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VOL 39 NO 30 JULY 25 – JULY 31, 2020 FREE 38 YEARS YOUR VOICE
Photo by George Liu
Mural contest finalists
The Wing Luke Asian Museum is decorated with the longest art mural in the International District. The murals made up of different themes of love and community, highlight support of “Black Lives Matter.”
Judges have picked 30 murals as finalists in the Seattle’s Chinatown-International District (CID)’s “Marvelous Community Art Mural Contest,” the first-ever community mural contest. Sarah Baker, Becky Chan, Ali Lee, Victoria Moreland, and Henry Wong picked their favorite murals, located in different parts of CID’s storefronts. Some murals have
already been taken down and others may soon be taken down as well. Sponsors and judges will vote for the first, second, and third place winners. The community will vote for the People’s Choice online at nwasianweekly.com/ events. Voting ends on Aug. 13. In late May and early June, looters and vandals took advantage of the situation when police were occupied with
protesters. Within a week, over 100 artists volunteered their time and lent their talent to paint murals on boarded up businesses with creative themes of unity, love, and Asian-Black multiculturalism. Vice President of Development at DA LI Development see MURAL CONTEST on 5
E.N. West
Jackie Vaughn
Photos provided by their respective owners
Chris Rhodes
Photo by Assunta Ng
Black activists on API antiResilient Wing Blackness — and how APIs Luke Museum can support Black Lives Matter pivots to digital content
Moses Sun leads the Wing Luke Museum’s mural with the help of staff and volunteers.
By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Leanne Rye Brock
Marlon Brown
By Stacy Nguyen NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY In the past couple of months, we’ve encountered a number of first generation Asian/Pacific Islander (API) folks—mainly immigrants and refugees—who expressed feeling that they don’t know enough about the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. In response, we reached out to local Black activists in the Seattle area and asked them a few common questions
■
Miriam Zmiewski-Angelova
related to BLM. The Q&A is below.
But first, a quick history on Black Lives Matter BLM was started in 2013 by friends Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi, who are also Black organizers (two of whom are queer). The three came see BLM on 12
The normalcy of life has been disrupted by COVID-19, and simple things like going out to eat, attending a movie, or enjoying the museum have been put on pause with no end date. However, organizations like the Wing Luke Museum have embraced the challenges of pivoting during the pandemic. State mandates requiring the closure of museums forced the Wing Luke to engage with more online content. Since the beginning of the pandemic, museums have communicated with each other, offering advice as to when and how to properly return, as well as discussing options on keeping its patrons engaged, explained Wing Luke Museum Board Co-President Ellen Ferguson. As with other museums across the nation, the Wing Luke pivoted to an online digital format to engage with its members. The digital site offers different programming, including virtual tours and exhibits, and also a deep dive on its past collections. see WING LUKE on 11
412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 • f. 206.223.0626 • editor@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com
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JULY 25 – JULY 31, 2020
■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Rocky Fong is new Ascend Seattle chapter president
Rocky Fong has been confirmed as president for Seattle’s Ascend chapter for the next two years. The national Ascend leadership committee voted unanimously for Fong’s appointment. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Fong has resided in Seattle with his family since 1997. He began his career in the banking and financial Rocky Fong services industry in 2004 and currently sits on the board of the U.S. Bank Seattle Asian Heritage Business Resource Group as chapter president. He also serves on several local nonprofit organizations as a board member, including the American Red Cross as Co-Chair of Mission Committee and as treasurer of the Chinese Information Service Center. The Seattle Ascend chapter has approximately 200 members.
Brown played 13 seasons in the NBA, all with the Seattle SuperSonics. Tai Tung is his favorite Chinatown restaurant and he loves the fried chicken wings and shrimp foo young. Former Sonic teammate Jack Sikma was among the guests at his birthday celebration.
Vanessa Lee
receive their diploma cover while wearing their cap and gown. Family members remained in their vehicle until told to exit. Su will attend the University of Washington Bothell to study computer science.
Noah Miles
Vanessa Lee recently graduated from Bellevue High School and was awarded the unsung hero award by her classmates. They say she “quietly does the right thing, is there for others, and does not expect public recognition for what she does.” Lee is also well known in the community for being a Vanessa Lee skilled dancer trained under Hengda Dance Academy. She will be attending the University of Washington Foster School of Business and intends to minor in dance.
Steven Su
Downtown Freddie turns 72
Friends of Fred “Downtown Freddie” Brown celebrated his 72nd birthday at Tai Tung on July 14. Steven Su
Steven Su recently graduated from Kentridge High School, taking part in an in-person graduation ceremony. Students and their families arrived in a single vehicle at their designated time. Students would then walk across the stage, with four family members watching, and
Noah Miles recently graduated from O’Dea High School. Miles was an All Honor/AP Student, was recognized as Athlete of the Week in December 2019 by the Seattle Seahawks, and he was a Young Executive of Color at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business for 2019-2020. Miles will attend University of San Diego and plans to be a neurologist.
Noah Miles
Thank you for recycling this newspaper!
