VOL 39 NO 31 | AUGUST 1 – AUGUST 7, 2020

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

VOL 39 NO 31 AUGUST 1 – AUGUST 7, 2020 FREE 38 YEARS YOUR VOICE

A timeline of the coronavirus pandemic, and its effects on Washington state and the Seattle Chinatown-International District

T

his is a look at how this pandemic has evolved and progressed thus far in 2020.

JAN 20 Man in his 30s, who had traveled to Wuhan, China, is hospitalized at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. First case of coronavirus in the state and the United States. see TIMELINE on 15

Tax reform, rent relief, and COVID-19

HEALTH The wisdom of prevention

7

8th annual AAPI forum candidates debate homegrown and national issues COMMUNITY NEWS FAPAGOW re-energized with new, young blood

By Kai Curry NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The 8th Annual Asian American Pacific Islander Candidate Forum on July 22 gave candidates for the U.S. House of Representative Washington’s 9th Congressional district and Washington State Representative 37th legislative district, positions one and two, a chance to respond to questions from the community in a conversation broadcast via Zoom and Facebook.

During the forum, candidates addressed concerns on issues about systemic racism, healthcare, housing, and taxation, all of which have grown even more urgent due to COVID-19.

It felt like an in-person debate as state Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos and Democrat hopeful John Stafford, a high school history teacher, retorted to each other’s claims. Stafford pointed to Santos’ lack of progress in correcting the state’s taxation system during her years in office.

“It’s an area where I feel my oppo-

■

8

WORLD NEWS Man accused of running over Sikh man charged with hate crime

9

nent should have done far more over the past couple of decades. Now we are in an economic crisis and we still have this problem.”

Stafford was referring to the fact that those in our state who make less than $21,500 a year pay disproportionately more towards taxes than people who make more than $500,000 a year.

Santos responded by highlighting her experience with tax reform and reminding her opponent that it takes a team to push through change.

“He seems to think that it takes only me to implement some of these progressive tax ideas. Unfortunately, I am 1 of

PUBLISHER’S BLOG Is it safe to dine out again?

 10

see TAX REFORM on 16

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asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

AUGUST 1 – AUGUST 7, 2020

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Yoichiro Yamada leaving in August

Yoichiro Yamada

Yoichiro Yamada, Consul General of Japan in Seattle, is leaving his post on Aug. 6.

He announced his departure in July in a private letter to friends and acquaintances, saying he and his family will leave the Pacific Northwest after three years as Japan’s top diplomat in

the Northwest and Montana.

He did not reveal what his next assignment would be or where he is going.

Hisao Inagaki is expected to replace Yamada as Consul General. 

Seattle’s TECO Director-General Alex Fan leaving

Alex Fan, the Director-General of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Seattle is leaving his post at the end of August, after a year and a half.

A new directorgeneral, Daniel Kuo-ching Chen, will take over.

Chen Alex Fan is currently Deputy Secretary-General of the Taiwan Council for U.S. Affairs. Previously, he served as senior consular officer for TECO in Seattle.

Chen earned a Master of Science in Foreign Service with an International Business Diplomacy honorary certificate from Georgetown University in 2000 and

Bachelor of Arts with valedictorian in Diplomacy from National Chengchi University, Taiwan in 1995.

Chen is married to May Shih and together, they have a daughter, Cheryl and a son, Sean. 

New CAPAA commissioners

The Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA) welcomed three new commissioners in July—Julio Diaz, Ping Ping, and Va’eomatoka Valu.

Valu is from south King County, and is a member of the Pacific Islander Health Board and the Pacific Islander Community Association.

He plans to channel his knowledge and energy into fighting for systemic change and justice for Pacific Va’eomatoka Valu Islander communities.

project coordinator. She is Korean American with Korean language proficiency. She works for Washington state’s Department of Social and Health Services with extensive experience in office management.

Information on the full board and staff can be found online at capaa.wa.gov. 

Japanese fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto dies at 76

Kansai Yamamoto

Ping Ping

Julio Diaz

Ping is from Spokane County and brings passion and experience advocating for AAPI communities as an educator.

Diaz is from Thurston County and currently chairs the City of Federal Way’s Civil Service Commission and plans to concentrate on advancing civil rights for APIs, immigrants, and refugees.

Brenda O’Brien has been hired to serve as CAPAA’s

became internationally known for blending traditional Japanese motifs with brilliant colors and bold designs.

Yamamoto designed the costume for Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust alter ego, and also developed friendships with top artists including Elton John and Stevie Wonder, his company said. 

Japanese fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto, known for his avant-garde and colorful work that included flamboyant costumes of the late rock icon David Bowie, died of leukemia on July 21, his company said. He was 76.

Yamamoto debuted in 1971, becoming the first Japanese fashion designer to hold a show in London. He

David Bowie

YOUR VOICE

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

AUGUST 1 – AUGUST 7, 2020

asianweekly northwest

3

Citing triple-whammy catastrophe, Durkan vows to aid marginalized communities “It’s wrong that a kid growing up in South Park should have a lower life expectancy than a kid growing up in Laurelhurst.”

By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Facing a crisis in the city she described as “unprecedented,” Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan offered a number of promises, but was vague in providing details.

At a virtual town hall meeting on July 27 for residents of Southeast and Central Seattle, she bemoaned the state of the city’s challenges and offered to invest in particularly hard-hit communities. Citing the pandemic, economic losses, and unrest over civil rights, she underscored that the city was facing a triple whammy unseen in its history.

“Our city has never faced the challenges it is facing today,” she said.

In response, Durkan vowed to continue measures, such as halting evictions and providing grocery vouchers, that the city has already undertaken.

It was not immediately clear why she did not provide specific dates for her proposals. For instance, a moratorium on evictions will expire on Aug. 1, but Durkan did not say when she would issue a new order. However, Gov. Jay Inslee last week extended the eviction moratorium through Oct. 15.

The effects of the COVID-19 outbreak have hit marginalized communities the hardest. And Durkan said the city would invest $100 million in Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.

The city should emerge from the pandemic as a place where economic disparities are not as glaring as they are now, she said.

“It’s wrong that a kid growing up in South Park

are only two options—take the person to jail, or to Harborview.

Under the new proposed guidelines, a medic and a social worker would respond to such a call. A person in crisis could then be taken to a homeless shelter, provided access to food, or assisted with obtaining housing.

At the same time, the meeting also appeared to be an opportunity for Durkan to showcase some accomplishments during a hard period. A recent King 5 News poll found that nearly one-third of respondents believe she should resign. At the same time, she has been fending off formal recall motions.

Before that, she and Police Chief Carmen Best revealed tensions after both denied having issued the order to abandon the East Precinct when police summarily vacated a central part of Capitol Hill, leaving it to demonstrators and rapidly escalating violence.

City officials offered charts and statistics showing accomplishments, including an increase in beds for the homeless and two free testing sites for the novel coronavirus, with a third coming shortly—although the exact time was not given.

“We’re working hard to identify new locations in South Seattle for free testing,” said Fire Chief Harold Scoggins.

The arenas providing increased beds for the

— Mayor Jenny Durkan Mayor Jenny Durkan

should have a lower life expectancy than a kid growing up in

Laurelhurst,” she said.

Community partners would also need to assist the city in educating their constituents about proper measures to contain the coronavirus, she said. Trusted leaders of those communities will have an easier time providing guidance about proper protocol as well as distributing masks, added Durkan.

“We can provide face coverings if you are a community-based organization,” she said.

Another change will be a newly imagined police department. But Durkan rejected a simple 50% cut. In perhaps the clearest articulation of a new vision for the police department, she and other officials discussed the new changes.

Currently, if police respond to a non-urgent call involving a person having a mental health crisis, there

see DURKAN on 5

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asianweekly northwest

AUGUST 1 – AUGUST 7, 2020

38 YEARS

■ NATIONAL NEWS

US accuses Chinese hackers in targeting of COVID-19 research

By ERIC TUCKER ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON (AP) — Hackers working with the Chinese government targeted firms developing vaccines for the coronavirus and stole hundreds of millions of dollars worth of intellectual property and trade secrets from companies across the world, the Justice Department said on July 21 as it announced criminal charges.

