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VOL 40 NO 2 JANUARY 9 – JANUARY 15, 2021
FREE 39 YEARS YOUR VOICE
Strickland announces diverse staff
Photo by Assunta Ng
Photo from Rep. Marilyn Strickland’s Twitter account
Made history wearing traditional Korean clothing at swearing-in
House of Hong restaurant was closed since Covid for remodeling.
By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Rep. Marilyn Strickland (second from left) wears hanbok at swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 3.
Democratic Rep. Marilyn Strickland—who became one of the first three Korean American women elected to Congress last year, as well as the first Black representative from Washington state—wore a traditional Korean hanbok as she took the oath of office on Jan. 3. Strickland shared a photo from the ceremony in a tweet, writing, “As a woman of both Korean American and African American descent, it was deeply personal to wear my Hanbok, which not only symbolizes my heritage and honors my
THE INSIDE STORY Gold medal replicas for Chinese war vets 2
mother, but also serves as a larger testament to the crucial importance of diversity in our nation, state, and the People’s House.” Born in Seoul, South Korea, Strickland said her mother, Inmin Kim, couldn’t travel to see the ceremony in person, but she knew that she was watching it on TV. “I wanted her to see me wearing that,” Strickland told NBC News.
Black doctor, top executive resigns, citing racism at Seattle Children’s 11
Just look at what Donald Trump did to instigate violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6 with the intent to disrupt Congress for the election’s certification. Asian immigrants, who are anti-China and anti-communist, were spreading rumors about Joe Biden being senile, and urging the Asian community to support Trump. So racial discrimination perpetuated by Trump’s see BLOG on 16
Crossing to safety: Imei Hsu offers reassurance about the vaccine By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Courtesy of Imei Hsu
Highlights, Significant Moments of 2020 7-10
The year 2020 will be remembered for more than just the pandemic. How about recognition for the players in a year of contradiction and conflict, drama and anti-climaxes, the highs and lows during COVID? This helps us to understand the dynamics involved in 2020. It’s also a good way to wrap up the year.
MOST DISAPPOINT ED AWARD
see STRICKLAND on 3
Help with electric, utility bills 3
■
The best and worst of 2020
Imei Hsu's grandfather
Cleaning out a relative’s house recently, Imei Hsu found a portrait of her grandfather. A Nationalist general, he is bedecked with medals. But it was in defeat that he showed the most resilience. After the communist armies took over China in 1949, he escaped to safety by crossing the 100-mile Taiwan Strait in a small boat. As a registered nurse and licensed mental
health counselor, Hsu found in his story a resilience she shares with her patients as they face the uncertainties of the pandemic, particularly around getting the vaccine. “If you can find your ancestors’ story, you can pull resilience from that story and your own, and resilience is gold during a pandemic,” said Hsu. “In my case, I know I have family members who could get onto a tiny boat and go into the ocean.” As the pandemic is poised to enter its second year, lingering
uncertainty surrounding the vaccines will make the need for resilience even greater, she said. One major poll showed that fear surrounding the vaccines was highly prevalent among marginalized communities. The poll, by the Associated Press, showed a majority of Blacks and Latinos were either unsure about whether they would get a vaccine or had already made up their mind not to. Thirtyseven percent of Blacks see HSU on 15
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JANUARY 9 – JANUARY 15, 2021
■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Kim-Khanh Van to run for King County Council
Kim-Khanh Van
Renton City Councilmember Kim-Khanh Van announced last month that she will run for Position 9 on the Metropolitan King County Council in 2021. Van, an attorney and public school mom who came to America as a refugee after leaving her native Vietnam at the age of 6, will challenge incum-
On Dec. 12, 2020, the brother of late community leader Kip Tokuda, Floyd Tokuda, passed away peacefully in his home at age 76. Floyd was the eldest child of George and Tama Tokuda, and the brother of Valerie Chin and actress Marilyn Tokuda. Nephew Daryl Chin told the Northwest Asian Weekly, “It is in great sadness that our family lost a sensorial human being. Floyd always loved going on trips, as well as a passion for drawing people. We will miss him a lot.”
Most Influential People in Seattle 2020
Gold medal replicas for Chinese war vets
bent Reagan Dunn. If elected, Van would be the first API member of the Council, the first woman of color since Ruby Chow retired from county government in the mid-1980s, and the first to serve since the 1992 establishment of the current Metropolitical King County Council. In addition to her work on the Renton City Council, Van is an immigration and personal injury attorney who focused on helping individuals, families, and small business owners. She has received numerous awards and commendations for her pro bono legal services and advocacy for racial and economic justice.
Raj Singh
Hoan Do
Eldest brother of Kip Tokuda dies
Floyd Tokuda
Army, Army Air Forces, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine—and creating the only database of its kind of the achievements and contributions of Chinese Americans during WWII.
The Chinese American Citizens Alliance-Seattle and community volunteers are planning a regional ceremony in the spring to present Chinese American World War II (CAWW2) Congressional Gold Medal replicas to each registered veteran or next of kin at no-cost. The Virtual Chinese American World War II Veterans Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony was held last month. For more information, please contact info@cacaseattle. org. The CAWW2 Project is continuing to accept registrations to capture, preserve, and aggregate the names of those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces—
Hoan Do, Raj Singh, and Krishna Thiagarajan were among the APIs named in Krishna Thiagarajan Seattle Magazine’s 25 Most Influential People in Seattle in 2020. Do was one of 30 people across the country chosen to appear on Lay’s potato chips bags. He is a motivational speaker and corporate trainer. Singh is the co-founder of All in Seattle (now known as All in Washington), and he led efforts to raise $57 million that went directly to nonprofit organizations on the front lines of the pandemic. Thiagarajan is the president and CEO of the Seattle Symphony. He helped roll out an extensive weekly streaming concert series and launched the Seattle Symphony Future Fund to keep the symphony solvent during the pandemic.
YOUR VOICE
■ COMMUNITY NEWS
JANUARY 9 – JANUARY 15, 2021
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Help with electric, utility bills Eligible households can enroll in the City of Seattle’s Utility Discount Program (UDP), which offers a 60% discount on Seattle City Light bills and a 50% discount on Seattle Public Utilities bills. COVID-19 has affected Seattle residents in many ways. Many people, including older adults and families, are facing tough times due to job loss. To be eligible, your pre-tax household income must be at or below 70% of the state’s median income. (In 2021, a four-person household may earn up to $5,996 per month or an annual income of $71,952 before taxes or other deductions.)
STRICKLAND from 1 Previously, Strickland was the first Black and Korean American elected mayor of Tacoma. Two days after her swearing-in, Strickland announced staff hires in both her Washington, D.C. and District offices. “We are putting together an outstanding team that will advocate for the people of WA-10 while reflecting the diversity of our nation in Congress.” Among the hires is Chief of Staff
To apply, complete the online enrollment form at seattle.gov/ humanservices/services-andprograms/supporting-affordabilityand-livability/utility-discountprogram. The form is in English. For language support, please call to speak to a representative. If your application meets the eligibility requirements, your household will be enrolled. The discount may take up to two billing cycles to appear on your bills. If you have questions about UDP enrollment or would like assistance, call or email UDP@Seatttle.gov. If you need an interpreter, request
one when you call and tell the operator what language you need interpretation for. There may be a slight wait time to connect to an interpreter. You can find additional information, including more detailed eligibility requirements, at seattle. gov/UDP. Mayor Jenny Durkan announced that Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities will keep services on for customers, even if they are behind on paying their bills, throughout the pandemic. To set up a deferred payment plan, call 206-684-3000.
Andrew Noh, a Korean American and Capitol Hill veteran, who most recently served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Harley Rouda of California, and previously served under Congressmen Jimmy Gomez, Linda Sánchez, and Judy Chu—all from California. Noh received his M.A. in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and received his B.A. in Political Science from the City College of New York.
HELP KEEP SEATTLE MOVING SAFELY WHEN IT SNOWS
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. KC000060
OPENS: 01/18/2021
RFP Skyway-West Hill Community Voices Coordinator KC000061
During and after a winter storm, we all have a part to play to keep Seattle moving safely. Here are 5 ways to help:
1 Know our Winter Weather Snow and Ice routes.*
2 Shovel your sidewalks, curb ramps, and storm drains so everyone can get around safely.
3 Don’t drive if you can avoid it! 4 If you must drive, slow down and be careful.
Watch out for others and leave plenty of room.
