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VOL 40 NO 3 JANUARY 16 – JANUARY 22, 2021
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Biden up close
Local leaders share personal impressions By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Photo by Assunta Ng
Fatherly, with a zest to spend time with people. But highly efficient in his personal relations. This is how local leaders who know President-elect Joe Biden describe him. “He is incredibly caring and peopleoriented, he will sit down with people, strangers, and really focus on what’s happening in their lives, often to the dismay of his staff, because it sometimes causes him to be late to the next event,” said former Gov. Gary Locke, in an interview. “This includes little kids to elderly people to people he just met for the first time, he takes a genuine interest in people,” said Locke, who served as secretary of commerce and ambassador to China while Biden was vice president. Locke speculated that this quality could have come from the “personal tragedies he’s experienced.” Biden lost his first wife and a daughter after their car was hit by a tractor trailer.
Washingtonians write postcards, help to flip Senate in Georgia race
Gary Locke introduced his father, Jimmy, to former Vice President Joe Biden after Biden swore-in Locke as Commerce Secretary in 2009
Both sons were badly injured. Decades later, one died of brain cancer. The other has struggled with substance abuse. Possibly, as a result, “he always wants to make sure people are okay and they feel listened to and heard,” said Locke.
Locke recalled a time when he and his family had recently arrived in China and then-vice president Biden visited. Biden sat down right away with Locke’s kids to see BIDEN on 12
WA Congress members react to violence at the U.S. Capitol
The presidential election this past November and the state of Georgia runoff election for the U.S. Senate were of the utmost importance to both Democrats and Republicans. Vying for Asian American Pacific Islander votes, people from across the country encouraged others to vote in battleground states. This took on huge importance in Georgia as the power in the Senate hung in the balance. Former KING-5 anchorwoman Lori Matsukawa was asked by her friend, Mimi Gan, to help out with a project. “There were snacks, we drank tea, and hand wrote postcards,” said Matsukawa of the effort Lori Matsukawa to encourage newly registered voters to participate in the November election. The push to get out the vote in November extended into January with the race for the senate in Georgia. “We did it because we were motivated. We felt we had a role to play and could make a difference.” There is a continuing increase in the number of Asian Americans eligible to vote in the state of Georgia and the demographic was key for both Democrats and Republicans in the general election in November, as well as the see GEORGIA on 11
THE INSIDE STORY Rep. Marilyn Strickland
By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Newly elected Congressmember Marilyn Strickland called last week’s incident at the U.S. Capitol “domestic terrorism.” The former mayor of Tacoma told The News Tribune, “Trump and his enablers, who have been sowing seeds of discontent trying to undermine the validity of this election, are responsible for this. So he needs to take responsibility and just tell people to go home.” The Jan. 6 rampage through the halls of Congress sent lawmakers of both parties and Trump’s own vice president into hiding, as crowds called
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Shasti Conrad
for Mike Pence’s lynching for his role overseeing the vote count. The scene also undermined the hallmark of the republic—the peaceful transition of power. At least five people died, including one Capitol Police officer. Hours after the incident, King County Democrats confirmed the safety of all members of the Washington state Congressional delegation, including their staff. Shasti Conrad, the first female woman of color to chair the King County Democrats, said, “What happened… was inexcusable and the parties involved need to be brought to justice.” “Trump’s rhetoric has viciously split apart our nation,
Rep. Pramila Jayapal
but we will find a way to repair past grievances and get this nation back on track. From local to federal governments, this is our time to stand up against an autocratic and fascist regime and lean into a more unified movement.” Rep. Pramila Jayapal said she was one of a dozen representatives in the gallery above the House floor. “We pulled out gas masks and had to get down on the ground,” she wrote on Twitter. “Capitol police barricaded the doors and had guns drawn. We were eventually told that we had to quickly exit. I can’t contain my rage at Donald Trump and Republicans who invited, incited, and fueled this terror. Our country
Rep. Adam Smith
and our democracy will have to recover from these deep wounds—and it won’t be easy.” Rep. Adam Smith also pointed the finger at Trump. “He has lied repeatedly, as have his enablers in Congress and elsewhere about this election. They do not believe in democracy. They believe in retaining power by any means necessary. All Americans who believe in the rule of law and our Constitution must clearly and unambiguously hold these people accountable for their actions. Smith added, “Order will be restored. Congress will do its job. This election will be see CAPITOL on 9
NAMES IN THE NEWS Amazon Housing Equity Fund 2
PUBLISHER’S BLOG 2021: HARSH REALITY 5
SPORTS THE LAYUP DRILL 6
BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS Meeting and exceeding expectations 7
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39 YEARS
JANUARY 16 – JANUARY 22, 2021
■ NAMES IN THE NEWS
Photo by Han Bui
Amazon Housing Equity Fund
Amazon’s Seattlle headquarters
On Jan. 6, Amazon announced its Housing Equity Fund, a $2+ billion initiative to preserve and create more than 20,000 affordable housing units in the Puget Sound region in Washington state, the Arlington, Virginia region, and Nashville, Tennessee. Amazon is providing below-market capital in the form of loans, lines of credit, and grants to preserve and create 20,000 homes affordable for moderateto low-income families and supporting households making between 30% and 80% of the area’s median income. In the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area, this translates to a household of four earning less than $95,250 a year. The Fund will provide an additional $125 million in cash grants to businesses, nonprofits, and minority-led organizations to help build a more inclusive solution to the affordable housing crisis, which disproportionately affects communities of color.
Peter Kwon reappointed to 4Culture board
Peter Kwon has been appointed to serve a second three-year term on the Board of Directors of 4Culture, the King County Cultural Development Authority. Kwon, the Peter Kwon deputy mayor of SeaTac, has been a King County resident since 1989. 4Culture’s mission focuses on racial equity, and to fund, support, and advocate for culture to enhance the quality of life in King County.
Chinese Chamber election results
Rick Choi
Wesley Tanoto
Van Vong
Martha Lee
The Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce (TGSCCC) announced the results of its 2021 election for the Board of Directors and officers. It elected Rick Choi as president, Wesley Tanoto as vice president, Van Vong as secretary, and Martha Lee as treasurer. The officers are Alvin Wong, Dennis Su, Felicity Wang, Hongguan Xu, Jesse Tam, Lawrence Pang, Pauline Lau, Shiao-Yen Wu, and Y.P. Chan. For more information, visit seattlechinesechamber.org.