The indictment does not accuse the two Chinese defendants of actually obtaining the coronavirus research, but it does underscore the extent to which scientific innovation has been a top target for foreign governments and criminal hackers looking to know what American companies are developing during the pandemic. In this case, the hackers researched vulnerabilities in the computer networks of biotech firms and diagnostic companies that were developing vaccines and testing kits and researching antiviral drugs.

The charges are the latest in a series of aggressive Trump administration actions targeting China. They come as President Donald Trump, his reelection prospects damaged by the coronavirus outbreak, has blamed China for the pandemic and as administration officials have escalated their denunciations of Beijing, including over alleged efforts to steal intellectual property through hacking.

The indictment includes trade secret theft and wire fraud conspiracy charges

ADAM

SMITH

against the hackers, former classmates at an electrical engineering college who prosecutors say worked together for more than a decade targeting high-tech companies in more than 10 countries.

The hackers, identified as Li Xiaoyu and Dong Jiazhi, stole information not only for their personal profit but also research and technology that they knew would be of value to the Chinese government, prosecutors say.

In some instances, the indictment says, they provided an officer for a Chinese intelligence service with whom they worked email accounts and passwords belonging to clergymen, dissidents and pro-democracy activists who could then be targeted. The officer gave help of his own, providing malicious software after one of the hackers struggled to compromise the mail server of a Burmese human rights group.

The two defendants are not in custody, and federal officials conceded that they were not likely to step foot in an American courtroom. But the indictment carries important symbolic and deterrence value for the Justice Department, which decided that publicly calling out the behavior was more worthwhile than waiting for the unlikely scenario in which the defendants would travel to the U.S. and risk arrest.

The hacking began more than 10 years ago, with targets including pharmaceutical,

solar energy and medical device companies but also political dissidents, activists and clergy in the United States, China and Hong Kong, federal authorities said.

The charges were brought as Trump administration officials, including national security adviser Robert O’Brien and Attorney General William Barr, have delivered public warnings about what they say are Chinese government efforts to use hacking to steal trade secrets for Beijing’s financial benefit and to covertly influence American policy.

The hacking is part of what Assistant Attorney General John Demers, the Justice Department’s top national security official, described as a sweeping effort to “rob, replicate and replace” strategy for technological development.

In addition, he said, “China is providing a safe haven for criminal hackers who, as in this case, are hacking in part for their own personal gain but willing to help the state —and on call to do so.”

The criminal charges are the first from the Justice Department accusing foreign hackers of targeting innovation related to the coronavirus, though U.S. and Western intelligence agencies have warned for months about those efforts.

The indictment describes multiple efforts see RESEARCH on 14

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■ WORLD NEWS South Korea to let fans watch sports live again SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea will allow baseball fans to return to the stands as health authorities outlined a phased process to bring back spectators in professional sports amid the COVID-19 epidemic.

Senior Health Ministry official Yoon Tae-ho also said at a virus briefing that fans will be allowed at professional soccer games starting on Aug. 1.

However, professional golf tournaments will continue without galleries until at least late August, he said.

Both baseball and soccer teams will be initially allowed to sell only 10% of the seats for each game as officials plan to control the level of attendance based on the progress of anti-virus efforts.

Spectators will continue to be banned in the city of Gwangju and nearby South

DURKAN from 3 homeless comprise Exhibition Hall, Fisher Pavilion, SW Teen Life Center, Garfield Community Center, Miller Community Center, and hotels.

COVID-19 transmission has been flat in these new communities opened up for the homeless, despite its increase in the population at large.

Durkan also took the opportunity to defend her efforts outright.

For instance, in talking about the devastating effects the pandemic is having on small businesses, she said it may not be widely known that Washington state’s constitution prohibits the city from giving direct funds to residents. To get around this restriction, the city has handed out “tens of thousands” of grocery vouchers.

And it has partnered with “outside philanthropy,” she said, without giving any details.

Reporters were cautioned against asking questions,

and told instead to direct any queries to the mayor’s office, although the meeting ended after 6 p.m. when municipal offices are closed. The Northwest Asian Weekly was unable to get questions answered before press time.

The tone was also defensive, if not quietly frustrated, about the recent police reaction to new demonstrations.

Best was scheduled to speak, but was called away by urgent business and was replaced by Chris Fisher, chief strategy officer at the Seattle Police Department (SPD).

Acknowledging that protests have been a “historical change agent,” Fisher contended that the SPD was already ahead of the national curve in terms of police reform.

“We all want to see positive change,” he said.

Speaking quietly, but with Chris Fisher

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Stadium officials will also register fans with smartphone QR codes so that they could be easily located when needed.

South Korea’s baseball and soccer leagues returned to action in May without fans in the stands. Seats have been covered with cheering banners, dolls or pictures of fans as teams tried to mimic a festive atmosphere. 

apparently large circles under his eyes, Fisher expressed frustration with the blame apportioned out to the police.

“Officers have been asked to pick up too many pieces from failed systems,” he said. During the recent weekend protests, 59 officers were hurt and two required hospitalization. Protesters hurled explosive devices at officers. Some of the protestors were also hurt.

It was not entirely clear why Durkan chose the timing of the meeting, except for her saying that marginalized communities were being hit the hardest by illness and economic catastrophe.

Communities invited to attend included the Chinatown International District, Capitol Hill, and the Central District.  Mahlon can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

6

asianweekly northwest

AUGUST 1 – AUGUST 7, 2020

■ NATIONAL NEWS

Utah judge who criticized Trump, championed Asians has died SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah municipal judge known for his advocacy for Asian Americans and criticism of President Donald Trump has died.

Taylorsville Justice Court Michael Justice Court Michael Kwan Kwan, 58, was found unresponsive at his home on July 21, said Emily Bingham, a family spokeswoman and friend.

“It was very sudden and unexpected,” she said, adding that he was not sick. An autopsy has been scheduled to determine his cause of

death.

Kwan was known for being an early adopter of drug courts, which favor rehabilitation over punitive measures for drug offenders and people who are caught driving drunk, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. A descendant of one of Utah’s Chinese railroad workers, Kwan advocated for Chinese Americans to receive more recognition for their contributions to the Transcontinental Railroad.

“We’ve been here for more than 150 years and we have contributed every step of the way,” Kwan told The Associated Press in 2019. “That’s the dream: Have people stop asking us where we’re from.” see KWAN on 11

38 YEARS

Chinese scientist charged with visa fraud appears in court SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A Chinese scientist charged with visa fraud after authorities said she concealed her military ties to China in order to work in the U.S. made her first appearance on July 27 in federal court by video.

Juan Tang, 37, was appointed a federal public defender and U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah Barnes ordered Tang to remain in custody, saying she is a flight risk, while her attorney prepares an argument to allow her release on bail.

The Justice Department last week announced charges against Tang and three other scientists living in

Juan Tang

the U.S., saying they lied about their status as members of China’s People’s Liberation Army. All were charged with visa fraud.

Prosecutors said Tang lied about her see TANG on 11

WA residents warned not Reporter for CBS affiliate in New York dies to plant seeds from China in moped crash NEW YORK (AP) — A reporter for a CBS affiliate in New York has died in a moped crash, the station announced.

CBS2 New York reporter Nina Kapur was riding as a passenger on a moped that crashed in Brooklyn on July 18, police said.

Nina Kapur She was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where she died. The driver of the moped

suffered minor injuries.

“We are heartbroken here at CBS2 as a member of our news family has passed away,” the station said in a statement.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Nina’s family. She will be missed.”

Police said Kapur was riding on a Revel scooter, part of a fleet of electric mopeds operated by a ride-sharing startup, when the driver swerved and both riders were thrown from the vehicle. The accident is under investigation.

The 26-year-old Kapur was a graduate of Syracuse University. She joined CBS2 last year after stints at WDVM TV in Maryland and News12 in Norwalk, Connecticut. 