5 Make sure your car is safe for winter driving and pay attention to road closure signs
By working together, we can keep everyone moving safely after winter storms!
OPENS: 01/18/2021
RFP North Highline Community Engagement *Learn more: www.seattle.gov/ transportation/winter-weather
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JANUARY 9 – JANUARY 15, 2021
■ NATIONAL NEWS
U.S. Attorney Georgia’s Senate flips blue Communities of color helped Pak resigns ATLANTA — U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak has announced his resignation effective Jan. 4. Pak is departing the office after serving for more than three years as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Northern District of Georgia, which consists of 46 counties in Northwestern Georgia. U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” “It has been the greatest Pak honor of my professional career to have been able to serve my fellow citizens as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. I have done my best to be thoughtful and consistent, and to provide justice for my fellow citizens in a fair, effective, and efficient manner,” said Pak. The resignation of Pak, who was appointed by President Trump in 2017, comes days after a phone call between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger was made public, during which Trump urged Raffensperger to "find" enough votes to overturn his loss in the state. In the call, Trump, referring to investigations into claims of voter fraud, referred to a “never-Trumper U.S. attorney” in Georgia, according to the Associated Press. It’s unclear, however, whether Trump was referring to Pak with this comment. Pak was born in Seoul, South Korea, and immigrated to the United States when he was 9 years old. He resides with his family in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Pak worked in private practice until he felt a calling to public service in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks. Additionally, Pak served as a state representative in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2011 to 2017. “As I look back at almost a decade serving the Department of Justice (and this office in particular), the most memorable and fulfilling moments involve working very closely with our law enforcement partners in keeping our communities safe. I take with me fond memories and the utmost respect I have for every one of the men and women who wear the badge. They are truly everyday heroes,” said Pak.
ATLANTA — Jon Ossoff has defeated Republican incumbent David Perdue in Georgia’s U.S. Senate runoff. Fellow Democrat Raphael Warnock also won the Senate special election, flipping the U.S. Senate blue. The Associated Press declared Ossoff the winner on Jan. 6, leading by nearly 18,500 votes, according to unofficial results from the Georgia Secretary of State’s office. This is the first time since 2003 that both of Georgia’s U.S. Senators are Democrats, and it removes a major roadblock for President-elect Joe Biden. The Senate wll now be split 50-50, but Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be able to cast tie-breaking votes. The Democratic party needed a history-making voter turnout by communities of color to swing this victory. Close to 240,000 Asian Americans are eligible to
vote, around 4% of Georgia’s electorate, and they have increased their voter registration every year for the last three presidential cycles, a Pew Research Center analysis shows. For the Asian American population, the top concerns are health care, national security and the economy, according to AAPI Data. The U.S. government’s foreign policy on Asia also climbed the ranks in 2020. As for Biden, Asian Americans want to be reflected in the diversity of the administration, including at the highest levels of office. “I think [Asian Americans] need to have a feeling that they’re represented,” said Bonnie Youn, a legal recruiting manager at RMN Agency in Georgia. “When you see Asian Americans starting to run for elected office, particularly in Georgia, [who] are more running now than ever before, there is a feeling of belonging, a feeling of understanding”
Nielsen-KTSF partnership Nielsen and KTSF, an independent Asian television station licensed in the San Francisco Bay Area, announced on Jan. 4 an agreement under which Nielsen will provide a comprehensive suite of measurement services. As the only station in the United States that broadcasts live nightly news in Cantonese and Mandarin, KTSF cited the value of using Nielsen’s Scarborough data to understand the media and consumer behaviors of Asian viewers, as well as the ability to analyze ratings data in a fragmenting media ecosystem as critical considerations in selecting Nielsen. KTSF General Manager Jack Schwartz, said, “We are committed to continuing to provide programming and advertising that is most relevant to our audiences and advertisers. Nielsen’s sophisticated data and insights, and Asian household measurement, will help us accelerate this imperative.”
Congress restores Medicaid to Pacific Islanders Nearly 25 years ago, with the stroke of a pen, the United States broke its commitment to provide medical care for Marshall Islands residents living in the United States. Last month, congressional negotiators agreed to reinstate that promise, delivering Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage to tens of thousands of Marshallese and residents of several other Pacific Island nations living in the United States. “We are all so overjoyed with tears of joy for this fight that many of us have been part of” for decades, said Sheldon Riklon, a Marshallese physician at the University of Arkansas Medical Center’s Northwest Center. “This is a historic legislation that we finally right the wrong.” The healthcare assistance comes as the COVID-19 pandemic and related job losses have hammered many Marshallese and Pacific Island communities in the United States, from Washington state to Arkansas. In 1986, the United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands signed a bilateral agreement that allowed the Marshallese to enter the United States as “legal non-immigrants” in return for the U.S. military continuing to operate a weapons testing base in the
Marshalls. It also provided the Marshallese with Medicaid coverage. Similar agreements, known as Compacts of Free Association (COFA), were signed with the nations of Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia. Then, in 1996, President Clinton signed the welfare reform bill, which changed the categories of people qualifying for federal aid, including Medicaid—the Marshallese and other compact nation citizens were shut
out. Although the omission of these residents was considered an error, Congress refused to reinstate them—even as some legislators, including Sen. Mazie Hirono and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, both Democrats from Hawaii, pushed to have them reinstated. Their efforts, and those of others, have now paid off. “This bipartisan agreement will unlock new tools to assist the COFA community suffering from unequal access to health care,” said Hirono in an email statement. “By allowing States to enroll COFA citizens in Medicaid, we are upholding the promises we made to our critical national security partners in the Freely Associated States.” Gabbard noted the bill would also help states such as Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington, which had stepped in to fill that federal void for compact residents. Juliet Choi, director of the Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum, said she was thrilled and stunned by the news, which comes at such a politically fraught and polarized time in American politics. She called it a “bright and hopeful” indication the nation can rally together to right wrongs during “this dark time,” she said, referring to the pandemic.
YOUR VOICE
■ WORLD NEWS
JANUARY 9 – JANUARY 15, 2021
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Where is Jack Ma, China’s e-commerce pioneer? By Joe McDonald THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jack Ma
BEIJING (AP) — China’s best-known entrepreneur, e-commerce billionaire Jack Ma, made his fortune by taking big risks. The former English teacher founded Alibaba Group in 1999, when China had few internet users. Online payments service Alipay launched five years later, before regulators said such businesses would be allowed. Both long shots grew to
dominate their industries. Ma’s latest gambit backfired after he called regulators too conservative in an Oct. 24 speech and urged them to be more innovative. They halted the impending stock market debut of Ant Group, an online finance platform that grew out of Alipay. Alibaba’s share price sank, possibly costing Ma his status as China’s richest tycoon. Since then, the normally voluble Ma has stayed out of the public eye, canceled a TV appearance and avoided social media. That has prompted a flurry of speculation about what might happen to Ma, China’s biggest global business celebrity and a symbol of its tech boom. “The Jack Ma Era is ended,” wrote a blogger under the name Yueyue Talks Technology. “It’s too late to say goodbye.” Spokespeople for Alibaba and Ant didn’t respond to questions about why Ma hasn’t appeared in public. Some see Ma’s travails as a warning from the ruling Communist Party that even a wildly successful entrepreneur can’t publicly defy regulators. But finance experts said President Xi Jinping’s government already was uneasy about
Alibaba’s dominance in retailing. As for Ant, regulators worried it might add to financial risks seen by the ruling party as one of the biggest threats to China’s economic growth. Shaun Rein, a business consultant in Shanghai who said he meets Alibaba managers and people who know Ma, said none of them reports the billionaire is in legal trouble. “They spanked him. He’s learned his lesson, and that’s why he’s been quiet for the past two months,” said Rein, founder of China Market Research Group. “Some of his friends told me they can’t believe how stupid he was.” Ma, 56, stepped down as Alibaba’s chairman in 2019 but is part of the Alibaba Partnership, a 36-member group with the right to nominate a majority of its board of directors. He is one of the biggest shareholders. Ma irked regulators with the speech at a business conference in Shanghai attended by some of the regulators he was criticizing. Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan also was in the audience. Ma complained regulators had an antique “pawnshop mentality” and were
hampering innovation, according to Chinese media. He appealed to them to support unconventional approaches to make it easier for entrepreneurs and young people to borrow. “The race tomorrow will be a race of innovation, not regulatory capabilities,” Ma said, according to the Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily. That clashed with the ruling party’s marathon campaign to reduce surging debt that has prompted fears about a possible financial crisis and led international rating agencies to cut Beijing’s credit rating for government borrowing. At the same event in Shanghai, Wang warned new technologies improve efficiency but “amplified financial risks,” according to the business magazine Caixin. On Nov. 3, regulators suspended Ant’s market debut. It would have been 2020’s biggest, raising some $37 billion. Alibaba’s CEO later praised regulators in a possible attempt to repair relations. But Ma said nothing. The last posting on his Sina Weibo social media account is dated Oct. 17. see MA on 13
Tying the knot Tick-Tock: The without a face Tokyo Olympics hit the 200-daysmask in China to-go mark
AP Photo/Ng Han Guan
By Stephen Wade and Yuri Kageyama THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bride Chen Yaxuan walks down the aisle with her father during an unmasked wedding banquet in Beijing on Dec. 12, 2020.
