VOL 40 NO 12 | MARCH 20 – MARCH 26, 2021

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VOL 40 NO 12 MARCH 20 – MARCH 26, 2021

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Hundreds rally in WA to protest attacks on Asian Americans

Bruce Harrell wants to be mayor, again

By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Photo by George Liu

SEATTLE — “No excuses, the buck stops here. The problems that need to be solved… they’re on our shoulders, they’re on MY shoulders.” see HARRELL on 10 A crowd gathered at Hing Hay Park for a March 13 rally.

By Mahlon Meyer and Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) activists organized three rallies against hate crimes last weekend, bringing hundreds of people out under the rain to demand public officials denounce racism and provide funding

for community education. The turnout exceeded their expectations, with speeches from community leaders and bias crime victims.

Noriko Nasu and her boyfriend, walking the streets of the Chinatown-International District (ID), were attacked

Dogged persuasion!

see RALLIES on 5 and 12

Yeun, Chung, Zhao, Youn, Oh, LOS ANGELES — After a pandemic year that shuttered movie theaters and upended the movie business, nominations for the 93rd Academy Awards were announced on March 15—they went to a historically diverse slate of actors in a very untraditional year.

Nine of the 20 acting nominees are people of color, including Steven Yeun (“Minari”), the first Asian American to be nominated for best actor; Riz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”), of Pakistani descent; and a supporting nomination for Yuh-Jung Youn (“Minari”). It’s a far cry from the all-white acting nods that spawned the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag five years ago.

History was made in the best director category. Only five women have ever been nominated before.

For the first time, two women were nominated this year, including

■

see MINARI on 9

Photo provided by Rick Rinthalukay-Moore

recognized in historic Oscars nominations

Rick Rinthalukay-Moore with one of his German Shepherds

By Janice Nesamani NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Living through a year of the pandemic has brought each one of us a set of challenges that we have had to overcome. For Rick Rinthalukay-Moore, it has been no different. Moore and his wife, Nita, are owners of Simply Thai, a restaurant located in Tukwila. He is also the founder of a fish processing unit in Georgetown called Sea Native USA Inc. Needless to say, both businesses see DOG TREATS on 9

412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 • f. 206.223.0626 • editor@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com

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asianweekly northwest

39 YEARS

MARCH 20 – MARCH 26, 2021

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Toshiko Hasegawa running for Port Commissioner

Cecilia Liang

seattlechinatownid.com.  Toshiko Hasegawa

Toshiko Hasegawa announced her candidacy on March 15 for the Seattle Port Commission, Position 4.

The executive director of the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs and long-time community advocate said, “I’m running in the wake of economic devastation because I have the values and the experience to meet the dire needs of this moment... I bring the necessary perspective and sense of urgency to ensure that the next rising tide will lift all of our ships.”

Hasegawa is a fourth generation Japanese American, born and raised in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of South Seattle. If elected, she would be the first woman of color ever to serve on the Port Commission. 

CIDBIA’s new public safety coordinator

Cecilia Liang joined Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area (CIDBIA) last month as its new public safety coordinator!

During the past two years of pursuing an MPA degree at the Evans School at University of Washington, Liang got a chance to work closely with public and nonprofit sectors. She has a background in stakeholder engagement, program evaluation, policy analysis, and

nonprofit management.

Liang is fluent in Mandarin, and her goal at the CIDBIA is to reduce public safety concerns and foster public safety discussions through a vibrant and healthy neighborhood by improving coordination and communication.

She can be reached at cecilial@

Red panda leaving Woodland Park Zoo

“We’ll miss how easy going and beautiful she is with her colors and markings,” said animal keeper Shannon Sprayberry. “Also, how much joy she’s brought to her keepers and our guests by raising two sets of cubs and being such a good mom.” 

Tim Wu joins Biden administration

Tim Wu, a Columbia University law professor who coined the term “net neutrality,” tweeted on March 5 that he is joining the Biden administration.

Wu was named to the National Economic Council (NEC) as a special assistant Tim Wu to the president for technology and competition policy. He has been vocal about the consequences of too much power being concentrated among only a few tech giants, like Amazon, Google, and Facebook.