Georgia’s Asian American lawmakers
Rose Ochi, Japanese American trailblazer, dies at 81
Rose Matsui Ochi
In case you missed it: Michelle Au, a Chinese American doctor, won her Nov. 3 election, and is the first Asian American woman ever to serve as a Georgia state senator. Marvin Lim also Michelle Au won his race on Nov. 3, becoming the first Filipino American to be elected to the Georgia state House. Lim’s career includes serving as a legislative advocate for the ACLU of Georgia, and working at the Marvin Lim law firm of Holcomb + Ward, LLP on cases seeking to protect the integrity of elections.
Rose Matsui Ochi, a trailblazing Los Angeles attorney who tapped farflung political networks from City Hall to Congress in her fierce advocacy of civil rights, criminal justice reform, and Japanese American causes, has died at 81. Ochi broke barriers as the first Asian American woman to serve as a Los Angeles Police Commission member and as an assistant U.S. attorney general. She advised L.A. Mayors Tom Bradley and James Hahn on criminal justice, served on President Jimmy Carter’s Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy, and worked with President Clinton on drug policy and race relations. Ochi died on Dec. 13 after being diagnosed with a second bout of COVID-19, which exacerbated existing health problems.
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YOUR VOICE
■ COMMUNITY NEWS
JANUARY 16 – JANUARY 22, 2021
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Old people at home will get vaccinated, but maybe not their caregivers, state announces
By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Last week, in a stunning turnabout, Washington state officials said they would vaccinate all people over 70 early this year. The announcement, on Jan. 6, came within days after a coalition of over 200 individuals and organizations representing communities of color asked the state to vaccinate multigenerational households in which older people are cared for at home. “WE DID IT!! (mostly…),” Trang Tu, the organizer of the coalition, wrote to its members the day of the announcement. At press time, however, some worried that, despite the change, disorder in distributing the vaccine could favor those with connections and privilege. Moreover, the state’s new policy neglects the coalition’s other request: that all caregivers in such households be vaccinated as well. Under the new policy, all adults over 50 would also be vaccinated in the second tier, known as 1b. But in many multigenerational households, it is younger caregivers that provide much, if not all, of the care. Tu, for instance, at 48, is not covered under the new state guidelines. She is her 90-year-old mother’s sole caregiver. Every day, she spoon feeds her mother, bathes her with a sponge, and lifts her in and out of bed. Tu, who has undergraduate and graduate degrees from Harvard, sings Vietnamese and French songs with her, which her mother taught her in childhood. Her mother, who is stricken with dementia, can no longer remember the words, but hums along. Sometimes she chants mindlessly. Tu’s wrists have become injured from gently holding her mother’s hands as she guides her around the room. She has been caring for her mother full-time for six
years. Before COVID-19 hit, she had occasional visits from siblings, who would help out. But now she takes care of her mother on her own from 8 a.m. until midnight. The rest of the time, she has a baby monitor, a small screen attached to a camera, so she can remotely view her mother. The rapid turnaround in the state’s policy came as somewhat of a surprise, even to Tu, who has been advocating for over a month, ever since she heard that the state and the federal government would vaccinate older people living in nursing homes and low-income housing first. Such a schedule would have neglected people such as her mother for up to a year until all essential workers were vaccinated first. But the state’s announcement showed responsiveness to the issues she raised in a letter written to Gov. Jay Inslee and Secretary of Health Umair Shah late last month. In an email, Tu said she was particularly heartened by comments made by Assistant Health Secretary Michelle Roberts. “We also really wanted to look at those multi-generational households, especially families caring for elders in their home. That was really an inequity in 1a, just focusing on vaccination to people in long-term care facilities,” said Roberts, referring to the first part of the first round of vaccines. Her remarks came during a press conference on Jan. 6, when the state announced the changed guidelines. “We know many families take care of elders in their homes and we want to make sure we are reaching those families as well, to protect those most at risk. That is an input we’ve heard from the community and an example of how we are using community input to guide our decisions,” said Roberts. King County last week also announced it would allot $7 million to set up two vaccination sites “likely” in South
King County and assemble mobile vaccination teams for homebound elders. More details were not immediately forthcoming. The announcements may have quelled a great deal of despair across communities of color in the state. Before the policy change was announced, many leaders of Asian American and other traditionally marginalized communities saw the neglect as yet another oversight in a system that has overlooked their particular cultural and economic realities. “Responsible administrators have not taken appropriate effort or time to understand and properly prioritize the fair distribution of medically related support for the various unique cultural situations, especially related to dependent elders in home/family care,” Tomio Moriguchi, one of the founders of the Keiro long-term care community, wrote state leaders, before the announcement. Rep. My-Linh Thai, the first refugee elected to the state legislature, said that, like Tu, she had cared for her mother, in her case, when she had cancer, along with her husband’s grandmother, who had dementia. But she was grateful for Tu for reminding her, in the onslaught of the pandemic, of the need to support multigenerational families. “The system wanted to find the most efficient way, but it was not built with people like Trang’s family in mind,” she said in an interview. But Asian Americans make up almost 8% of the population of Washington state. Latinos make up about 12% and Blacks 4%. These communities, along with other communities of color, immigrants, and refugees, often care for their elders at home. Besides, such statistics do not reflect economic see VACCINES on 11
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Chao resigns after Capitol riot WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has resigned effective Jan. 11, becoming the highest ranking member of President Donald Trump’s administration to resign in protest after the pro-Trump insurrection at Capitol. In a statement on Jan. 7, Chao, who is married to Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, said
the violent attack on the Capitol “has deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside.” She tweeted that it has been “the honor of a lifetime” to serve the U.S. Department of Transportation and that she was “tremendously proud” of the accomplishments made during her tenure.