The Washington state Department of Agriculture (WSDA) said on July 24 that it received two separate reports of residents receiving seeds from China that they did not order. The package labeling indicated that jewelry was inside, but instead the residents found seeds.

The WSDA said the seeds could pose a serious threat to our farms, gardens, animals, and environment.

They could be invasive, harbor pests and diseases, or harm livestock.

If you received the unsolicited international seed packages in the mail:

• Do not open the seed packets or plant the seeds.

• Double bag the seeds (for example, leave in the seed packet they came in and also put inside a sealed zip-lock bag) and put them in the regular trash. Don’t put them in a compost or recycling bin.

• If you already planted the seeds, please pull up the plants, double bag them and put them in the trash (not compost) bin.

• The WSDA said don’t burn the seeds as some seeds actually require fire and smoke to germinate, and do not grind them as that could release fungal or other plant diseases. 

View the solution on page 10

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AUGUST 1 – AUGUST 7, 2020

YOUR VOICE

■ HEALTH

asianweekly northwest

7

The wisdom of prevention

By Kamna Shastri Real Change REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION

Through every winter, my mother reminds me to drink warm water, yellowed with turmeric, infused with ginger.

While it was forced on me as a child, it has become a habit. When COVID broke out in Washington state in February, my mother reminded me again to drink this daily, encouraging me to keep up my immune system.

While COVID-19 has no cure, is freakishly contagious and has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and plenty of fear worldwide, the disease brings up important questions about health, wellness, medicine and the institutions that regulate our relationships with our bodies.

Traditional healing systems the world over emphasize preventative measures to safeguard immunity against infection.

These healing systems span everything from acupuncture, East Asian medicine, and ayurveda

Photo credit: Kamna Shastri

Traditional and natural healing systems have knowledge to boost immunity and empower wellness

A traditional south Indian spice box which includes cumin (helps digestion), turmeric (anti-inflammatory and antioxidant), chili powder (to clear nasal congestion), coriander powder (lowers cholesterol, helps digestion), mustard seed (helps digestion and is magnesium rich).

(Indian medicine) to naturopathy and herbal medicines and more.

A common thread through these practices is a focus on prevention, viewing health as a relationship between the natural world and humanity.

The recipes my mother uses with herbs and spices to ward away illness are not arbitrary but informed by hundreds of years of knowledge accu-

mulated by the Indian ayurvedic system of medicine. Dr. Virender Sodhi, a leading, Bellevue-based holistic practitioner who established the Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Clinic in 1989, says the science of ayurveda is the oldest healing system in the world. Dating back more than 3,000 years, ayurveda, like many other traditional and alternative medicines, considers the mind, body and

spirit in understanding wellness.

“We had a full system of medicine, but this was not only medicine. It was lifestyle, it was spirituality, it was how we lived in harmony with nature,” Dr. Sodhi said. Though yoga and meditation, as well as the use of spices and herbs like ashwagandha, have become “New Age” fads in the U.S. and Europe, they were integral to the concept of wellness in the ayurvedic system and are considered legitimate healing treatments in India today.

“Whenever we live in harmony with the environment, the body is naturally healthy,” Dr. Sodhi said, pointing to a variety of Indian and Hindu rituals that seamlessly blend wellness practices into a lifestyle; leaves from the neem tree, endemic to the South Asian subcontinent, are known to be a natural bug repellent. Many people string a garland of neem leaves above their door or have a neem tree in their homes, the presence of which keeps away disease-spreading insects.

Dr. Sodhi grew up in the northern mountain state of Himachal Pradesh, the son of a school principal father. When the two went on walks, his father would stop every so often to show him a plant and explain its medici-

CID Community Art Mural Contest

nal properties. One plant helped cure jaundice, for example, and was easy to identify by its yellow leaves. Dr. Sodhi’s curiosity was piqued at a young age and arose again when he began pre-med studies in India. Dr. Sodhi wanted to immerse himself in the generations-old science of ayurveda; he pursued a combined training that included conventional medicine and ayurveda.

Dr. Sodhi says a holistic, preventative approach to health applies at any time, including in these worrying times of COVID. “Our immune system is amazing. … We need to believe that our immune system is capable,” he said. In bolstering health against COVID, immunity is key, because the severity of COVID is not caused by the virus itself but by the body’s immune response to it.

He says exercise and fresh air are important, pointing to studies that show walking in green spaces can increase your immune health by 40 percent. Dr. Sodhi also suggests meditation and yoga; both foster a calmer state of mind to battle lowered immunity due to stress.

Certain herbs and spices are see ASIAN MEDICINE on 12

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.

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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.

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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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38 YEARS

AUGUST 1 – AUGUST 7, 2020

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

FAPAGOW re-energized with new, young blood

By Ador Pereda Yano SPECIAL TO NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Brendan Borromeo and CWU FASA

volvement across the state. Rounding up the board are Myrna Soriano, who will coordinate FAPAGOW alumni engagement, and Maria Batayola and Ador Pereda Yano, who will drive the communication activities for the political action group.

Brendan Borromeo, one of the young FAPAGOW board members, is a recent graduate of Central Washington University (CWU). During Borromeo’s time at CWU, he spent three years with the Filipino American Student Association (FASA) as their vice president and president. This past year, he was part of the

Northwest Filipino American Student Alliance advisory board, representing the east side of the alliance.

Borromeo is amplifying his inBrendan Borromeo volvement with the Filipino community by joining FAPAGOW. “I see a future where we can bridge the gap between the old and new generation of Filipino Americans, and I want to be a part

Education and Opportunity for Every Child — From Cradle to Career

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US Senator Patty Murray Congressman Adam Smith Attorney General Bob Ferguson State Senator Joe Nguyen State Rep. My-Linh Thai State Representative Mike Pellicciotti Former State Rep. Kristine Reeves Federal Way Councilmember Hoang Tran Former Federal Way Councilmember Jeanne Burbidge South King County Firefighters Tacoma News Tribune WA Education Association WA State Labor Council WA State Nurses Association

“On the Federal Way City Council, Jesse has prioritized opportunity for all our neighbors. His commitment to creating the best conditions to help our youth, seniors, families, and small businesses thrive will be an asset in Olympia. He has my full support.”

– Federal Way Councilmember Hoang Tran

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In the FAPAGOW board advisory role, Ellen Abellera, Dolores Sibonga, David Della, and Sluggo Rigor will help guide the group with their Washington state political experience and decadeslong civic engagement with the Filipino American community. Abellera, who was a past president of FAPAGOW, has also previously served Governors Locke and Gregoire as executive director of the see FAPAGOW on 13

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Weekly Specials

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Responding to the urgency of the present political climate, the Filipino American Political Action Group of Washington (FAPAGOW) is geared up for the 2020 election season with fresh young activists from across Washington state.

Founded in 1952 as the Filipino American Citizens, FAPAGOW is a progressive non-partisan organization whose mission is to advocate for the empowerment and betterment of Filipino Americans through effective civic engagement. Filipinos are the largest Asian Pacific Islander ethnic group in Washington at 178,300 strong, according to the 2018 Census data.

Along with experienced political leaders Rick Polintan and Dori Peralta Baker representing Western and Eastern Washington chapters, newcomers Rick Polintan Brendan Borromeo, Jarmaine Santos, and Paul Tabayoyon have joined the FAPAGOW board to power up voter registration, activation, and youth in-

of that bridge by having open dialogue, learning from each other, and advocating for Filipino and Filipino American rights,” said Borromeo.

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YOUR VOICE

■ NATIONAL NEWS

AUGUST 1 – AUGUST 7, 2020

asianweekly northwest

9

Man accused of running over Sikh man charged with hate crime

By COLLEEN SLEVIN ASSOCIATED PRESS A man accused of running over the Sikh owner of a suburban Denver liquor store after reportedly telling him and his wife to “go back to your Eric Breemen country’’ is now facing a hate crime charge in addition to 16 other charges, including attempted murder.