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■ COMMUNITY NEWS
JULY 25 – JULY 31, 2020
asianweekly northwest
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AAPI candidates on the primary ballot Pramila Jayapal
Chirayu Avinash Patel
Bob Hasegawa
If history is any gauge, voter turnout for Washington state’s Aug. 4 primary will be underwhelming, especially in this unprecedented COVID-19 era. In 2016, just 35% of registered voters cast a ballot in Washington’s primary. Here are a couple of reminders about the primary. Under Washington’s top-two primary system, the two candidates with the most votes move onto the general election, even if they’re from the same party. Also, Washington is a vote-by-mail state and ballots are due by 8 p.m. Aug. 4, primary day. Here’s a look at all the AAPI candidates who filed for races.
Cindy Ryu
Congressional District 7, U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal
WASHINGTON STATE Insurance Commissioner Chirayu Avinash Patel Legislative District 11, State Senator Bob Hasegawa Legislative District 32, State Representative Pos. 1 Cindy Ryu
Census takers have been visiting households in Tacoma, Everett, Olympia, and Seattle in July. Takers wear masks and follow local public health guidelines, and all have completed virtual COVID-19 training on social distancing and other health and safety protocols. If the census taker who visits your home does not speak your language, you may request a return visit from a census taker who does speak your language. If no one is home when the census taker visits, the census taker will leave a notice of their visit with information about how to respond online, by phone, or by mail.
Five years later
July 23, 2020 marks the fifth anniversary of Donnie Chin’s murder, and the case remains unsolved. Due to the current pandemic, the Chin family and the International District Emergency Center (IDEC) will not be hosting a vigil this year. see CHIN on 10
Sharon Tomiko Santos
FEDERAL
Census takers visiting Washington households
DONNIE CHIN
Mia Su-Ling Gregerson
My-Linh Thai
Vandana Slatter
Legislative District 33, State Representative Pos. 2 Mia Su-Ling Gregerson Legislative District 37, State Representative Pos. 1 Sharon Tomiko Santos Legislative District 41, State Representative Pos. 2 My-Linh Thai Legislative District 48, State Representative Pos. 1 Vandana Slatter If there are any AAPI candidates we missed, please let us know at editor@nwasianweekly.com.
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SMITH DEMOCRAT FOR CONGRESS
WORKING FOR YOU Homegrown Leadership • Progressive Values www.electadamsmith.com facebook.com/adamsmithforcongress Paid for and authorized by Adam Smith for Congress
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JULY 25 – JULY 31, 2020
38 YEARS
■ COMMUNITY NEWS
Primary election ballots
Democracy Voucher Program now open for 2021 candidates
The deadline to register to vote online and by mail is July 27. Mailed registration forms must be received—not postmarked—by July 27. If you have not received your ballot, call King County Elections at 206-296-VOTE (8683). King County Elections said it mailed ballots and voters’ pamphlets on July 15, to over 1.34 million registered voters for the Aug. 4 Primary Election. Washington voters will weigh in on 52 offices and three ballot measures. Offices on the ballot include Governor, Attorney General, Superintendent of Public Instruction, as well as Congressional and state legislative positions. King County Elections is forecasting a 43%
SEATTLE — The City of Seattle’s Democracy Voucher Program is open to candidates interested in using Democracy Vouchers to help finance their campaigns for the 2021 City of Seattle elections. In 2021, the mayor, city attorney, city council positions 8 and 9 will be on the ballot and eligible for funding. The Democracy Voucher Program has $6.8 million available for local candidates to fund their campaigns. Seattle residents who wish to run for office may begin pledging and qualifying for the program. Running a competitive cam-
turnout for this election. Voters can register and vote up through 8 pm on Election Day at one of two Vote Center locations—Renton and CenturyLink Field Event Center. Walk-ups will be serviced and both locations will have assistive devices for those with disabilities to cast a private ballot. King County Elections is asking all those seeking service to wear a face covering during their visit to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, Aug. 4, or returned to one of the 70 ballot drop box locations across the county. Ballots can be returned at any time before the deadline—but the earlier, the better. Drop boxes are open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Andrew Yang endorses Marilyn Strickland for Congress Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang has endorsed Marilyn Strickland for Washington’s 10th Congressional District. “I’m honored to be Marilyn Strickland endorsed by Andrew Yang. Andrew ran for president as a problem solver with big ideas and someone who understands the true promise of the American Dream,” said Strickland, the former mayor of Tacoma. “Like Andrew, I believe in an America where each person should have the opportunity to thrive, but we know there are barriers. And like Andrew, I will always lift up voices of the AAPI community and give underrepresented people
a strong voice on important issues that impact their lives.” Yang is the latest in a slate of high-profile endorsers of Strickland’s candidacy. She also has the endorsements of former Washington state Governor and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, Congressman Andy Kim, Congressman Ami Bera, the AAPI Victory Fund, Korean Americans for Organizing Fund, and the Asian American Action Fund. If elected to Congress, she will be the first Black American to represent Washington state at the federal level and the first Korean American woman elected to Congress in U.S. history. “Marilyn is the kind of person you want in public office,” said Yang. “She is a bridgebuilder who gets things done. That's the sort of leadership we need in Congress.”
paign can be costly and access to funding can serve as a barrier to entry for potential candidates. From an independent survey conducted by BERK Consulting, 45% of first-time candidates in 2019 reported they would not have run for office if the Democracy Voucher Program did not exist. The Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission offers oneon-one training to candidates. Interested candidates may contact the Democracy Voucher program at (206) 727-8855 or e-mail democracyvoucher@seattle.gov.