Chao said her department will continue to cooperate with President-elect Joe Biden’s designated nominee to head the department, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg. It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Elaine Chao
Jayapal tests positive for COVID-19 WASHINGTON — “Only hours after President Trump incited a deadly assault on our Capitol, our country, and our democracy, many Republicans still refused to take the bare minimum COVID-19 precaution and simply wear a damn mask in a crowded room during a pandemic—creating a superspreader event on top of a domestic terrorist attack,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal. The congresswoman received a positive
COVID-19 test result after being locked down in a secured room at the U.S. Capitol after the Jan. 6 attack. “The duration in the room was multiple hours and several Republicans not only cruelly refused to wear a mask but mocked colleagues and staff who offered them one,” Jayapal said. She has been in quarantine since that incident. She is calling for “serious fines” to be levied
on every single Congress member who refuses to wear a mask in the Capitol. “Additionally, any Member who refuses to wear a mask should be immediately removed from the floor by the Sergeant at Arms. This is not a joke. Our lives and our livelihoods are at risk, and anyone who refuses to wear a mask should be fully held accountable for endangering our lives because of their selfish idiocy.”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal
View the solution on page 10
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The only weekly English-language newspaper serving Washington’s Asian community. The NW Asian Weekly has one simple goal: “To empower the Asian community.” The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject any advertisement, letter or article. Subscriptions cost $40 for 52 weeks of the NW Asian Weekly and $30 for 52 weeks of the Seattle Chinese Post. The NW Asian Weekly owns the copyright for all its content. All rights reserved. No part of this paper may be reprinted without permission. 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 editor@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com
JANUARY 16 – JANUARY 22, 2021
YOUR VOICE
■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG
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The COVID paradox
Photo by Han Bui
Why 2021 will be a lot harder than 2020
Northwest Asian Weekly’s website on screen
Photo by Paul Christian Gordon
Last year, I thought that Northwest Asian Weekly wouldn’t survive to see its 39th anniversary on Jan. 20, which also happens to be President-elect Joe Biden’s Inauguration Day. Some say I was smart to exploit a historical date for our inauguration issue. Nonsense. Thirty-nine years ago, I was just a naive and dumb journalist with zero experience running a newspaper. Toiling day and night, I was trying to rush the finished copy to the printer at 3 a.m.. The sole motivation to launch the Seattle Chinese Post, the first Chinese newspaper in the Pacific Northwest since 1927, was to stop community rumors and gossip—currently known as fake news. What I wanted was to provide the immigrant community facts and meaningful stories about the community. When too many American-born Chinese complained they couldn’t read Chinese, I finally said, “You win!” The Northwest Asian Weekly was born in 1983. To survive the pandemic, we turned the clock back—something we haven’t done for two decades. I was ashamed at first. But if both publications can survive longer, it’s smart business. Cutting the Northwest Asian Weekly from 16 to 12 pages, and its sister paper Seattle Chinese Post from 28 to 24, and then 20 pages, were critical in saving money. What choice did we have when we lost more than half of our advertisers!
Elizabeth Warren (left) and Toshiko Hasegawa (right)
2020 was a challenging year, but was it the worst year in our 39-year history? It’s the year of triumph and traumas, simulta-
neously. Toshiko Hasegawa, executive director of Washington State Commission on Asian American Affairs, was chosen to introduce presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren to an audience of 7,000 at the Seattle Center last February. I was so proud that a young Asian American and female got the honor, and even happy to learn why she was picked. She said it was because of the Asian Weekly. What? We are just a tiny paper! I blogged that Hasegawa was the best Asian speaker of the year out of dozens of community events I attended. “I am sure that’s the reason,” Hasegawa said. PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA
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38 YEARS YOUR VOICE
Locke among finalists for Sisters, Bellevue College’s interim president mother
Former Gov. Gary Locke
Dr. Yoshiko Harden
Dr. Raúl Rodríguez
BELLEVUE — The Board of Trustees of Bellevue College announced on April 22 three finalists to be considered for the college’s interim president position—former Gov. Gary Locke, Dr. Yoshiko Harden, and Dr. Raúl Rodríguez.
Harden serves as the vice president for Student Services at Seattle Central College and in the past, worked in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Bellevue College. see BELLEVUE COLLEGE on 4
N95 mask, other protective equipment, invented by Asians
Peter Tsai
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought Peter Tsai, the material scientist and engineer who developed the N95 mask’s virus-blocking technology, out of retirement to study safe ways to disinfect the single-use masks for reuse —nearly 30 years after his invention. “I just want to help people, and just do my job,” Tsai told NPR in a recent interview. With N95s in short supply,
some medical personnel are resorting to sterilization methods typically used to expunge the virus, like alcohol and bleach, which can degrade the integrity of the masks. Tsai—who retired from the University of Tennessee last year after more than 30 years of teaching—says that researchers racing to find safe methods to sterilize the masks have been flooding his
inbox, asking questions about his patented technology. Among those seeking his expertise is a team of volunteer researchers at universities and organizations across the United States, looking at potential solutions for N95 mask decontamination. Since mid-March, N95DECON, as the collective is called, has experimented with heat, a type of ultraviolet light and hydrogen peroxide vapor. But it was Chinese Malaysian Dr. Wu Lien Teh who designed a face mask that eventuDr. Wu Lien Teh ally became the N95 mask. In 1910, when a contagious pneumonic plague was ravaging northeastern China,
An old photograph showing medical workers wearing Dr Wu’s cotton-gauze mask. (Wellcome Library pic)
Wu, a Cambridge scholar who was nominated for the Nobel Prize for medicine in 1935, concluded that the disease traveled through the air. So he adapted something he had seen in England. He began instructing doctors, nurses, patients, and members of the public to wear masks using layers of cotton and gauze. His peers were reluctant to take his mask seriously. One French doctor, Dr. Gerald
die from COVID-19
Condolences continue to pour in for a woman who contracted COVID-19 and died, along with her sister and mother. Regina Lee, 58, is the first known Costco employee in the United States to die of COVID-19. She worked for 20 years as a Costco Regina Lim Lee travel agent and continued to go to the office because the company did not allow employees to work from home. She collapsed at her home in Everett on the night of March 15, after picking up an extra shift the day before, during which she coughed so much that she struggled to catch her breath. She died the see LEE on 11
Racist stickers left on Chinatown businesses
our hardest months from March to May.
The COVID paradox
COVID destroyed and also rescued us. 2020 was the census year. With the virus spreading full steam, the census kept delaying its count and ethnic communities pushed the government not to undercount communities of color. Every time the count deadline was extended, we received advertisements. The advertisers liked our census stories. Seven organizations gave us ads, our lifeblood. Those were juicy accounts. The census campaign, which was supposed to end in May, extended all the way to September. Compared to the 2010 Census, last year’s census had a much bigger budget to target people of color, thanks to the hard work of Asian community leaders and agencies who supported us, including the City of Seattle, TW Wang, Chinese Information & Service Center, and Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation Development Authority.
