VOL 40 NO 1 | JANUARY 2 – JANUARY 8, 2021

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VOL 40 NO 1 JANUARY 2 – JANUARY 8, 2021

FREE 39 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Top 10 local stories in 2020 affecting or involving AAPIs Compiled by Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

CORONAVIRUS REACHES THE U.S.

MAN FROM EVERETT

1ST COVID CASE

CORONAVIRUS EFFECTS

The first case in the country is reported in Washington state. A man in his 30s from Snohomish County, who had traveled to Wuhan, China, was hospitalized at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett with the coronavirus in January. He had no symptoms on his flight or when he arrived at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Jan. 15, 2020, but he contacted doctors on Jan. 19 when he developed a fever and cough. The man had no known underlying medical issues and he recovered.

COMMUNITY EVENTS CANCELLED

COVID-19

GOV. JAY INSLEE

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

Chinese family associations canceled Lunar New Year celebrations.

Gov. Jay Inslee announced a two-week closure of restaurants, bars.

Inslee issues Stay Home, Stay Healthy order.

Major events like the Cherry Blossom Festival went virtual.

Dragon Fest was canceled.

Photos courtesy of Nue

see TOP 10 LOCAL STORIES on 12

Nue Seattle is located on Capitol Hill.

They currently offer a diverse menu for take-out, delivery, and outdoor seating.

Chris Cvetkovich, co-owner of Nue, has rebuilt their website to respond to challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic.

■

Uyên Nguyễn, co-owner of Nue in Capitol Hill, has personally delivered thousands of meals to Seattle's healthcare workers.

Capitol Hill restaurant pairs with overseas author to feed Seattle’s frontline workers

By Kai Curry NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY “The initiative reminds me of the Vietnamese proverb ‘Một cây làm chẳng nên non, ba cây chụm lại nên hòn núi cao’—A single tree can't make a hill, but three trees together turn into a high mountain,” said Vietnamese author Quế Mai Phan Nguyễn on why she was inspired to join the cause of supporting frontline healthcare workers in Seattle. Currently in Indonesia, the writer has paired with local Vietnamese business owner, Uyên Nguyễn, to spur on a fundraiser Uyên and her restaurant, Nue, have been doing since the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“We started with this passion for our community and also for bringing cultures together,”

explained Uyên, on how she and her husband, Chris Cvetkovich, decided to open a restaurant that would bring diverse menu items to Seattle. But she could also be talking about their efforts to help healthcare workers during this challenging year by feeding them with Nue’s delicious meals, thanks to their own hard work and donations from the community.

Now, Quế Mai has donated a signed copy of her award-winning book, The Mountains Sing, as a prize to be given away to someone who donates to the food drive initiative between now and Jan. 15.

“When the pandemic happened, restaurants were forced to close.

Many small businesses went bankrupt. Rather than complaining or giving up, Uyên and Chris see NUE on 8

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39 YEARS

JANUARY 2 – JANUARY 8, 2021

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS

Photo by Rick Wong

ICHS begins administering COVID-19 vaccines

Katherine Tai

Don Blakeney Group shot of staff after getting their vaccinations.

On Dec. 23, International Community Health Services (ICHS) was among the first of the area’s health centers to receive doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna and begin vaccinating its frontline health workers.

Ping Yang, acupuncturist, the first to be delivered the vaccine at the International District Clinic, said, “The vaccine is good for me, my family, my community, and the world!”

Dr. Asqual Getaneh, ICHS chief medical officer, said, “I enthusiastically rolled up my sleeve to be vaccinated and urge everyone to do the same... This is how we stop people from dying and return to normal life.”

Initially, supplies will be limited and given to groups at highest risk, such as health care workers and people in long-term care facilities, said Getaneh. Eventually there will be enough for everyone who wants a vaccination. 

Don Blakeney is new UDP executive director The U District Partnership (UDP) announced on

Dec. 28 the appointment of Don Blakeney as its new executive director.

Previously, Blakeney served as the executive director for the Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area. Most recently, Blakeney was the VP of Policy and Advocacy with the Downtown Seattle Association.

Born and raised in Seattle, Blakeney holds a bachelor’s degree from Whitman College and master’s degrees in both Public Administration and Urban Planning from Columbia University. 

Biden taps Katherine Tai to helm China trade President-elect Joe Biden has announced that he will nominate Katherine Tai as U.S. trade representative (USTR).

A previously lower-profile position, USTR has drawn the spotlight in recent years, thanks to President Donald Trump’s trade war with China. Tai is currently the Democratic chief trade counsel to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

She was born in Connecticut to Taiwanese parents and

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educated at Yale University and Harvard Law School.

Fluent in Mandarin, she taught English at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou as a Yale-China Fellow in the 1990s. If confirmed by the Senate, Tai will be the first Asian American to occupy the post. 

Texas Rangers sign Japanese pitcher Arihara The Texas Rangers have signed Japanese pitcher Kohei Arihara to a $6.2 million, two-year contract.

The right-hander gets $3.6 million in 2021 and $2.6 million in 2022 and can earn $50,000 in performance bonuses each year. He spent six years with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters of Japan’s Kohei Arihara Pacific League.

The 28-year-old was 8-9 with a 3.46 ERA in 20 starts for Hokkaido during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season in Japan. He led the Pacific League with three complete games and was second in innings with 132 2/3. 

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received by the King County Procurement Services Section, electronically, through the County’s E-Procurement system, until 2:00 PM of bid opening date for the following listed bids.

Instructions on how to submit a bid electronically are provided on the County’s website or by following this link: https://www.kingcounty.gov/~/media/depts/finance/ procurement/Documents/E-Procurement_Supplier_ Solicitation_User_Guide_Rev1_2020_Final_11062020. ashx?la=en King County registered Suppliers interested in bidding on current solicitations must log in to their Supplier Portal to view any current bid opportunities, express interest, communicate with the Buyer via Message app and/or successfully submit a bid through the E-Procurement system prior to the Close date and time indicated in the solicitation.

King County encourages minority business enterprise participation. King County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its programs, services, and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

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YOUR VOICE

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

JANUARY 2 – JANUARY 8, 2021

CID Visioning Project seeks input

Chinatown International District (CID) Visioning Project has a second round of community engagement, and is seeking feedback on the draft community model.

The CID is currently facing challenges from development pressures and, in 2020, the impact of the COVID pandemic and increased vandalism.

