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VOL 40 NO 5 JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2021
FREE 39 YEARS YOUR VOICE
Community Health Excellence Award honorees
Refugee’s metamorphosis highlights work at ACRS mental health program
Courtesy of ACRS
Dr. Anthony Chen, dedicated to serving diverse communities
Dr. Anthony Chen
By Nina Huang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Dr. Anthony Chen has devoted his career to taking care of others. Over the years, he has worked with diverse populations, immersed himself in communities, and built long-lasting relationships. Since 2008, he’s served as the director of health of TacomaPierce County Health Department. Before his current position, he helped to open the largest clinic in Malden, Massachusetts, opened International Community Health Services (ICHS)’s Holly Park clinic, and served healthcare needs and more to the community of Pierce County. Chen never really wanted to be a doctor because he loved bugs, animals, and being outdoors. However, he inevitably followed in his father’s footsteps. Born in Vietnam to Taiwanese parents, Chen moved around Malaysia as a child. Chen’s father worked for the World Health Organization. Chen’s cultural background and worldly perspective have greatly impacted him. “Being Chinese, there are so many cultures and traditions, but there are also a lot of values. We value our heritage, we respect our elders, we value education, we value honesty, hard work, all these things that are so important to us,” he explained.
Ro Lim with his mother, who he reunited with years later, at a King County Legislative Forum in 2018
A group of ACRS mental health program staff in 2015
By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Counseling and Referral Center (ACRS)’s outpatient mental health program. And just the fact that he can call his clients, two of whom are Cambodian, the other Vietnamese, shows the force that the nonprofit has been in the lives of hundreds of thousands of people like him. Lim was once in the same position as his clients—
Ro Lim’s voice on the phone is husky. He asks if you’ve taken a shower, if you’ve brushed your teeth. His easy acceptance of everything you say makes him easy to talk to. If you’re one of his clients, that’s important. Lim, 46, is a certified peer counselor for the Asian
SPD officer, supervisor violated department policies Case of a Chinese American man who suffered racist taunts By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Nearly nine months after Kert Lin became the target of hateful verbal attacks and his frustration with the Seattle Police Department (SPD)’s lack of a response, the Office of Police Accountability (OPA) has found that both the responding officer and that officer’s supervisor violated SPD policies. On May 12, 2020, Lin was in the parking lot of Home Depot on 2701 Utah Avenue South, just outside the International District, when a man in a truck yelled, “Chink, open your eyes, go back to China!” Lin called 911 to report the incident. The responding officer, who wore a body camera and was recording, can be heard telling Lin, “It doesn’t sound like a crime occurred. It sounds like he’s being a
Serving diverse communities
He decided to pursue family medicine because it allowed him to have a lot of influence to take care of the family, and not just the patient. He was also fascinated by people and cultures so he also studied anthropology. Chen earned his Bachelor of Science degrees in biology see CHEN on 12
see MENTAL HEALTH on 8
see LIN on 11
Kert Lin | Photo Credit: Dennis Wise
THE INSIDE STORY
NAMES IN THE NEWS Seattle native plays at Biden’s inauguration 2
■
AT THE MOVIES Review: In ‘The White Tiger,’ an epic for modern-day India 4 COMMUNITY NEWS Seattle Symphony plays on during pandemic 3
PUBLISHER’S BLOG The devil in my diet Sugar 5
AT THE MOVIES 2 films offer 2 tales of Wuhan lockdown anniversary 6
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39 YEARS
JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2021
■ NAMES IN THE NEWS
Gary Locke named chair of C100
Seattle native Harry Ong helped to usher in President Joe Biden’s administration on Jan. 20 as a member of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. The band performed “Hail to the Chief” and accompanied Lady Gaga for her performance of the national anthem. Gunnery Sgt. Ong plays the clarinet and he began his musical training at age 9. Harry Ong He attended Roosevelt High School in Seattle and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he received a bachelor of music in 2003. This is Ong’s fifth inauguration performance. “It’s amazing to look back and know that I have had the honor and privilege to serve in and have a front row seat at these different snapshots of American history,” Ong said. “The experiences have...given me the opportunity to appreciate moments of celebration for the Black and AAPI communities such as President Obama’s inauguration in 2009 and last week with the swearing in of Vice President Harris.” Prior to joining “The President’s Own,” Ong performed with the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Band, and Contemporary Directions Ensemble, and the Seattle Youth Symphony. Fellow clarinet player Staff Sergeant Tyler Hsieh is also Asian American. Hsieh is from San Jose, California. Tyler Hsieh
The Committee of 100 (C100) recently elected former Gov. Gary Locke as its chair. C100 is a non-partisan leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, and the arts. As Washington’s governor, Locke oversaw Gary Locke the creation of 280,000 new private sector jobs. As Commerce Secretary, he led President Obama’s National Export Initiative to double American exports, and, as U.S. Ambassador to China, he opened markets for made-in-USA goods and services, reduced wait times for visa interviews of Chinese applicants, and exposed the severity of China’s air pollution.
Nghia Bui and Yenvy Pham, who also co-owns Pho Bac Sup Shop. The cafe specializes in Vietnamese roasts and snacks, and will emphasize to-go offerings until pandemic restrictions are lifted.
ICHS expands ID COVID-19 testing site hours
ICHS first opened a COVID-19 testing site in the ID in March 2020
Hello Em grand opening
Photo by Tam Q. Dinh
Harry Ong plays at Biden’s inauguration
Nghia Bui (left) and Yenvy Pham at Hello Em’s grand opening
International Community Health Services (ICHS) is expanding its COVID-19 testing site hours in the International District to Monday, and Wednesday through Friday from 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m. starting Jan. 28 for the foreseeable future. The address is 720 8th Avenue South, in front of the ID Medical and Dental Clinic. Free testing is available and open to everyone. Register online at ichs.com/free-covid-19-testing. In addition, ICHS will be doing scheduled COVID vaccinations at Bush Asia Center for the foreseeable future when it receives shipments to minimize crowding in the clinic and avoid requiring patients waiting outdoors.