Zoom and COVID
Zoom made it easier for Asian Weekly’s online events coverage. It makes it easy for our freelance writers to say yes to our assignments. Because Zoom events are taped, writers can attend them on their see BLOG on 12
Year of the Ox
celebration
see INVENTORS on 12
Seattle Cherry Blossom Festival goes virtual Photo by John Liu
By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
week, print and online, in both publications. But reading the high number of infections and deaths every week was torture. And there was nothing we could do. We were in lockdown much of the year, and there’s nowhere we could go. The uncertainty, hopelessness, and desperation were killing us every day, while we struggled to do our job. Still, 2020 wasn’t the worst year. The hardships we experienced in 2020 were different from the challenges in our first decade of operation. In the old days, I was an indecisive and inexperienced leader. It could also be the pressures of juggling a career while raising my young kids. But last year, I acted fast to implement changes, so we could prevent the consequence of a sinking ship. There was hope, although we were slow to recognize that plenty of positive things did happen in the second half of 2020. As I reflected on New Year’s Eve, it was an amazing year! We made it through because of miracles and luck. Usually, we only realize how fortunate we were when everything is over. The complexity, timing, and severity of the health crisis had created countless possibilities for us. Had the U.S. declared the country in a pandemic before Lunar New Year last February, the Asian Weekly would have lost all the New Year’s advertisements. That income helped us to stay afloat during
Festival attendees trying on kimonos in 2018
SEATTLE — The Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival is going virtual this year. The annual festival seeks to deepen understanding, exchange ideas and advance the cultural contributions and achievements of the Japanese American community. The festival, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., April 2426, will include online performances and martial arts, exhibits and demonstrations,
hands-on activities and Japanese culinary demonstrations. The opening ceremony will be streamed live on April 24 at 11 a.m., with Festival Honorary Co-Chairs City of Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and Yoichiro Yamada, Consul General of Japan in Seattle. To view the program details and participate in the virtual festival, go to cherryblossomfest.org.
Stickers found in the Chinatown-International District (ID)
The Seattle Police Department (SPD)’s Bias Crimes Unit is investigating after three men appeared to target Asian American-owned businesses in the Chinatown-International District (ID) with jingoistic stickers. The three men, who were wearing face coverings and dark sunglasses, were reportedly seen placing the stickers on businesses throughout the ID on April 12. Police believe the men may be Publisher's Blog 6
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I think “Tigertail” is a snoozefest, but you may like it a lot! 7
Book Recommendations 8
WE WANT TO SEE PHOTOS
of your Lunar New Year costume
see STICKERS on 10
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One of Northwest Asian Weekly’s strong front pages.
And there were many high points for us during the year, especially when we published three to four strong and hard news stories on our front page, including timely stories. Reader Irene Mano who reads the Asian Weekly online, sent us a card last August. “I really look forward every week to reading your comprehensive coverage of the whole Asian community locally, nationally, and internationally. Your articles and editorial are the most current and relevant among all the weekly publications I received.” Thank you Irene for your encouragement. Despite adversities and hurdles related to social distancing, we never missed a single issue. My people worked very hard to ensure we have a quality issue every
Attire should be culturally relevant to the Lunar New Year Celebration and photos must be your own. PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Winner gets a stuffed ox from one of our sponsors and a highlighted photo in the Northwest Asian Weekly newspaper on Feb. 28. Adults & children are welcome to participate. Please submit photos to info@nwasianweekly.com by Feb. 20. No virtual celebration.
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asianweekly northwest
■ SPORTS
39 YEARS
JANUARY 16 – JANUARY 22, 2021
The Layup Drill
By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Welcome to the very first edition of the 2021 Layup Drill. This month, we take a look at the first Chinese-born college football player scoring a touchdown and the winding road of Jeremy Lin. Jackson He became the first known Chinese-born football player to score a touchdown in a Football Subdivision (FBS) game when he plowed his way into the endzone against rival Arizona this past December. His story from growing up in China to a walk-on role as a running back for the Arizona State Sun Devils is one of perseverance and love of football. He Peizhang (aka Jackson, the name he picked since he was a fan of Michael) grew up in Shaoguan, China where academics took up most of his life. Concerned with his opportunities for the future, He was sent to a small private school in San Diego when he was 17. Not having a choice, He was sent to America not knowing the language. Discovered by the school’s football coach, he was recruited to play due to the lack of available bodies for the team. He found a niche with the sport. He decided to return to private school to play another year of football as he decided on which college to attend. As a result, he was given a shot to play at a small college in North Dakota the following fall. But He could not adjust to the cold
allowed to walk-on for the Sun Devils. Although a walk-on, He’s work ethic and personality has made him a cult hero. The name on the back of his jersey is in Chinese, in honor of his heritage. The 5’9”, 220-pound running back was ecstatic about his touchdown and in a post-game interview, he made sure that people knew that Chinese could play the game. “Chinese can ball, too, you know? Yep.” He added, “I may be the first one to score, but I won’t be the last.”
Jeremy Lin returning to Warriors?
Jackson He
weather or the offensive style of play. After a year there, he returned to China where he played American club football. Wanting another shot in the U.S., He returned to America where he enrolled at Arizona State last year. He did not have a scholarship, but was determined to play. He walked into the Student-Athlete Facility and told the team he wanted to walk on to the team. After watching game film of his prior college games, he was
Jeremy Lin
Looking to rekindle his NBA career, Jeremy Lin was rumored to re-sign with
the Golden State Warrior’s G League affiliate last month. However, due to rules related to obtaining a clearance from his old team in China, it could not happen. Lin, who was most previously in the NBA with the Toronto Raptors in a very minor role when the team won the NBA Championship, left to start a new chapter of his career playing in China for the Beijing Ducks. While Lin did well and actually played in the same league as his brother, the former NBA star, nicknamed ‘Linsanity,’ wanted one more shot at the NBA. Also, an obstacle is that while the NBA started its season on Dec. 22 and is playing in empty arenas, the G-League, which is the ‘feeder’ league for prospects and those like Lin willing to play until they are ‘called up’ to play in the NBA has yet to start. When it does, it is eyeing playing a partial season in Orlando in a ‘bubble’ similar to the NBA’s summer season which saw it complete the 2019-2020 playing in Orlando, Florida at the Disney Campus. Due to COVID-19 restrictions and the possibility of infections, the NBA is taking measures to ensure that players are kept safe and healthy. As a result, the G-League will start up but the possibility of players being brought up to an NBA roster is unlikely. Due to quarantine issues, having a see SPORTS on 10
HELP KEEP SEATTLE MOVING SAFELY WHEN IT SNOWS 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!
