kind of conversation.”

Debadutta Dash, ex-commissioner of the Washington State Commission on Asian & Pacific Islander Affairs, agreed that a crucial step of bridging divides was learning each other’s history. He pointed

out that the Indian diaspora, one of the newest immigrant groups to the United States, might not be aware of what others here have gone through.

“Most of them may not know how systemic racism started in this country.

They need to hear it. They need to learn about it.”

The theme of history and the importance of choosing the right words were highlighted again and again.

Espinoza admitted that the use of “broad brushstroke” terms such as “people of color” sometimes rubbed her the wrong way because it “seems like an artificial way of acknowledging an issue that isn’t fully understood…In order to be more inclusive, I think it’s important…to be careful with the type of language that we use, but to be willing to have those conversations to figure out what those dynamics are within each community, celebrating our differences and what brings us together and not just using these broad brushed terms that, for me, give that artificial sense of ‘I care and I understand your suffering’ —but you don’t.”

She was mindful about the way she described Black people, when she acknowledged that “the African American slave surviving community needs to be lifted up,” while also insisting that lifting up of one group should not lead to lowering another. “We need to change our language about ‘us’ and ‘them,’” she said. “It’s all ‘we’ and we are all Americans here.”

“We are all occupying the same country,” concurred Rye, who grew up in a segregated South, and who was adamant about adding context, be it a reminder of significant events in the Civil Rights timeline or the controversy over Confederate monuments.

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received for C01420C20, 2178-29 Remlinger Farms Bridge Replacement on SVT; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, via email, at procurement.submittals@kingcounty.gov, until 1:30 PM on 8/4/2020. Late bids will not be accepted.

There is a 10% minimum Apprentice Utilization Requirement on this contract.

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“After 250 years of free labor, [Black people] died in every war, and then to recognize people who fought to keep us in slavery who were traitors – to give them more respect than you give to Black folks...I think is abominable within itself” It wasn’t all serious. Rueful laughter was had when everyone agreed that while justice was not equal for all, “equal opportunity discrimination” might be a thing. And actionable suggestions were given to the question: How do we bridge the gap?

Supporting Black businesses was Rye’s suggestion. Invite a person from a different ethnic group into your home, Espinoza said. Be engaged, Dash added, and “walk the talk.” Dash was concerned that there could be too much talk—and not enough walking. “This is absolutely useless if we cannot come up with some kind of action plan. Then things will happen.”

He also emphasized the importance of the youth. “Please, bridge the gap. Bridge the racial divide. Be the ambassador. We need you. We need young folks to come and work together. This is the time.”

Students from around the country were invited to address their questions to the group, who responded enthusiastically.

One student moved everyone when she quoted Martin Luther King Jr, “Bridging the racial divide is when we all live up to his ideal, where people are judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin. To achieve this, people’s hearts need to change. Without changing people’s hearts, this injustice will not go away; it will just manifest itself in a different way. How do we change people’s hearts?”

APPWW pledged its commitment to continuing to work together with the panelists and with Washington state’s

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9

communities at large.

One organizer said, “We’re going to continue that fight. We’ve got to listen to each other, learn from one another, work together, because driving change is hard.

And driving change across communities?

It’s even harder. Free exchange of ideas and dialogue like we’ve had today? That’s crucial to building bridges.”  This town hall is available for viewing at youtube.com/watch?v=zYsae8Txe9Y. Kai can be reached nwasianweekly.com.

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38 YEARS

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He envisions a “Digital India,’’ where high-speed Internet access will empower entrepreneurs to build software and other technology products to help raise the standard of living in a country where many households are still impoverished.

Modi styles himself as a leader in touch

A combination of little encouragement from Asian American parents and the publishing industry contributed to that, Dahlen believes. After decades of pushing for more diverse voices in children’s books, school libraries started receiving federal funding in the 1960s and 1970s to help expand reading choices. But then came a “conservative backlash’’ against multiculturalism, which led to skittish publishers and dried-up funds, Dahlen said.

“It was a combination of those things that caused this desert of diverse books in the 1980s and a little bit through the 1990s as well,’’ she said.

Marie Myung-Ok Lee, founder of the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, recalls the difficulties of getting her first young adult novel, “Finding My Voice,’’ sold in the early 1990s even with the support of popular author Judy Blume.

One publisher rejected the book, about a Korean American teen in an all-white town, because “’We had a book about Cambodia last year,’“ Lee said.

Today, there are a lot more Asian Americans populating young adult fiction. But Lee, who also teaches at Columbia University, said various studies indicate publishers doing the buying “don’t seem like they’re getting much more diverse.’’

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with technology. He has nearly 60 million Twitter followers.