Hello Em Viet Coffee & Roastery held a grand opening on Jan. 24. Located on 1127 Weller Street inside the Friends of Little Saigon building, it is owned by
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ACRS Mental Health Department INDIVIDUALS Nigel Lo, Former Kin On CEO Keith Koga, Assistant Nursing Manager B Imei Hsu, Licensed Mental Health Counselor & RN Dr. Edward Leonard Dr. Peter Hashisaki Gayle Robinson, PhD, MN, BSN, RN Dr. Arooj Simmonds Kristy Carrington, Chief Nursing Officer Rachel Wang Martinez, MHA, BSN, RN-BC Roxanne Garcia, Neighborcare Health Administrator Ray Tong, Occupational Therapist Kia Truong, Health Center Manager, Bellevue Clinic Tram Le, Health Center Manager, Holly Park Clinic Rattana Chaokhote, Clinical Care Services Director
GOLD SPONSOR Dr. Anthony Chen Director of Health Winnie Lee Physician Assistant Assistant Medical Director Scott Sato, Physician Assistant Vy Pham, Physician Leovelyn Tamayo Lead Medical Assistant Missy Cruz Emergency Room Technician Winona Hauge Radio Host, Health Resource Rose Kim, Care Counselor
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JIM DOANE Honoree profiles will be featured in a special issue on Feb. 4. Virtual celebration will be on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 4-5 p.m. Zoom link meeting: http://bit. ly/3qwXfqy. For more info, email assunta@nwasianweekly.com
YOUR VOICE
■ COMMUNITY NEWS
JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2021
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Seattle Symphony plays on during pandemic By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Photo by Brandon Patoc
Photo by James Holt / Seattle Symphony
The music stopped for the Seattle Symphony in early March of 2020, when the organization learned that a stay-athome order was set in place for the health and safety of people from the spread of the coronavirus.
Seattle Symphony CEO Krishna Thiagarajan
“It was March 11th that Governor Inslee made the declaration,” recounts Seattle Symphony CEO Krishna Thiagarajan. “We were in the middle of a rehearsal at the time. I walked into the rehearsal and asked our musicians to stop performing.” For patrons that support the Seattle Symphony, the organization pivoted to rebroadcast materials online for audience members on its website. Of course, there is no substitute to live performances from Benaroya Hall, but supporters adjusted to the new way of listening to the symphony. The musicians that play a huge part
Socially distanced musicians at the Seattle Symphony
of the Seattle Symphony stuck together through a time of uncertainty. There were no layoffs. Like other businesses, the Seattle Symphony experienced a decrease in revenue due to the absence of live events. “We made it very clear that we wanted health insurance and pension plan [benefits],” Thiagarajan said of the requirements for performers to remain a part of the organization. But there was a reset in pay.
KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO PROPOSERS Sealed bids will be received for KC000083, Lones Levee Setback and Floodplain Restoration; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, via the E-Procurement system, until 1:30:59 PM on Feb. 16, 2021. Late bids will not be accepted. The public bid opening will only be conducted on-line following the Bid Close Date and Time; see Section 00 10 00 for details. There is a 15% minimum Apprentice Utilization Requirement on this contract. There is a Fair-share Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Goal: 10% of the Contract Price. There is a Fair-share Women Business Enterprise (WBE) Goal: 6% of the Contract Price. Work includes clearing and grubbing; erosion and sediment control; gravel road and gate construction; salvage and placement of trees; import and placement of logs; excavation; haul; stockpile and fill onsite, rock salvage, import, and placement; grading; wood pile furnish and driving; construction of engineered logjams; safety planning and implementation for the road and river; temporary dewatering of small stream and wetland; and temporary isolation from flowing water of the Green River. Estimated contract price: $2,837,257 Pre-Bid Conference by Microsoft Teams: Jan. 27, 2021, 1:00 PM. Bidders have the choice of attending: (1) via conference call 1-425-653-6586, then entering Conference ID 218853978#, or (2) via Microsoft Teams through your computer, follow this link: Go to link below to join the meeting: MANDATORY Site Tour: Physical Site Tours will be held: Jan. 28, 2021. 10:00 AM Parking Area time. Jan. 29, 2021. 9:00 AM Parking Area time. Prospective bidders can view more details at: https:// kingcounty.gov/procurement/solicitations Complete Invitation to Bid Documents, including all project details, specifications, and contact information are available on our web page at: https://kingcounty.gov/procurement/ supplierportal
“The shared financial sacrifice is temporary, but I do believe it is fair to say it has set them back.” Through the difficulties, Thiagarajan praised the performers for their resilience during the pandemic. “People have really rallied and come together,” he added of the shared input to finding ways to return to live performances. “Every idea is welcome.” It was not until this past September that musicians were able to return to playing together, as musicians producing digital content were deemed ‘essential workers’ by the state of Washington. Thus, they were cleared to go back to work and assemble to rehearse and deliver online concerts. In coming back, Thiagarajan explained that they developed crisis contingency plans. The musicians played together, although social distance requirements were met. They consulted with multiple health professionals, including experts from Overlake Hospital, the University of Washington, and a group of doctors from Vashon Island. They retrofitted
Benaroya Hall with extra ventilation filters and implemented extra cleaning regiments before and after performances. There were also zones roped off to create more space and designate sanitized areas. The pivot to online streaming kept Symphony followers engaged. It also allowed for others outside of the state to listen in to the performances. Once live performances began, the company instituted a paywall. The Seattle Symphony Live platform premieres weekly live streamed concerts for $12.99 a month. “We had six weeks and very limited funds to put together a platform that is now being watched worldwide,” Thiagarajan said of the need to build out an online presence for a streaming audience. “We had to make sure we had the right bandwidth, feed, and that the servers don’t crash.” In putting together the performances, Thiagarajan explained the enhanced protocols. All of the performers, including the conductor, are masked. He noted that the conductors carry multiple masks during performances as one gets worn from moisture, and they can be replaced during the concert. “We actually have more stringent guidelines for woodwind and brass players as they maintain a 9-foot distance from others.” In addition to separating performers and wearing masks, the performers take weekly COVID-19 tests. “The biggest thing is you don’t have an audience to get feedback from,” Thiagarajan noted of the departure from the symphony responding to those in attendance. “There is no applause,” on the other hand, Thiagarajan indicated, “…there is not the dreaded coughing.” He described the atmosphere of the performances in an otherwise empty Benaroya Hall as being in a recording studio. see SYMPHONY on 10
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39 YEARS
JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2021
■ AT THE MOVIES
‘Parasite’s’ Bong Joon Ho to head Venice Film Festival jury By LINDSEY BAHR AP FILM WRITER “Parasite’’ director Bong Joon Ho has been selected as jury president of the 78th Venice International Film Festival, organizers said. The Oscar-winner will preside over seven jurors to hand out the festival’s top awards, including the prestigious Golden Lion. He’ll be the first South Korean to hold the post. In a statement, the director said he is, “Honored to be woven into its beautiful cinematic tradition. As president of the jury—and more importantly as a perpetual cinephile—I’m ready to admire and applaud all the great films selected by the festival. I’m filled with genuine hope and excitement.’’ Festival director Alberto Barbera
remarked upon the historic nature of the selection. “We are immensely grateful to him for having agreed to put his passion as a cinephile attentive, inquisitive and unprejudiced, at the service of our festival,“ Barbera said. “The decision to entrust the Jury to a Korean filmmaker, for the first time in the festival’s history, is also confirmation that the Venetian event embraces the cinema of the entire world, and that directors from every country know they can consider Venice their second home.’’ The Venice Film Festival was one of the only major film festivals to proceed in person last year amid the pandemic. The 78th edition is set to run from Sept. 1-11.