Prosecutors said the hate crime charge was filed against Eric Breemen on July 21 nearly three months after the alleged assault in the parking lot of the Lakewood store Lakhwant Singh owns with his wife, The charges came after an investigation prosecutors say was delayed by the severity of Singh’s injuries, his 65day stay in the hospital and coronavirus pandemic restrictions.

The announcement from the office of First Judicial District Attorney Peter Weir said investigators recently conducted their first in-person interview with Singh

with help from the FBI after Singh’s release from the hospital.

“This is a very serious case and another example of the challenges we face in the criminal justice system during this public health emergency,’’ Weir said.

Public defender Alex Taufer, who has represented Breemen in court, did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.

The information gathered by prosecutors that led them to pursue the hate crime charge has not been introduced into the court record at this point in the proceedings and cannot be released yet, said district attorney spokesperson Pam Russell.

A police document laying out the reasons for Breemen’s arrest soon after the April 29 incident said that Breemen thought Singh, who wears a turban and uncut beard in adherence with his Sikh faith, was an “older Arab.’’

According to the document, Breemen denied threatening Singh and said Singh had jumped in front of his car as he was driving away from the store.

However, a regular customer who was in the parking lot told police a man Singh had been arguing with got in his car and accelerated toward Singh, who tried but was not able to get out of his way, the

Lakhwant Singh

document said.

According to the Sikh Coalition, a civil rights organization that fights discrimination against Sikhs and represents Singh, Breemen began picking up items in an agitated manner after entering Two Angels Liquors before harassing Singh and his wife, telling them to “go back to your country,“ and damaging numerous items in the store.

The couple were protected by a plexiglass window on the counter that they had installed because of the pandemic, and they repeatedly asked

Breemen to leave before he finally did so, legal director Amrith Kaur Aakre said in a June 1 letter to police and prosecutors urging authorities to pursue a hate crime charge.

Singh followed him outside to take a photo of Breemen’s license plate, which the coalition said enraged Breemen and caused him to use his vehicle to hit him, Aakre said.

In a statement released by the coalition, Singh said he appreciated authorities hearing his story and recognizing the role that hate played in his alleged assault.

“I am so very grateful to everyone —Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike, from Lakewood, elsewhere in Colorado, across the country, and beyond—who have stood with me and my family in this incredibly difficult time,’’ he said.

The Sikh Coalition was formed following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks when Sikhs were targeted because some people mistakenly believed they were Muslim. Sikhism, a monotheistic faith, was founded more than 500 years ago in the Indian region of Punjab and has roughly 27 million followers worldwide, most of them in India. 

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asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

AUGUST 1 – AUGUST 7, 2020

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

Do you miss dining out?

COVID-19 hits Asian restaurants hard

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Lobster dinner at a Boston restaurant

According to health tips, places like crowded indoor restaurant dining, bars, and nightclubs, gyms and athletic studios, amusement parks, and high contact sports with shared equipment (football/basketball), conferences and large religious and cultural gatherings, music concerts or places where people are singing or shouting, are high risk areas for spreading COVID-19.

My husband and I have been staying home a lot. We do takeout only once in a while, but I have treated friends on their birthdays with takeout. We jump out of

A vegetarian dish served at the Seattle Westin Hotel

A Chinese dinner in New York’s Chinatown

restaurants like lightning. Sorry, we are in the high-risk age group for COVID-19 and are careful to protect ourselves. I don’t use credit cards for takeout either because I will have to linger longer in a restaurant. The exact amount with tips is what we hand to the restaurants in a small bag. We don’t want any change back. The goal is to avoid human contact as much as possible.

However, shouldn’t I experience what it’s like to dine out during the pandemic?

Perhaps, another blog topic! I am curious how a restaurant prepares for in-house dining.

Should I wear a mask when I talk with my host or not during our lunch? We must. When we talk or sing, droplets are released from our mouths, and that’s how the disease spreads. COVID-19 is airborne. Even if other guests mind, I have to suggest to them that wearing masks, though inconvenient, would be safest for all of us.

Am I rude if I wear a special mask with a hole in the center to allow me to eat, and then seal it back when I stop eating?

There is such a mask, I have seen it on YouTube. Picture it, it’s hilarious. But would it slow down my eating or cause too much trouble? Would I annoy other guests if everyone finishes eating, while

Spanish seafood on skillet at a restaurant in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

I am still munching? Hmm, I guess it depends on the host.

Would it look odd if I brought along

up! And absolutely no lipstick as it can smear my mask. Why bother to make my face pretty? No one can see it.

Most of the people are aware that it is risky to shake hands. Elbow bumps are fun. I have not encountered anyone objecting to it or disliking it. My real issue is with public restrooms. I am scared to go into any public restrooms, period. What’s the solution? Don’t drink too much liquid before and during lunch, I assume. It doesn’t sound crazy to bring your own sanitizers and wipes, according to stories in the mainstream media. Cover the toilet

Photos by Assunta Ng

Last week, a rare lunch invitation showed up in my email. It was like a bright light on a gloomy day. During the coronavirus pandemic, every community event on my calendar got canceled. But before I said yes, there were unsettling concerns...

Should I go or not? Of course, I should.

It’s a farewell lunch in a restaurant with only three other people. Honestly, I have missed dining out with friends and family since the lockdown. It has been five months since I stepped foot in a restaurant for a sit-down meal.

I am a foodie. As a journalist, what better topics to write about than interesting food in exotic places. Before COVID-19, it was part of my ritual to dine out at least once or twice, and sometimes as much as four times a week, including attending events.

My last restaurant dining experience was March 8. Do the math. Holy Moses! I have lost 80+ opportunities for fancy meals and fascinating conversations.

Buffet lunch at Brazilian Grill Restaurant at Lincoln Tower

my own hand sanitizer and wiped my plate and silverware at the table? Should I have my own napkins, too? If I use the restaurant’s napkin, I prefer to have paper napkins than a cloth one, which is more hygienic.

This time, I won’t be sharing food with other people, like I used to. I would just order my own plate of food. The server is supposed to wear gloves. If he or she doesn’t, should I refuse to eat or bring a pair of gloves for him or her? I know, I am being paranoid. But who can blame me in these strange circumstances?

COVID-19 has turned some of us to be anti-social. Hugs are a no-no now. While I am outside, I am pretty conscious about social distancing. When I meet friends in public, I am quick to warn them, “You are too close.” It might rub some folks the wrong way if I have to constantly remind them, “Pals, social distancing! Please.”

While chatting, most people tend to forget and lean forward. What should I do?

I often say it with a smile. Wish they could see my smiling face without make-

with a lid when you flush. Get out of there when it’s flushing. That explosive loud noise could mean all the germs and viruses are flying in the air.

In these unusual times, little things like going out to eat or getting a haircut bring me unexpected joy. We have taken all the pre-COVID-19 routines for granted.

This lunch would be like an adventure to me. I would remember it for a long time.

So much of my celebrations were tied to restaurants, big and small, formal and informal, intimate and casual. Thousands of amazing dining memories can’t be captured fully in words and pictures.

Wish I had taken more photos during my past restaurants’ experiences. Thank you for the memories.

There were 660,000 restaurants in America before the pandemic. In Washington state, there are over 15,000 restaurants. Sad to say, many of these restaurants would not survive after the shutdown. The majority of the Asian see BLOG on next page

AUGUST 1 – AUGUST 7, 2020

YOUR VOICE KWAN from 6 Taylorsville Mayor Kristie Overson said Kwan would be missed.

“Above all, his model was fairness and he eschewed bigotry and racism with every essence of his being,” Overson said.

Kwan was a Taylorsville judge since 1998. He had been suspended without pay for making comments about Trump from the bench and on his personal social media accounts. He eventually returned to his position.

One of three of his sisters, state Democratic state Rep. Karen Kwan, announced her brother’s death on Twitter, the Deseret News reported.

“The Kwan family is deeply saddened by the BLOG from previous page restaurants are not big enough for social distancing. They can only do takeout.