*Learn more: www.seattle.gov/ transportation/winter-weather
YOUR VOICE
■ ON THE SHELF
JANUARY 16 – JANUARY 22, 2021
asianweekly northwest
7
Meeting and exceeding expectations BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
By Samantha Pak NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
MORE THAN JUST A PRETTY FACE
MORE TO THE STORY
By Syed M. Masood Little, Brown Books, 2020
By Hena Khan Salaam Reads, 2019
Jameela Mirza has just been named features editor of her middle school newspaper—quite the honor for a seventh grader. Now she’s one step closer to becoming an award-winning journalist like her late grandfather was in Pakistan. She just needs to remember this whenever the editor-in-chief shuts down her story ideas. When Jameela is assigned to write a story about the new boy in school, it seems like her biggest challenge is trying to find a good angle to make his story interesting. But then her world gets turned upside down. Jameela and her three sisters are devastated when their father accepts a job overseas, taking him away from their Atlanta home for six months. And then her younger sister gets seriously ill. Now Jameela has to figure out how to write an article to make her dad proud and be there for her sister. Inspired by “Little Women,” “More to the Story” follows a young girl trying to prove herself and meet expectations— mostly set by herself. Jameela is a strong protagonist with very strong opinions she’s not afraid to share. Given my chosen profession, I particularly enjoyed how passionate she is about journalism, her dedication to being a good reporter, and her integrity and commitment to transparency and accountability when she makes mistakes. Khan does a great job of laying out an ethical dilemma professional journalists face and the process Jameela and the rest of the newspaper club go through to address it. Another thing I appreciated about the story is how Khan tackles issues many families face every day, including financial struggles and illness. She doesn’t shy away from the topics but addresses them in a way young readers would understand through Jameela’s eyes. Jameela might still be in middle school, but like most kids her age, she’s more aware of things than adults realize—a good reminder for readers of all ages.
Danyal Jilani knows his strengths. He may not be all that smart, but he’s funny, gorgeous (his words), and on his way to becoming a great chef. His dad doesn’t approve of his career choice, but that doesn’t matter. All that matters is what Danyal’s longtime crush, Kaval—and her family—think since they don’t see him as the ideal arranged marriage prospect. When Danyal, who is Pakistani American, gets selected for Renaissance Man, an academic competition at his school, it’s his chance to prove to everyone he’s smarter than they think. To help him on his quest is Bisma, who is definitely not interested in him. But the more they work together, the more Danyal realizes that he might be interested in her. “Pretty Face” is the story about a young man figuring out who he is and what he wants for his life, while exceeding everyone’s—including his own—expectations. Danyal is not your stereotypical model minority. He’s terrible when it comes to academics (was even held back a year in school) and has no plans to go to college. It was refreshing to have a character who is content with not fitting the mold. Not all Asians get straight A’s and strive to become a doctor and Danyal shows readers that that’s just fine. I also appreciated Masood’s portrayal of arranged marriages and how Danyal approached them. It’s not uncommon in stories about multicultural characters that reject one culture in favor of the dominant one. Danyal’s not like this. He knows his dating life will be different from most of his peers and tries to figure out how to make things work. His acceptance is a great reminder to readers that just because someone else’s practices are different, it doesn’t make them better or worse than what you know. It’s just different.
PERMANENT RECORD By Mary H. K. Choi Simon & Schuster, 2020 College dropout. Graveyard shift at a 24-hour deli. Credit card and student loan debt up to his eyeballs. On paper, things aren’t great for Pablo Rind. They’re
not much better in real life either but the half-Korean, half-Pakistani 20-year-old is scraping by—barely. Then there’s Leanna Smart. Pop juggernaut and child-star-turnedinternational-icon with legions of fans (Smartees) and social media followers. Her brand is unstoppable, but her life is a blur: touring, private jets, fan meet-and-greets, and visiting cities and countries, but never really seeing them. When Leanna walks into Pablo’s deli
toward the end of his shift, it’s absurd to think anything would come of it, but before Pablo knows what’s happening, the two become a thing. Together, they navigate who they are, who they want to be, and how to meet others’ expectations of them. But as they turn to each other and get closer, things get more and more complicated. “Permanent Record” is the story about two young people trying to figure out their lives and how they fit in with each other. Although Pablo’s struggles might be more obvious, both of them are having a hard time dealing with being who others want them to be—something many people can relate to, regardless of their financial situation or level of fame, or lack thereof. The story is told from Pablo’s point of view and in addition to the one he shares with Leanna are Pablo’s relationships with his family and friends-slash-roommates. Choi does a great job of portraying the ups and downs he goes through with them, from his parents worrying about his future, to his friends calling him out when he’s being a jerk. As much as Pablo might roll his eyes, it’s clear the people in his life care about him and he does appreciate it (eventually). And it’s this care that makes him—and the reader—realize it’s okay to ask for help when you’re going through a hard time. Samantha can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
The Story of Seattle Chinatown International District Murals The Northwest Asian Weekly, in cooperation with Empower Video Production, created a video memorializing the 2020 collaboration between artists and community after protests against police brutality and rioting. Shot by Nuk Suwanchote and edited by Minh Le of Empower Video Production, "The Story of Seattle Chinatown International District Murals" details the events from the pandemic, to vandalism, and triumph when a community united, that led up to the living art gallery throughout the CID. To watch "The Story of Seattle Chinatown International District Murals," go to youtube.com/watch?v=VE9BA7KkbKc
8
asianweekly northwest
39 YEARS
JANUARY 16 – JANUARY 22, 2021
■ NATIONAL NEWS
‘What else could I do?’
NJ Rep. Kim helps clean up Capitol By Mike Catalini THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Andrew Harnik / AP
Water bottles, clothing, Trump flags, even a U.S. flag littered the ground inside the U.S. Capitol after a mob backing President Donald Trump ransacked the building. New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim walked amid the mess shortly after voting to certify Joe Biden’s victory over Trump— and felt the weight of the day wearing on him—when something motivated him to clean up the debris. “I was just really affected emotionally. I felt this kind of heightened, kind of supercharged kind of patriotism that I just felt take over,’’ he said in an interview. It was then he noticed police officers putting pizza boxes in trash bags, so he asked for one, too, and began cleaning up. “When you see something you love that’s broken you want to fix it. I love the Capitol. I’m honored to be there,’’ he said. “This building is extraordinary and the rotunda in particular is just awe-inspiring. How many countless generations have been inspired in that room? “It really broke my heart and I just felt compelled to do something. What else could I do?’’ The image of Kim crouched down
putting it in a plastic bag. He was clearly not doing it for an audience. “It was for me the most poignant moment of the long night.’’ New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Kim “represents the very best of New Jersey and our nation.’’ Tom MacArthur, the former GOP representative from New Jersey that Kim beat in a close race in 2018, was heartened by his successor’s action. It was MacArthur who had helped shepherd the GOP effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act through the House and who stood alongside Trump and others at the White House to celebrate, though the effort failed. Kim ran in part on the popularity of Barack Obama’s signature health care law. Kim represents the 3rd District, which stretches from the Philadelphia suburbs along the Delaware River in the west, across New Jersey’s pine barrens to seaside Ocean County. He launched his campaign in 2017, returning to live in the southern New Jersey town he grew up in after a career in Washington and abroad. A University of Chicago graduate and Rhodes Scholar, Kim served from 2013 until 2015 as the Iraq director for the
Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., cleans up debris and personal belongings strewn across the floor of the Rotunda in the early morning hours on Jan. 7, 2021, after a mob stormed the Capitol.