A group consisting of 16 CID organizations, “The Advisory Group,” came together to identify ways the community can have a stronger voice in addressing these issues. They asked community members how the CID can be organized for advocacy, who should be involved, who has been underrepresented, how should decisions be made, and how to make sure the process is equitable and anti-racist.

After 60 community interviews, three small group meetings (16 participants) in English and Chinese, 12 advisory group meetings, and research on community advocacy models, it found shared community strengths and concerns—with public safety and the impact of homelessless among the top issues.

Senior citizens in particular worry about safety, feeling especially vulnerable this year with the pandemic and increased vandalism, and often feel they do not have the power to speak up.

Other concerns include housing affordability, gentrification, historic

preservation and building improvements, social services, preserving cultural identity, structural racism, and public transportation.

Community members are frustrated when external groups expect the CID to speak with one voice. Many interviewed said that the City and outside developers create tensions among communities of color and listen only to perspectives that align with their agendas.

The input was used to draft a Community Advocacy Model, described in tinyurl.com/y9ff2rwk.

Share your input and comments by Jan. 22, 2021, in one of the following ways: • Online: Complete a brief form at https://forms.gle/eiiBcbakPy3g6hKEA. • By telephone: Call 206-7892015, office of consultants Mary and Elena at MEMconsultants. They will call you back to receive your comments.

• By email: Send comments (in any language) to: cidvisioning@ gmail.com.

• In person: There will be a virtual open house (more information will be shared in early January).

Interpreters will be available. Jan. 14, 12:00–1:30 p.m. and Jan. 20, 4:30–6 p.m. 

asianweekly northwest

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39 YEARS

JANUARY 2 – JANUARY 8, 2021

■ NATIONAL NEWS Activist, champion: Naomi Osaka is AP Female Athlete of Year

By Howard Fendrich AP TENNIS WRITER With tennis, like so much of the world, shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic, Naomi Osaka found herself with time to read and think.

And while she won the U.S. Open for her third Grand Slam title, she also stood out for speaking out about racial injustice and police brutality.

As noteworthy in 2020 for her activism away from the tennis court as her success on it, Osaka was selected by The Associated Press as the Female Athlete of the Year in results revealed on Dec. 27 after a vote by AP member sports editors and AP beat writers.

“It was difficult to be isolated from my family for large parts of the year, but that’s nothing compared to others. It was sad to watch and read the news of people suffering from COVID-19, and the economic and social effect on so many—losing jobs, mental health. It was such a tough year for so many people,’’ Osaka wrote in an email interview. “And then watching the police injustices like George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Jacob Blake (to name just a few) in the summer broke my heart. I am proud of my U.S. Open victory, but more so that I got people talking about the real issues.’’

Osaka collected 18 of 35 firstplace votes and a total of 71 points.

Billie Jean King, a 12-time Grand Slam singles title winner and a pioneering advocate for decades, praised Osaka for

positioning “herself as a leader not only in women’s tennis but in all of sports and a force for change in our society.’’

“She successfully completed the difficult task of taking excellence in sports performance and using that platform to succeed outside of sports on a much bigger stage,’’ King told the AP. “She ignited a conversation on social justice, the results of which were bigger than tennis, larger than sports, and in doing so raised the bar for all those who want to leverage the gifts and talents we have to make a difference in our world.’’

Osaka went 16-3 during the coronavirus-truncated tennis calendar—the professional tours took about a fivemonth hiatus; Wimbledon was canceled for the first time since 1945—and ended the year ranked No. 3.

The defining stretch of Osaka’s season came in August and September, when she compiled an 11-match winning streak that included the U.S. Open.

It was during a tuneup tournament in New York that Osaka—whose father is Haitian and mother is Japanese—declared she would not play her semifinal, joining athletes from the NBA and elsewhere in protesting the police shooting of Blake.

“There are clearly so many worthy issues. This one especially resonated with me because of my

own personal up-bringing; and also while the tennis tour was paused, I was able to watch and read news at length for the first time in my life. This summer in the U.S., tensions were high and

reached boiling point,’’ Osaka said. “It was the right time for me to speak up.’’

Taking her lead, that tournament shut down completely for a day.

“Her activism has shone a light on how we as individuals and sports leagues can collectively make an impact,’’ WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon said. “Not only is she a phenomenal tennis player, but she also demonstrates how athletes have an opportunity to use their platform for something bigger than the game or themselves. Her actions are nothing short of inspiring and she is so very deserving of this recognition.’’

During the U.S. Open, Osaka brought attention to Black victims of violence by arriving for matches wearing face masks bearing the names of Floyd, Taylor, Tamir Rice, Elijah McClain, Trayvon

Martin, Ahmaud Arbery and Philando Castile.

“To be honest, I really didn’t stop to think about what others would think of my actions. Other people’s opinions weren’t going to stop me from doing what I know in my heart was the right thing to do,’’ Osaka said. “The strong voices of Colin (Kaepernick) and LeBron were certainly positive influences for me and gave me strength in my own convictions.’’

Turning to 2021, the 23-yearold Osaka listed these goals: “work hard, do better, speak up, be kind.’’

Japan, where she was born, is slated to host the postponed Olympics in 2021.

“I am looking forward most to being with the athletes that had waited and trained for over 10 years, for celebrating a very hard year (2020), and having that happen in Japan makes it that much more special,’’ Osaka said. “It’s a special and beautiful country filled with culture, history and beauty. I cannot be more excited.’’ 

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YOUR VOICE

■ NATIONAL NEWS

JANUARY 2 – JANUARY 8, 2021

asianweekly northwest

5

Nom Wah at 100

A cookbook about a restaurant and community

By Ann Levin THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo from Wilson Tang’s Twitter

special event with Adidas.

He also opened other branches in the city, plus one in Philadelphia and two in China, for a total of six.

Wellington Chen, executive director of the Chinatown Business Improvement District, admires what Tang has done with Nom Wah and says it’s rare. “You can count on less than two hands the number of young, American-born Chinese who have taken over their family stores,’’ he said.

The cookbook attests to both sides of Tang’s heritage. There are recipes for dim sum classics such as har gow (shrimp dumplings) and siu mai (dumplings made of pork, shrimp or chicken), but also for American Chinese dishes like walnut shrimp, which calls for a cup of mayonnaise, and sweet-and-sour pork chops sauced with A1.

Sprinkled throughout are humorous memories of Tang’s childhood, including the wonder he felt when he finally realized how soup dumplings are made—to get the broth inside, you have to use gelatin cubes.

For Tang, the cookbook also represents part of his legacy to his own two children.