How can they survive if they can only rely on takeout? How can they make enough money if they can only reopen at 25 or 50% capacity?

“I don’t make any money at all with takeout,” Chinatown International District restaurateur Leo Chan said. “But I don’t want to lay off any of my kitchen staff (over 10). They need the job and money. This is what I think to keep me going: I am in the business not for making

terrible and shocking news that Michael, our son, brother, father, husband, uncle, cousin, friend and dog grandfather has passed away and left us far too soon,” she said.

Kwan is survived by his wife, two children and a dog named Beebo that family members said he considered as a grandchild.

A memorial service has not yet been announced.

Taylorsville city officials said they are working with the courts to appoint his replacement.

Kwan received a law degree from Whittier College School of Law and was certified in Chinese law by the East China University of Politics and Law. He served as pro tempore judge in 3rd District Court from 1996 to 1998, before presiding over Taylorsville Justice Court. 

money. If I am not losing money, I am a winner.”

Restaurants are the backbone of our economy. The Asian community’s No. 1 industry is food, groceries, and restaurants. They provide not only a large number of jobs, but varieties of jobs for all age groups and different skills.

Restaurant jobs have lifted up many families, immigrants, and refugees.

Who could imagine some of the CID waiters advertising properties for rent in the Seattle Chinese Post? One waitress prouly told me she owns three houses. It’s the American Dream. If you work hard

TANG from 6 military ties in a visa application last October as she prepared to work at the University of California, Davis and again during an FBI interview in June. Agents found photos of Tang dressed in military uniform and reviewed articles in China identifying her military affiliation, prosecutors said.

The federal public defender’s office in Sacramento did not respond immediately to an email request for comment.

and save, wonders can happen. I am also grateful that waitressing helped pay for my college. Although I received tuition scholarships for my junior and senior year, I still needed money to live. So do thousands of Americans who work in restaurants to support themselves so they can pursue another career like acting and creating art.

Asian restaurants’ consistent support for the Northwest Asian Weekly and Seattle Chinese Post, through display to classified advertisements, is the reason why we have survived for 38 years. The demise of Asian restaurants has triggered

11

Prosecutors said Tang sought refuge at the Chinese consulate in San Francisco after speaking with agents in June. U.S. marshals arrested her Friday and booked her into Sacramento County Jail, where she remains.

The University of California, Davis said Tang left her job in June as a visiting researcher in the Department of Radiation Oncology.

The arrests come as tensions rise between China and the U.S. 

a ripple effect for us and many families.

Losing them will be detrimental, not only to the community, but to us, too.

Our deepest appreciation to all the Asian restaurants, the key fabric of our community, which have suffered most during COVID-19! Thank you for your contributions, and I am proud to say that as of this printing SCIDpda said no businesses in the CID have permanently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

■ CALENDAR

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received by the King County Procurement Services Section, electronically, at procurement.submittals@kingcounty.gov, until 2:00 PM of bid opening date for the following listed bids.

To download a document, go to our web page at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/procurement. King County encourages minority business enterprise participation. King County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its programs, services,

asianweekly northwest

and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

1126-20-LSM OPENS: 08/25/2020 Unauthorized Encampment and Related Cleanup Services Pre-Proposal Conference: August 8th, 2020 at 10:00 AM via Skype or Telephone only Conference Call: 1-206-263-8114 Conference ID: 811349

JUL 30

ZUMBA WORKOUT CLASS WITH GRACE 6-7 p.m.

Register to attend online at shorturl.at/iloLR THROUGH JULY 30

SEATTLE DANCE COLLECTIVE’S “CONTINUUM: BRIDGING THE DISTANCE” Free online broadcast seattledancecollective.org THROUGH AUGUST 16

TADAIMA! A COMMUNITY VIRTUAL PILGRIMAGE 2 p.m.

Register at jampilgrimages.com/ virtualpilgrimageregistration

ADVERTISE STATEWIDE with a $325 classified listing or $1,575 for a display ad.

Call this newspaper or 360-344-2938 for details.

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asianweekly northwest

AUGUST 1 – AUGUST 7, 2020

ASIAN MEDICINE from 7 helpful, too; turmeric is anti-inflammatory, cumin and coriander aid in digestion and ashwagandha is useful to help relax anxiety. He says vitamin D is important, and so is a healthy diet with 4-5 servings of veggies, 2-3 fruits a day, nuts and seeds. Eating more beans, fish and chicken but cutting out red meats as well as carbs and sugars and getting enough sleep—all Dr. Sodhi says are practical, “common sense” approaches.

Dr. Sodhi says everything has a side effect when used in excess, including herbs and allopathic drugs. “Balance is the key. That is the first principle of ayurvedic medicine,” he said. “Being a physician, my goal is to create health without the side effects, which we cannot say in modern medicine at all.”

Western way Conventional medicine’s use of pharmaceutical drugs has high financial and health costs. One drug will be prescribed to manage a condition, and then other drugs are added to a regimen to mitigate the side-effects. According to Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute, 75 percent of 50-65-year-olds take an average of 13 prescriptions a year. 91 percent of 80 year-olds are on an average of 22 prescriptions a year.

Jon-Paul Boisvert is a licensed practitioner of East Asian medicine and acupuncture with a masters degree from Bastyr University. When he is practicing East Asian medicine—also called Traditional Chinese Medicine—he can take someone’s pulse, look at their tongue and get a good sense of their health and bodily constitution.

“You can tell what this person’s diet is like—do they drink a lot of alcohol?

It’s kind of a whole systems approach, instead of a pointed symptomatic approach,” he said. “Western medicine is irreplaceable as far as acute trauma. But is it helping people in terms of preventative medicine and taking care of themselves?”

East Asian medicine, ayurveda and naturopathy look at root causes rather than only managing symptoms. From Boisvert’s perspective, conventional medicine isolates systems in the body, rather than focusing on how those systems— say, the digestive system or the nervous system—are tightly intertwined and respond to one another.

“What really attracted me to Chinese medicine [is] there was an herbal component, a huge lifestyle component and a dietary component,” Boisvert said.

Together, these aspects conceptualize health as an individual’s unique constitution and their relationship with the natural environment through shifting seasons and diet, blurring the lines between health and lifestyle.

In mainstream health marketing and media, wellness is habits siloed to parts of the day: going to the gym, doing yoga, juicing in the morning and going for a run. But in East Asian medicine, wellness is synonymous with lifestyle, part of every meal, mindset and activity.

There are two terms in Chinese medicine that exemplify this. Boisvert explains yin and yang first—the Daoist symbol for balance. “You can bring it to the atomic level, the sun and the moon, shadow and light, water and fire. To one side, there is always another. When the body goes out of balance, it is either going too much yin or too much yang. Nature has that balance,” he said.

Then there is the often-simplified term “Qi,” which translates to “energy.” Boisvert says there are many kinds of Qi. Zong Qi is the energy we get

through breathing. Wei Qi is the energy received through immune functions, and nutritional Gul Qi is extracted from a nourishing diet. There is also an ancestral Yuan Qi that comes from one’s parents—Bosivert calls it the “hand you were dealt”—that aligns with scientific principles of genetics.

Put together, this becomes something far more than medicine to cure an immediate ailment. “[It’s a] life philosophy.

How do you live your life, and live our life to the fullest and maintain balance?”

Boisvert said.

COVID and natural medicine At a time when COVID panic has crept into all aspects of life, balance and prevention is empowering in the face of an unknown. The current public health crisis of COVID has put in plain view that even modern, leading scientific methods and approaches to medicine are not all powerful or guaranteed to heal.

Tamika Mosely knows this well. In 2008, Moseley’s newborn son was diagnosed with sickle cell disease, a disease of the blood that affects hemoglobin in red blood cells and reduces the body’s ability to absorb oxygen. It is painful and disproportionately affects Africans and Black Americans at a rate of 1 in 500 people.

Moseley was worried for her son’s life; it was heart wrenching to take her less than one-year-old son to the doctor every couple months, where he would be in the ICU for weeks at a time. “I wasn’t leaving my child by himself. It was so emotional. I was angry, I was frustrated, I was crying. It was horrible,” Moseley said.