clearing away litter bookended a violent, historic day that saw an angry mob smash through police lines, break windows and wrench open doors as they sieged the building, not long after Trump said at a rally they should show “strength’’ and fight against Congress’ certification of Biden’s win. Kim, a second-term Democrat from a district Trump won twice, wasn’t
looking for publicity, according to one colleague who came upon him and didn’t recognize him at first. “I think it was 1 in the morning,’’ said fellow New Jersey Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski. “There were a couple National Guardsman and I noticed somebody on his hands and knees leaning under a bench to pick something up and it was Andy all by himself, just quietly removing debris and
see KIM on 10
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YOUR VOICE
■ EDITORIAL
asianweekly northwest
9
A higher standard
By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Forgive the idealism of this editorial— but perhaps it’s time for us to hold elected officials to a higher standard. By that I mean, make them promise when they take the Oath of Office, that they will never lie and never spread lies. And that if they do, that would mean an immediate removal from office. As a society, we seem to accept that politicians are liars. What if we stop accepting that and expect them to be truthful always? Don Miguel Ruiz wrote in his book, “The Four Agreements”—“Be impeccable with your word.”Speak with integrity. Say
CAPITOL from 1 certified, and Joe Biden will, as he was duly elected to do, take office as our next President on January 20th.” Expecting a long day of debates on Jan. 6, Strickland said the last thing she was expecting was a riot.
only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love. Truth and love is not the feeling I get when Donald Trump lets loose a barrage of tweets promoting a conspiracy theory that the presidential race was rigged against him by a nationwide voter fraud scheme, and when he refuses to acknowledge his electoral loss and pumps out disinformation on Twitter. The rampage on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 is the culmination of public officials’ actions and use of social media to spread disinformation. Trump’s statements like “They’re not going to take this White House,” “We will never concede,” were
like throwing matches onto a gasoline spill. Not only did the president egg the rioters on, he made clear on Twitter afterward that he was on their side—calling them “great patriots.” The First Amendment protects even wildly irresponsible speech unless it is calculated to produce imminent lawlessness. Jennifer Grygiel, a social media expert and associate professor of communications at Syracuse University, said the way many public officials and government agencies— from the federal to the local level—use social media, presents a risk to democracy because it gives them the ability to circumvent the free press and steer public opinion.
Before the rise of social media, political figures had to pay for campaign ads or have something legitimate to report in order to call a news conference. Now, public figures with a large number of followers can generate a great deal of attention for themselves with social media posts. This is not a partisan issue. Other elected officials besides Trump are famous for effectively using social media, like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, a Democrat. We put them in office through the power of our votes—they get paid to act on behalf of our wellbeing. We can certainly impose certain conditions on them—conditions they must agree to—before they decide to run for office.
“No one in their wildest imagination imagined that we would be here watching this happen in the halls of Congress,” she said. Ruth can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com. Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s tweets
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player come up to the NBA roster is a major undertaking and most teams would utilize this for younger prospects. Although the Warriors are in need of help from a veteran like Lin, having him come into a situation mid-season in the NBA might be farfetched. Lin signed with the Warriors at the beginning of January and will play with their G-League team in Orlando. He will be one of the oldest players to be playing in the developmental league. Since he’s been in China, Lin has released a signature shoe this past fall through Chinese sports retailer Xtep. The JLIN ONE is not available in the United States.
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KIM from 8 Obama administration’s National Security Council. Before that, he was the Iraq director at the Pentagon within the defense secretary’s office. He also previously served as a civilian adviser to generals David Petraeus and John Allen in Afghanistan. The son of Korean immigrant parents, he became the first Asian American to represent New Jersey in Congress after he was elected in 2018. He reflected on how he, a person of color, was cleaning
up after people who waved white supremacist symbols like the Confederate flag during the melee. He said he hadn’t considered race at the time. But he thought for a moment and added: “It’s so hard because we don’t look at each other and see each other as Americans first, whether it’s race or ethnicity or religion or political party that’s getting in the way of us being able to have that shared identity that forged our country and is necessary for us to be able to continue.’’
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JANUARY 16 – JANUARY 22, 2021
YOUR VOICE
■ ASTROLOGY
asianweekly northwest
11
Predictions and advice for the week of January 16–22, 2021 By Sun Lee Chang Rat—While you are not interested in making change for change’s sake, do occasionally consider leaving your comfort zone.
Dragon—Although it might feel quite the opposite, you actually have more leverage in the current situation than you think.
Monkey—Are you tempted to go all in on a whim? A good night’s sleep could cause you to reconsider.
Ox—Doing the right thing has its own rewards. Rather than looking for outside affirmation, look within.
Snake—Do you and your partner agree on the goal, but not on how to accomplish it? Additional conversation is warranted.
Rooster—Trying to choose between two different interests? Combining the two would allow you to get the best of both worlds.
Tiger—Once your priorities are clear, the rest will fall in line. Progress should follow where it had once been stalled.
Horse—Don’t let your expectations lag behind reality. Meaningful steps forward begin with being honest with yourself.
Dog—Staying quiet is not the best strategy for getting what you want. Sometimes you have to ask for it.
Rabbit —You can’t fit in all that you want. Once you acknowledge that, decide what is most important to you.
Goat—Have you been debating whether to try something new? The risk is low and the reward could be quite high.
Pig—With some persistence, you should be able to make a few inroads into what once seemed impassable.
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.