“Perhaps this will entice them to take over the restaurant from me and keep it going,’’ he said. “Maybe they can have the next version of Nom Wah in 2040.’’ 

Wilson Tang

NEW YORK (AP) — Wilson Tang was getting ready to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his restaurant, Nom Wah Tea Parlor, last winter and launch his first-ever cookbook. Then COVID-19 arrived, and Chinatown’s lively restaurant scene shut down, along with bars and eateries across New York City.

Suddenly, Tang was scrambling to make sure his staff was safe, source his ingredients, and figure out a new retail landscape of frozen foods, meal kits and online classes.

Instead of being devastated, he found the experience strangely invigorating, reminiscent of earlier days in Chinatown when scrappy Chinese immigrants like his parents struggled to survive.

“I feel like for my generation, maybe life was too easy. Sometimes I’d catch myself thinking, wow, things are going pretty smooth. But I don’t come from that. I come from a head-down-andwork-hard mentality,’’ the 41-year-old Tang said in an interview shortly before the book’s recent virtual launch.

Tang’s pride in his community is reflected in the glossy pages of “The Nom Wah Cookbook,’’ a collection of mouth-watering dim sum recipes that manages to be much more than that.

It’s also a social history of New York’s Chinatown, with profiles of merchants and artisans who are trying to keep the historic neighborhood alive now.

Although COVID-19 restrictions have eased a bit since the city closed restaurants last March, and hungry customers have started to trickle back, Tang saw business drop by as much as 70% at his iconic storefront in Chinatown, which sits in the crook of Doyers Street under a faded red and gold sign.

The cookbook is written in a slangy, wisecracking style that works in all kinds of sports, music and other popculture markers. So, dried shrimp, a key ingredient for the aspiring home chef, are called the “Allen Iversons’’ of dim sum—small but with disproportionate impact. The house egg rolls are “OG.’’ The book frankly addresses the racism and xenophobia that Asians have faced in America for generations, from 19th century legislation restricting Chinese immigration to recent attempts by the White House to label COVID-19 the “Chinese virus’’ or “kung flu.’’

Tang collaborated on “The Nom Wah

Cookbook’’ with Joshua David Stein, a former restaurant critic, food writer and children’s book author who recently cowrote Kwame Onwuachi’s well-received memoir, “Notes from a Young Black Chef.’’

“When I was writing reviews, I frequently tried to bring in political or contemporary issues outside the scope of restaurants,’’ Stein said. “Cookbooks are wonderful ways to have conversations about topics other than food but that intersect with food and pertain to lots of other things.’’

Nom Wah was founded in 1920 as a bakery and tea parlor by Ed and May Choy, immigrants from Guangdong province, the same region of southern China where Tang’s family came from.

In 1974, the Choys sold it to their longtime employee Wally Tang, the “Uncle Wally’’ of the book, although he’s not related to Wilson Tang.

By the time Wilson was born in 1978, his father, who was also in the restaurant business, had moved the family out of Chinatown to Queens, where Tang grew up. But on weekends, his dad would take the family back to the old neighborhood to shop, eat and hang out at Nom Wah. In 2000, after graduating from college, Tang landed a job as a financial analyst at Morgan Stanley—for his parents, the culmination of the American Dream.

But for Wilson, it was drudgery. And so, in 2010, when Uncle Wally was ready to retire, Tang bought Nom Wah. Some things have stayed the same— the 1930s-era counter, black-and-white tile floor and mismatched teacups—but Tang poured money into the kitchen and introduced crossover recipes, including for sweet potato kale wontons (a vegan offering) and an Argentine-flavored dumpling made of chorizo, potatoes and dill chimichurri sauce developed for a

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39 YEARS

JANUARY 2 – JANUARY 8, 2021

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

New Year’s How to make myself resolutions feel better?

By Asssunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

ASK FOR HELP

Get a dog if you want to feel better, said a medical doctor. I agree, but I am not an animal lover...

We never imagined 2020 to be a crazy year—turning the world upside down.

We all have lived through a lot this past year. It’s hard not to be saddened, traumatized, or angered towards the pandemic: causing ICU rooms to be full of dying patients, coffins piling up, healthcare workers being exhausted saving lives, people lining up for food, schools locked down and students frustrated with remote learning, and helpless individuals being isolated in their homes.

I don’t like to admit that I am a weak woman. My life goal is to empower and inspire other women. Ever since I was a child growing up in a divorced family, I hid my vulnerabilities. Revealing my family secrets meant that I would possibly be scorned and lose face.

After paying my expenses and tuition at the University of Washington one quarter, I had less than $20 in my bank account. I never told anyone or asked for help or sympathy, not even my best friend. I figured she didn’t have much money either. So I shouldn’t say anything.

Part of the reason was, I was ashamed to tell people I was poor. Relying on myself was the best policy, I thought. My unwillingness to share my vulnerabilities lingered for a long time.

After being in the news business for a while, I have become more comfortable sharing my inadequacies.

When people ask me about something I don’t know much about, I tell them I don’t know the answer. Still, it’s not my cultural upbringing to volunteer telling my problems. But COVID gave me a new perspective, and I am open to sharing about myself in my writing. I still have to learn to do it face-to-face.

“Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change,” said Brene Brown, author of “Daring Greatly.”

Maggie Warrell, author of “Brave,” wrote “When you don’t ask for help when you need it, you deprive those who’d love to give it of the opportunity to do so.

Everyone is worse off.

“When you ask someone for help, you aren’t putting them out, you’re pulling them up. Our lives are richer when we share our gifts with others, not poorer.”

Author Charlie Makesy of “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” wrote that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. And oh, “crying is strength,” too, he added. I love that.

And Oprah said, “Vulnerability is the cornerstone for confidence.”

If you are weak, there is no need to apologize because you are normal, and you are human.

Stella Fong and her dog Sox

Screencap from CBS News with people lining up for food

Reports have found that 57% of the people have experienced depression and anxiety in the U.S., with young people being hit the hardest. What is scary is 11 million people have seriously considered suicide. The pandemic has created a mental health crisis in the U.S. I don’t belong in any of the aforementioned categories.

However, I do have my moments of stress and gloom.

And I could sense those low moments creeping up to my body every time. We all have our coping mechanisms.

The worst would be binge eating. That’s not a good form of self-relief, it’s punishing your body.

When you are tense or down, find ways to distract yourself. Don’t just sit and do nothing. It’s a blessing that I have had more ups than downs for the last eight months. No matter what affected me, I managed to lighten my mood by singing and dancing, laughing at YouTube programs, walking in parks, calling friends, and writing.