“That’s when I really saw that doctors were not healing people, because I had to watch my son suffer an entire year.”

Eventually, Moseley had to decide whether or not to put her son on Hydroxyurea, a cancer drug. She couldn’t do it—it was hard to trust a system that was unable to keep her son out of the hospital. “And when I started looking at the side effects, I started seeing how horrible it is. ... How could I give this to my child?

So I started soul searching, reading scriptures and praying and just looking for answers.”

A Bible verse inspired her: “the herbs are for the healing of the nation.” Moseley found other excerpts from the scripture that strengthened her faith in what she calls “God’s medicine cabinet.”

“It didn’t take me long to realize what he is saying is, ‘I put medicinal properties in these plants, so this is what you eat.’ So if we just stick with that, we will be healed. But we can’t stick to that because they messed it up and people don’t know how to get back to that,” Moseley said.

She researched the cause of sickle cell and learned about herbs that could boost red blood cells and increase oxygen. Moseley wrote a book called “Sickle Cell Natural Healing” and gained a following in the sickle cell community. Now, she runs Everything Health and operates as an herbalist in Seattle.

Most of Mosely’s clients are African American, though she is open to helping anyone and everyone and for anything. “I definitely want to educate my people because we take the lead, triple the lead in everything, so that is definitely my focus on educating my own people on what to do.” Indeed, African and Black Americans are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and have higher mortality rates due to compounding factors, such as pre-existing conditions that are, again, affected by whether someone might live in a food desert, have access to greenspace and face daily stress as well as envi-

38 YEARS ronmental and racial injustice.

“We need to learn these remedies, because what happens when you can’t go anywhere?” Moseley asked at a Zoom webinar she conducted in early May. Over 100 people from around the country attended, their “thank yous” and friendly “hellos” echoing across cyberspace. While some people—mostly high-income earners—might have the means to buy organic every day, juice regularly and afford the high cost of eating “healthy,” Moseley says that isn’t the case for her clients. Moseley works with herbs and supplements and says the reason we need to take so many vitamin supplements today is because there is an abundance of toxins in our environment and food. She emphasizes that her clients stay on their medication while they also work on integrating herbal and natural remedies to manage their health.

For general preventative health and boosting immunity when COVID is wreaking havoc on immune systems, Mosely had a couple basics, backed by science and echoed by both Boisvert and Dr. Sodhi. Vitamin D3 is important, especially for people who are more melanated and for all of us who live in the Pacific Northwest, where we are sun-free often.

Vitamin D is necessary to help the body absorb calcium for bone strength. It also impacts the immune system, muscles and nervous system. A severe deficiency could lead to a plethora of medical problems. But Moseley says vitamin D isn’t enough; we also need magnesium and potassium to ensure vitamin D and the calcium it helps absorb are dispersed throughout the body.

The complex interplay of elements in the human body requires, once again, a balance of nutrients and minerals.

Moseley also underscores the importance of gut health and probiotics that create helpful bacteria in the digestive system. She suggests herbs: oregano, Reishi mushrooms, mullein and cordyceps to boost immunity. Bentonite clay is one of Moseley’s go-tos. It’s a clay that has been used for thousands of years both topically and as a digestive. The clay is often used for skin infections, but when ingested, studies show it has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that pull toxins from the gut. Some research also suggests that the clay might remove traces of pesticides and metal poisoning.

Questioning legitimacy Boisvert says natural and alterna-

tive medicine has a role to play against COVID, especially in boosting immunity. Practitioners of natural medicine have been advised to provide evidence-based information about COVID and not to claim misleading therapies for the disease. At the same time, a statement from the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians reads “naturopathic medicine is particularly well poised to provide supportive care to patients with mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 to help them recuperate at home, to free up hospital resources needed for the most critically ill.”

Naturopaths have an ND—a credential equivalent to an MD, but for natural medicine—and can be primary care physicians in Washington state. But herbalists are not legally recognized in the U.S., bringing up questions around what is legitimate medicine and who determines parameters of legitimacy. The politics of access, affordability, insurance and licensure play into who gets access and exposure to natural medicine’s preventative values as well.

To better understand and document traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (termed “TCAM”) uses around the world, the World Health Organization has collected data on how countries interact with TCAM. While the U.S. does have regulations and educational credentials for the practice of TCAM, there are no national policies in place, only legislation. In comparison, parts of East Africa, Europe, South America and a majority of Asia have national policies for regulating and practicing traditional medicine. The U.S. does not legally recognize herbalists, ayurvedic practitioners, spiritual healers or other faith-based therapists.

When looking into the National Library of Medicine’s extensive archive of studies and research, much underscores the value of further in-depth testing and research into herbal medicines and practices, many of which predate Western scientific systems. There hasn’t been enough research investment in the fields of natural medicine, especially not at the scale afforded to pharmaceutical companies and medical institutions researching synthetic drugs.

Without investment and the certification that comes out of accreditation processes, herbalism, ayurveda and other traditional forms of medicine struggle to gain the same power of persuasion and credibility as modern scientific medicine, even if they have a generational universe of healing knowledge to offer. 

YOUR VOICE

■ ASTROLOGY

AUGUST 1 – AUGUST 7, 2020

asianweekly northwest

13

Predictions and advice for the week of August 1–7, 2020

By Sun Lee Chang

Rat — Luck doesn’t prevent bad things from happening, rather it is the good fortune to deal with it when it does.

Dragon — Regretting a recent move? Rather than looking back, let it inform how you choose to go forward.

Monkey — To the extent that you have valuable information, it may be a good idea to handle it discreetly.

Ox — You have the benefit of experience to know what to do. Now that you know better, use it to your advantage.

Snake — What appears less than appealing at first could actually turn out to be a pleasant surprise.

Rooster — Are you trying to get a handle on the bigger picture? If so, avoid getting too deep into the weeds.

Tiger — To the extent possible, don’t let a minor side issue keep you from enjoying the main event.

Horse — While proceeding in stages seems slow, it is quite prudent due to the numerous elements involved.

Dog — Restricting your options too early could close you off from a desirable choice. Take the time you need.

Rabbit — Are you trying to get traction on an ongoing effort? You have some leverage, which could be used now.

Goat — You will soon get an opportunity to showcase your skills. Make the most of your time in the spotlight.

Pig — While it could take more time than you want, vetting out your next move is highly advisable.

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.

FAPAGOW from 8 Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, providing the bridge between the governor’s office and the Asian American community.

The first Filipino Seattle City Council member, Dolores Sibonga supports the infusion of young leaders, especially during this election season. She said, “FAPAGOW is the progressive voice for almost 200,000 Filipino Americans in Washington state. Our values are founded on access and equality for all, covering every aspect of the way we live. That’s why we are urging everyone who’s eligible to register and vote in the most critical election of our time.”

Civic engagement drives FAPAGOW’s activities, taking individual and collective actions to identify and address issues of common concern to the Filipino American community.

These actions include advocacy, community organizing, voter registration, candidate development, candidate endorsement, and lobbying political officials in support of issues important to Filipino Americans across the state.

In the past few years, FAPAGOW has: • Established the Yakima Chapter • Held Seattle and Yakima Conference to obtain current input on issues and needs of the Filipino and Filipino American communities • Co-chaired with 15 Asian/Pacific Islander (API) organizations and media outlets to host Seattle candidate forum with over 200 attendees • Conducted the vetting process for Washington, King County, and City of Seattle candidates and placed endorsement ads in Filipino American and API newspapers • Partnered with the Washington Asian Pacific Islander Coalition to identify issues and educate legislators in Olympia FAPAGOW is focused on providing awareness of and addressing issues across Washington state, remaining sensitive to regional differences.