Modi said in a tweet that he and Pichai met and discussed a wide range of subjects, “particularly leveraging the power of technology to transform the lives of India’s farmers, youngsters, and

Kuhn, the “Heroine Complex“ author, is optimistic that female editors of color rising in the ranks will change that.

They are more likely to think broader.

“The story of rejection a lot of marginalized authors get is someone saying `I just couldn’t connect to it,’’’ Kuhn said.

“What always blows my mind about that is all of us have spent our entire lives connecting with characters who do not look like us.“ With the increased national dialogue surrounding white privilege, adult Asian American “BSC’’ readers acknowledge the books are lacking in some areas. Claudia talks little about being Asian in an upscale, white community and probably wouldn’t know the term “micro aggression.’’

The TV version fleshes out some elements like a poignant scene where Claudia, played by Momona Tamada, learns her grandmother was an internment camp survivor. In a nod to the character’s newfound cultural awareness, Cucukov had Tamada wear a T-shirt from “Angry Asian Man’’ blogger and activist Phil Yu—who also appears in the documentary.

Designed by artist Irene Koh, it says “Stay Angry.’’

“Claudia is going to go through that journey and is going to learn about activism,’’ Cucukov said. “God willing, if we get a season two, we’ve got much more growth for Claudia.’’ 

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entrepreneurs.“ “I was delighted to know more about the efforts of (at)Google in several sectors, be it in education, learning, (at)_ DigitalIndia, furthering digital payments and more,” he said. 

SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 4.

JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2020

YOUR VOICE

■ ASTROLOGY

asianweekly northwest

11

Predictions and advice for the week of July 18–24, 2020

By Sun Lee Chang

Rat — No matter where you start, your perseverance and imagination will take you the distance.

Dragon — You will get more done if you have the right tools. Gather what you need prior to beginning.

Monkey — Is a difference of opinion slowing down or halting progress? Make the first step in offering a compromise.

Ox — While obstacles are inevitable, you are equipped with the knowledge to overcome them.

Snake — Learning a new way of doing things isn’t necessarily easy, but it should become second-nature with practice.

Rooster — You are accustomed to a much faster pace, but allowing yourself to slow down can have significant benefits.

Tiger — A hard-won prize is not what you thought it would be. Based on that information, reassess your current goal.

Horse — Instead of throwing caution to the wind, there is good reason to minimize the risks.

Dog — Too many things competing for your attention? Filtering the noise will help to narrow down what is important.

Rabbit — The truth is before you. Once you recognize it, you will be freed from that which held you back.

Goat — Are you getting out more than you put in? Consider increasing your contribution the next time around.

Pig — Quick to jump in when needed, there is reason to wait before volunteering on a bigger than usual request.

WHAT’S YOUR ANIMAL SIGN? RAT 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 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, 2019

*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.

SHELF from 7 twists and turns that will have readers wondering whodunnit (at least this one) until the very end. Kim does a great job in creating three-dimensional characters who could all be the actual guilty party.

As each chapter unfolds, readers will second guess themselves and doubt who they believe is the real arsonist and killer.

And as readers learn more about each character and see things from their perspectives, they will find their opinions shifting and changing without even realizing. All of a sudden, you’ll find yourself relating to and feeling for unsympathetic characters and thinking twice about rooting for previously “innocent” ones (though for me, there was one character who I wasn’t fond of from the beginning and justifiably really did not like them by the end).

In addition, “Miracle Creek” exposes readers to the world of parents with

special needs children. We see the lengths to which some will go to do what they feel is best for their child.

And Kim shows readers how it is the furthest thing from black and white when it comes to treatments. As someone who is not too familiar with this community, I appreciated seeing not only the battles these parents fought to do right by their children, but some of the battles they fought against each other. It helped humanize a group I previously did not know too much about.

The Bridge Home

By Padma Venkatraman Puffin Books; Reprint edition, 2020 After escaping from his abusive father, 11-year-old Viji and her younger sister Rukku run away to the city. But once they get there, they learn how dangerous life can be for them. Fortunately, they make quick friends with Muthi and Arul, two

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homeless boys who invite the sisters to live with them on an abandoned bridge.

Life in Chennai, India is not easy, but the four children form a family of sorts, spending their days scavenging the city’s trash heaps and making and selling jewelry to make a living. It may not be ideal, but they are proud of being able to take care of themselves. They no longer have to depend on untrustworthy adults.

But when illness strikes, Viji has to decide whether it’s worth the risk to trust adults again and ask for help, before it’s too late.

“Bridge Home” gives readers a glimpse into a world not many of us may know too much about: homelessness. We see what the four children go through in order to survive. And as bleak as it may seem, they are able to find joy together as well. Venkatraman does a great job of balancing their struggles with their resilience and showing the strength children have that adults may not always

realize or appreciate.