If there were any merits that grew out of COVID, it will be changing my perspective towards life. Had I learned in 2019 that I would not be allowed to travel in 2020, I would have been upset. Now, I not only accept it, I am actually grateful for being safe at home.

What right do I have to feel sad, complain, or blame when I have a job and purpose every week, my family is fine, and there is food on the table and a safe haven I call home, while others are dying and suffering and at the end of their rope?

2021 won’t be easier, at least for the first half of the year. Social distancing will continue for months. As more and more people get vaccinated, we might see the lockdown being eased. For the past year, I had been dreaming about traveling and visiting wonders of the world once the country opens up. Now, I realize those are unrealistic wishes, but they are not the most compelling acts on top of my list. With the world so unpredictable, I have looked within myself, what I need to work on to deal with the present. What New Year’s resolutions should I make to prepare for uncertainties and challenges lying ahead? What should we do to make life easier in 2021?

MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES TO COPE WITH THE FUTURE I have relatives who became much happier after they got a dog. My aunt prefered to talk to her dog rather than

her late husband.

So get a pet, be it a dog, cat, or bird. Dogs give their owners unconditional love. They never judge you. I recommend a dog because you can take them out for walks and give you a lot of fun and companionship. Dogs like to play with people, but cats… I have no comment. One friend said she sleeps with her cat, which is comforting. Here is another dimension that I don’t know about animals!

Birds are fun to watch. But birds can be pricey. If you can’t afford to buy a bird, go bird-watching in the woods.

It’s just as fun. Or find other animals that you can play with from time to time to take your mind off from worrying about things you can’t change.

MUSIC

“HOW CAN I HELP?”

Quarantine Karaoke Contest finalists (Photo provided by John Chen)

What I miss most in this pandemic is attending concerts.

Music saves millions of lives for both musicians and nonmusicians in this period of miserable isolation. What better fun than to sing karaoke together with friends from all over the world on Zoom. I admire musicians who are able to perform together on Zoom. It takes lots of effort and time to coordinate. That’s a milestone in these abnormal times. Many musicians make good use of their time during COVID to write songs, including former Beatle Paul McCartney. At 78, Sir Paul is writing and producing many new songs while in England. Apparently, some people can make good use of the lockdown.

I took piano lessons on and off in 2018 and 2019. I don’t play well. But that’s the fun of it when I mess up. And I mess up a lot. Music makes you forget your troubles when you are deeply involved in the activity.

To make it fun for myself, I asked some staff members and a couple of friends to share with me their 10 favorite pieces of music. It’s a way to understand your friends better and learn some beautiful songs that I am unaware of. I am still listening to new music on YouTube.

Learning to play a musical instrument is another option, but it’s not for everyone.

What would I do without music in this extraordinary year?

Julia Douthwaite Viglione and masks she sewed

This pandemic has shown the good sides of many.

People have stepped up and offered to help those who are in need. A successful businessman played Secret Santa and gave $100,000 to the poor, according to a CBS report. Lots of restaurateurs and generous donors have donated meals to first responders. Food banks have increased their distribution to hungry families and individuals. People are doing whatever they can to help others.

Each of us should ask ourselves, “How can I help?” in this health crisis to make life easier for others. Last July, see BLOG on 11

JANUARY 2 – JANUARY 8, 2021

YOUR VOICE

■ HEALTH

asianweekly northwest

7

Dr. Vin Gupta on coronavirus, the vaccine and our path forward

By Hannah Weinberger / Crosscut REPUBLISHED WITH PERMISSION

Dr. Vin Gupta

Dr. Vin Gupta of the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation rarely has opportunities to wax at length about public health, despite his frequent appearance as a COVID-19 expert on cable news shows.

So when asked to share his broader perspectives on the pandemic and what this crisis means for him personally, as well as American life and politics in general, the critical care pulmonologist and major in the U.S. Air Force Reserve Medical Corps opened up like a religious man in a confessional.

Gupta goes out of his way to enhance trust in medicine—going so far as to tape his first of two COVID vaccinations live on NBC’s Today Show. But why it’s so

important for him to do so doesn’t always come up.

“I feel lucky to be one of the first recipients,” he told Crosscut’s Monica Guzman in a live Northwest Newsmakers interview hours later. “There is no way out of this pandemic without broad adoption of this vaccine.”

Gupta, one of the most trusted doctors in public health, has a habit of correcting misinformation about the virus or vaccine and speaking hard truths. He’s the first to tell you that we don’t know the prognosis for people with enduring post-COVID symptoms, and that the vaccine isn’t a “magic bullet” for getting us out of this crisis, or that it allows the vaccinated to go back to their old lives.

“We need a certain proportion of the population to get this vaccine” before it provides herd immunity, he said.

And while we know the vaccine protects against the worst COVID symptoms, he said, there’s a lot we don’t know about its usefulness yet. It’s not what everyone wants to hear, but Gupta believes leveling with people about the limits of our understanding will hopefully help him earn their trust.

“I don't know how long immunity lasts, [and] I don't know if this vaccine protects against transmission, which is why I say for the time being, even if you’ve gotten your two-dose regimen, please mask and distance for the benefit of your loved ones, at least,” he said.

Sharing truths as basic as these still earns him detractors, which makes him worry about the long-term outlook for stopping the virus.

“I’m portrayed for what I was saying — which I thought was purely scientific information — as extremist … [and] as science gone rogue,” he said. “These are major issues that if we do not anticipate and try to develop a whole society dialogue and [communications] strategy on, I think we're going to find that this pandemic ends up

not petering out as quickly as we had hoped.”

As a military man, Gupta is used to making sacrifices for the greater good—and he doesn’t mince words about politicians’ decisions and messaging around the virus that don’t seem to achieve that.

“The thing that really troubled me in the middle of all this was when we found out that the president understood in clear terms that COVID-19 was an airborne transmitted disease … as early as Feb. 7,” Gupta said, referring to when President Donald Trump misrepresented the severity of the coronavirus to the public in the spring, setting back the country’s ability to control the pandemic. “I want a president who looks at the strategic national stockpile to see what do we have in terms of N95s [face masks]? What do we have in terms of ventilators? Not wait six weeks, which effectively is what happened.”