Review: In ‘The White Tiger,’ an epic for modern-day India By JAKE COYLE AP FILM WRITER Ramin Bahrani, the IranianAmerican filmmaker, started out small, with the simple story of a pushcart vendor, a Pakistani immigrant selling coffee and doughnuts in New York, in 2005’s “Man Push Cart.’’ In the years since, his films have steadily grown in scale and melodrama, but they’ve stayed resolutely within the gap separating rich and poor. Bahrani’s last film, 2014’s “99 Homes’’—a movie dedicated to Roger Ebert, who championed Bahrani’s early work—plunged into the heart see WHITE TIGER on 9
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YOUR VOICE
■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG
JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2021
By Assunta Ng
NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Which is hardest to resist? Fresh bread, dessert, or fried chicken? It depends on your taste, but they are all damaging to our bodies when we overconsume. My problem is not so much with bread or fried foods. I have successfully restricted myself to have only one small piece of bread a day no matter how delicious. The only time I allow myself to indulge more is when the dough is fresh out from the oven. With my consciousness over health, I can say ‘no’ to fried stuff without much difficulty. Sweets are another story. More than half of my life, I have been addicted to ice cream, any type of chocolates, and, yes, desserts. My sweet tooth is horrible. Just holding a plate of sweet treats in front of me, I would go unhinged like a mad dog devouring most of them. I wouldn’t even pause to think. Temptations don’t have a name. And if you warn me, I would beg. Hmm, how about just one bite? Then came the news two decades ago. “You are a borderline pre-diabetic, according to the test,” said a tester at an Asian Pacific American health fair. Within weeks, I cut down my sugar consumption.
STOCK PHOTO
For years, I thought I was reducing a lot of sugar in my diet until this pandemic...It’s not that simple to cut out the sugar in your daily meals. So what‘s the solution?
Why I want to give up sugar Being diabetic is no fun. You have to take insulin injections often or take medications often. The medicine can cost up to thousands of dollars for seriously-ill
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
diabetic patients. Some might say, “No worries, my insurance covers it.” Anytime you take medicine or even supplements, it processes through your kidney. Too much drugs going through that organ can exhaust and ruin your kidney. One time, a former staff member, who didn’t tell me he’s diabetic, collapsed on the floor with white foam in his mouth. We were frightened and didn’t know what to do. We were about to dial 911, and he
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kept on saying, “Sugar, sugar.” Finally, someone found some Coca-Cola and put it in his mouth and then he got up as if nothing had happened. To say that we were scared was an understatement. My diabetic relative often feels dizzy. Another diabetic friend can’t walk due to the sickness. Aside from diabetes, it can increase our chances of gaining weight, getting cavities, heart disease, acne, high blood pressure, and even cancer. If there is one benefit during the pandemic, it frees me from many obligations. It gives me the incentive for better self-care. I have been reading books on nutrition and diseases. What have I learned about my diet? Despite my reduction in sugar consumption, there’s still a lot of sugar in my diet. Sugar is hidden in many items. Even if I skip dessert, sugar is found in the honey water I sip, the fruits I eat, the milk with my oatmeal, and the syrup we put on our pancakes. So the big chunks of watermelon and banana I eat for breakfast, and other snacks including grapes, apples, goji berries, juices, tangerines, and dark chocolates, all possess sugar. And everything adds up. see BLOG on 12
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39 YEARS
JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2021
■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
2 films offer 2 tales of Wuhan lockdown anniversary WUHAN, China (AP) — Two new films about Wuhan were released on Jan. 22, the eve of the anniversary of the start of a 76-day lockdown in the central Chinese city where the coronavirus was first detected. How they were released and who their audiences are stand in stark contrast. The first, a state-backed film praising Wuhan’s sacrifices, is being screened throughout China, targeting audiences that firmly back the ruling Communist Party’s response to the outbreak. The second, a somber documentary about the pandemic from artist and political activist Ai Weiwei, has been forced to seek viewers online, a testimony to the party’s influence over the global film industry. The Chinese government has sought to control the narrative and deflect blame about the pandemic’s origins. It has weaved a story of triumph against the
AP Photo/Ng Han Guan
By Emily Wang Fujiyama and Huizhong Wu THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A lone movie goer attends the first screening of the film "Days and Nights in Wuhan" in a cineplex in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province on Jan. 22, 2021.