Board member Dori Peralta Baker has been a leader of the Filipino American Community of Yakima Valley. “In Yakima, Filipinos are “a minority within a POC minority”—we need a place at the table. FAPAGOW-East was created in 2014 to support Eastern Washington’s political issues that were not a predominant concern in Western Washington.” These Eastern Washington issues, for example, included “disaggregation of the Voter Action Network database because many Filipinos, with Spanish surnames, were on the Latinx list and were being sent LatinX communications rather than API materials,” Baker said.

FAPAGOW engages the state political leadership to address specific needs of the Filipino American communities in the state. Critical issues facing the community include: • Funding for bilingual education • Fixing the student achievement gap

• Small business assistance • Funding for affordable housing, particularly for elders • Comprehensive immigration reform to help undocumented Filipino immigrants • Bus transportation, roads, and infrastructure • Raising the minimum wage FAPAGOW also advocates for broader categories of issues that affect a wider group of state residents, like climate and environmental justice; racial and economic justice in education, employment, and contracting; and cultural and language accessibility and affordable health, human, and housing services.

Recently, the group responded in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. As part of its endorsement process, FAPAGOW has added to its candidates survey a question about the candidate’s support for Black Lives Matter. The group has also sent letters to local and state officials calling for state and local officials to: • Invest in and transfer non-patrol police duties to appropriate professionals and agencies, such as those who are qualified to work with people with mental health issues, people who are unsheltered, and others.

• Work with the Black community leaders to identify and change racist policies, procedures, and programs into effective community-focused actions.

• Prioritize investment of resources for Black communities, Native American and people of color communities that are hardest hit and further exacerbated by COVID-19.

• Have Black and community oversight boards for transparency and accountability purposes.

FAPAGOW Board member Maria Batayola believes in harnessing the potential political impact of FAPAGOW and the Filipino community. She said, “I joined FAPAGOW to wake up our Filipino community that’s a sleeping powerful giant. I love the fact that FAPAGOW is progressive and non-partisan so we can reach across political persuasions and work on the common good.”

Batayola also expresses the critical urgency of the times, reflecting on her experience during the pre-Marcos dictatorship years in the Philippines, which resonates in the current American political situation.

“We have to live in the moment,” she said. “Our country is proceeding fast to martial law with the suppression of free press, voting rights, federal troops sent to states where they are not wanted, including Seattle, to suppress anti-racist (Black Lives Matter) demonstrations. We know this because our mother country has experienced it. Racism has harmed us. This is about democracy and quality of life for our precious children and grandchildren.”  See FAPAGOW endorsements on page 9.

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by the hackers to snoop on companies engaged in coronavirus-related research, though it does not accuse them of success in any theft.

Prosecutors say Li in January conducted reconnaissance on the computer network of a Massachusetts biotech firm known to be researching a potential vaccine, and searched for vulnerabilities on the network of a Maryland firm less than a week after the company said it was conducting similar scientific work.

Li also probed the networks of a California diagnostics company involved in developing testing kits, and a biotech firm from the same state that was researching antiviral drugs.

Hacking of vaccine information slows down research as the institution must scramble not only to fix the breach

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but also to ensure the data it has accumulated has not been altered, Demers said.

“Once someone is in your system, they can not only take the data, they can manipulate the data,“ Demers said. “We do worry to that extent that there could be a slowdown in the research efforts of that particular institution.’’

The indictment was returned earlier in July in federal court in the Eastern District of Washington, where the hacking outlined by prosecutors was first discovered at the Department of Energy’s Hanford site.

“If it can occur there, we all must know that it can occur anywhere,’’ U.S. Attorney William Hyslop said of his district.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., did not directly respond to the indictment but pointed to remarks made by the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, who described China as the victim of “groundless speculations“ but also a

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country whose scientific prowess means it does not need to “secure an edge by theft.“ Ben Buchanan, a Georgetown University professor and author of “The Hacker and the State,’’ said that though the U.S. has made clear its views on what kinds of economic espionage are permitted and not permitted, it is unclear where it draws the line on espionage related to the coronavirus or what kind of espionage the U.S. might conduct.

He said he was not sure that this indictment, without other meaningful consequences, would get China to cease its activities.

“The upside of spying in this way is simply too high for many governments to pass up,’’ Buchanan said in an email. 

SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 4.

AUGUST 1 – AUGUST 7, 2020

YOUR VOICE TIMELINE from 1 FEBRUARY Chinese family associations canceled Lunar New Year celebrations.

The Soo Yuen Benevolent Association for Fong, Louie, and Kwong canceled its 500–person banquet planned for Feb. 10.

The Chew Lun Family association for Hsu, Xu, Tse, Che, Kwan canceled its 300plus person banquet scheduled for March 14.

The Gee How Oak Tin family association for Chin, Chen, Chan, Woo, and Yuen canceled its over 400-person banquet for April 26.

Chinatown-International District (CID) restaurants report precipitous drops in business due to fear and people avoiding the CID due to coronavirus concerns.

FEB 11 The World Health Organization (WHO) declared an official name for the new coronavirus disease — COVID-19 — making sure not to reference Wuhan, the city where the virus originated.

FEB 25 InterIm distributes food/ groceries to Chinatown-International District (CID) residents.

FEB 26 Upon learning that CID businesses were suffering due to COVID-19 and anti-Asian xenophobia, Mayor Jenny Durkan visited CID’s restaurants with her team and dined at Honey Court Restaurant. She treated CID community leaders and her senior staff chipped in.

FEB 27 InterIm distributes food/ groceries to CID residents.

FEB 29 Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency after news of the first COVID-19 death in the state and the United States. The man in his 50s was a patient at EvergreenHealth Medical Center in Kirkland — he had underlying health conditions and had not traveled abroad.

MARCH 2 InterIm distributes food/ groceries to CID residents.

MARCH 3 Mayor Durkan issued a Proclamation of Civil Emergency, which granted her the ability to exercise emergency authority to address any immediate dangers to the public as a result of COVID-19.

MARCH 5 The Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce Chinese New Year Banquet is canceled.

MARCH 7 Hop Sing Tong canceled its 145th anniversary banquet at the House of Hong.

MARCH 8 Long-time Seattle JACL board member Bill Tashima and former JACL Board President Sarah Baker launched a public Facebook group called “Support the ID – Beat the Hype” to encourage people to patronize small, family-owned businesses in the CID. MARCH 10 Pinnacle, which manages International House Senior Living in the CID, sent a letter to residents that one of its employees tested positive for COVID-19.

MARCH 11 Inslee issues emergency proclamation prohibiting gatherings of more than 250 people in King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties The Port of Seattle announced that it cancelled the April 1 and April 5 planned sailings of the Seattle 2020 cruise season.

MARCH 12 Inslee mandates that all K-12 schools in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties close until April 24.

Seattle Mariners’ 2020 season postponed. Major League Baseball announced it will delay its 2020 regular season.

MARCH 14 Kin On canceled its fundraising dinner.

MARCH 16 Inslee announced a twoweek closure of restaurants, bars until March 31.

Sakura-Con is canceled.

MARCH 24 Inslee signed a statewide order that required everyone in the state to stay home.

International Community Health Services started offering drive-up appointments to test for COVID-19.

The International Olympic Committee and Japanese government agreed to postpone the 2020 Olympics.

The Games are now scheduled to start on July 23, 2021.

MARCH 24 Port of Seattle announced that cruise ship season would be delayed “until the resolution of the public health emergency.”

MARCH 26 Historic South Downtown announced that it will immediately begin to distribute up to $475,000 in emergency funding to sustain nonprofit and small businesses in Pioneer Square and CID. MARCH 28 Wing Luke Asian Museum canceled its annual fundraising dinner.

MARCH 31 Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best urged residents to call 911 over “racist name-calling,” and report hate — specifically hate against Asian Americans during the COVID-19 crisis.

APRIL 2 Inslee extends Stay Home order through May 4.

The first round of grants from the CID Restaurants and Other Small Businesses Relief Fund sent to help businesses.

The funds are managed and disbursed by the Chinatown International District Business Improvement Area, Friends of Little Saigon, and the Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority.

APRIL 6 Inslee and Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal announced the extension of school closures for the remainder of the school year.