By Ng Han Guan THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BEIJING (AP) — Lovebirds in China are embracing a sense of normalcy as the COVID pandemic appears to be under control in the country where it was first detected. Chen Yaxuan and Dou Di exchanged
vows in front of more than 500 guests in an unmasked wedding on Dec. 12—a day called “double twelve’’ and considered auspicious timing. Servers wore masks, but guests were not required to. They just had to show a green health code, showing they had see WEDDING on 13
TOKYO (AP) — Tick-Tock-Tick. The countdown clock for the postponed Tokyo Olympics hit 200 days to go on Jan. 4. Tick-Tock-Tick. Also on Jan. 4, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said he would consider calling a state of emergency as new coronavirus cases surge to record numbers in Tokyo and neighboring prefectures. Japan has never had a lockdown for COVID-19, attempting to juggle the economy and health risks. Tick-Tock-Tick. It’s nearing deadline time for Tokyo Olympic organizers, the International Olympic Committee, and various Japanese government entities as they try to pull off the Games in the middle of a pandemic. Officials have promised to announce concrete plans early in the new year about how to get 15,000 Olympic and Paralympic athletes into Japan; about
the safety of the Athletes Village, and hundreds of thousands of fans, media, judges, officials, broadcasters and VIPs. The new year is here. Suga pledged again to hold the Olympics, saying it would be “proof that people have overcome the coronavirus.’’ And he said vaccine approval would be speeded up by a month so that vaccinations could begin in February instead of March. Japan has attributed more than 3,400 deaths to COVID-19, modest by global standards for a country of 125 million, but worrying as new cases rise quickly. A poll last month by national broadcaster see OLYMPICS on 12
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39 YEARS
JANUARY 9 – JANUARY 15, 2021
■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR JANUARY
7-31
8
12
20
VIRTUAL MOCHI TSUKI For details, please visit https://bijac. org/mochi-tsuki-2021-virtual-event
A DINNER DATE WITH HISTORY, COOK-ALONG WITH CHEF OLIVE HUANG 4:30 p.m. Register at http://bit.ly/38hqXcP
WSCRC'S WEBINAR: CRUISING THE SOUTH CHINA SEA - STORMY WEATHER AHEAD? 4-5 p.m. Register at http://bit.ly/35cluCq
WINTER 2021 LECTURE SERIES: PROTEST, RACE, AND CITIZENSHIP ACROSS AFRICAN WORLDS 12-1:30 p.m. Register at http://bit.ly/38g9KjU
■ NATIONAL NEWS Washington, Oregon, 29 tribes sue over plan to move archives By GENE JOHNSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
National Archives building in Seattle
SEATTLE (AP) — Washington, Oregon, more than two dozen Native American and Alaska Native tribes and cultural groups from the Northwest are suing the federal government to stop the sale of the National Archives building in Seattle, a plan that would force the relocation of millions of invaluable historical records to California and Missouri. The government is planning to sell the vast warehouse under a law aimed at unloading excess federal property, but the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court on Jan. 4 says the building is anything but “excess.’’ It contains irreplaceable documents dating to the 1840s and is used all the time for research about everything from tribal history to Japanese internment during World War II and fur seal hunts on remote Alaskan islands.
“This is the DNA of our region,’’ Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson told an online news conference on Jan. 4. “These are documents that are not digitized. Moving them a thousand miles away essentially and effectively eliminates public access to these critical documents.’’ The documents include old property, military service and marriage records, court cases, census records from Alaskan villages before statehood, tribal rolls and treaties, and records of timber sales. There are 50,000 files related to the Chinese Exclusion Act, which limited the presence of Chinese laborers in the U.S. from 1882 until 1943, including photos and interrogations of Chinese immigrants. In 2018, the documents were used to help secure the Congressional Gold Medal for Chinese American World War II veterans, see ARCHIVES on 15
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Highlights, Significant Moments of 2020
Winners of the Northwest Asian Weekly’s Lunar New Year costume contest. From left: Laurie Yaokum, Vivian Zhao, and Natalie Lo
Lunar New Year celebration in Bellevue Square
Photo by George Liu
Photo by Sam Le
A fire destroyed Eng Suey Family Plaza last June. No one was hurt. The building housed 12 businesses and no-profit agencies, plus one subleased business. The Eng Family Association plans to rebuild when the pandemic is over.
Three generations of Karli Shanklin’s family traveled from Burien to volunteer to remove grafitti from Seattle Vision Clinic.
Photo by John Odegard
Lam’s new store in Tukwila
Photo provided by Lam’s Seafood
Mayor Jenny Durkan and staff treated CID community leaders at Honey Court Restaurant last February to support CID businesses.
Photo by George Liu
Photo by Susan Lee Woo
ISRD Review Board’s last meeting. Board member Faye Hong said the board only met eight times, including four online meetings on small projects.
Photo by Assunta Ng
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JANUARY 9 – JANUARY 15, 2021
Artist Moses Sun (top) led Wing Luke Museum’s team to paint a mural.
Uwajimaya remodel
Photo by Assunta Ng Photo provided by Uwajimaya BLM protesters pass by Chinatown International District on July 3 on S. Jackson St.
Photo by George Liu
Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best elbow-bumped with CID community leaders to drum up support for her department during efforts to defund police in July.
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A driver backed her car into the Dim Sum King storefront, injuring four people last October. Herrmann Law Firm filed a lawsuit on behalf of three people who were seriously injured.
JANUARY 9 – JANUARY 15, 2021
YOUR VOICE
A white CID resident confronted BLM supporters in Chinatown International District after rioting and looting the night before in May.
asianweekly northwest
A BLM supporter demandeded answers from Mayor Jenny Durkan about police violence, when she visited Chinatown International District after rioting and looting in last May.
Photo by George Liu Photo by George Liu
The first BLM protest in Washington state began in Chinatown International District on May 29 at Hing Hay Park.
Photo by George Liu
Photo by George Liu
Mural painting outside the U.S. Post Office after a night of rioting and looting in CID
InterIm delivers food to CID senior residents. InterIm’s Henry Lui loads groceries into a car.
Mural painting outside New An Dong store
Photo by Assunta Ng Photo by Assunta Ng
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39 YEARS
JANUARY 9 – JANUARY 15, 2021
Recovered COVID patient Michael Flor and his wife Elisa Del Rosario passing through CID to pick up dim sum.
Seattle Public Utilities boarding up CID storefronts. The city foot the bill for labor and boards for about 200 businesses after looting and rioting in May. Photo by George Liu
Photo by George Liu Photo by Assunta Ng Dong Sing Market owner nails back the board everyday when he closes his store to prevent vandalism after the May 30 riots in CID.
Wing Luke has posted social-distancing signs outside the museum.
Photo by Assunta Ng Mural painting outside the Jackson Apartments on S. Jackson Street. A coronavirus-designed car parks in the CID.
Photo by Assunta Ng Photo by Assunta Ng
Photo by Assunta Ng Photo by Assunta Ng
Photo by Assunta Ng
Repairmen replacing broken windows of International House, a senior housing apartment. No one knows if the windows were damaged before or after the May riots. Several artists painted the murals.
CID senior residents receive masks
Volunteers give out supplies such as sanitation fluids to CID businesses during COVID.
Momosan was closed for months, and reopened briefly when insdoor dining was allowed.