virus through TV shows, social media campaigns and books, lauding nurses and doctors and government-backed vaccine companies. Any criticism of early missteps is silenced. The state-backed film “Days and Nights in Wuhan’’ features contributions from 30 filmmakers portraying the suffering of the city’s 11 million residents, medical staff and front-line
1253 S Jackson St. Seattle, WA 98144 206-443-9935 www.LIHI.org Housing & jobs listed weekly
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workers as they battled the virus that began racing through the city in December 2019. Ai’s “Coronation’’ has been rejected by festivals, theaters and streaming services including Amazon and Netflix, he said. He attributes the censorship to fears over offending the ruling party, which controls what movies can be shown in China and what Chinese films can be displayed
abroad. “I don’t care about the film festivals,’’ Ai said in a virtual news conference hosted by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan. “But they are a platform, they should present meaningful films. That’s their duty. If there’s a failure of this duty, then I feel ashamed of them.’’ The lockdown in Wuhan, imposed on Jan. 23, 2020, was eventually extended to surrounding areas in Hubei province, confining some 56 million people to their homes. “Days and Nights in Wuhan,’’ directed by Cao Jinling, debuted in Wuhan earlier and was released nationwide. The film echoes China’s official line that the measures it took, including the lockdown, bought precious time for the world to prepare for the pandemic. Critics say habitual Communist Party secrecy and weak control measures allowed the virus’ initial spread. It’s not clear if there are plans to show it overseas. “We wanted to record the
journey of battling against the COVID-19 epidemic via motion picture. Some of the details, including the intense care, anxious waiting, heartbreaking farewells and hopeful rebirths, might strike a chord with viewers,’’ Cao was quoted as saying by state broadcaster CCTV. In the trailer, medical staff repeatedly express their determination to prevail over the outbreak. “I have a burning love for my hometown and I will do whatever I can to save it,“ says one ambulance driver. Ai’s film tackles the same story from the perspective of construction workers, delivery staff, medical workers and Wuhan residents. Like the other film, it is a collage, but draws instead on footage filmed sometimes surreptitiously by friends, colleagues and amateur videographers, some of whom remain anonymous to avoid repercussions from the authorities. His film offers a rare glimpse of see WUHAN on 12
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YOUR VOICE
JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2021
■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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Three white ladies Columbus’d mahjong … and other stories! re
A-pop: Asian-y things in popular cultu By Stacy Nguyen NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Bling empire is ridonkulous
Welcome to the first 2021 edition of A-pop! I have some reheated leftovers from the end of 2020 for you (mmm, I love leftovers!) as well as some shiny new items to share. Let’s get to it!
Three white ladies Columbus’d mahjong for $425, get accused of cultural appropriation
It’s a story as old as time: Three white women named Annie, Bianca, and Kate—originators from Dallas— discover, all on their own, a super awesome, slightly exotic game. They tell their other white friends all about this so that white Americans can get hip to Mahjong, too. The only problem is that the existing tiles of this game are so ugly and boring and not reflective of Annie, Bianca, and Kate’s personal styles—so here’s an idea! Why not redesign the uggo tiles of this game so that it appeals more to cultured people with good taste and sell these game sets for $425 a pop so that the masses can get exposed to mahjong? Unfortunately though, once they started marketing their awesome new and improved version of the game, haters came out the woodwork and just started hating! Annie, Bianca, and Katie just cannot catch a break! Mere months after the launch of their company, The Mahjong Line, a bunch of Chinese Americans took to social media to attack out of jealousy, saying stuff like, “Stop appropriating my culture!” Whomp whomp. I sincerely hope our intrepid heroines do figure out a way to claim and profit off of “their discovery and refresh” of a game that is centuries old and played by Asian septuagenarians in Hing Hay Park.
Y’all, Netflix is raising their monthly prices by a dollar again, saying it’s because they want to bring us newer, awesomer content. Shows like “Bling Empire,” apparently. OMG have you seen? It’s a reality show featuring a cast of obscenely rich Asian and Asian Americans (duh, they are mostly all Chinese) and one super hot male model who is not as rich but is fun to look at and acts as a stand-in for us, the audience. Each episode of “Bling Empire” details how cool and fabulous life is when you don’t have a real job because, well, why work when you have a trust fund? In all seriousness, it’s actually a fun watch and I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Hidden under layers of disgusting capitalism and excess are just a bunch of human people (like us!) who are stuck in abusive relationship cycles, who have shitty friends, who have really good friends, who seek out the approval of the parental units way too much, and who just want answers from the people who abandoned them as children. It’s good reality TV! And I also like that nonAsian folks are getting to see a different kind of Asian!
Vogue runs cover of Vice President Kamala Harris in front of wrinkled curtains Vogue ran a bit of a weird and awkward photo of new Vice President Kamala Harris on its cover. On it, she is wearing a dark jacket by Donald Deal, skinny pants, and her signature Converse sneakers. Behind her is a green wall that is cut by a messy spill of wrinkled pink curtains, probably a shoutout to her Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) roots from her Howard University days. Harris’s smile is a little strained, a little tense— as if caught unaware for a split second. It looks like an accidental photo or a test photo, definitely not the first fashion magazine cover after such a historical event—the U.S. inauguration of its first-ever Black and South Asian vice president. The photo was widely seen as disrespectful and Vogue naturally got hit with a lot of criticism. Apparently, the gossip is (and none of this is verified) that there were two cover options considered and Harris’s camp widely preferred the portrait where she is dressed in a Michael Kors powder blue suit and actually looks awesome
and relaxed. They assumed that was the cover image and the other pink curtain one was gonna appear inside. But I guess nothing was set in writing because there was a switcheroo at the last minute and the awkward cover—pushing casualness and kind of ignoring the gravity of the moment—went to press. Y’all, at Northwest Asian Weekly— which I know is totally not a fashion magazine or anywhere close—we can get a lot of heat for unintentionally running unflattering photos of folks. I can’t even imagine intentionally running an unflattering photo of the vice president of the United States! Can you?
Simi Liu is disappointing Mark Wahlberg is a scumbag. I know he continually tries to rehab his image by playing hypermasculine whiteass, heroic men in movies, but let’s never forget that in 1988, he assaulted two Vietnamese men while calling them gooks. And that was an
incident in which he was caught (he was arrested), which means that there were and probably are a number of countless incidents that went unreported. There are stories about how he used to pelt rocks at yellow school buses holding Black kids. This asshole has never admitted that he was so very obviously racist. Like white men who have come before him and after him, he has said that his problem was that he was young (and thus kinda stupid— though I know a lot of young people who see A-POP on 10
Year of the Ox
celebration NWAW’s LNY Costume Contest 2020’s winners, from left: Laurie Yaokum, Vivian Zhao, and Natalie Lo.
WE WANT TO SEE PHOTOS
of your Lunar New Year costume
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 or online at http://nwasianweekly.com/post-image by Feb. 20. No virtual celebration.