■ CALENDAR JUL
23 & 27 TAP-SEA: DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS // DEFIANCE IN PHLAN 7-9 p.m. https://discord.gg/jG95qWu
24 EVERY FRIDAY
SUMMER OF LISTENING SERIES, "ANTI-BLACKNESS IN AAPI COMMUNITIES"
12-1:30 p.m. Stream at facebook.com/OCAPICA
25 "WE ARE HISTORY KEEPERS" VIRTUAL WORKSHOP 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Register at shorturl.at/ekCJT
30 ZUMBA WORKOUT CLASS WITH GRACE 6-7 p.m. Register to attend online at shorturl.at/iloLR
View the solution on page 10
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The only weekly English-language newspaper serving Washington’s Asian community. The NW Asian Weekly has one simple goal: “To empower the Asian community.” 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. 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 editor@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com
YOUR VOICE
■ MURAL CONTEST MURAL CONTEST from 1
USA, Kevin Hsieh, said, “During this unprecedented time, art emanates transformation to our community and brings forth unity, hope, and love. Art also transcends cultural, demographic, and economic boundaries, and as such, we can’t be more proud to support our talented and creative CID artists.” The goal of the mural contest is to recognize all
JULY 25 – JULY 31, 2020
asianweekly northwest
VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE MURALS ONLINE AT NWASIANWEEKLY.COM/EVENTS
the artists and organizers who contributed to the success of the mural project, to promote CID businesses and artists, to draw visitors to CID, and to educate the Asian immigrant community about Black Lives Matter. Tim Otani of Union Bank said, “Community art is a critical form of expression, to comment on existing or emerging issues, to celebrate or to mourn, provide energy, context, or joy. The saying a picture is worth a thousand words…that speaks to the impact of art.” “[Artists] stepped up quickly and generously to cover the boarded establish-
ments with murals and messages of hope and solidarity with BLM,” said Ellen Ferguson. She said the arists pay a vital role “to engage, inspire and soothe us during difficult times.” All artists will be recognized in a special edition of the Northwest Asian Weekly and Seattle Chinese Post. Winners will be announced in August in a special issue, and a virtual celebration will be held to present plaques and certificates to the artists with sponsors and partners, live-streamed on Facebook on Aug. 29 at 2 p.m. To show appreciation towards the artists, the Asian Weekly
will use parts of the sponsorship funds to buy CID restaurant certificates as prizes. Thank you to our sponsors, including Union Bank, DA LI Development USA, Ellen Ferguson, and Puget Sound Energy. Julien Loh from Puget Sound Energy said, “We are committed to supporting small businesses and our customers by continuing to provide affordable and reliable energy. We also recognize that art is a way to bring people together and provide healing even on the most challenging days, so it’s an honor to support community art in this way.”
Daiso 710 6th Ave S, Seattle
Gold and Silver Traders 622 S Jackson St, Seattle
Bayani Travel 526 S Jackson St, Seattle
Dong Sing Market 625 S Jackson St, Seattle
Alice’s Floral Designs 617 S King St, Seattle
goPoke 625 S King St, Seattle
CID Community Art Mural Contest
The art murals are located in different parts of Chinatown International District’s storefronts. Finalists will be announced in August on social media, our website www. nwasianweekly.com and the current print issue. Winners will be announced on Aug. 20 print and online.
PRESENTED BY
Awards categories: People‘s Choice Award 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, and honorable mentions. The public will be invited to vote online at nwasianweekly.com/events. Voting period will be now—Aug. 13. Judges‘ vote: 1st, 2nd and 3rd place
GOLD SPONSORS
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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, livestreamed on Facebook, Aug. 29 at 2 p.m.
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HT Kubota Building 519 S Main St, Seattle
676 S. Jackson St., Seattle
Jade Garden Restaurant 424 7th Ave S, Seattle
Phnom Penh Noodle House 913 S Jackson St suite A, Seattle
(This mural has been taken down.)
Jasmine’s 1043 S Jackson St STE 101B, Seattle
Keep our economy going by supporting small businesses and restaurants. Every dine in, to-go or delivery order helps.
Canton Noodles House
China Harbor Restaurant
Dim Sum King
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Harbor City Restaurant
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生隆酒家 206-621-2228
利口福海鮮飯店 206-382-9671
Hong Kong Bistro
Hong Kong Dim Sum
House of Hong Restaurant
錦棠海鮮酒家 206-292-8828
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Kau Kau Restaurant
King's Barbeque House
King’s Chinese Seafood Restaurant
Little OceanSheep Star Mongolian Hot Pot Seafood Restaurant
Phnom Penh Ocean Star Noodle House Seafood Restaurant
Purple Dot Cafe
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US Postal Service 409 Maynard Ave S Ste 109, Seattle
AA Travel 601 S King St, Seattle
Nam Phuong Bookstore 1032 S Jackson St B, Seattle
Mike’s Noodle House 418 Maynard Ave S, Seattle (This mural has been taken down.)