Photo by Assunta Ng
JANUARY 9 – JANUARY 15, 2021
YOUR VOICE
■ EDITORIAL
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Black doctor, top executive resigns, citing racism at Seattle Children’s You’ve likely heard about the recent resignation of Dr. Ben Danielson from Seattle Children’s and the Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic (OBCC) over ongoing racist and discriminatory practices at Seattle Children’s. Danielson, who has earned Dr. Ben Danielson widespread admira tion and respect for advocating for and serving children of color and those living in low-income families, told Crosscut he stepped down after Seattle Children’s leaders failed to address issues such as calling security against patients of color and a lack of translation services. “I have privilege enough that I should be somebody who says, ‘This is not okay,’” Danielson said. He also
told Crosscut he began to seriously consider quitting last summer. A colleague was fired without explanation and another felt pushed into resigning from her leadership post. Both are people of color. At the same time, a member of the Seattle Children’s Hospital administration, who Danielson said had used the n-word several years earlier in reference to him and referred to people of Asian descent as “japs,” remains a front-facing member of the team. A petition by Change.org demanding racial justice from Seattle Children’s said OBCC “exists today as a result of grassroots leadership by Black advocates and medical providers who organized to create the health care that local institutions long refused to provide.” And that Seattle Children’s “needs to be held accountable for the racism and anti-Blackness that not only Dr. Danielson, but hundreds of families and staff have experienced within this institution.” It is disappointing that an institution such as Seattle Children’s would allow discriminatory practices of any
kind. And it is unacceptable. In a statement, Seattle Children’s said, “While some of the claims made were investigated a decade ago, we are examining the issues raised. As an organization, we are committed to racial equity, diversity, and inclusion while also holding ourselves accountable and continuing to do the work required to address systemic racism when and where it exists.” We are saddened by Danielson’s resignation and we echo the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA)’s stance that Seattle’s Children’s statements about a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion mean little in the absence of addressing on-the-ground instances of microag gres sions, discrimination, and racism like those that Danielson and WSNA-repre sented nurses have experi enced and witnessed. Support the Change.org petition at chng.it/7Y7JYH8VTw and hold Seattle Children’s accountable.
■ WORLD NEWS China’s Zhong Shanshan becomes Asia’s richest person
Zhong Shanshan
Zhong Shanshan rose to become Asia’s richest man with a worth of nearly $77.8 billion on Dec. 31. According to Bloomberg, Zhong, 66, a bottled water and vaccine tycoon, is the 11th richest person on the planet. “It’s one of the fastest accumulations of wealth in history,” said the report as Zhong’s businesses surged from $70.9 billion to $77.8 billion this year. He overtook India’s Mukesh Ambani whose worth surged to $76.9 billion. Before Ambani, Chinese philanthropist and businessman Jack Ma was Asia’s richest man.
Ma’s net worth has dropped to $51.2 billion. A school dropout, Zhong worked as a construction worker, a newspaper reporter, and a beverage sales agent before starting his own business. Last September, he rose to become China’s richest businessman after overtaking Ma by over $2 billion. Headquartered in Hangzhou in China’s Zhejiang province, Zhong’s bottled water company Nongfu Spring Co is Hong Kong’s most popular among retail investors. Zhong has also helped four relatives become billionaires. His younger sister, Zhong
Xiaoxiao, and three of his wife’s siblings each hold a 1.4% stake in Nongfu worth $1.3 billion, based on the ownership listed in the company’s prospectus. The firm has produced dozens of millionaires, including more of Zhong’s relatives and employees. Zhong is close to entering the rarefied realm of individuals worth more than $100 billion. He now has more wealth than Warren Buffett but the Berkshire Hathaway founder has given away more than $37 billion of stock since 2006.
NYSE withdraws plans to delist 3 Chinese phone carriers By JOE McDONALD AP BUSINESS WRITER BEIJING (AP) — The New York Stock Exchange has withdrawn plans to delist shares of three Chinese state-owned phone carriers. The shares were to be removed under an order from President Donald Trump, a move Beijing had warned might lead to retaliation. The exchange cited “further consultation’’ with regulators but its announcement late in the day on Jan. 4 gave no other details. China’s foreign ministry criticized Washington for “suppressing foreign companies’’ but made no direct comment on the NYSE announcement.
The NYSE said on Dec. 31 that it would remove China Telecom Corp. Ltd., China Mobile Ltd. and China Unicom Hong Kong Ltd. under Trump’s November order barring Americans from investing in securities issued by companies deemed to be linked to the Chinese military. The order added to mounting U.S.-Chinese tension over technology, security and spying accusations. The Trump administration has imposed export controls and other sanctions on some Chinese companies, visa curbs on members of the ruling Communist Party and other restrictions. “The suppression will have very limited impact on Chinese companies, but it will damage
the national interest and image of the United States,“ said a foreign ministry spokeswoman, Han Chunying. She expressed hope Washington will “do more to maintain the order of the global financial market’’ and protect investors. Political analysts expect little change in policy under President-elect Joseph Biden, who takes office Jan. 20, due to widespread frustration with China’s trade and human rights records and accusations of spying and technology theft. Trump’s November order bars Americans from investing in securities issued by companies deemed by the Defense Department to be part of efforts to modernize the Communist Party’s military wing, the
People’s Liberation Army. The 2 million-member PLA is one of the biggest and most heavily-armed militaries. It is spending heavily to develop nuclear submarines, stealth fighters, ballistic missiles and other advanced weapons. The Pentagon has added 35 companies to its blacklist. In addition to the phone carriers, they include telecom equipment giant Huawei, China’s biggest maker of processor chips, three state-owned oil producers and construction, aerospace, rocketry, shipbuilding and nuclear power equipment companies. Hong Kong-traded shares in the three phone carriers surged on Jan. 5. China Telecom rose 3.4%, China Mobile jumped
5.7% and China Unicom surged 8.5%. Shares in all three have fallen recently. The Chinese government has accused Washington of misusing national security as an excuse to hamper competition and has warned that Trump’s order would hurt U.S. and other investors worldwide. On Jan. 2, the foreign ministry said Beijing would take unspecified “necessary countermeasures’’ to protect its companies. The government made the same announcement following previous U.S. sanctions without taking action.
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JANUARY 9 – JANUARY 15, 2021
■ NATIONAL NEWS Minority-owned companies waited months for loans, data shows By JOYCE M. ROSENBERG and JUSTIN MYERS ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of minority-owned small businesses were at the end of the line in the government’s coronavirus relief program as many struggled to find banks that would accept their applications or were disadvantaged by the terms of the program. Data from the Paycheck Protection Program released Dec. 1 and analyzed by The Associated Press show that many minority owners desperate for a relief loan didn’t receive one until the PPP’s last few weeks while many more white business owners were able to get loans earlier in the program . The program, which began April 3 and ended Aug. 8 and handed out 5.2 million loans worth $525 billion, helped many businesses stay on their feet during a period when government measures to control the coronavirus forced many to shut down or operate at a diminished capacity. But it struggled to meet its promise of aiding communities that historically haven’t gotten the help they needed. Congress has approved a third, $284 billion round of PPP loans. While companies that did not get loans previously have another chance at help, according to a draft of the legislation, businesses hardhit by the virus outbreak will be eligible for a second loan. The first round of the program saw
OLYMPICS from 5 NHK showed 63% want the Olympics postponed or canceled. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike and the governors of Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures asked the national government to declare the state of emergency after the capital saw a daily record of 1,337 new cases on New Year’s Eve. That marked a jump of almost 400 in just a few days. Yoshiro Mori, the president of the organizing committee and a former prime minister, again ruled out any cancellation of the games in an interview several days ago with the Nikkan Sports newspaper. He was asked when a decision would come about having local fans or fans from abroad. “Sometime from March through May,’’ he replied. “The final deadline for a decision would be May, but it may come sooner.’’ Any reduction in fans will hit the organizing committee budget. Tokyo has budgeted $800 million for ticket sales, and any shortfall will have to be made up by government entities, which are footing most of the Olympic bills. The official budget for the Tokyo Olympics was increased last month to $15.4 billion, an increase of $2.8 billion because of the delay. However, several government audits the last few
overwhelming demand and the Small Business Administration approved $349 billion in loans in just two weeks. But many minority-owned firms applied to multiple banks early in the program and were rejected, while others couldn’t get banks to respond to their applications and inquiries. “Many of our businesses were being turned down in the first and second round of funding. That caused application fatigue and frustration,’’ says Ron Busby, president of the U.S. Black Chambers, a nationwide chamber of commerce. Loan data analyzed according to ZIP codes found that in that first round of funding, six loans were approved for every 1,000 people living in the 20% of ZIP codes with the greatest proportions of white residents, nearly twice the rate of loans approved for people living in the 20% of ZIP codes with the smallest proportions of whites. That pattern reversed itself over the final four weeks of round two, partly because banks responded to criticism by making it easier to apply for a loan. Over the entire course of the program, the number of loans approved grew and evened out at 14 loans per 1,000 residents in the most ZIP codes with the most and fewest number of white-owned businesses. Still, minority owners were kept waiting while their companies were in jeopardy. “Many are hanging on by the skin of their teeth. Most are in the professional services, small retail shops, restaurants, barber shops,’’ says Ramiro Cavazos,
years suggest the real number is about $25 billion. All but $6.7 billion is public money. Mori indicated the opening ceremony, scheduled for July 23, could be troublesome with thousands of athletes and
president of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The SBA did not address the timing of loans to minority-owned businesses when asked for comment by the AP. But spokesperson Shannon Giles said in an email that $133 billion, or 25%, of PPP funding had gone to companies in economically disadvantaged areas known as Historically Underutilized Business Zones, and 27% went to low and moderate-income neighborhoods. The bill President Donald Trump signed into law on Dec. 27 provides for $15 billion to be set aside for community banks, minority-owned financial institutions and community development financial institutions, non-bank lenders that aim to get funding to underserved communities. The AP analysis shows restaurants slammed by the virus outbreak got the most loans in the first round, but they were followed by businesses in two high-income professions: law firms and doctors’ practices. When the first round ended millions of small businesses were left waiting. The program’s disparities were apparent from the start. An AP analysis of the initial data release found some of the nation’s largest banks had processed larger loans first. That included loans to well-known and well-financed companies including Shake Shack, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and the Los Angeles Lakers. Many have returned the money. What’s more, the program’s terms
officials gathering to parade around the stadium. He also suggested the ceremony couldn’t be shortened, since television broadcasters had paid for the lucrative time. He said some officials might be cut out of the parade.