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39 YEARS
JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2021
MENTAL HEALTH from 1
Courtesy of ACRS
if not worse. He was in jail when a Cambodian case manager from ACRS came to see him. “He reached out to me, listened to me, and supported me when I was down and needed help,” said Lim, who told his story at last year’s gala. Lim’s background is not uncommon among the clients of the outpatient clinic. At age 6, he saw his father murdered by the Khmer Rouge, a genocidal regime in Cambodia that killed millions between 1975 and 1979. Most of his siblings died of starvation. He ate grasshoppers to survive and crawled out over thousands of dead bodies. “Many of our clients, particularly from Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, and other Southeast Asian countries, experienced war and other trauma,” said Yoon Joo Han, the program director of ACRS’ mental health services. “But everybody has mental health to improve and maintain, so when you need help or cry, seek out other people and talk about it, which is the best way to destroy stigma, and the treatment and services are out there.” Nearly 60 million Americans experience a mental health condition needing treatment every year, regardless of ethnicity, age, or economic status, she said. Clients needing less comprehensive care take part in a program of counseling and medication management, if needed, known as “Therapy Associates.” But about 90% of those needing mental health treatment are enrolled in ACRS’ outpatient mental health clinic. It provides a spectrum of services that encompass nearly every aspect of life—housing assistance, support finding and keeping a job, mental health counseling, and medication management if needed. The clinic employs
A staff member performing a telehealth session with a client (ACRS) [permission granted by ACRS and client]
80 staff members including six psychiatrists and six psychiatric nurses, and sees about 2,000 clients per year. “We can cover over 20 languages in our mental health program, or we will have someone call back to interpret, if we don’t have the language,” said Han. Perhaps more importantly, many counselors at ACRS have the cultural background to help their clients navigate conflicting or confusing belief systems. One young man with schizophrenia, for instance, refused to take the medication to treat his condition. “He thought it was a curse,” said Han, who started out as a counselor and has since led the mental health program for 20 years. But the client was a devout Buddhist and trusted the monks in his Vietnamese temple. “So the case manager talked to one of the monks and the monk held a ceremony and blessed the medicine in front of the client and said, ‘This is not poison,’” said Han. “After that, he took the medicine.” In Asian culture, the stigma attached to
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mental illness is particularly strong, so caseworkers take an indirect approach. “We start by asking, ‘What is bothering you the most?’” said Han. “We build a rapport with the client and that helps us assess if the causes are biological, psychological, or social.” For Lim, the peer counselor, they seemed all tangled together. After escaping from Cambodia and arriving in Seattle at the age of 12, he lived with an uncle who regularly beat him. Still, he managed to complete high school and found work in an electronics assembly factory. But he fell in with a woman who drank heavily. He began to drink as well, and gambled recklessly and was soon pursued by gangsters. “One day, I decided to give up on my life. I overdosed on Nyquil and 24 sleeping pills. But I did not die,” he said. “When I woke up, I felt like there was a ghost inside of me. I started to hear voices. Some force and voice took over my body and mind.” Eventually, the voices told him to harm his sister. “I told the voices that she’s my sister, and I didn’t want to. I fought hard against the voice. I had to be very strong. I couldn’t sleep that night. In the morning, the voices told me to hurt myself, so I stabbed myself in my stomach,” he said. His sister called the police. And this is how the ACRS caseworker found him in jail. Later, he reasoned that all the bad memories from his childhood had triggered his attack. After meeting his case manager, who spoke to him in Cambodian, Lim received counseling and medication management and was released from jail. He began to attend peer support groups at ACRS, taking three buses a day to reach the clinic. For the time being, he lived with his sister, but eventually he would take advantage of the housing program at the nonprofit. Since clients are often refugees or immigrants, specialists guide them through all aspects of finding and living in low-income housing, including how to pay rent and utility bills, acquire furniture, and live peaceably with neighbors. Housing is critical for those struggling with mental illness, said Han. “For people with a low income, bringing in more money is essential to their recovery, and housing is essential for finding and holding a job,” she said. ACRS employs two job placement and support specialists. They find employers, match clients with openings, and coach them through all phases of the application process as well as how to retain a job. “Even though it may feel hard or unmanageable, sometimes doing things, especially things that may lead to a sense of mastery or accomplishment, and that can provide structure, can provide meaning, and can help improve depression,” said Debra Kaysen, a professor in the
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University who has conducted critical studies on treatment of PTSD and substance abuse across a variety of marginalized populations. ACRS’ mental health program serves anyone looking for a job, said Munzie Man Peng, a supported employment specialist at the outpatient clinic. In one case, a young woman in her 20s, who had been adopted from China, had a major depressive disorder. She had experienced two nervous breakdowns, sitting in the corner crying uncontrollably, as the result of a job that, on the surface, might have seemed to be low stakes. “While doing her janitorial job, she was under huge pressure. The boss had such high standards, that if someone dropped a piece of paper somewhere else, he would be all over her to go pick it up immediately,” said Peng. Peng and her colleague, Jane Ng, talked with her and discussed her strengths. Eventually, she found a job as a kindergarten teacher, where she is still working. “People with that diagnosis have a very limited impression of themselves,” said Peng. “This job helped her to gain confidence and be financially independent.” Sometimes, however, cultural differences complicate the job search. One client, in his 30s, wanted to find a job based on his interests. But he was living at home with his parents who insisted he find something permanent with benefits. “That made it more difficult to find a job,” said Peng. Eventually, he was hired in a restaurant. But once the manager observed his symptoms of schizophrenia, such as having difficulty making conversation or holding eye contact, although they did not affect his ability on the job, he was let go, after one day. “Even though discrimination is written about in the law, people with obvious symptoms will sometimes be rejected,” she said. In most years, however, Peng is able to place 25-30 clients in jobs. The number dropped to nine, however, since the pandemic broke out. Still, the entire team at the clinic has adapted, said Han. Since many clients do not even have cell phones, ACRS procured hundreds to give out and trained clients how to use them. Case managers worked extra hours reaching out and updating documentation, provided thousands of bags of groceries and hot meals for those who could not cook, and kept a skeleton staff at the clinic for injections and crisis management. Lim now comes in three days a week and greets clients in the lobby. On his other days, he makes phone calls to his clients, sometimes talking for an hour. “I am happy to come to ACRS every day to help people like me. I am happy that people thank me for my help. I want to reach out to people when they are down and need help, just like my counselor did to me when I needed help,” he said. ACRS is located at 3639 Martin Luther King Jr. Way South. Anyone (of any ethnicity) is welcome at the intake desk. Or call the intake number: 206-695-7511. “Call our agency. If you’re willing, you can say, ‘I want to get mental health help,’ or just say, ‘I want help.’ We can figure it out,” said Han. Mahlon can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com. ACRS will be honored at a virtual event on Feb. 9 from 4-5 p.m., http://bit. ly/3qwXfqy
JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2021
YOUR VOICE WHITE TIGER from 4 of the Great Recession in a damning economic parable of foreclosure in Florida, with a titanic performance by Michael Shannon as a predatory real-estate broker. Bahrani’s latest, the Indiaset “The White Tiger,’’ is a step higher, still, in scope and vigor. “The White Tiger,’’ which debuted on Jan. 22 on Netflix, is the kind of widescreen epic of class struggle about an ambitious, cunning climber that has long been a rich domain of movies. Bahrani may have begun as a neorealist but “The White Tiger’’ finds him reaching for the operatic heights of “Goodfellas.’’ He doesn’t get there. But “The White Tiger,’’ about a loyal chauffer to a corrupt landlord in India, is an engrossing tale of servant and master that makes a dynamic portrait of the world’s largest democracy, and the caste system that divides it. The film faithfully and affectionately adapts Aravind Adiga’s 2008 Booker Prize-winning novel, a book that—since
Bahrani and Adiga are longtime friends—was dedicated to Bahrani. We first meet Balram Halwai (Adarsh Gourav), as he sits in regal costume, in the back of a car speeding through Delhi in 2007 on a joyride cut short when a child walks into the road. It’s a misleading opening; Balram is the driver, and we’ll later learn it’s his boss, Ashok (Rajkummar Rao), behind the wheel and Ashok’s wife, Pinky (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) in the front seat. Bahrani will return to this moment but not before a lengthy flashback that runs at least half of the film. Balram comes from the poor village of Laxmangarh, where his prospects are dim. With an ingratiating smile and some pandering, he convinces a wealthy landlord known as the Stork (Mahesh Manjrekar) to take him on as a driver. Balram narrates along the way, sharing his strategy for advancement while selling his story as reflecting a much-needed rebellion for India’s millions of poor. They are psychologically locked in a rooster coop, he says, too timid to rebel
despite knowing their fate. “Don’t believe for a second there’s a million-rupee game show you can win to get out of it,“ says Balram. It’s a pointed jab at the best picture-winning “Slumdog Millionaire,’’ a movie that— like “The White Tiger”— cast a bright spotlight on India’s underclass, but one that offered a more fantastical vision of escape. “The White Tiger,’’ it could be argued, isn’t so different as an against-the-odds success story. If “Slumdog’’ gave us the musical version of uprising in India, “The White Tiger’’ instead filters modern India through a crime drama like “Scarface.“ But “The White Tiger’’ more rigorously examines and subverts Hollywood (and Bollywood) stereotypes of Indian life. Balram, a self-made hero, capable of ruthlessness and selfishness, is a more complicated protagonist, worthy of empathy and scorn. In “The White Tiger,’’ he represents India’s future. “The Indian entrepreneur has to be straight and crooked, mocking and believing, sly and sincere, all at the same time,“ he says.
Watching Gourav pull off such a balancing act is the best reason to see “The White Tiger.’’ An actor and singer, Gourav’s charisma animates a film that otherwise can sag with heavy-handedness. Bahrani isn’t a director with a light touch, but, then again, he’s drawn to subjects that deserve bluntness. Bahrani, with Paolo Carnera’s vivid cinematography, builds a dense, incisive film that nevertheless feels uneven in structure. The movie is so invested in the mentality of the slave-master relationship between Balram and Ashok, the landlord’s hipster son, that it overwhelms. Almost as soon as Balram, through bloodshed and Machiavellian guile, achieves independence, “The White Tiger’’ is wrapping up. Maybe it’s too American a thing to say, but it skips over the best part. “The White Tiger,’’ a Netflix release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for language, violence and sexual material. Running time: 125 minutes. Three stars out of four.
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JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2021
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costars as a gesture of professionalism and to open the door to progressive conversations and (hopefully) positive change. … But that doesn’t mean I don’t think there’s room to grow and work together to find an opportunity to educate and do some good—which I’m excited to do in addition to shooting the movie.” I can’t even make any jokes about this. I am just too busy rolling my eyes super hard at what a sellout this dude is turning out to be.
Pat Morita documentary out Here’s a salve for you: There’s a documentary about Pat Morita coming
SYMPHONY from 3 “We are working out procedures and how we can accommodate an audience,” said Thiagarajan of the plan when live audiences return. Once given the go ahead by the state, the Seattle Symphony will allow 25% capacity for live concerts and then go from there. “My hope is that this will happen sooner rather than later.” In the meantime, the weekly concerts will continue online. And the performers will continue to adjust without concertgoers. “We are still trying to figure out how to take a bow.” For more information on the Seattle Symphony and its online performances, visit seattlesymphony.org. Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
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aren’t super racist, sooo…). Anyway, this bit of news isn’t about that human stain, Mark Wahlberg. It’s really about actor Simu Liu, who once called out Wahlberg for being a terrible racist (on Twitter), but then the second Liu booked a movie with Wahlberg, he totally deleted the tweet! Worse yet, when caught deleting the tweet, Liu defended himself like such an Asian dude: He became defensive and selfrighteous. Liu said this: “I deleted a couple of tweets I made regarding the past actions of one of my
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out on Feb. 5, tellingly called “More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story.” Morita died in 2005, after a long and amazing career. His family story included incarceration by the U.S. government during World War II. He was an actor during a time when actors of Asian descent basically only had a tiny number of stereotypical roles to them. Many of us grew up watching him not just as Mr. Miyagi, but also as Mulan’s dad and for his guest starring stint on every 90s sitcom. I’m super excited for this documentary! Stacy Nguyen can be reached at stacy@nwasianweekly.com.
SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 4.
JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2021
YOUR VOICE
■ ASTROLOGY
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Predictions and advice for the week of January 30–February 5, 2021 By Sun Lee Chang Rat—You are no stranger to being a leader. If you want to be an effective one, don’t forget to listen.
Dragon—A detour could lead to an unexpected adventure. Watch for potential opportunities along the way.
Monkey—While you are inclined to minimize your contributions, avoid diminishing what you bring to the table.
Ox—Rather than waiting until the last minute, prepare what you need well in advance of your meeting.