US Postal Service 409 Maynard Ave S Ste 109, Seattle Purple Dot Cafe 515 Maynard Ave S, Seattle
Dim Sum King 617 S Jackson St, Seattle
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Pho Bac Sup Shop 1240 S Jackson St, Seattle
Kau Kau Restaurant 656 S King St, Seattle
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Wing Luke Museum 719 S King St, Seattle
Vital T Leaf 651 S Jackson St, Seattle (This mural has been taken down.)
Hirabayashi Place 442 S Main St, Seattle
Eastern Cafe 510 Maynard Ave S, Seattle Eastern Hotel 506 Maynard Ave S, Seattle
Hirabayashi Place 442 S Main St, Seattle
644 S. Jackson St., Seattle
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■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG
JULY 25 – JULY 31, 2020
asianweekly northwest
9
Is “defund” the right word for police reform?
Photo by George Liu
Photo by Assunta Ng
SPD Chief Best visits Chinatown for support
SPD Chief Carmen Best and community leaders visit more than 10 Chinatown businesses and organizations on July 16.
BLM protests pass by Chinatown International District on July 3 on S. Jackson St.
By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
neck, and don’t lock people up for non-violent offenses. Let’s try to get people the help that they need. Let’s work together to build a stronger community. If that’s not your goal, then look for another job.” Hollins-Hauge said, “Some mandatory changes should be made. After what we have seen that got people killed, showed that (the officers’) training is not sufficient. [Police] should review and reexamine their intervention protocols, [and use the money to implement] high levels of training for pro-
While many support “Black Lives Matter” for social justice, not everyone is for “defunding” the Seattle Police Department (SPD). An ABC News/Ipsos poll conducted on June 10-11 found that 60% of Americans opposed shifting funding from police departments to mental health, housing, and education programs, while just 39% supported such a plan. A poll in Washington state conducted by Crosscut, said “Support for dismantling or defunding the police is weak. Just 26% said they favored “dismantling the police force and starting over with a new model of what police are supposed to do in the community. Even fewer—17%—said they supported cutting the budgets of police departments by 50%.” However, it changes when asked if police funding should be switched to social services and community programs. 45% said they supported that approach, compared to 49% who opposed. I don’t know if the sample included any Chinatown-International District (CID) residents and organizations. They might have a different view. Nora Chan, a CID resident and founder of Seniors in Action, is opposed to defunding the police. She is organizing a petition to oppose the proposal. As of press time, she has collected closed to 100 signatures. “There are many more shootings and crimes in recent months in Seattle. Cutting the police budget and laying off many policemen will result in a slower response, and a delay in law enforcement actions.” She said Seattle Chinatown needs more police, and not defunding them. Tony Au, a BLM supporter, said, “Defunding the police is not the solution. Police are important, not just for the Chinese community, but for all communities. To defund the police is irresponsible.” Au is connected to multiple CID organizations and a moderate among many Chinese community members. Some of the older members are furious with the “defund” slogan. “Why don’t we defund the Seattle City Council members?” said Jackson Chan. “All seven of them who are in favor of it? We don’t need them.” Chan is the former president of Gee How Oak Tin Association. “I oppose defunding the police. We need the police to preserve order.” “What will happen if we don’t have po-
lice in the world? What will happen to our society, just chaos?” asked Michael Chen, an elder of the Association. “The people suggesting defunding the police—will they be responsible for our safety?” Andy Wong, an elder of the Hop Sing Tong Association, said, “The whole idea of defunding is no good. If someone got robbed in the street, who will be there to help us when we call 911? It’s just a lot of consequences, problems, and inconvenience without the police.” A CID property owner, who asked not to be identified, said, “You can’t just say defund the police? What’s the proposal? They (protesters) have no plan, no program, it‘s just a bad idea. We need more security in Chinatown, especially professional security.” Several community members accompanied Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best during her tour of different CID businesses on July 16. The timing of her visit is interesting. Defunding the police is a hot item on the City Council’s agenda. A few told the chief, “We need more cops, not fewer.” Best was happy to hear that.