He’s as eager as anyone to gain back missing parts of his life. When Gupta thinks about what he misses most from before the pandemic, it’s understated pleasures that spring to mind. Nine months into a crisis that has taken nearly 3,000 lives in Washington state alone, the Seattle-based Gupta is realizing just how restorative simple experiences can be—dining with his wife at their favorite Italian restaurant in Ballard, weekend trips to the San Juans—and how they can change his perspective on what it takes to make them happy.

Despite everything we don’t know about the vaccine, there’s no question that most should take it when one is available to them, he said—no matter the headlines you see about allergic reactions or other side effects.

“I will take my chances on managing allergic response, however rare and infrequent it is,” he said. “What I don't want to take my chances on ... is COVID-19.” 

As virus mutes Dubai nightlife, Filipino bands feel the pain DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Eric Roman struts onstage in his torn jeans and grasps the microphone.

It’s midnight on a Friday and in normal times, he’d hear wild applause from this tightly packed hotel bar in one of the old neighborhoods alongside the Dubai Creek.

Sweaty throngs of fellow Filipinos, Arab businessmen and mall employees fresh from their shifts would hit the dance floor as he belted out Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’’’ with his nine-piece Filipino band.

But now the crowds, along with his bandmates, have vanished—in compliance with coronavirus restrictions that ban dancing and cap the number of musicians onstage. Roman took a 65% pay cut when his club reopened after the lockdown.

Guitarists, bassists and drummers weren’t so lucky.

“Dubai is dead,’’ said Roman, 40. “Every day we’re wondering where we’re going to get our next meal, our next glass of water, how we’re going to survive in this city.’’

Show bands from the Philippines have long animated Dubai’s nightlife, satisfying an appetite for rock, R&B and pop that has grown with the emirate’s expat population.

Now, as the pandemic mutes the city’s live-

AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili

By Isabel Debre THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A dancer performs at a nightclub in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

music scene and clobbers its economy, hundreds of Filipino performers are struggling to survive.

Traveling Filipino house bands burst into prominence in the early 1900s during the U.S. occupation of the archipelago.

Already well-versed in Western church music and military anthems from three centuries of Spanish imperialism, Filipinos deftly picked up on the latest American music trends, from jazz to rock ’n’ roll, said Mary Lacanlale, an assistant professor of

Asian-Pacific Studies at California State University Dominguez Hills.

By the century’s end, karaoke was a national pastime. Filipino performers— with an uncanny ability to imitate Western music legends—became a mainstay in the nightclubs of emerging entrepots throughout Asia and the Persian Gulf.

Dubai drew legions of Filipino cover bands to fuel its rapid transformation from a desert pearling port into regional party capital.

“Our music builds Dubai’s reputation as

a place that transcends political, racial and geographical divides,’’ said Paul Cortes, the Philippine consul general in Dubai, who also happens to be a singer.

An uncertain fate now awaits the musicians, plucked from impoverished provinces to work in smoky lounges and hotel bars overseas.

“Agents promise you heaven and give you hell,’’ said AJ Zacarias, a singer-keyboardist and president of the UAE’s Filipino Bands Alliance, an advocacy group. “We’re some of the world’s most sought-after artists, and they treat us like garbage here.’’

British vocalists can earn close to what Filipinos make in a month, Zacarias said. Managers reserve “the good hotel suites’’ for traveling Indian dancers, while Filipinos are often packed eight to a room in unsanitary accommodations, he added.

“It’s unfortunately the reality of the market. It’s cheaper to hire a band from the Philippines,’’ said Ricardo Trimillos, expert in Asian performance at the University of Hawaii.

When clubs closed in Dubai, dozens of Filipino musicians living in dormitories at the mercy of their employers were kicked out with nowhere to go.

According to the band association, 70% never received their promised gratuity see NIGHTLIFE on 9

8

asianweekly northwest

39 YEARS

JANUARY 2 – JANUARY 8, 2021

■ WORLD NEWS

China sentences journalist for ‘provoking trouble’ with coronavirus reporting

Zhang Zhan

BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese court on Dec. 28 sentenced a former lawyer who reported on the early stage of the coronavirus outbreak to four years in prison on charges of “picking fights and provoking trouble,” one of her lawyers said.

The Pudong New Area People’s Court in the financial hub of Shanghai gave the sentence to Zhang Zhan following accusations she spread false information, gave interviews to foreign media, disrupted public order and “maliciously manipulated” the outbreak.

Lawyer Zhang Keke confirmed the sentence but said it was “inconvenient” to provide details—usually an indication that the court has issued a partial gag order. He

said the court did not ask Zhang whether she would appeal, nor did she indicate whether she would.

Zhang, 37, traveled to Wuhan in February and posted on various social media platforms about the outbreak that is believed to have emerged in the central Chinese city in late 2019.

She was arrested in May amid tough nationwide measures aimed at curbing the outbreak and heavy censorship to deflect criticism of the government’s initial response. Zhang reportedly went on a prolonged hunger strike while in detention, prompting authorities to forcibly feed her, and is said to be in poor health.

China has been accused of covering up

the initial outbreak and delaying the release of crucial information, allowing the virus to spread and contributing to the pandemic that has sickened more than 80 million people worldwide and killed almost 1.8 million.

Beijing vigorously denies the accusations, saying it took swift action that bought time for the rest of the world to prepare.

China’s ruling Communist Party tightly controls the media and seeks to block dissemination of information it hasn’t approved for release. In the early days of the outbreak, authorities reprimanded several Wuhan doctors for “rumor-mongering” after they alerted friends on social media.

The best known of the doctors, Li Wenliang, later succumbed to COVID-19. 

Photos courtesy of Nue

NUE from 1

Nue offers a rotating menu of fare from around the world such as the South African Sunny Bunny

Any given day at Nue, you might find a dish from diverse countries such as this Brazilian Acarajé.

initiated a food drive that has delivered more than 4,000 free meals and many masks to frontline health workers,” said Quế Mai. “I have watched from afar how bravely Uyên and Chris have put themselves out there to show care and love to medical staff members who need our appreciation and support and who are crucial in our fight against COVID-19.”

Uyên, who is a Sister on the Planet Ambassador for Oxfam America, has consistently demonstrated this year how one person can make a difference—by treating their city and its inhabitants like a village, and as we know, it takes a village. With the help of just a few people on her staff, and some friends and restaurant patrons, Uyên has personally delivered these meals to Seattle’s hardhit hospitals, in her own vehicle, handdrawing decorations on the bags and hand-writing messages that delineate the donors for each delivery. All year. And nearly every day. This is in addition to the remarkable efforts Nue has been making to meet the challenges of a lockdown and with severely reduced customer traffic, while staying safe themselves.