VACCINES from 3 disparities, since lower income families of any ethnicity can often not afford long-term care facilities. Meanwhile, the situation here reflects national trends. In her letter, Tu cited the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging, which found that 42% of Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) are caregivers, compared with 22% of the general population. Such a practice is reflected in the experience of the International Community Health Service (ICHS) in Seattle, which had over 140,000 visits and 460,000 health encounters, including educational outreach, last year. Over 50% of the patients needed interpreting in over 50 languages, and most are API, East African, Eastern European and Latino, according to Teresita Batayola, president and CEO of ICHS. Rimi Afroze, program manager of the Aging and Disability Services of Neighborhood House, said the mainstream healthcare system has long overlooked the particular needs of immigrant, refugee, and marginalized populations. During the pandemic, she “faced huge roadblocks” in trying to find culturally appropriate support for homebound elders who were becoming increasingly depressed and anxious, such as home delivered food that they could eat or online support groups in their languages. “We are following a ‘one prescription to treat all’ strategy,” she said. “This cannot help communities of color.” Nowhere is this clearer than in the case of Asia Lor, 24, a secondgeneration Hmong immigrant who is taking care of her grandmother, a cancer survivor, at home. Because of her age, she is not eligible for a vaccine in the first tier of the state’s guidelines, and may have to wait up to a year.
Of the 2,400 Hmong people who live in Washington state, 100% take care of their elders at home, said Cynthia Yongvang, executive director of the Hmong Association of Washington. “It was drilled into us from the day we were born that it is our responsibility to take care of our elders until the day they die,” said Yongvang, in an interview. Even if families decided to place their elders in congregate care, and could afford it, such places would probably not cater to their particular linguistic, cultural, and dietary needs. “Our elders don’t thrive in mainstream nursing homes, especially in places that are not culturally supportive,” said state Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, in an interview. For Tu, this has meant years of finding bright spots among her mother’s decline. Years earlier, she took her mother to their garden, to paint, then to Goodwill to find matching frames. She began to keep a blog to help her sort through challenging moments. One day, she found her mother hallucinating as if she were still the caregiver, talking to her children. “Gently, she asked if we were tired. She kept telling us to go ahead and rest, sleep. She said she’d just lie over here, and we could lie over there, next to her. She asked what we wanted to eat, and she said, ‘Tell me and I’ll make it.’ She said our dad would be home soon,” Tu wrote. Tu’s dad had been dead for decades. Three years ago, her mother, with tears in her eyes, suddenly said, “I don’t know who I am.” Now she mostly chants or sings aimlessly, in a wandering, tired, and sometimes distraught voice. Mahlon can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
GEORGIA from 1 runoff election held on Jan. 5 for the two senate seats. “The Asian American community has blossomed,” said Sam Park, a member of the Georgia State House of Representatives. “Asian Americans are the fastest Sam Park growing population in Georgia next to Hispanics.” Park worked with many Asian American Pacific Islander groups to get out the vote for Democrats. “We saw the fruit of all of their hard work and saw a surge of Asian American voters, particularly young, 18-29 years old, that helped flip the state for Biden.” The senate seats were ‘too close to call,’ which necessitated a runoff. By state rule, no candidate can advance through a primary or a general election system without first earning more than 50% of the votes. If no one does, the top two vote getters advance to a runoff election. Democrat Jon Ossoff faced Republican David Perdue in one contest, and Democrat Raphael Warnock and Republican Kelly Loeffler vied for the other seat. With the senate in favor of the Republicans by a slim Jon Ossoff 51-49 margin, a win by the Democrats would reverse the margin. A win for Republicans would keep the status quo. A split would have each party equal, although the Vice President breaks any deadlocks in votes. “I think it mattered,” said Matsukawa of the handwritten notes to prospective voters and subsequent victories. As a former member of the Asian Counseling and Referral Service, Gary Tang helped with voter registration. He also helped immigrant populations navigate the voting process and some asked him if voting Gary Tang would make a difference. Obviously, it does. He felt compelled to help this year with the fall election. As part of the Progressive Turnout Project, Tang and his partner volunteered to handwrite postcards to prospective voters.
“We sent out 200 postcards to Wisconsin,” said Tang. The state was one of several that were determined to be a ‘battleground state’ that could go either in favor of the incumbent Donald Trump or Joe Biden. As a volunteer, Tang was given a mailing list across all ethnic groups. “We understood that with handwritten cards, voters would be motivated to go out and vote.” “I usually am quite impatient about writing like everyone else,” said Tang jokingly about the effort to write out the messages. “We are all used to texts.” The postcards were free, and volunteers like Tang paid for the postage to send to prospective voters. The notes were pre-scripted messages which urged registered voters to get out and vote. Tang wrote another 100 postcards before Christmas in an effort to get out the vote for the runoff in Georgia. The night of the runoff election in Georgia, Tang was worried about the outcome. “I worried about the results,” Tang recalled as he went to bed with the election results too close to call. “I woke up at 4 a.m. and said, ‘Oh my goodness,’ as Tang saw the results showed that Warnock had won his U.S. Senate runoff against the incumbent Loeffler. Later that day, news outlets called the second race for Ossoff. In the end, the state of Georgia elected the Democratic candidates to the U.S. Senate thanks in part to the grassroots efforts of making sure that people got out and voted. “I am so delighted,” said Matsukawa. “I really felt we had to give the Biden-Harris administration the best shot for success.” With the win, the U.S. Senate will be controlled by the Democrats. The party holds the advantage in Congress, Senate, and the newly elected president. Perhaps the new lawmakers will help make a difference, especially with the events that transpired on Jan. 6. The scenes of hordes of Trump supporters terrorizing the U.S. Capitol shocked people from around the world. “I was horrified at what I saw,” said Matsukawa. “It was an attack on our democracy.” The riots at the U.S. Capitol was another failed effort by the Trump administration and its supporters to overturn the November election results, this time, through terroristic means. Matsukawa said, “January 20th can’t come soon enough.” Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
asianweekly
own schedule in their own home. Before, covering a live event was time-consuming and costly due to travel expenses. And freelancers get paid little. Zoom screenshots are ridiculously boring and predictable. Does anybody have ideas on how to make Zoom photos more exciting???
COVID inspires and quells
COVID inspires many story ideas, not just for my blog, but news coverage for much of 2020. It’s no surprise that we have increased many health stories and also received health advertisements. Adapting to COVID, working from home, and the impact of COVID in our community were all essential topics.
Yet, we cannot ignore the fact that it eliminates our special issues, such as travel, food, and live events. I miss writing travel stories. It cancels Asian Weekly’s annual events, such as our annual dinner, Entrepreneur of the Year luncheon, and the upcoming Lunar New Year Costumes contest and parade. Those events not only provided us income and business for restaurants, which hosted our events, but it gave us fun, story tips, human interactions, and networking opportunities for all the guests. Many attendees just loved our events as there was so much energy in the room and opportunities to meet new friends.