Snake—For the features that you desire, the associated costs may be quite high. Consider less expensive options.
Rooster—Once you realize the truth, there is no going back. Make the most of your newfound clarity.
Tiger—If your bandwidth is filling up, be selective about additional projects you agree to take on.
Horse—Are you veering too much in a certain direction? Slow down as you endeavor to correct your course.
Dog—You know how special it is to add a personal touch. It will be well received by your intended recipient.
Rabbit—Though you are presented with two choices, your heart knows that there is only one that is right for you.
Goat—Define your vision by what you can do, not what you can’t. You will accomplish more than you thought possible.
Pig—As much as you enjoy venturing out, there is something to be said for the comforts of home.
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.
LIN from 1 jerk… But if there’s not a crime committed, we can’t detain and take enforcement action.” This incident came weeks after thenPolice Chief Carmen Best released a video, urging people to call 911 over racist name-calling, saying there is “zero tolerance for hate crimes against Asian Americans.” Lin told the Northwest Asian Weekly that Best’s message was not being taken to heart by the rank and file. After speaking to Lin, the responding officer (referred in the OPA report as ‘Named Employee #1’ NE#1) went over the radio and stated that there was “no crime.” The officer did call Lin several hours later to take a report over the phone. Lin told the OPA that he did not feel that the officer was empathic. OPA also said Lin spoke to multiple SPD employees, including the Bias Crime Coordinator and then-Deputy Chief of Police Adrian Diaz (now the Chief). “The Bias Crime Coordinator confirmed that NE#1 should have completed a report and was trained to do so. He said that the then-Deputy Chief also indicated that this incident was not handled correctly,” the OPA report said. The responding officer received a written reprimand and his supervising sergeant resigned before any disciplinary actions were handed down. SPD Policy 15.120-POL-3 specifically instructs officers to document all bias crimes and bias incidents on an offense report. Relevant to this case, the policy defines a “bias incident” as: “Offensive derogatory comments directed at a person’s sexual orientation, race, or other protected status which cause fear and/or concern in the targeted community during a non-criminal incident.” The responding officer confirmed to the
OPA that he attended training on how to handle bias incidents in the months prior, and confirmed that he understood the substance of that training. By failing to generate a report at the outset which is unambiguously stated in policy, the OPA said the damage was already done. “By his inaction and failure to correctly characterize the requirements of a policy, he significantly diminished the Complainant’s confidence in the outcome in this investigation and in his actions, and it further gave the perception that this incident was being minimized. It goes on to say, “Moreover, even when the decision was made to complete the report, NE#1 did not do it correctly. His report had a number of shortcomings that went directly to requirements in the policy, including: mischaracterizing the incident—initially calling is a dispute and only later classifying it as a bias incident; failing to list the Complainant as victim, when this was clearly the case; and failing to list the suspect as the suspect. While perhaps not his intent, this provided further evidence of his mishandling of this incident and gave support to the Complainant’s assertion that NE#1 minimized what he experienced.” In a previous interview, Lin told the Northwest Asian Weekly, “I want accountability… not just from SPD leadership, not the head of Hate Crimes, but from everyone who wears a badge, who patrols… on every level of society, this was ignored from that individual racist, to the corporation, to local police, to your regular bystander… not one person did anything about this. That’s what struck me as hurtful… it feels like I was nobody.” Ruth can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.
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Good health habits now Since the lockdown, I have developed many new habits. Over the past year, several of those habits have to do with pursuing good health. It’s not that I am ignorant about health habits. It’s just that I have very few vices. I rationalize that I can afford one or two bad ones. Smoking and drinking are not part of my lifestyle. I am not overweight. Certainly, I can indulge myself in eating more meat, sugar, and carbohydrates from time to time! But is it worth it? This pandemic is a wake-up call. If I don’t take better care of myself, I can be a burden to my family and society. It’s a good time to change when I have the flexibility to do so.
How to cut down on sugar Take baby steps. Someone had lost 10 pounds in a year and had never gone to Weight Watchers or on a special diet. She didn’t even need to fast. You don’t have to be smart to eat healthy. It takes determination, discipline, and an easy strategy, which doesn’t require much personal sacrifice. A simple and small act,
CHEN from 1 and cultural anthropology from the University of Michigan in 1982. In addition, he earned his medical degree from Duke University in 1986, and completed his residency training in Family Practice at the University of Cincinnati in 1989, where he was chief resident. He completed the Commonwealth Fund Fellowship, and received his Master of Public Health from Harvard School of Public Health in 2006. “Somewhere between respect and being an anthropologist, and having lived overseas, it was just fun. You learn so much about different cultures and communities. In the work I do, I am always respectful of the people, organizations, and institutions that I work with,” he added. Chen was hired by the ICHS to open their Holly Park clinic in 1996. He worked there for almost a decade and still keeps in touch with his patients. During his time working at the downtown Seattle clinic, Chen also took care of patients that were refugees from Ethiopia, Bosnia, and Russia. “I always feel privileged as a physician to be able to take care of people. As a doctor, you’re given an opportunity to be part of someone’s life that normally no one else gets. You hear about the joys in their life and you watch them grow up, and you go through life with them,” he said.
Leading the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department
The department serves roughly 905,000 people in Pierce County. There are around 450 employees and an operating budget of
WUHAN from 6 the pain that COVID-19 patients in China suffered, with footage of them struggling to breathe as medical workers in protective gear attempted to save them. Hospitals and morgues were overwhelmed at the height of the crisis and Wuhan accounts for the bulk of China’s death toll of 4,635. Following a thinly attended showing of “Days and Nights in Wuhan’’ on the morning of Jan. 22, Wang Yu said the movie had awakened both
39 YEARS
JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 5, 2021 she cut down her two teaspoons of sugar in her daily coffee. What does it tell you? Two teaspoons of sugar in 365 days is equal to 13,140 calories a year. It will show up in a lot of pounds on your body. In my case, it was milk tea with honey every morning. Now, my breakfast drink is chamomile tea with a few drops of lemon. I drink honey only when I feel like I am about to have a cold. Honey and lemon water together work well in killing germs. I don’t have a scale since it is broken. The only time I weigh myself is when I travel or go to the doctor’s office. If I gain a little weight, I am still fine. Being skinny is not my definition of good health. Skipping my milk and honey tea was tough during the first few days, as I kept going back to the fridge to take out the milk. For the following month, instead of milk tea, I put honey and lemon in my chamomile tea. After that, no honey, just drops of lemon in my tea. During the first few days of drinking lemon tea, I hated it. Then, the taste of lemon tea becomes more and more natural to my palate. Now, the tea doesn’t taste right without lemon. At the end of my breakfast, I drink a cup of
plain oolong tea to complete my breakfast. A satisfying breakfast indeed!