“We started being careful at the beginning, but we didn’t close down our restaurant early…you might get two customers at night, so we weren’t busy or packing anybody close to each other…

March 15, when the governor demanded the shutdown, we were heartbroken.”

But Uyên and Chris had some advantages that other small businesses did not have. A shared background in business, information technology, and science allowed them to adjust to the upheavals.

“We were, in some ways, ready,” Uyên said. Chris rebuilt their website, and they pivoted to emphasize take-out and delivery. Even when allowed, Nue declined to offer indoor seating.

“We have a small space and so realistically we wouldn’t be able to get even eight customers in there after we followed all the procedures,” Uyên explained. “I didn’t feel it was worth it.

We were the state where the first real case of community transmission happened— they were wearing masks, they were indoors, they took precautions—so I didn’t feel comfortable.” Nue has focused on outdoor seating, which after nearly a year, is starting to seem pretty permanent.

These changes came with the passion to help those most severely affected by coronavirus—our healthcare workers.

“With almost everything in this pandemic, we just started doing it first and then everything caught up after that,” Uyên said. “I didn’t even know if we could get donations at first and I just did it. I posted on my own personal Facebook page and then some friends said, ‘Can we donate?’ or some said, ‘Can we sponsor?’ ‘Can you make some meals for my husband’s hospital?’…It took on this momentum on its own.” This philosophy of “doing first and thinking after” has led to over 4,000 meals delivered and still counting.

Quế Mai, who met Uyên and sampled Nue’s fare during a visit to Seattle, told us, “Uyên is a Vietnamese refugee who, rather than choosing the easy option of offering Vietnamese food, brings the international culinary culture to Seattle via Nue and its varied and constantly changing menu. For example, Nue’s Trinidadian Goat Curry was the #1 bestseller, but Uyên and her husband…

Nue’s Chengdu Wings are a local favorite.

bravely took the item off the menu for two years and recently added it back.

They said they did it ‘because we want to continue to introduce new items and world food to people.’”

Nue’s vision thrives on creativity and this has helped them during the lockdown.

For summertime, they concocted popsicles in-house. They’ve also created a couple’s meals and “jet set meals”— three-course meals from around the world. Want to get your drink on for New Year’s? They have cocktail kits. They are all available online at nueseattle.com for pickup or delivery. Their latest endeavor has been adding shipping of pre-made meals in time for the holidays.

Photo by Yunita Nila Hapsari

Nue restaurant in Capitol Hill is in the middle of a fundraiser and giveaway to support Seattle's healthcare workers.

Vietnamese author, Quế Mai Phan Nguyễn, is offering a signed copy of her book to one person who donates via Nue's fundraiser.

So we come to the present day and a giveaway that combines the good will and hard work of community members both near and far.

“The Mountains Sing is a journey into Vietnam’s 20th century history via the lives of four generations of the Trần family... It is a ticket to visit Vietnam, be immersed into Vietnamese history and culture, taste delicious Vietnamese food, and gain insights into the Vietnamese traditions and literature,” Quế Mai said.

The book has been touted by reviewers as a Vietnamese history lesson “not often available to American readers” because, as Quế Mai elaborated, “it puts the Vietnamese people on the center stage and highlights how the war divided our families, our community, and our society.”

Like Nue, the novel strives to breach the gap between disparate people and provide understanding of another culture. Like Uyên and Nue, Quế Mai has stepped up to help those in need while encouraging everyone to become more involved.

They’ve shown us by their example that one person can make a difference—that one person plus another person quickly makes a village.

“Uyên and her husband have done so much for the community,” said Quế Mai. “I am in awe watching how they have helped take care of health workers. They are my heroes.”  Donate to the food drive, enter the giveaway, and view Nue’s efforts, including a calendar of every day that food has been delivered, on Nue’s website at nueseattle.com/donations.

Kai can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

JANUARY 2 – JANUARY 8, 2021

YOUR VOICE

asianweekly northwest

9

■ COMMENTARY Support health equity by supporting Apple Health

By Fred Kiga NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Fred Kiga

We all hope that our communities, state, and nation will enjoy a resurgence of health, optimism, and healing in 2021.

One thing that was true before and has continued through the pandemic is that health problems tend to hit communities of color harder than the overall population.

The coronavirus has affected us all, whether we contracted it or are dealing with economic, societal, and other impacts.

But communities of color have seen higher infection, hospitalization, and death rates from COVID-19.

In part, these communities tend to live in multigenerational households, which fosters close family ties, but also make social distancing difficult. Many in these communities are also hardworking, essential workers and often do not have access to adequate health care.

NIGHTLIFE from 7 to buy food and other basics. Some are selling their clothes to survive.

Out-of-work dancers, like 33-yearold Catherine Gallano, have taken to livestreaming their routines— gyrating, backflipping and blowing kisses to followers who send them money.

The UAE’s Filipino Bands Alliance said some 80% of Filipino artists have had their visas canceled by their employers, a consequence of the UAE’s “kafala’’ labor system that links expatriates’ residency to their jobs.

For the millions of low-paid migrant workers from Asia, Africa and elsewhere that have built up the UAE as a hub of the global economy, the virus has magnified decadesold abuses like wage theft, delayed salaries and dire living conditions, said Hiba Zayadin, a Gulf researcher at Human Rights Watch. That’s especially true for domestic laborers, she added— another precarious job that Filipinos dominate.

When the virus struck in March, Jhune Neri, a 38-year-old singer and stand-up comedian, was trapped— literally. As a “public health precaution,’’ he said, his manager bolted all the doors and shut down the elevator of his crowded dormitory, locking the 11 performers inside for months. Living off just weekly deliveries of rice and red sauce, the bands pressed on, cranking out renditions of Whitney Houston’s hits.

“I was thinking, at least I’m still singing, at least still I’m alive,’’ Neri said.

Asian Americans may not be receiving culturally appropriate information to understand how to protect against the virus and there has been a backlash against the community that is hurting businesses and increasing unemployment, further contributing to inequities.

Oral health is another area of significant health disparity.

Surveys of Washington residents confirm that oral health problems are more common among people of color and those with lower incomes.

Oral health is essential for overall health, and is linked to heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory illnesses—all major risk factors for COVID-19. Oral disease is also linked to stroke and pregnancy complications.

Oral health can affect our overall health and lives at every age. For kids, a healthy mouth is key for communication, education, a good night’s sleep, and being able to eat healthy foods. For adults, it’s important for employment and success. And for the elderly, it is essential for good nutrition, and being able to stay active, independent, and healthy.