What “defund” means to others
Perhaps, a less political and more appropriate word is “redirect.“ In separate interviews, three Black community leaders who support BLM, Winona Hollins-Hauge, Eddie Rye Jr., and one who asked not to be identified, said some funds for the police should be redirected for training and non-lethal purposes. “We must make sure that people know and truly live the saying “Black Lives Matter” because Black Lives DO matter,” said the Black leader who wanted to remain anonymous. “This is not just some slogan, and we do not want the message to be corrupted by people with agendas that have nothing to do with saving Black lives. In fact, people who are looking for opportunities to disrupt with violence and destruction are not operating in the tradition of the Black Civil Rights movement.” As for defunding the police, “The goal should be to ‘redirect’ funds, and exactly how much should be based on the amount needed to increase mental health and addiction services, increase educational services, and to make it possible to prioritize community policing. This Black leader said “good police officers and that more training should be given to SPD to de-escalate situations.” He also said, “Don’t put your knee on our
tecting and saving lives.” Rye Jr. echoed those sentiments. “Some money should be redirected to non-lethal means to enforce the law.” He supports the people who are negotiating with the city. “They are the people on the street and they get the overwhelming number of white supporters.” He approved whatever amount the protesters could negotiate with the city. see BLOG on 11
KING COUNTY NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received for C01465C20, Brightwater Storage Tank Foam Spray System; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, via email, at procurement. submittals@kingcounty.gov , until 1:30 PM on August 13, 2020. Late bids will not be accepted. The public bid opening will only be conducted via Skype or telephone following The Bid Due Date and Time. See Section 00020 for details regarding the public bid opening. There is a 15% minimum Apprentice Utilization Requirement on this contract. There is a 10% minimum requirement for King County Certified Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS) on this contract. Brief Scope: The purpose of this project is to perform improvements to minimize issues with foaming experienced in the Digested Sludge Storage Tank (DSST). The work of this contract includes but is not limited to: replace the DSST mixing system with new circulation piping and nozzles, a new mixing chopper pump, new VFD to regulate the speed of the mixing pump as well as associated instrumentation and electrical services to complete the work, replace the storage tank roof hatch with an emergency pressure relief hatch, revisions to the DSST roof drainage system, and repair the HDPE liner inside the DSST as needed for installation of mixing system piping and nozzles. Estimated contract price: $1,111,000 Pre-Bid(s): Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at 1:00 pm. Bidders can attend via conference call 1-206-263-8114, then entering Conference ID 4304561. Or they can join directly through Skype by following this link: https://meet.kingcounty.gov/megsaunders/ m5st7kgt Complete Invitation to Bid Documents, including all project details, specifications, and contact information are available on our web page at: https://procurement.kingcounty.gov/ procurement_ovr/default.aspx
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Service Directory Just $10 a week! Call 206-223-0623
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KCHA will accept Bids from Qualified General Contractors for the Mardi Gras - Heating Systems Upgrade project located in Kent, WA. See website for details at www.kcha.org/business/ construction/open/
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KCHA will accept Bids from Qualified General Contractors for the Casa Madrona - Heating Systems Upgrade project located in Olympia, WA. See website for details at www.kcha.org/business/construction/open/
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NOTICES 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. For more information, call Attorney Hugh Stephens at 509-955-9595. We assist with initial claims, appeals, impairment ratings, wage loss, & home/ health care. No Recovery-No Fee. 2495 Main St., Suite 442, Buffalo, NY 14214.
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In a press release, the Chin family said, “The longer the investigation remains open, the more the community fears that justice for Donnie will never become a reality.” Chin, considered by many to be a community hero, founded IDEC in 1968. IDEC grew over the years, but Chin was always its cornerstone, and he brought a sense of safety and stability.
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People were accustomed to seeing him run by in his khaki uniform and first aid kit. Chin saved hundreds of lives over his decades of service, and was usually the first person residents and business owners called when they needed help. Chin was shot to death in the early hours of the morning on July 23, 2015—caught in the middle of gunfire between two rival gangs.
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Hospital District Seeks Service Provider Point Roberts Washington Public Hospital District is looking for a service provider for our medical clinic beginning January 1, 2021. We are a 3-day per week clinic providing primary and urgent care. Point Roberts is part of Whatcom County, situated on the US/Canada border at the southern tip of an otherwise British Columbia peninsula. We are open to proposals from clinic-based organizations as well as proposals to operate as an independent entity. Details about our clinic and services can be viewed at www.pointrobertsclinic.com. Email questions or request for RFP to: superintendent@prphd.org. Deadline July 31, 2020 4 p.m. SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 4.
JULY 25 – JULY 31, 2020
YOUR VOICE
■ ASTROLOGY
asianweekly northwest
11
Predictions and advice for the week of July 25–31, 2020 By Sun Lee Chang
Rat — In the midst of clearing out some clutter, you will find something that will be quite valuable to you.
Dragon — You have heard the alarm, but no one else is listening. Your next move is not dictated by consensus.
Monkey — Some unexpected news could dampen the mood. However, rest assured that it will only be temporary.
Ox — Even if you are slightly reluctant, devote some time to an area that needs to be addressed.
Snake — In between two opposing interests? If you have no skin in the game, avoid picking a side for now.
Rooster — Are you sending the right message? A lack of response could be interpreted as a lack of interest.
Tiger — If you foresee a delay in meeting a promised deadline, the sooner you give a heads up, the better.
Horse — Are you trying to choose between competing obligations? First, figure out whether it is a want or a need.
Dog — You have a few obstacles to overcome at the beginning, but that won’t stop you from rising to the top.
Rabbit — On track to finish ahead of schedule? While it may be tempting to add in other things, resist doing so.
Goat — Considering throwing in the towel? There may be other options that are less drastic than giving up.
Pig — Avoid pinning all your hopes on a loose connection. Cover your bases by developing a sound backup plan.
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.
BLOG from 9 Rye also said, “The union has too much power and should be curtailed.” The union has the power to block reforms, as well as resisting the termination of officers accused of misconduct.