Why 2021 will be hard
The news of the COVID vaccine will help with many of our challenges. But the storm is far
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ask them how they were adjusting. Both were in high school. Biden had tea with them and asked them how they liked school. Biden told Locke’s son, Dylan, to keep an eye on his older sister. “Your role is to watch out for the boys that might be dating your sister,” Biden said. “They remember those moments very fondly,” said Locke. Min Chang, a former neighbor of the Bidens when she lived in Delaware, who is now CEO of Kin On, said they were “very quiet.” But she remembers a power blackout that may have been related to Biden’s emphasis on family. After Biden’s daughter, Ashley, got married, so many cars were parked along the streets that “the event must have caused a surge and a blackout,” Chang told the Northwest Asian Weekly.
Biden’s sense of hospitality was on display when Locke was sworn in as commerce secretary in 2009. Locke said a large group of his friends and relatives had come from Seattle to attend the ceremony. “He spent time with all of them,” he said. Biden was particularly attentive to two twin boys. “I mean, they weren’t voters,” said Locke. But his ability to forge personal relationships has made him highly effective as a leader, Locke said. “I’ve seen him being very firm about policies, but he connects with people personally,” said Locke. “That makes it easier.” During a dinner in Los Angeles, while Biden was still vice president, the stakes were high as the U.S. government was trying to persuade China to take more American films into its vast market. “There was a firm deadline. Xi was about to head back to China. And the Chinese were very resistant,” said Locke. But Biden developed a rapport with his counterpart. And
Photo by Janice Nesamani
BIDEN from 1
BLOG from 5
39 YEARS
JANUARY 16 – JANUARY 22, 2021
UWMC Montlake campus Pharmacy Administration Resident Derek Pohlmeyer, left, and UWMC Pharmacy Director Michael Alwan transport a box containing the Pfizer coronavirus vaccines toward a waiting vehicle headed to the UW Medicines other hospital campuses on Monday morning, Dec. 14.
Empty seats at Wynn Nail Spa
By Janice Nesamani NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY You’ve had a rough work week and a reward sounds good—for most women (and some men), there’s probably nothing more comforting than sinking into a plush massage chair and entrusting your hands and feet to the care of a
nail technician at one of the many nail salons across the city. A warm soak and some TLC later, your hands and feet look and feel ready to take on the world again. But in a world where we have retreated into the safety of our homes, rely on the protection see NAIL SALON on 12
“We are ready to go,” Gov. Jay Inslee said during last Sunday’s news conference, referring to the COVID-19 vaccine. “We believe that we can take our first shipments hopefully tomorrow and the first vaccinations start in our state safely as early as Tuesday.” The day after this press conference, 3,900 doses of
Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine arrived at the UW Medical Center. This delivery was among the first in Washington state. About 62,400 doses in total have gone out to 40 health facilities across the state. Here in Seattle, among the first to be dosed with the vaccine see VACCINE on 9
Chinese American World War II vets take life in stride, even while receiving highest honor By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Courtesy of Gene Moy
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northwest
Gene Moy
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This month, 75 years after the end of World War II, U.S. Congress awarded the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal to the Chinese American veterans of World War II in recognition of their patriotism, loyalty, and courage during a time when our nation denied citizenship to Chinese immigrants. The medal was presented on Dec. 9 by the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, in a virtual ceremony. This award puts the veterans in a direct line with George Washington, who was the first recipient. As many as 20,000 Chinese Americans, including 40% without citizenship, served in World War II. Today, there are only somewhere
between 300-550 still living, according to the Chinese American Citizens Alliance (CACA), which spearheaded and led a decade-long campaign that culminated in the bill. The bill, enacted into law on Dec. 20, 2018, was bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Congressmembers Ed Royce (R-CA) and Ted Lieu (D-CA). “Without this ceremony, many people may not be aware that Chinese Americans had served,” said MingMing Tung-Edelman, the founder of the Seattle chapter of CACA. For others, it had personal significance. “My father, Captain Moon Chen, served during World War II and
inspired me to follow in his footsteps,” said Major General William S. Chen, U.S. Army Ret. “Chinese Americans served across the U.S. Armed Forces— Army, Army Air Forces, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine. The award of the congressional gold medal completes the story arc for the Chinese American World War II veterans and paves the way for future generations to serve. They are a source of inspiration and motivation for our younger generations.” The ceremony also encouraged and educated family members to look through their veteran parents’ documents and increase their understanding of their stories, said Tung-Edelman. see VETS on 9
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from over for us in the media business. This coming Lunar New Year will have a serious impact on Asian Weekly. Already, several organizations, including Bellevue Square, have announced their celebrations will be virtual. Without
the Chinese government changed its position. “You could tell it was from the personal relationship,” said Locke. “That was the key to his breakthrough on behalf of the U.S.” As he faces a deeply divided nation, his ability to forge personal relationships will be crucial. After the invasion of the Capitol last week and likely further violence in the offing, Locke predicts that Biden will personally engage with more members of Congress. Biden negotiated with Sen. Mitch McConnell on significant legislation during the Obama administration. More recently, Biden has said as president he believes he can work with Republican leaders. Locke pointed out that although Sen. Lindsey Graham has said he was opposed to Biden as president, he has traveled with Biden and has a good relationship with him. Mahlon can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
live events, companies will slash their advertising budgets. The pandemic has closed down many Asian restaurants, the bulk of our advertisers. It’s a chain reaction. When the community doesn’t do well, the Asian Weekly suffers. Many businesses have advertised for the sake of supporting an ethnic community paper in the past. With COVID, how can they support us when their fate is uncertain? Even when these businesses reopen, they might not have the money to advertise as it might take them a long time to recover. The other worry is, they will turn to social media instead of paid advertisements. Without the census, health, election, and Lunar New Year ads, we have to seek many new supporters who see the value of preserving a community voice. Last year, we did receive some
small grants and a loan. None of them are guaranteed for another year though. If you say I don’t sound optimistic about 2021, I am just being honest about our new harsh reality. Hope is not a strategy, as many entrepreneurs said before. But it’s not just the Asian Weekly, the whole media business is in trouble—it has been for a long time. The pandemic hastens our fall. But then, miracles could strike again in 2021—perhaps, in a weird manner—when we least expect it. And with your support, leads, and encouragement, we may be able to unlock the most difficult puzzle and create another miraculous year. Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.