helped exclude minority-owned firms. A primary goal for the loans was to allow owners to keep paying employees who otherwise would go on unemployment. So, non-employer firms, or businesses that have owners but no other staffers, weren’t allowed to apply until a week after the program began. Minority-owned and other very small companies were also left out at first because some banks refused to process applications that weren’t from wellestablished customers with multiple accounts. Many of those banks ended that practice after being criticized publicly. The SBA, which initially had more than 3,000 lenders in the program, eventually brought in 2,000 more banks, non-bank lenders and online lenders, which helped more minority applications get approved as the PPP wore on. Community outreach helped turn the tide. Community development financial institutions connected with local minority-owned businesses and helped them apply during the second round, says Claire Kramer Mills, co-author of the NY Fed study. “The disparities that were found earlier were really appalling,’’ Mills says. The outreach brought in thousands of last-minute applications, the SBA data show. Busby noted that the PPP was supposed to help underserved communities. “We know that did not happen,’’ he says.
Television determines much of the Olympic scheduling, and selling broadcast rights accounts for 73% of the IOC’s income. Another 18% is from large sponsors such as CocaCola and Toyota. The torch relay, which begins
on March 25, will also face crowding with 10,000 runners expected across almost four months. Coca-Cola and Toyota are the prime sponsors.
JANUARY 9 – JANUARY 15, 2021
YOUR VOICE
■ ASTROLOGY
asianweekly northwest
13
Predictions and advice for the week of January 9–15, 2021 By Sun Lee Chang Rat—To be truly present, you should do more than just be there. Fully engage with those who matter to you.
Dragon—Even when others have long given up, you persist and are able to make a longshot look easy.
Monkey—You’re not one to retreat if you think you are in the right. Make sure the struggle is worth it.
Ox—Feeling a little off today? Steering yourself back on course will require you to rise above the little things.
Snake—Are you always looking ahead to what might be next? In doing so, don’t overlook what you have right now.
Rooster—The feedback isn’t exactly what you expected. That said, it matters more what you think.
Tiger—Words said in haste could be counterproductive. Take care that you do not hinder your own efforts.
Horse—Turning over a new leaf is much easier said than done. Some old habits could be hard to let go.
Dog—Is someone else’s example looming large before you? Do the best you can by your own standards.
Rabbit—Have you soured on something you were once interested in? It could be a sign that you should move on.
Goat—Have you been debating whether to try something new? The risk is low and the reward could be quite high.
Pig—Changing roles could allow you to showcase yourself in a different light, opening up new opportunities as a result.
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.
MA from 5 Alibaba Group shares traded in Hong Kong have fallen 19% since October. Ma’s fortune, which peaked earlier above $60 billion, fell by more than $10 billion. Alibaba, headquartered in Ma’s hometown of Hangzhou, southwest of Shanghai, was founded to connect Chinese exporters with Western retailers. The company has expanded into online consumer retailing, entertainment and other areas. Its finance arm, Yu’ebao, launched in 2013, attracted millions of customers in a market dominated by state-owned banks that focus on serving government industries. By 2017, Yu’ebao was the world’s biggest money market
fund with 1.2 trillion yuan ($170 billion) in assets, competing with state banks for deposits. Ant Group has been ordered to overhaul its business before its market debut can go ahead. The central bank said Dec. 28 it told Ant to focus on its online payments business. That suggested the company might be required to scale back its ambitions and new initiatives, which would hurt its appeal to investors. Ma and Alibaba aren’t regulators’ only tech industry targets. The ruling party has declared anti-monopoly enforcement, especially in online industries, a priority. Executives of Alibaba and five other tech giants including
Tencent, operator of the WeChat messaging service, and online retailer JD.com were warned by regulators last month not to try to keep new competitors out of their markets, according to the government. Stock traders in Hong Kong talk about Ma’s disappearance from social media but doubt Alibaba or Ant will be affected, said Kenny Wen of securities firm Everbright Sun Hung Kai. “The key point that will affect how these companies develop is the latest anti-trust regulations,” said Wen. “Jack Ma has already stepped down from management, and this does not affect the operation of the company.” The anti-monopoly investigation of Alibaba announced in December targets
its policy that prohibits vendors and other business partners from dealing with its competitors. Foreign investors were rattled, but Chinese businesspeople are “quite happy” with the crackdown, said Rein. “A lot of people saw Alibaba and Tencent as monopolies and stifling competition,” he said. Ma’s high profile is unusual in a society where folk wisdom warns, “a man fears getting famous like a pig fears getting fat.” Others such as Tencent founder Ma Huateng, who is no relation to Jack Ma, are known for avoiding reporters and public appearances. Jack Ma dresses up in a leather jacket, sunglasses and wig to perform rock songs at Alibaba’s annual employee festival in
only been in low-risk areas and not tested positive in the previous 14 days. A year into the pandemic, most people feel the situation is under control if not back to normal. The National Health Commission reported just 27 new cases on Dec. 28, a dramatic decrease from China’s peak. The first half of 2020 was a nightmare for the multibillion-dollar wedding industry. Many couples were forced to postpone their nuptials after large gatherings and events were banned. It wasn’t until late April that a turning point appeared. Those who had to push back their weddings helped revitalize the industry when restrictions were lifted, keeping the shrinkage of the market below 6% in 2020, according to Zhang Yi, CEO and chief analyst of iiMedia Research, an industry analysis firm in Guangzhou in
southern China. Ning Jingyu, the wedding planner for Chen and Dou, believes the future is bright. Her studio has organized 33 weddings in the second half of 2020, down 50% from the same period the previous year. “The business is not as good as it was the same time last year, but I think it’s on an uptrend, considering the amount of consultancy and clients’ demand for weddings,’’ she said. On a recent morning, at least seven couples showed up for photo shoots near the Forbidden City, a historic area in Beijing popular for wedding photos, even in freezing temperatures. They included Dong Yangfeng and Wang Sai, both 27 years old. The computer science professionals had to cancel their original wedding plans because of the pandemic. Worried that the pandemic might return, they decided
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Hangzhou. Ma, who jokes that his oversize head and angular features make him look like the title character in “E.T. the Extraterrestrial,” has acted as an informal business envoy abroad. He met President Donald Trump in January 2017 and promised to create U.S. jobs. Ma’s success has earned him a reputation as being politically well-connected. But this isn’t the first time Alibaba has been hurt by its outspokenness. In 2015, then-deputy chairman Joe Tsai criticized a government report that said Alibaba failed to keep counterfeits off its sales platforms. The government responded by attacking Alibaba in state media and publicizing complaints about fake and shoddy goods.
to hold their nuptials as soon as possible. Dong said though that what their wedding will look like depends on the frequently changing virus rules. “If the national policies allow, we surely want to have a nice wedding,“ he said. “But if the policies don’t allow or if there’s a reemergence of the pandemic, we’ll make it simple.’’
SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 6.
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asianweekly northwest
39 YEARS
JANUARY 9 – JANUARY 15, 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.
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.
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 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 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.
KING
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 COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY * 700 ANDOVER PARK WEST * TUKWILA, WAthe 98188 to Apply: County, as well as the people they serve. The Chief Engineer is a salaried, at-will, overtime exempt 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. King County Housing Authority * 600 ANDOVER PARK WEST * SEATTLE, WA 98188
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Interested candidates should apply immediately by sendingOrder a comprehensive resume, and a compelling ( Insertion ) cover letter of interest to: KCCOUNCILHR@kingcounty.gov
HoW to Apply: ADVERTISEMENT To apply and view a complete job announcement and apply, go to www.kingcounty.gov/jobs
PARK WEST * SEATTLE, WA 98188
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KCHA- Maintenance to be considered, applications must include: A King County application is required to be considered for this opportunity. Interested applicants must ING DEPT: PUBLICATION: Northwest Asian Weekly SEMENT • AContracts letter of interest detailing your qualifications and experience for this position including: complete the supplemental questions and submit a resume and letter of interest with your application. ORIGINATING DEPT:
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PUBLICATION:
NW ASIAN WEEKLY
1. Whether you are: ORDERED BY: INSERTION DATE: Danielle Munroe Management Michelle Jackson Earliest Possible a) Valid Notary Public/ certification INSERTION DATE: ASAP w/ 2 week run SPECIAL INSTRUCTION: PHONE NUMBER: 206-574-1232 Insertion Under ‘Legal’ Analyst b) Washington State Public Records Officer certification employment FoR SAle ADVERTISINGemployment UBLICATION: NW ASIAN WEEKLY SPECIAL DATEINSTRUCTION: ORDERED: SIZE: December 2020‘Legal’ See ‘Insertion Information’ listed below c) Municipal Clerk /Certification ER: 206-574-1200 206-832-3775 Insertion11, Under The office Coordinator will SAVr Foods / Tsue Chong compaNSERTION DATE: BURIAl plot Earliest Possible 2. Describe your experience, using specific examples, working on assigned tasks with minimal guidance ED: ADVERTISING SIZE: NOTE: 12/30/2020 ‘Insertion listed below PROOF See of Publication or Information’ Tear Sheet must ny is looking and with multiple and complex competing and efficiently PUBLICATION INFO: for a skilled worker ensure that the organization’s PECIAL INSTRUCTION: FoR SAle Insertion Under priorities. ‘Legal’ Describe how you independently accompany ALL BILLINGS to make rice noodles (sha ho office operations, fundraising organize prioritize assignments and must tasks, listed meet deadlines, and exercise adaptability to changing Cedar lawn memorial park in PHONE DVERTISING SIZE: ofand PROOF Publication or Tear Information’ Sheet See ‘Insertion below activities, and garden events are Chinese and basic Eng- 206-223-0623 BUSINESSfon). #: PUBLICATION INFO: priorities while maintaining a positive and professional approach. Redmond, Washington. BUSINESSlish accompany ALL BILLINGS efficient, accurate and smooth. The language skills are required. 206-223-0626 PURCHASE ORDER #: FAX: UBLICATION opportunity Work location is Seattle until we position works closely with board #: officials? If yes, please Rare 206-223-0623 3. INFO: Describe your experience providing clerical supportBUSINESS to a board PHONE or elected CONTRACT ACCOUNT #: EMAIL ADDRESS: HW2102431 john@nwasianweekly.com move to Kent by mid-2021. Pay members, garden employees, and one plot in beautiful describe. (Please limit your response to 250 words or fewer.) RDER #: PHONE BUSINESS FAX: USINESS #: 206-223-0626 206-622-8272 76807 is dependent on experience. We volunteers. Mandarin and Canton“GARDEN of ETERNITY” INSERTION INFORMATION LISTED BELOW: USINESS FAX: offer medical insurance, paid ese required. Please send cover 206-622-8416 working in a legislative, or public sector environment? If yes, please describe. CCOUNT #: 4. Do you have experienceN/A EMAIL ADDRESS: #2 AD Lot FOR 7D. THE Asking $7,600. john@nwasianweekly.com FOR KCHA: EXAMPLE AS HOW TO PREPARE THIS VENDOR FOR VENDOR: ACTUAL AD LISTED letter and resumeBELOW to president@ vacation and other benefits. Call (Please limit your response to 250 words or fewer.) MAIL ADDRESS: john@nwasianweekly.com Text only, please no calls seattlechinesegarden.org. us at (206) 623-0801 to apply. N INFORMATION LISTED BELOW: 425-295-5811 FIRST PUBLICATION • A comprehensive resume with a chronological history of your related experience. XAMPLE AS HOW TO PREPARE THIS ADACTUAL FOR THE VENDOR FOR VENDOR: ACTUAL AD LISTED BELOW FOR VENDOR: AD LISTED BELOW
:
FIRST PUBLICATION
ENTER: PROJECT NAME
King County Housing andscape Term Contract Authority (KCHA)
UE DATE HER:
THER:
One)
King County Housing Authority (KCHA)
FIRST PUBLICATION
ENTER EITHER:
PROPOSALS Elevator DUE 04/09/2015 Modernization
at REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Meadowbrook Apartments
February 2, 2021 BID DUE DATE: KCHA WILL ACCEPT: sealed proposals from qualified, licensed at 2:00 pm Landscape contractors for labor and materials to provide landscaping REQUEST FOR BIDS services at King County Housing properties for a period of three (3) years. KCHA is seeking qualified contractors interested
bids for the Elevator landscaping Modernization SCOPE in OFsubmitting WORK: Provide comprehensive services at but Meadowbrook Apartments. Elevator including not limited to, mowing, weed eating, hard edging, line edging,modernization fertilize, pruning, repair/replacement along with andsprinkler other tasks as described in the shutdown/startup, debris removal, pest control (exterior), pressure bid docs. The property is located at 1408 NW washing, plant shrubs, trees, groundcover, replace/install bark and Richmond Beach Road, Shoreline, WA 98177. gravel, remedial cleanup, and arborist services for residential There is an optional pre-bid meeting at the properties. The apartment buildings, multifamily, and single family Landscape service be expected to provide periodic support from property onwill Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 10:00 property management offices scatteredfor through King on County a.m. Bid packets are available download including but not limited to Sedro Woolley and Olympia properties. KCHA’s website at All Landscape service requests will expect a response within 48 hours http://www.kcha.org/business/construction/open/. or two (2) business days.
Painting and Drywall Services REQUEST FOR BIDS- PROPOSALS-QUALIFICATIONS Order Contract KCHA Task WILL ACCEPT:
BIDS-PROPOSALS-SUBMITTALS DUE and ACTUAL DUE DATE
ENTER EITHER:
ENTER:
King County Housing Authority (KCHA)
SCOPE OF WORK: PROPOSAL SITE MEETING or DUE DATE:
01/20/2021
PRE-BID MEETING/CONFERENCE: (If There is One)
KCHA and is soliciting bids for Painting and SITE LOCATION/ADDRESS Drywall Services for commercial and DUE DATE: (Identify) residential apartment properties located in PACKET COST: and: King,WEB Thurston SITE INFO: and Skagit Counties. Women andPROJECT Minority owned are MANAGER and/or PHONEcompanies or EMAIL: strongly encouraged to submit proposals. Proposals are due Wednesday, January 20th, 2021. Proposals are available at kcha.org/business/construction/open or via email December 30th, 2020. Contact Danielle Munroe at KCHA (206) 574-1200 or daniellem@kcha.org
Exterior Painting at Village at Overlake Station BID DUE DATE:
February 4, 2021 at 2:00 PM
REQUEST FOR BIDS King County Housing Authority (KCHA) is seeking qualified contractors interested in submitting Bids for the Exterior Painting at Village at Overlake Station. Work includes, but is not limited to, preparation and exterior painting of all surfaces at all buildings, and other tasks as described in the bid documents. The property is located at 2580 152nd Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98052. There is an optional pre-bid meeting at the property on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Bid packets are available for download on KCHA’s website at http://www.kcha.org/business/construction/open/. For questions, please contact Michelle Jackson via email at MichelleJ@kcha.org.