Viji is a smart and resourceful girl who will do what she thinks is right in order to protect her sister and herself, first from their violent father and then from the dangerous adults in the city. I loved how protective she is of Rukku, who has a developmental disability, but also how she learns to encourage her sister and let her try new things in their new life.

For a middle reader book, “Bridge Home” dives into a number of difficult topics, from domestic violence, to homelessness, to child labor. While things may be simplified, Venkatraman also does not sugarcoat the children’s situation and by doing so, exposes readers of all ages to an often invisible community among many societies.  Samantha can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

12

asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2020

osteoporosis, I make a lot of soups with fish, chicken, and pig bones for calcium.

If you have high blood pressure, you shouldn’t eat a lot of beef and rich foods.

Also, meats are harder to digest than vegetables. My blood pressure has been normal for the last two decades, and I can afford to eat more meat. Thanks, but no thanks. I can go for days without eating meat and not feel deprived. Yet, I can’t survive without vegetables for one day.

My lunch is often a salad, with a pink lady apple, almonds, sunflower seeds, and avocados. With a few drops of lemon and extra virgin olive oil, and Miracle Whip, the salad tastes divine.

Photo by Assunta Ng

BLOG from 6

Salad with a pink lady apple, almonds, sunflower seeds, and avocados

Kids don’t like vegetables?

Many kids hate vegetables. Their parents have to entice their kids with all kinds of incentives just to get them to take a bite or two. I never had that problem when I raised my

BANS from 8 2 million to 3 million dogs are killed annually in Cambodia for their meat, and that the Siem Reap region is a major source of supply of the animals, which are sometimes stolen pets.

The groups—Four Paws, based in Austria, and Animal Rescue Cambodia—said they identified 21 restaurants in Siem Reap specializing in dog meat and 110 in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh.

The order banning the trade, which was circulated online on July 8 by several officials, declares that trading in dog meat is punishable according to the law on animal

two boys at home. They love vegetables, even at a young age. What I did was simple.

When they were little, I just told them vegetables were delicious. If they didn’t want them, I would have them all to myself so I had less competition. It worked.

Seriously, I could eat a whole plate of vegetables just by myself. The fact is, my kids love my cooking.

They eat everything I cook.

So make your healthy food delicious so you and your family want to eat it and not go to the fridge right after dinner.

Hide with other foods

A long time ago, my relative hated garlic and scallions. But his family loved them. So his family hid those ingredients by cooking them altogether and dispensed them later when they served the entree. My relative didn’t know that he has been fooled all these years.

health and production, with violators facing up to five years in prison and fines of 7 million to 50 million riel ($1,750 to 12,500).

It linked the ban to Siem Reap’s popularity as a tourist destination and a sacred site. The Angkor Wat temples draw more than 2 million visitors a year, though tourism has dried up this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The order also pays tribute to dogs for being loyal pets and protectors of homes, farms and field animals, and decries the dog trade as inhumane as well as dangerous because it can spread diseases.

Older Cambodians generally shun eating dog meat

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ATTENTION HANFORD, ARGONNE & IDAHO NATIONAL LAB (INL) WORKERS: Did you, your spouse, or your parent become ill after work related to nuclear weapons? You may be entitled to Lifetime Healthcare and up to $400,000 from the U.S. Department of Labor.

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Take foods in pill form

on my priority list. You can’t lose weight without working out. I exercise not because I want to lose any pounds, I just want to stay fit mentally and physically.

Exercising can improve your brain and fight aging.

Most folks make the mistake of sitting too long at their computer, staring at their iPhone or watching television. The rule of thumb is to get up every half hour. For me, it’s every hour when I write. I usually drink water instead of eating during my breaks.

The more liquid you drink, the better it is for your body.

So don’t wait, start your health plan to begin losing weight today. 

Exercise at home

Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly. com.

I also cook ingredients which boost the immune system, such as garlic, onions, and ginger. What to do for those who don’t like garlic? Turmeric fights inflammation. Some people are not used to it.

Did you know that there are turmeric and garlic pills you can get at health food stores and Amazon? There are all kinds of supplements containing onion, mushroom, ginseng, goji berries, broccoli, cranberry, green superfoods, and even apple cider vinegar.

Just go online, and you will discover all kinds of capsules to suit your needs.

During the stay-at-home order, exercise was high

because they believe it can bring bad luck, but it has become a minor fashion among younger people.

Neighboring Vietnam is better known for the practice.

The animal welfare groups’ report on dog meat in Cambodia in 2019 found that an estimated 2,900 dogs per month—or 34,800 per year—are served at restaurants in Siem Reap.

It said their investigation also identified one dedicated dog slaughterhouse in Siem Reap city and five highvolume holding or trading areas located outside the city that ship at least 3,750 dogs per month to other parts of Cambodia. 