APRIL 12 Three men were reportedly seen placing racist stickers on businesses throughout the CID. Police believe the men may be associated with a white nationalist hate group.

APRIL 21 The Scripps National Spelling Bee announced that its beloved finals event, which was planned for May 24, will be canceled “due to the ongoing concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus.” The only other time the event was canceled was from 1943 to 1945 during World War II. APRIL 24 The Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival streamed its opening ceremony and its 3-day event virtually.

APRIL 25 Interim canceled its annual fundraising dinner.

API Chaya in-person gala canceled, and held a virtual gala instead.

APRIL 28 ICHS canceled its annual fundraising lunch.

MAY 3 Seattle’s API Heritage Month Celebration went virtual with more than 2,300 viewers tuning in on Zoom while streaming on Facebook Live.

MAY 7 The Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area (CIDBIA) announced the cancellation of the annual Dragon Festival scheduled for June 27.

MAY 11 Uwajimaya begins requiring all of its customers to

wear a face mask or face covering. The store posted on its website that “all guests over the age of 3 must be wearing a mask or equivalent face covering to enter our stores.”

MAY 12 Second round of grants from the CID Restaurants and Other Small Businesses Relief Fund sent to help businesses.

MAY 16 CISC canceled its annual fundraising dinner.

MAY 18 New Health Directive takes effect in King County, urging people to wear face coverings in all indoor public places, as well as outside settings where maintaining six feet of social distancing is difficult.

MAY 29 Protest against police brutality at Hing Hay Park.

Later that night, a group of rioters smashed windows along Jackson Street in the CID, leaving a trail of destruction.

MAY 30 Mayor Durkan visited the CID, after looting and vandalism following protests, to see what the city could do to help the community. Seattle Public Utilities paid for the materials and crew to board up

asianweekly northwest

close to 200 storefronts.

JUNE 1 Third round of grants from the CID Restaurants and Other Small Businesses Relief Fund sent, especially for businesses damaged by protesters.

JUNE 5 Artists gather to paint murals on boarded up businesses in the CID. King County enters ‘Modified Phase 1’ reopening; some CID restaurants reopen for dine-in service.

JUNE 19 King County moves to Phase 2.

JUNE 25 A fire destroys the Eng Suey Sun Plaza. The building was mostly deserted due to COVID-19, and the loss was estimated at $2.5 million. The cause of the fire remains “undetermined.”

JUNE 26 Statewide face covering order goes into effect, requiring people over the age of 5 to wear face coverings in any indoor or outdoor public setting.

JULY 6 The Seattle Mariners released their shortened 2020 schedule. Fans are not allowed at the ballpark.

15

JULY 7 Statewide “No mask, no service” rule goes into effect.

JULY 18 Seattle Bon Odori went virtual. The festival streamed a compilation of pre-recorded dances, messages, and a service to honor those who have passed.

JULY 20 The Chin family announced that it will not host its annual July 23 vigil for the fallen Donnie Chin, due to the pandemic.

Kin On announced that it is canceling its 35th anniversary gala in-person event scheduled for Sept.

20.

JULY 30 New statewide mandate: Face masks now required in common spaces, such as elevators, hallways, and shared spaces in apartment buildings, university housing, and hotels, as well as congregate settings like nursing homes.

Indoor dining at restaurants limited to members of the same household only. People in a mixed group will have to eat outside.  Compiled by Ruth Bayang, Assunta Ng, and John Liu.

16

asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

AUGUST 1 – AUGUST 7, 2020

147 and that is not…a majority to be able to pass any significant taxes.”

At the forefront of the tax reform platform for all 37th district candidates present was relief for working, lower, and middle classes, as well as small businesses. Most supported a capital gains tax or lowering the sales tax.

“I would like to see a working families tax credit,” said Chukundi Salisbury, candidate for State Representative in the 37th, position 2. “It comes down to closing the disparity in our particular district and making sure that resources that do come to our working families here in the district are, in fact, applied.”

Salisbury’s opponent, Kirsten Harris-Talley, emphasized that efforts to right wrongs in our state’s tax system, or address the large deficit in our state’s budget, should not be at the price of vital resources, such as COFA Islander healthcare.

“We’re going to need to put protection around those dollars,” she insisted.

“So much of what’s come forward in the Black Lives Matter movement has been a consideration of divestment and investment. For too long, we’ve continued to divest from these systems of care and support for our communities.”

While the conversation between Santos and Stafford had the flavor of rivalry, Stafford and Harris-Talley largely agreed on the issues, with variations in approach.

On the difficulty community members are facing making their rental and mortgage payments, Harris-Talley, who introduced herself as a “Black, queer, PTA mom” prioritized a “green infrastructure of affordable housing and more density in our district so that the Black, brown, indigenous folks, and poor folks and

Screencaps by Kai Curry

TAX REFORM from 1

State Rep. Sharon Tomiko-Santos and her opponent John Stafford debate issues presented by event emcee SuYoung Yun.

Rep. Adam Smith answers questions posed by APACEvotes program manager SuYoung Yun.

WA legislative district 37 position 2 candidates Chukundi Salisbury (left) and Kirsten HarrisTalley discuss issues presented by emcee SuYoung Yun.

working families know that they have the security to stay in their homes.”

On the subject of revenue, Stafford, who called himself a “servant-leader” and who has been active in support of police accountability, supported defunding prisons and bringing back the cannabis tax to get “that money back to our community.”

The 37th legislative district discussion drilled down into specifics about budget and revenue, housing and healthcare, while the 9th Congressional District conversation centered around national partisan division and anti-China sentiment.

Rep. Adam Smith said, “[Trump] wants an enemy…The president’s attempts to blame China for the virus, and to focus on China, is just an effort to distract from his own colossal failure in trying to address it here in the U.S.…

Also, because of this, he gives people an excuse to act upon their racism…He’s done this with his attack on immigrants.

He’s done this with his attack on Muslims. He’s done this now with his attack on China.”

Smith’s Republican challenger Doug Basler suggested the Democrats have a history of racism.

“The Jim Crow laws were Democrat laws…it’s pretty well documented that the Ku Klux Klan was a Democratic organization. And these Confederate stat-

ues they’re pulling down? Those guys were all Democrats! If we want to do something about systemic racism…Let us take over Seattle for a while. Let us take over Washington state for awhile…

Because we’re not trying to divide us.

We’re trying to bring us together.”

Basler, a former youth pastor whose campaign website calls the coronavirus the “Wuhan coronavirus,” suggested that people should follow the Golden Rule of kindness. “We’ve got to change our hearts,” he said.

A slightly different view was taken by Libertarian Jorge Besada, also running in the 9th Congressional District, who believed that lockdowns to stem the tide of COVID-19 were a mistake, but agreed that “President Trump calling this the China virus is reflective of this inherent tribalism that is very dangerous.”

Somewhat in line with Basler, Besada stated he “would not have any specific legislation to deal with this. If any human being is harmed, in any way, whether it’s because of racism, or because of the coronavirus, or whatever, somebody is committing a crime, so I really do not see the need to go out of the way to do something like that…we want people to understand and respect freedom and really fight for it…A crime is a crime. I do not like to add a whole racial aspect. I think that is counter-productive.”

Another 9th Congressional District Republican candidate, Joshua Campbell, allowed that China was “our number one threat” towards the economy and foreign policy, but added that he has family in China, and that “there’s a difference between the PRC, the government of China, and the few in there that are seeking goals, and their motives are totally different than the Chinese people, citizens of China.”

Campbell was not optimistic that anything could be solved prior to the elections, as too many power games were at play by those seeking to satisfy their constituents. However, he hoped for unity in government and in the nation.

“That’s one of the reasons I’m running. This pandemic has exposed a lot.

If they would just come out unified and calm everybody down and show we’re all working together, we’re all able to do it, I think most of the public would realize that ‘oh, if they can do it, then I can do it.’ We’re one team. We’re America. We can get through this. But it’s going to be difficult. It’s going to be really difficult to get over this.” 

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