A key part of ensuring access to oral health care for communities of color and low-income adults in this state is the Apple Health (Medicaid) Dental program. But in response to the coronavirus economic downturn, the dental program for adults has been identified as a potential budget cut when the Legislature convenes in January.

More than one million low-income adults, including a disproportionately high percentage in communities of color, could lose their dental health coverage.

People need preventive care and treatment to maintain their oral health and keep dental problems from becoming much more painful, debilitating, and costly to treat. Apple Health enables many people to access these services.

Weeks later, he was jolted awake by the landlord cutting the electricity and evicting everyone. He’s still determined to make it in Dubai, though he said most of his friends have “given up hope’’ and gone home.

But quitting the city isn’t so simple. Like thousands of other Filipinos, Rommel Cuison, a 30-year-old guitarist at a hotel bar, has languished for months on a repatriation waiting list, his employer unable to pay his way and the Philippines unable to quarantine masses of returnees. When Cuison’s cashstrapped club brought back only solo singers from lockdown, he sold his cherished guitar to afford food.

Yes, taking personal responsibility for one’s oral health is also important. But consider the fact that major purveyors of sugar-laden products, such as sports drinks and soda pop, target heavy advertising toward communities of color, which are more vulnerable to COVID and more likely to have oral health problems. According to studies nationally, more than $1 billion is spent annually advertising sugary beverages, much of it directed at Black and brown people.

This marketing blitz has a major impact on oral and overall health. This is why cities across the country are taxing sugary drinks, as Seattle has done, and using the money to reduce health and social inequities.

Yes, many of us need to be smarter about our food and beverage choices. We all need to do better with healthy habits, including brushing and flossing. But, there also must be policies and programs in place to address systemic inequities. We need policies that reduce consumption of sugary beverages. Plus, we must ensure that everyone has access to dental care.

We should not eliminate essential safety net programs such as dental care that people need to stay healthy, especially during a pandemic. We all need to encourage policymakers to continue to support vital public health programs such as Apple Health dental. Visit OralHealthWatch.com for help contacting your legislators.

With compassion, common sense, humanity, and a commitment to fairness and equal opportunity, we must strive toward health equity for all.  Fred Kiga is board chair of Arcora Foundation and was previously chief of staff for former Gov. Gary Locke.

For performers fortunate enough to have a gig these days, Dubai’s newly resumed music scene looks very different. Hotels struggle to fill rooms. Partygoers are dwindling as the pandemic hits everyone in their pocketbooks.

Undercover health inspectors patrol clubs and threaten $13,600 fines for violations. No more reveling into the wee hours—the speakers switch off at 1 a.m.

Marino Raboy, a rock singer in Dubai’s working-class district of Deira, said his club feels desolate. Some nights, he performs only for the hostesses lined up at the bar waiting to serve pitchers of Heineken.

As the virus continues to surge in the UAE,

many expect the hard times to last. Dubai’s live shows and big conventions, including its Expo 2020, have been pushed back. S&P Global, a ratings agency, predicts the citystate’s economy will shrink 11% in 2020, recovering only by 2023.

Roman, with a voice like Journey’s former frontman Steve Perry, said the new reality means fewer tips and meager pay—not enough to cover the bills for his aging mother and four kids in the Philippines. Still, he feels he has “no choice’’ but to hope.

“This is the worst time of my life,“ he said.

“I have to believe at some point it will end.’’ 

asianweekly northwest

10

39 YEARS

JANUARY 2 – JANUARY 8, 2021

CLASSIFIED KInG CoUnty FlooD ContRol DIStRICt Chief engineer $112,856 - $151,779 Annual

Administrative manager/Clerk of the Board $79,902 - $107,459 Annually Closes: January 14, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. oppoRtUnIty: The King County Flood Control District is seeking to fill an Administrative Manager/Clerk of the Board position. This is a full-time, overtime exempt, at-will position. The work schedule is typically monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Under the current Covid-19 directives, almost all operations are conducted remotely.

The Administrative Manager/Clerk of the Board position contributes to the King County Flood Control District by performing a variety of clerk and administrative support functions. The incumbent will have the opportunity to showcase their ability to multitask and prioritize tasks, apply excellent time management skills, demonstrate well-developed organizational skills, pay attention to detail, utilize great verbal and written communication skills, and employ professional discretion in an environment dedicated to serving the public’s needs.

This position will remain open until filled however, the screening process will move quickly. In order to be considered for the first round of interviews please submit your application materials no later than January 5, 2021 before 11:59 pm.

The King County Flood Control District is looking for a highly skilled and motivated individual, to conduct engineering review, technical oversight and quality control for the implementation of the King County Flood Control capital improvement projects and operating work programs. The Chief Engineer analyzes and reviews technical engineering, project and program work from service providers who implement river and floodplain management projects and programs on behalf of the King County Flood Control District.

the successful candidate is a leader with a proven track record of using environmentally sensitive techniques used in river and floodplain management projects in the Pacific Northwest. This is an exciting opportunity to join the King County Flood Control District staff and play a role in improving levee protection, flood water conveyance and capacity and foster effective partnerships with communities this position is open to all qualified candidates. King County is supporting this recruitment in colwithin King County. laboration with the King County Flood Control District. For a complete job announcement please go This position requires a self-starter with a keen political acumen and experience working with service to the King County careers page at: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/kingcounty providers, local jurisdictions, tribes, and other parties to identify and prioritize projects and programs for implementation and ensure the Flood Control District understands the broad spectrum of issues facing to Apply: VER PARK WEST * TUKWILA, WA 98188 the County, as well as the peopleWEST they serve.

The Chief Engineer a salaried, at-will, overtime exempt NG COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY * 700 ANDOVER PARK WEST * TUKWILA, WA 98188 KING COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY * 700 ANDOVER PARK * TUKWILA, WA is98188 to ensure that your application is received and properly processed, classification that reports directly to the Executive Director but is responsive to all members of the Board the subject line of your email must be Application – Administrative manager Clerk of the Board. of Supervisors.

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PROPOSAL PROPOSALS DUE 04/09/2015 DUE DATE:

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KCHA is soliciting bids for Abatement

01/14/2021

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nsed KCHA WILL ACCEPT: sealed proposals from qualified, licensed KCHA WILL ACCEPT: sealed proposals from qualified, licensed Services for commercial and residential for commercial and residential apartment andscaping Landscape contractors for labor and materials to provide landscaping Landscape contractors for labor and materials to provide landscaping ENTER: apartment properties located in King, three (3) locatedproperties in King, and(3) services at King County Housing properties for a period of three services (3) atproperties King County Housing for aThurston period of three years.