All bids must be received by KCHA no later than
PRE-BID CONFERENCE: Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at 2:00 P.M. the above dueOffice, date and time. Noare Bids will be to attend; at the KCHA Central Contractors encouraged accepted after that date and time. If you havein at the however, attendance is not mandatory. Please check receptionist at 600please Andover Park Michelle West, Tukwila 98188 questions, contact Jackson at DUE DATE: April 2nd, 2015 at 2:00pm MichelleJ@kcha.org. The estimate is PACKET$850,000.00. COST: NONE
WEB SITE INFO: www.kcha.org
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JANUARY 9 – JANUARY 15, 2021
asianweekly northwest
15
Courtesy of Imei Hsu
Courtesy of Imei Hsu
HSU from 1
ARCHIVES from 6 said Connie So, president of the Greater Seattle chapter of OCA Asian Pacific Advocates, formerly known as the Organization of Chinese Americans. The files also include key records from the internment of Japanese-Americans during World II—including documents that showed the National Archives building itself sits on land owned for decades by a family of Japanese American farmers, the Uyejis, who were sent to concentration camps in California in 1942. The Navy eventually took over the land and built warehouses on the property, which was never returned to the Uyejis. Among the artifacts housed at the archives is a key to the family’s front door, the lawsuit noted. The National Archives building is one of a dozen properties around the country, collectively valued at $500 million to $750 million, identified for sale by the Public Buildings Reform Board. The board initially intended to sell the properties individually, but has announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on the commercial real estate market, it will offer the buildings early this year for an expedited sale as a single portfolio. The records would be moved to National Archives facilities in Kansas City and in Riverside, California. The Seattle building has a reported $2.4 million
Imei Hsu at a Snohomish County COVID-19 testing station
problem. Even as an older generation of Asian Americans may be willing to get vaccinated, she said, they may be unable to talk about widespread depression arising from the pandemic. “Asian elders, depending on their education opportunities and misunderstandings about mental health, may have a tendency to somatize mental health signs, such as referencing depressed mood as a sensation of chest pressure or difficulty swallowing,” she said. Such difficulties could compound any challenges they already face related to the pandemic. Hsu has had first-hand experience with the pandemic and its impact on different generations. In January, when she first heard about the coronavirus in China, she knew it was only a matter of time before it spread rampantly. “We are not ready for a pandemic,” she said at the time. She joined a government registry to provide health services on her days off. She ended up joining the gamut of measures employed to try to control the spread of the pandemic. Alongside other nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals in the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), she first worked in isolation quarantine centers for people who had been exposed to the virus. Later, she worked at testing sites where there was a need for medical personnel to insert swabs up peoples’ noses. Working full-day shifts, she was moved around the state. In Snohomish County, she and her colleagues tested over 400 people a day. Hsu also worked in long-term care facilities testing workers in pop-up tents. Besides undergoing training for delivering the vaccine, she continues her work as a mental health counselor. These days, she is counseling other therapists and medical professionals, who are
maintenance backlog and costs more than $350,000 a year to operate, but sits on land that would be prime for residential development, with views of the Cascade Mountains and Lake Washington. The sale is opposed by all eight U.S. senators and many representatives from Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. “The records stored in Seattle’s Federal Archives are vital to telling the story of the Pacific Northwest’s history,“ Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the thirdmost-senior Democrat in the Senate, said in an emailed statement. “I look forward to working with the incoming Biden-Harris Administration to explore every option available, including the appropriations process, to ensure that they remain accessible to local stakeholders.’’ The lawsuit says the Seattle archives are ineligible for sale under the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act, which exempts buildings used for research in connection with federal agricultural, recreational or conservation programs. Among other things, the lawsuit noted, the archives are used for research under federal historical preservation programs and to litigate land use, water rights and conservation issues. Neither the board nor the federal Office of Management and Budget, which approved the sale, immediately returned emails seeking comment on Jan. 4. In a brief interview with the Los Angeles Times last month,
Imei Hsu training for Ironman
coping with long-term stress. In her own life, she has found resilience to compete in Ironman competitions. Originally, she was planning to compete in the Penticton Ironman competition in British Columbia, Canada in 2020, but when it was canceled, she used her time to volunteer in the MRC.
Courtesy of Imei Hsu
said they were unsure and 40% said they would not be vaccinated. Forty-one percent of Latinos said they were unsure and 26% said they would not be inoculated. But the poll also reflected a tendency to overlook Asian Americans that has led to a spike in their mortality rates. Asian Americans were not included. Being neglected is not uncommon for Asian Americans in data gathering. One of the reasons death rates among Asian Americans are so high, according to separate reports in New York and San Francisco, is abandonment by government agencies. The ongoing myth about Asian Americans as the “model minority” has led to being overlooked for social services for health, education, and employment, according to a report in USA Today in October. As a result, 38% of those that have died from the pandemic in San Francisco are Asian Americans, the highest of any marginalized group, according to a study cited in the report. In New York, Chinese Americans had the highest mortality rate among any group, 35.7%, according to another recent study that has not yet been peer-reviewed, “Disaggregating Asian Race Reveals COVID-19 Disparities among Asian Americans at New York City’s Public Hospital System.” Meanwhile, an atmosphere of racism sparking increased hate crimes has discouraged some Asian Americans from even getting tested for fear of testing positive, which could lead to further ostracism or violence. Over half of Asian American parents and their children have been subject to harassment over COVID-19, according to a recent survey, published in the October issue of Pediatrics. Discrimination has taken a toll on the mental health of both parents and their children, the study showed. Hsu is not only urging her patients, of whom 65% are Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), but “everyone she encounters” to get vaccinated. Once the usual questions are asked to eliminate any concern over contraindications, which are routine for any shot, she strongly urges people not to hesitate. “I am encouraging everyone to get it when it’s their time to get it,” she said. But fears about getting vaccinated are not the only
Courtesy of Imei Hsu
A portrait Imei Hsu found in her mother's house. Her grandfather, Ho Chi-hou, is on the far right, with Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, Nationalist leader, in front
Imei Hsu competing in Ironman Canada 2018
As a college student, she competed in the Miss Chinatown pageant, where she became a Seafair Princess, and used the prize money to help put herself through college. A portrait shows her wearing a winning ribbon. In her grandfather’s portrait, he is bedecked with ribbons of a different kind. As part of what one scholar calls “the great exodus from China,” he was one of a million people who survived by fording an ocean in boats that in some cases were so rickety they simply melted into the sea. “Everyone can find in an ancestor’s story what it took to survive a hard time,” she said. Mahlon can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
Talmage Hocker, a Kentucky commercial real-estate developer appointed to the board by President Donald Trump, claimed the archive doesn’t get a lot of visitors. “It can become a part of the community, as opposed to what it is today,’’ he said. Ferguson and others said that comment demonstrated the board’s ignorance of the archives’ importance to the region. He noted his own late father, a local history buff, spent many hours there conducting genealogical and other research. Native American tribes have used the archives to win federal recognition, to establish their right to hunt and fish in their traditional lands, and to verify their oral traditions. The government’s failure to consult with the tribes before deciding to sell the building violated federal policies, the lawsuit said. “This generation is witnessing our history come to life with a resurgence of our language, our cultures, our songs, our dance, our tribal journeys,’’ said Fawn Sharp, president of Quinault Indian Nation on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. “We’re just getting to a point of having a basic understanding of this rich and vast history. If this information were to ever leave the Pacific Northwest, it would be a loss not only to tribal nations, it would be a loss to the entire Pacific Northwest.’’
asianweekly
39 YEARS
JANUARY 9 – JANUARY 15, 2021
BLOG from 1 words, “Chinese virus” and “Kung flu” throughout the entire pandemic, is forgiven? One immigrant told me that she voted for Trump to stall China from suppressing Hong Kong people’s freedom. And what was the result? More than 60% of Asian Americans voted for Biden. I guess some Asian immigrants don’t realize that they are living in America, and not Asia any more. What they should vote for is America’s wellbeing first, the other motives second. What is more important? A candidate’s character, experience, and knowledge about governing? Or someone who lies a lot, has no interest in problemsolving and governing, and the only time he clearly enjoys himself was on his campaign trail at big rallies, in which he’s the center of attention in a show?
Photo by Assunta Ng
T HE BIG LOSS
The sign outside Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot has been removed since the restaurant closed.