Change the law
Cuts are necessary for many police departments due to the coronavirus pandemic, and not only because of the BLM demands. “Due to the devastating impact of COVID-19 on our reliance on regressive taxes, reducing the budget is the reality for most budgets, including the state and the City of Seattle,” said Rep. Cindy Ryu. In the meantime, it is important to examine the law, said Ryu. “Change how we fund police and public safety and also change our laws.” In 2016, her House Bill 2908 established the joint legislative task force on police use of deadly force. Subsequently, I-940 adopted some
of its recommendations that chokeholds and other holds that use pressure on the neck are prohibited. “We should take the time to rethink how we deliver the services needed for public safety,” Ryu said. Where some responses need uniformed officers, we must work on better ways to respond to most calls where an armed response may not be the most appropriate. Rather, we get better outcomes with more mental health or social services-oriented personnel.” Rep. Mia Gregerson, who supported the passage of I-940, said, “It disgusts me that police departments have not passed policies on their own that protect our Black community from police brutality, bullying, and death.” Gregerson said during the next legislative session, she is “committed to this list of actions: independent investigations, better disaggregated data, diversifying the police workforce, banning no knock warrants, banning chokeholds, banning the use of tear gas, collecting information regarding
WING LUKE from 1 The virtual tour of the Wing Luke offers the ability to see the museum and its collections currently inside. It also offers a historical perspective of the neighborhood through an interactive map of the International District. Clicking on a part of the neighborhood map brings the viewer a chance to see historical information about the Nippon Kan Theatre, Little Saigon, Hing Hay Park, and even a YouTube video of the late “Uncle” Bob Santos singing karaoke at Bush Garden. “Rather than a lovely option, it has become an essential resource,” said Ferguson of the digital content. In addition to its online visibility, the Wing Luke partnered with CIDBIA to do a “C-ID Takeout Bingo” to encourage people to support neighboring restaurants while adhering to social distancing guidelines, according to Wing Luke’s Shaun Mejia. The Wing Luke does not offer a café or restaurant. Ferguson explained that as a part of the community, it wanted to have a place where patrons could come and experience the exhibits and then go out in the community and enjoy the local restaurants. In another outreach effort, “Love Letters” sought out artists to submit work to show their love for the neighborhood. Also addressing issues of race and the Black Lives Matters movement, the Wing Luke partnered with Black artist Moses Sun to create a mural for their boards that links to a page for BLM resources.
police use of deadly force, and actions to demilitarize the police and more.” Perhaps, the word should be to ‘reform’ the police, not defund, said an Asian American retiree who asked not to be identified. Some told me that they were not happy with the destruction and violence caused by BLM, and we informed him that that was misinformation. The BLM protest was infiltrated by extremists and opportunists. Some of my Black friends did participate in the BLM protests, but left the scene immediately when riots began. In fact, CBS’s Steve Hartman’s story about BLM included a moving clip: A group of BLM protesters surrounded a Black man holding a baton about to damage a storefront. Instead of stopping him, they each gave him a hug and escorted him out of there. It was one of most beautiful images I have ever seen. U.S. Attorney General William Barr said, “The voices of the peaceful protest are being hijacked by violent radicals.” In the process of writing this blog, some Black and Asian Americans me asked not
In the event that the Stay at Home order continues, the Wing Luke will step up its efforts as an educational resource. “Parents have become homeschoolers,” said Ferguson of the necessity for children staying at home to continue to learn. The Wing Luke Museum, as well as other museums, have been a resource for educational projects. According to the Washington State Coronavirus Response guidelines, the opening of museums would not occur until Phase 3. On July 16, Gov. Jay Inslee announced new Safe Start phase limits, and the number of individuals allowed in social gatherings during Phase 3 will be reduced from 50 people to 10 people. Regardless, the Wing Luke is gearing up for its eventual return. The positive news for the Wing Luke is that patronage and support in light of this closure has been tremendous. The end of June marked the end of the organization’s fiscal year and it exceeded its financial goal by over $100,000. Ferguson said this happened without its annual spring gala, which usually brings in much of the donations for the museum. “A number of new people gave during the shutdown.” Ferguson added, “We are heartened by people seeing the value of what the Wing does. We have a lot of allies that were saddened and disheartened that the ID was under threat and disruption.” Due to the portrayal of the coronavirus as a disease
to use their names. Some did not want to be interviewed as defunding the police is a complicated issue and they also fear backlash. I get it. You get it too if you read in the Seattle Times, the ugliness happened to Mayor Jenny Durkan and two City Councilmembers, Alex Pedersen and Deborah Juarez when they disagreed on defunding the police by 50%. The opposition just protested outside their home at night. Seattleites have forgotten civility—agree to disagree. And only when it happened to her colleagues did Council President Lorena Gonzalez issue a statement of disapproval. Because she could be the next target in the future. Had she issued the statement early for the mayor, it could have been a different outcome. In the end, I learned through BLM not only about social justices, but lessons in leadership and stepping up to challenges at the right time. Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.
that originated from China, the neighborhood has experienced anti-Chinese sentiment including property damage and threats. The Wing Luke received donations from 200 new individuals which highlights the work of the board, staff, and the individuals that stepped up during its shutdown. With an uncertain future for museums, Ferguson remains optimistic. “I would say for all museums, adjustments are being made.” The Wing Luke has been impacted due to the lack of admission fees and facility rentals. Ferguson explained that the museum’s budget for the next fiscal year will factor in the issues that the pandemic has caused. Still, the Wing anticipates a healthy return once people return. “We’re looking forward to welcoming people back to the neighborhood and once again serving as concierge for people to explore the community businesses and destinations, and help us all rise up together,” added Board Member Beth Takekawa. “Health and safety of staff and visitors is uppermost in mind,” Ferguson stressed. “We are so eager to open because we know we are a hub in the ID.” To learn more about the digital content of the Wing Luke Museum, visit digitalwingluke.org. Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
12
asianweekly northwest
38 YEARS
JULY 25 – JULY 31, 2020
BLM from 1 up with and used the #BlackLivesMatter slogan (or messaging) to spark political conversation and a social movement against police brutality after Trayvon Martin’s killer, George Zimmerman, was acquitted. Today, the BLM movement spans across many different countries and cultures worldwide. Its current prominence in the news and in our API community is in response to the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers on May 25.