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vices SCOPE OFMinority WORK: Provide comprehensive landscaping WORK: Provide comprehensive landscaping services owned companies are services stronglySCOPE OFowned companies are strongly encouraged dging, line including but not limited to, mowing, weed eating, hard edging, including line but not limited to, mowing, weed eating, hard edging, line encouraged to submit proposals.

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t 2:00 P.M. PRE-BID CONFERENCE: Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at 2:00 P.M. PRE-BID CONFERENCE: Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at 2:00 P.M. o attend; at the KCHA Central Office, Contractors are encouraged to attend; at the KCHA Central Office, Contractors are encouraged to attend; the however, attendance is not mandatory. Please check in at the however, attendance is not mandatory. Please check in at the receptionist at 600 Andover Park West, Tukwila 98188 receptionist at 600 Andover Park West, Tukwila 98188 DUE DATE: April 2nd, 2015 at 2:00pm

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asianweekly northwest

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Predictions and advice for the week of January 2–8, 2021

By Sun Lee Chang Rat—You can’t change what has already happened, but you can chart a new course going forward.

Dragon—Why add complications if you don’t have to? Keeping things simple is highly recommended for now.

Monkey—Are you regretting a recent move?

The sooner you acknowledge your error, the faster you will be on your way.

Ox—Something that seems set in stone could free up soon, with the resulting dynamic looking quite favorable to you.

Snake—A mish-mash of different elements won’t always work, but it’s worth a try if you are looking for something different.

Rooster—Has a fair-weather friend surfaced at an inconvenient time? Do what you can to avoid getting sidetracked.

Tiger—While the initial idea is important, you will net nothing if you do not have a strong follow through.

Horse—In your excitement, you might get ahead of yourself. Rein it back and take it one step at a time.

Dog—Even if your first attempt isn’t successful, there is much you can do to prepare for your next run.

Rabbit —Do you feel like you are being tested this week? If so, just take it one question at a time.

Goat—What you see isn’t matching up with what you have heard. Clearly, there is more than meets the eye.

Pig—Looking back can be useful insofar as shedding light on what should be done and how to do it better.

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, 2021 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.

Lake View Cemetery Seattle’s Pioneer Cemetery Est. 1872 An Independent, Non-Profit Association

Guang Hua Liu (right), a resident of CID apartment building, coordinates the distribution of the donated masks.

Featuring

Traditional Side-by-Side Monument Properties

206-322-1582

Photos by Assunta Ng

1554 15th Ave East

(North Capitol Hill)

SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 4.

Seniors who received Julia’s masks

BLOG from 6 a stranger emailed me and asked how she could donate recyclable masks to seniors. Where could she drop the masks off? It’s unwise for Chinatown senior residents to wander around to get a mask during COVID, and I had no idea which organization would be willing to do so. So I volunteered for four weeks, delivering masks to a senior apartment building. Every week, former professor Julia D. Viglione, a tai chi student at the Seattle Kung Fu Club, would sew about 14 masks and slip them through Asian Weekly’s mail slot. I would then deliver them to the seniors. Sometimes, I bring

along copies of the Seattle Chinese Post for the seniors.

It’s an excuse for them to get out of their apartment and for me to connect with them. So for four consecutive weeks, I delivered a bunch of masks. It became quite an event for seniors to receive the free masks, and an unexpected adventure for me.

2020 is a life-changing year. We all have unique experiences, skills and connections to offer. Let 2020 bring out the best in you to change the lives of the weak and needy.  Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

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asianweekly northwest

39 YEARS

JANUARY 2 – JANUARY 8, 2021

BLM PROTESTS SPILL INTO THE CID

TOP 10 LOCAL STORIES from 1

MARILYN STRICKLAND ELECTED TO CONGRESS She became the first Black person to represent Washington state at the federal level, and the first Korean American woman in its 230-year history.

Strickland was the mayor of Tacoma and most recently served as the president and CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.

What started as a peaceful protest against police brutality at Hing Hay Park in late May later turned into chaos when a splinter group of rioters smashed or vandalized windows and destroyed property along Jackson Street. Seattle Public Utilities paid for the materials and crew to board up close to 200 storefronts.

ENG SUEY SUN PLAZA FIRE CID TURNS INTO AN ART GALLERY

After the protests, businesses and Seattle Public Utilities boarded up storefronts. Days later, more than 100 artists and volunteers gathered in the CID, to paint murals on these storefronts, creating something beautiful out of unfortunate events.

A fire destroyed the Eng Suey Sun Plaza in June. The structure housed 11 businesses, including the Eng Family Association Headquarters, Kin On Home Care, Sweet & Fresh Bakery, a chiropractor’s office, Shen & Company accounting firm, Suey Sing Tong, Chinese United Association, Hengda Dance Academy & Northwest Wushu, Hoover Law Firm, True North Land Surveying Co., Waters Academy, and Greenland Inc. Seattle fire investigators do not believe the fire was intentionally set.

The estimated loss was $2.5 million.

BELLEVUE COLLEGE FIRINGS In March, Bellevue College fired its president, Dr. Jerry Weber, and VP of Advancement, Dr. Gayle Barge, following outrage over an altered mural of the Japanese American incarceration.

A reference to anti-Japanese agitation by Eastside businessmen in the accompanying artist description was whited out.

CYRUS HABIB LEAVES JOB AS WA’S LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR Lt. Governor Cyrus Habib announced in March that he would not seek re-election, and instead join the Jesuits, a religious order of the Catholic Church known formally as the Society of Jesus. The son of Iranian immigrants, Habib was the first and only Iranian American elected to statewide office in the country.

SCHOOL RENAMED IN AL SUGIYAMA’S HONOR South Lake High School changed its name to the Alan T. Sugiyama High School at South Lake.

The school is for students facing challenges, such as substance abuse and teen pregnancy, that might make it more difficult for them to complete their education.

Sugiyama, the first Asian American on the Seattle School Board in the 1990s, devoted his life to giving people “second chances” as citizens. He died after a battle with cancer in January 2017.

GARY LOCKE NAMED AS INTERIM BELLEVUE COLLEGE PRESIDENT Gary Locke was selected in May as Bellevue College’s interim president in a unanimous vote. The previous president was removed over the defacement of a mural of the Japanese American incarceration.