Photos by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo

Hazel, the red panda, is leaving Woodland Park Zoo at the end of March. She arrived at Woodland Park Zoo in 2017 to be paired with Yukiko under the Red Panda Species Survival Plan. She has had two pairs of cubs with Yukiko—Tián and Zan. Hazel’s next stop is the Memphis Zoo where she will be introduced to a new mate to breed with.

Red pandas are found in the southern Himalayan foothills, from India to China and as far south as Myanmar.

Wu has also worked at the New York attorney general’s office, the Federal Trade Commission, and on the NEC under President Barack Obama.

Born to a Taiwanese father and a British-Canadian mother, Wu is a graduate of McGill University and Harvard Law School. His father was a pioneer who took part in the Taiwan independence movement to oust the country’s former autocratic leader, Chiang Kaishek, and his government. 

MARCH 20 – MARCH 26, 2021

YOUR VOICE

asianweekly northwest

■ NATIONAL NEWS 8 dead in mass shooting at Georgia Asian massage parlors

By KATE BRUMBACK

Robert Aaron Long

ATLANTA (AP) — Shootings at two massage parlors in Atlanta and one in the suburbs on March 16 left eight people dead, many of them women of Asian descent, authorities said. A 21-year-old man suspected in the shootings was taken into custody in southwest Georgia hours later after a manhunt, police said.

The attacks began around 5 p.m., when five people were shot at Youngs Asian Massage Parlor in a strip mall near a rural area in Acworth, about 30 miles north of Atlanta, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office spokesman

Capt. Jay Baker said. Two people died at the scene and three were transported to a hospital where two of them also died, Baker said.

Around 5:50 p.m., police in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta, responding to a call of a robbery in progress, found three women dead from apparent gunshot wounds at Gold Spa. While they were at that scene, they learned of a call reporting shots fired at another spa across the street, Aromatherapy Spa, and found a woman who appeared to have been shot dead inside the business.

“It appears that they may be Asian,” Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant said.

3

The killings came amid a recent wave of attacks against Asian Americans that coincided with the spread of the coronavirus across the United States.

A man suspected in the Acworth shooting was captured by surveillance video pulling up to the business around 4:50 p.m.—minutes before the attack, authorities said. Baker said the suspect, Robert Aaron Long, of Woodstock, was taken into custody in Crisp County, about 150 miles south of Atlanta.

Baker said they believe Long is also the suspect in the Atlanta shootings. 

Maryland governor says his family has felt Asian prejudice BALTIMORE (AP) — The governor of the state of Maryland said that his family has felt the effects of discrimination over the past year amid a wave of racism against Asian Americans during the coronavirus pandemic.

Gov. Larry Hogan’s wife, Yumi Hogan, is Korean American. Speaking to Jake Tapper on CNN’s “State of the Union” on March 14, the Republican governor called the attacks on Asian Americans “outrageous“ and “unacceptable.’’

“My wife, my three daughters, my grandkids, all Asian, and they— they have felt some discrimination personally,’’ Hogan said.

“We feel it personally with my daughter, who sort of is sometimes afraid to come visit us, with people who had best friends that were being harassed at

the grocery store, or being called names, and people yelling about the China virus, even though they’re from Korea and born in America,’’ he added.

Hogan praised President Joe Biden for addressing the issue during his first prime-time address to the nation last week, when he condemned violent attacks against Asian Americans and called them “un-American.’’

“It’s something we have to get under control. And I wish more people would be speaking out. And I appreciate the president’s remarks,’’ Hogan said.

Also on March 14, New York Mayor Bill De Blasio acknowledged on CBS’ `Face the Nation’ that hate crimes against Asian Americans were occurring with troubling frequency in his city, calling them “horrendous and disgusting.’’

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Instructions on how to submit a bid electronically, view any current bid opportunities, express interest, communicate with the Buyer via Message app and/or successfully submit a bid through the E-Procurement system prior, and more are provided on the County’s website: https://kingcounty.gov/procurement/registration King County encourages minority business enterprise participation. King County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its programs, services, and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

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Hogan also defended his decision to ease some restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the virus after Tapper noted that health officials have asked governors to keep restrictions in place as the nation continues a slow process of vaccinating the population.