Q&A with local Black activists Tensions between Black folks and APIs have existed for decades. It is common for APIs to believe, repeat, and act on negative stereotypes that we have about Black people. This includes buying into beauty standards that whiter skin color is more attractive and superior as well as heavily stigmatizing (and sometimes forbidding and shunning) Black-Asian interracial relationships. Just as APIs wish not to be stereotyped and discriminated against because of the coronavirus pandemic, Black folks want APIs to not perpetuate stereotypes and discriminate against them. NWAW: Anti-Blackness is something that gets brought up in the Asian community a lot—as in “Asians benefit from and contribute to anti-Blackness.” Can you talk about what anti-Blackness means to you? Miriam Zmiewski-Angelova: Honestly, I find anti-Blackness to be jarring and ironic but not necessarily surprising when it comes from other people of color. I find it particularly heartbreaking when it is done to mixed-race children from their non-Black communities. It is not something you have control over, nor is it something you should feel any level of shame about. And yet, the message is, due to some part of your family lineage or the way you look, you [are] undeserving of basic respect. (Miriam [she/her] is an early learning coach with the City of Seattle – Department of Education and Early Learning, a mother, and is African American, Choctaw, Cherokee, Sauk/Fox, and Ashkenaz. E.N. West: [Another] example of anti-Blackness that is frequently perpetuated by non-Black people of color is the desire for their children to not date or even befriend Black people. Usually at the root of this desire is not some issue specific to the individual person, but negative stereotypes and biases that have been leveled against the Black community as a whole, with little to no basis in reality. (E [they/them] is Surge Reproductive Justice’s communications and community engagement manager. They’re originally from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.) NWAW: Why do you think anti-Blackness exists as strongly as it does in the API community? Jackie Vaughn: White supremacy has really created a strong stratification here in the U.S. that puts API folks right beneath white people as that buffer between other folks of color and Black people. White supremacy has invested heavily in the model minority stereotype and in making API folks feel as close to white as possible without the privileges of being white, so they can create that buffer between white people and Black people. (Jackie [she/her] is Surge Reproductive Justice’s Executive Director. Surge’s work
includes affecting law and policy change, education and outreach, advocacy and community organizing, and other vehicles for change around reproductive justice.) Chris Rhodes: We have been pitted against each other (along with other POC communities) by the systems of government in place throughout the past 50 to 60 years. For a long time [before that], the Black and API community actually worked in harmony with each other. For example, the CD (Central District) started out with both groups living, working, and learning together. Then around the time, Reagan hit office—and possibly a bit before—the idea of creating division became more of the status quo. The best way to keep a group or groups of people suppressed is to divide them. (Chris [he/him] is director of development at RVC, a capacity-building nonprofit based in the International District.) NWAW: In regard to your own personal identity, do you feel misunderstood sometimes by API folks? Chris: I don’t feel misunderstood, personally. I just believe sometimes the plight or end desire of our community is misunderstood. The way it is depicted most times is that we want special treatment. That could not be further from the truth. We are just in search of being able to live and navigate this life on our own merit. We want to not fear going out, or to not fear our child driving to the store, or to not have people cross the street, or not to be referred to as one of the “good ones” because we are not a criminal. We want to be seen as just like any other group of people with some good, bad, and everything in between. NWAW: Many API folks in our community are unclear about the Black Lives Matter movement. Some have expressed they don’t understand why one racial group is “singling” themselves out when all POCs contend with racism. Can you talk a little bit about this? Leanne Rye Brock: Black people were brought here as property … [This messaging] continued through Jim Crow and still to this day. Our babies, mothers, and men are dying at a disproportionate rate, and it needs attention. This is not about who has struggled the most. This is about eradicating the beliefs that are interwoven into the fabric of this country so that all lives matter. This does not discount the pain and injustice done to [other] POC; we need to stand in solidarity with one another. (Leanne [she/her] is completing her PhD in educational studies with a concentration in decolonizing systems and historical trauma. She is a mother, and is African American and Choctaw.) NWAW: How do you feel when you experience anti-Blackness from an API? Mattie Mooney: It feels really horrible experiencing racism from non-Black people of color. Many Black people, myself included, have experienced much blatant racism from the Asian community, sometimes more than we have from the white community, which always throws me for a loop. I seriously dated an amazing Vietnamese guy who I actually planned to marry, [and] his mother refused to meet me and told him that if he brought me home, she would kill herself. I also recall going into a gas station and being blatantly refused service by an Asian clerk while a store full of white customers continued to be served (thankfully a few of them walked out with me after witnessing this ordeal.). Point is that racism hurts mind, body, and soul—to experience