approximately $40 million, but that figure changes all the time, according to Chen. Under Chen’s predecessor, the department achieved a lot of firsts. Pierce County was the first to have a smoking ban in restaurants and it was also the first to have a needle exchange during the HIV crisis. In addition, the department also helped to bring the food handlers permit process online in all 39 counties almost a decade ago. Last summer during the wildfires and under Chen’s watch, the department worked with Puget Sound Clean Air Agency to create a clean air shelter during COVID-19, and they were one of two health departments working with communities to develop clean air shelters that were COVID-19 compliant. “I’m like a proud mother here because we’ve done an incredible job and are high performing and innovative as a health department. We’re always looking for ways to do better,” he said. Chen was surprised that someone would want to dissolve the agency. This is the third time that it’s come up, but the two previous times weren’t as sudden as this last time in December. Despite this coming up again, Chen said they’re glad that Gov. Jay Inslee recognized that it didn’t make sense to dissolve the agency in the middle of a pandemic, and announced a moratorium on similar actions. Second, the Pierce County councilmembers unanimously decided that it didn’t make sense so it didn’t make it to the ballot. Part of Chen’s job is to make sure they’re
responding to COVID-19 and to make sure they’re doing the same job pre-COVID-19. Their number one priority is to address the pandemic and help move vaccines along to help move into recovery. To address immediate issues, the department now has funding to deliver services remotely. Chen said that they’ve also bought licenses for a program called Triple P (Positive Parenting Program), which is a parenting and family support system designed to prevent—as well as treat—behavioral and emotional problems in children and teenagers. Another top priority is to make sure the other good work before the pandemic is continuing. On the regulatory side, they want to continue to move on permits, inspections, and so on. Chen said that there’s a broad range of areas that the agency covers, including protecting physical environments, clean air, clean water, garbage, landfill, and a lot of efforts focused on maternal and child health as well. Behavioral health is also a priority in 2021, with a strong focus on youth mental health. In a study released a year or so ago, two out of three high school students were stressed and/or anxious, four of out 10 were depressed, one out of four thought about killing themselves, and one out of eight actually tried. The statistics are worse now due to the pandemic so it will be important to improve in this area. Chen also said that they’re looking at structural improvements to make down the road. Funding is an ongoing challenge. There’s
memories of the trauma of lockdown and fears for what might still lie ahead. “It’s hard to describe. It’s been a year since then, and to think back now, it’s still painful,“ said Wang, 31. Relatives of her husband who died in the outbreak appeared in the film, she said. “There is the mutated virus, there’s fear. It’s the second Lunar New Year holiday that we have to pass like this,’’ she said. “Things are little better than last year but I’m worried, its not completely over. You’re still under the effect of the
Too sweet fruits Most people would say fruits are okay. Just because they are not processed sweets doesn’t mean you don’t have to be aware of its high sugar level. Fructose (fruit sugar) is a controversial subject. Because it is not exactly plain sugar, it goes right into your liver. Have you heard of fatty liver? Too much fat around your liver affects its functionality. Fructose can cause obesity, too. But fruits are good for us. It is better to eat a fruit as a snack than a Kit Kat bar. Here is my compromise. I’ve switched from eating sweet Fuji apples to less-sweet Pink Lady apples. I also change from eating very sweet ripe fruits to barely ripe fruits, including watermelon, green grapes, bananas, and tangerines each day. Overripe fruits have tons of sugar and calories. Sometimes, green grapes are not ripe enough and would taste a little sour. That’s fine. Grocery stores would love having me as their customer. Eating sour instead of sweet is now my new normal. Besides having lemon juice
virus, the fear and the terror.“ Wuhan has been largely free from the virus since the end of lockdown, while smaller outbreaks have set off renewed containment measures in many other Chinese cities. China’s government has sought to cast doubt that Wuhan is the source of the pandemic, pushing fringe theories that the virus was actually brought from outside the country, possibly by U.S. soldiers. The city is now hosting a team sent by the World Health Organization to begin
on some of my foods, I also put a few drops of apple cider vinegar in my salads. It not only enhances the taste, but aids digestion and washes away fats in your body. By doing this, you are changing your sugar craving one meal at a time. Some call it a sugar detox. Desserts are no longer a part of our lives except for celebrations. When we are having desserts, they are mostly leftovers from birthdays and other special occasions. I don’t have the urge to have desserts at all. Candies are not my snacks, except two pieces of dark chocolate each day. The real benefit of cutting down on my sugar intake is that I feel good and calm. Excessive sugar can cause hypertension. I am proud that my list of healthy habits has grown since the pandemic. A New York Times health columnist suggested that we should write down our list of good health habits and try to keep them. Yes, I intend to keep and share with you my list as the year goes by. Good luck in nurturing your new health habits. Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.
a need to rebuild local, state, and national public health and make sure funding is there to support that, Chen added. “We’ll also be thinking about what might be different ways to organize our health department, and make sure public health is properly funded. The budget’s cut repeatedly and always underfunded. We were fortunate in that we were smart to build up capacity and how we managed funds,” he said.
Inspired by icons and sense of adventure
Over the years, Chen has been influenced by a lot of important people in his life, including his parents, teachers, and colleagues. He looked up to the late Dr. George Tanbara who was a community icon in Tacoma who helped start the community health clinic. Chen said he didn’t plan on going to medical school, but he made the best of the opportunities in front of him. There was a sense of adventure and he really embraced medical school by making the best of his experiences. “As a child, my parents were my inspirations. I ended up doing a lot of the things my father did. I’ve learned so much from people who opened their hearts to help me grow personally and professionally,” he said. Nina can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com. Chen will be honored at a virtual event on Feb. 9 from 4-5 p.m., http://bit.ly/3qwXfqy
investigating the virus’ origins. A panel of experts commissioned by the WHO criticized China and other countries for not moving
faster to stem the initial outbreak, prompting Beijing to concede it could have done better but also to defend its response.
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