While COVID has disproportionately impacted the Black and Latino community with high numbers of infections and deaths, the pandemic has impacted the Asian community with a different kind of loss—jobs. According to NPR, the jobless rate for Asian Americans was 2.8% in 2019—lower than that of whites, Blacks, or Latinos. But last May, Asian American unemployment soared to 15%, and it was still 10.7% in August. About 25% of our community works in restaurants, nail salons and spas, retail, and service industries. A restaurant or nail salon provides several full-time and parttime jobs. With these businesses closed, it hit hourly-wage workers and those who rely on tips especially hard. It is challenging for immigrant workers to find alternative jobs with limited English-speaking ability. Those industries have been devastated by the pandemic, and they traditionally employ many Asian Americans, said economist Donald Mar of San Francisco State University.
RESILIENCY AWARD Seattle’s Chinatown-International District (CID) is an economic hub for the community and city with hundreds of businesses, including restaurants, travel agencies, banks, and professional services. Half of the seven travel agencies have closed or left the neighborhood. Big CID restaurants with over 150 seats, including House of Hong, Joyale, Eastern Cafe, and Little Sheep’s Hot Pot, have closed. Whether they are closed permanently or temporarily, the owners have no answers either. It depends how soon the lockdown ends. Although midsized restaurants remain open and offer take-outs, each restaurant has laid off many workers. The big and mid-sized restaurants used to employ over 30 people for their morning, lunch, dinner, and wee-hour shifts. Jobs such as waiting and bussing tables, bartending, and cooks have been cut. Restaurants now employ a much reduced crew, from six to 10 people to barely one chef, for each shift. Early in 2020, the glass storefronts of several CID businesses, including the library, were broken into more than once. Almost one out of three CID restaurants have been broken into, more than once last year, sometimes by the same suspects.
It was a rough and challenging 2020 for restaurants. For those who are still keeping their restaurants and businesses open, inside and outside CID, they all deserve the Resiliency Award.
T HE F EMALE T RUMP OF T HE YEAR AWARD President Trump has been depicted as the worst U.S. president for his extreme bullying, truth twisting, spotlight and power-grabbing, rebel-raising behaviors towards his critics, and abuse of power. Which Seattle City Council member exemplifies Trump’s character best? Kshsma Sawant. Also crown her the worst city council member of the year for her unethical and inappropriate actions. But the most recent ones were opening City Hall’s door with her key to let protesters in during the Black Lives Matter protests, and revealing Mayor Jenny Durkan’s home address to protesters. City Hall was closed to the public due to COVID. In a letter, Durkan wrote that Sawant knew that her home “address was protected under the state confidentiality program because of threats against me due largely to my work as U.S. Attorney.” Durkan was Seattle’s top federal prosecutor before being mayor.
UNPRINCIPLED OFF ICIAL AWARD The most unprincipled City Council member award goes to Council President Lorena Gonzalez. Durkan wrote a letter asking the council to investigate and possibly expel a member “for disorderly or otherwise contemptuous behavior,” according to The Seattle Times. But Gonzalez chose not to. Instead, she criticized Durkan for not being helpful, asking for an investigation when the council should focus on more urgent matters. The least she could do is reprimand Sawant for her unacceptable behavior in public or at the Council, if not an investigation.Gonzalez’s refusal to do anything showed that she wanted to weaken the mayor’s position as she harbors higher ambitions herself. Perhaps she is more afraid of Sawant.
T HE LAWLESS PROPOSER AWARD Lately, Seattle City Council member Lisa Herbold has received lots of publicity and notoriety. Hong Kong and California Chinese media have been reporting and jeering at her proposal of allowing misdemeanor crimes to be dismissed if the suspects are poor. Who would want to live or visit Seattle if such an ordinance passes?
UNPREDICTABLES OF T HE YEAR COVID erupted in Washington state in January, and the Life Care Center nursing home in Kirkland was the original epicenter. This was followed by the Black Lives Matter movement, which emerged as the largest social movement in the world and in Washington state. Over 70 major protests took place in the state after the unjust death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best resigned after the City Council voted to cut her department’s staff, as well as her salary. Mayor Durkan announced she would not run for reelection, citing reasons that she needs to concentrate on fighting COVID, and not campaigning.
T HE BEST KISS-ASS AWARD It’s a tie. Vice President Mike Pence and Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina for enabling President Trump in all policies and actions, especially echoing his recent accusation of voter fraud in the presidential election. Pence and Graham, who are personal friends of Joe Biden, couldn’t care
less about their conscience. They side with where the power is. Photo from Seattle Storm’s Instagram
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T HE BEST CAMPAIGN This goes to Biden’s campaign. The president-elect has never been known to be charismatic, and the pandemic didn’t help. His age puts him at high-risk for COVID. So he couldn’t be exposed to crowds. Opponents accused him of being hunkered down in his basement. Even with few in-person appearances, Biden’s virtual campaigning was able to beat an incumbent president who has used his bully pulpit and the White House as a campaign ground to lure donors and supporters. The media described Biden as boring. Fortunately, voters wanted someone who is solid and gets things done without being showy. Credit goes to Biden who selected the right team to run a strong and disciplined campaign.
T HE BEST ELECT ION SYST EM— WASHINGT ON STAT E We Washingtonians have taken our absentee ballots for granted. Former King County Assessor Lloyd Hara, who moved to San Antonio, Texas recently, said it is not easy to get an absentee ballot there. He got one because of his senior status. It takes a lot of work to get one for the regular voters. Remember the long lines for early voting in the November election in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. It’s a pain to wait for hours and hours to vote. Passed as law for mail-in ballots in 2011, Washington even pays for voters’ postage. And we have no scandals of voter fraud in the presidential election. Only five states, including Colorado, Utah, Oregon, Hawaii, and Washington, have mail-in ballot systems.
Sue Bird
with a 12-4 record. The Seattle Storm Women’s basketball team won the national championship this year, adding to their titles from 2004, 2010, and 2018. Former Washington state Gov. Gary Locke was appointed to be interim president of Bellevue College.
T HE BEST CID PROJECT AWARD If you have been to downtown and other parts of Seattle, you would be shocked to see much of the city boarded up. Fortunately, over 100 artists of all races descended in CID and volunteered their time and talent to paint boarded-up storefronts, after rioters and looters vandalized the CID on May 30. You won’t find anything close in other Chinatowns across the United States. I would pick some of those CID art murals for postcards—New An Dong, Dong Sing, Tracy Tran, and Tai Tung. For the story of the CID murals, watch youtube.com/watch?v=VE9BA7KkbKc.
T HE BEST VIRT UAL EVENT AWARD
T HE WISE AND COURAGEOUS SOUL AWARD After Sawant used her key to let the BLM protesters into City Hall, she trashed Amazon and pushed the need to tax the corporation. Sawant, who often lectures her colleagues, was being lectured back. According to the New Yorker Magazine story by Jay Caspiano Kang, a person stood up and said, “...I’m really sorry...for all the council members…, please stop using Black Lives Matter for your political campaigns. I’m really sorry. I want to tax Amazon, too. ...But this is not a movement for you to be politically active, for you to be politically correct, and for you to gain all these votes. Please stop taking advantage of us...Can we please talk about Black Lives Matter for one second?” One Black journalist told me many people at the gathering felt the same way. Yet, only one person spoke up. Those were powerful words. It exhibits leadership, clarity, and sharpness to point out how the group had been misled and misused. It’s a mighty moment not only for the audience there, but for me who read those words afterwards.
T HE HEROES AWARD The heroes award goes to healthcare workers and professionals fighting COVID on the front lines. Thank you for your tireless effort in saving lives. And thank you for the sacrifices you and your family made during the pandemic.
T HE BEST NEWS AWARD It’s a three-way tie. It goes to the Seahawks for winning the NFC West Division and making the playoffs recently
Space Needle’s New Year Virtual Fireworks show was an inspiration and a culmination of 2020. No other U.S. city did what Seattle did—closed out the year with a bang, not with fireworks, but a virtual light show with imagination. It exceeded our expectations. The program was designed by Terry Morgan, owner of Seattle-based Modern Enterprises and founder of BOREALIS - A Festival of Light, in partnership with Maxin10sity, the co-producers of BOREALIS. The show dazzled viewers and you would be amazed and proud of what Seattle has accomplished. You can still catch the show on YouTube.
T HE WORST LUNAR NEW YEAR STAMP I never heard so many people complain about the 2020 Lunar New Year Stamp. The Year of the Rat looked more like a tiger. No, wolf! No, cat? It’s one of the worst images of the 12 zodiac animals for the Lunar New Year stamp collection since its insertion in 1992. Will the year of the Ox stamp in 2021 be more like an ox??? We’ll find out. Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.