anti-Blackness from people who are also marginalized feels like a double blow. (Mattie [they/them] is a healthcare access manager at Ingersoll Gender Center as well as co-founder of Philanthropy Collective Trans Women of Color Solidarity Network. They currently organize around the movement for Black lives centering the voices of the most marginalized within the Black community. Their stepparents are Asian, their partner is Asian, and their child is Hapa and part Asian.) NWAW: Many API business owners are upset about the looting that went on in the International District during protests. We’ve heard these POC business owners say that while they understand the looting was done by opportunists and they know that lives matter more than buildings, they still feel somewhat overlooked and unheard. Can you respond to this? Marlon Brown: Looting is never necessary when advocating for social justice. Black Lives Matter Seattle King County does not condone looting. We have learned that civil disobedience, protesting in the streets, sit-ins, traffic disruptions are tools to bring attention to our issues. … It’s also important to point out the difference between looting and surviving. Oftentimes we see Black people on the news being accused of looting, when really what they’re doing is surviving. We saw this after Katrina, and Haiti. But we also saw it after the tsunami in Japan, and the media didn’t cast Japanese people as looters. It cast them as creative and survivors. … You can’t fault people for their righteous acts when they’ve spent decades just trying to survive. That’s what you’re really seeing, is human desperation. (Marlon [he/him] is a Black Lives Matter Seattle King County Chapter board member and also partner at Racial Equity Consultants.) NWAW: When APIs hear the words “defund the police,” they worry that it means their families and their businesses won’t be protected from criminal activity, so that might be why they resist this call. Can you talk about what defunding the police looks like and will accomplish for all POCs—in your opinion? Marlon: In Seattle, we are calling for a cut of 50% to the SPD budget. That might seem drastic or ill-informed, but the truth is SPD has a bloated budget in personnel because it has too many jobs that require you to have a badge and a gun. If you want to be a data analyst in SPD, you have to be a cop. That’s actually rare, and there are dozens of jobs like that in SPD. In other departments, locally and nationally, those are civilian jobs, and those are jobs that feed the families of API folks, Black folks, and other immigrants and people of color. We [often] focus on how much money it costs to educate a single child, or incarcerate a single person; [but] how much does it cost to equip a single officer, beyond their pay? It’s a waste of money that doesn’t make your community or my community any safer. Mattie: [Currently] 82% of [SPD’s] $409 million [budget] goes to pay salaries, overtime, and benefits for officers who, in the City of Seattle, are the most overpaid cops in the country. … Right now, we know that increased community policing does not work, especially not for Black communities or communities of color who are often unfairly targeted by officers. Historically we also know that communities like the International District as well as Capitol Hill and the Central District have created their own
safety patrols that were effective at controlling crime. … Studies have shown that increased access to housing, healthcare, education, and social services decrease crime. Meanwhile all of these same services have been increasingly defunded and underfunded for the past 30-plus years by our federal and local governments. By decreasing the police budget by 50% and investing in community-based organizations, healthcare, housing, and social services, we will be able to start to address issues within our communities including crime with solutions that actually work. Miriam: We should not expect police officers to know how to respond in every situation. There is a lot of funding in city budgets for policing and only a fraction for mental health, homelessness prevention, education, substance abuse prevention, [and more]. This was the issue with the tragic, completely unnecessary, and preventable death of Charleena Lyles by officers. She needed someone who was a trained mental health professional and instead she was met with armed officers unqualified to serve her needs. We should redistribute funding to these other important social services so that the experts in these fields will have adequate pay, resources, and staffing to properly support these various community needs. NWAW: Combating racism and anti-Blackness requires all POCs to work together and support one another. Can you talk about a way in which you’d like for APIs to show up for Black folks, besides protesting? Leanne: First address and unpack any biases you may have. Learn about the great contributions that have been made by the community; rewrite the narrative that has been created and sit among us. Understand the toxicity of discrimination causes harm not only to me, but to the children and grandchildren that I will leave behind. Many people left their home country as a result of the same issues, let’s not tether ourselves to such toxicity. Marlon: I ask APIs to interrogate those negative narratives and ask, “Who did and do those stories serve? Who did and do they harm? What role did and do I play in that harm? What am I willing to do beyond protesting to heal our bond and connections with Black communities?” Dismantling anti-Blackness means writing and upholding new narratives about Black people through all generations. E: On an interpersonal level, I encourage API folks to call in/out people in your life who perpetuate anti-Blackness. This may include people who are more difficult to have these conversations with, including [those] who may not see anything wrong with their anti-Black comments and/or sentiments. But it is imperative that these folks—who are often leaders in the family and community—are challenged. If their minds shift, that can lead to shifts that may have impacts on a larger level. Miriam: If you hear someone make a racist joke or statement, refuse to associate with someone because they are Black, talk to them. Get a better understanding of where their bias comes from. Share resources with them that you feel will help them gain more knowledge and perspective about the harm in their words and behaviors. Use your understanding of cultural norms for your community to encourage people to not hide behind notions that their views can be explained away by generational or cultural differences. Stacy Nguyen can be reached at stacy@nwasianweekly.com.