Citing downward trends in the number

of new cases, hospitalizations and the positivity rate in Maryland, Hogan last week lifted capacity limits on restaurants, bars and most other businesses statewide, while allowing large venues to reopen at half capacity. see MARYLAND on 9

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asianweekly northwest

MARCH 20 – MARCH 26, 2021

39 YEARS

■ NATIONAL NEWS

Yo-Yo Ma serenades newlyvaccinated at inoculation clinic PITTSFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Newly vaccinated Massachusetts residents were treated to a mini concert when famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma brought out his instrument after getting his second coronavirus shot.

A masked-up Ma took a seat along the wall of the observation area on March 13 at Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield and played for about 15 minutes to applause from the other attendees.

The renowned musician, who lives parttime in the area, said he “wanted to give something back,” The Berkshire Eagle quoted Richard Hall of the Berkshire COVID-19 Vaccine Collaborative as saying.

The quick concert came exactly one year after Ma started posting recordings of himself using the hashtag (hash) SongsOfComfort on social media in an effort to ease anxiety throughout the early

days of the pandemic.

“I wanted to find a way to continue to share some of the music that gives me comfort,” the cellist wrote on Twitter on March 13, 2020.

Since then, Ma has also played surprise pop-up concerts and live-streamed virtual concerts for essential workers and firstresponders. 

Yo-Yo Ma

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR MAR 15-31 BLOOD DONATION Schedule a blood donation appointment on Red Cross Blood Donor app or visit RedCrossBlood.org, or call 1-800-733-2767 Find a location near you at RedCrossBlood.org

19 THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE MYANMAR COUP

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24 VIRTUAL CULTURAL CONVERSATIONS: “MORE STORIES FROM THE HEART” 6:30 p.m.

Register is required http://bit.ly/3trbTRF More info at bellevuewa.gov FROM GLOBAL TO LOCAL: INFORMING SEATTLE’S PANDEMIC RESPONSE 12-1:30 p.m.

Register at http://bit.ly/38LPIxR

APR

NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE PRESENTS “MOVIN’ AROUND THE WORLD: VIRTUAL” 2-4:30 p.m. nwfolklife.org/obn

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MAY

HUGO LITERARY SERIES: DEATH WITH REBECCA MAKKAI, LAYLI LONG SOLDIER, AND LUCY TAN 6 p.m. hugohouse.org

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DEBUT NOVEL, “THINGS WE LOST TO THE WATER” BY ERIC NGUYEN Virtual event at Elliott Bay, Seattle More info at elliottbaybook.com

View the solution on page 10

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MARCH 20 – MARCH 26, 2021

YOUR VOICE

■ PICTORIAL

asianweekly northwest

#StopAAPIHate rallies across western Washington Speakers at the March 13 rally at Hing Hay Park: Chris Stearns, Nathan Duong, Khang Nguyen, Debra Erdene, Frank Irigon, Gary Locke, Dow Constantine, Quang Nguyen, Noriko Nasu, Larry Gossett, Girmay Zahilay, Sharon Tomiko Santos, Bob Hasegawa, Joe Nguyen, Toshiko Grace Hasegawa, Michael Itti, Sam Cho, Matt Toles, Janice Zahn, and Kim-Khanh Van. PHOTOS BY GEORGE LIU

Frank Irigon

Chris Stearns, a native of the Navajo nation and Auburn City Councilmember, kicked off the rally

From left: Gary Locke, Sam Cho, and Joe Nguyen

We’re in solidarity with our diverse

Asian American & Pacific Islander neighbors in King County. We denounce racism, colorism, and any actions taken to harm someone because of their race or place of origin.

Art by Toka Valu

"This [image] pays homage to the longevity of our traditions and customs that have survived generations of systemic aggression in efforts to erase our collective sense of self."

- Toka Valu

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asianweekly northwest

39 YEARS

MARCH 20 – MARCH 26, 2021

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

Get a vaccine, then travel?

Photos provided by Alaska Airlines

Plane, train, or automobile?

Plane sanitized with electrostatic sprayers that disinfect surfaces throughout the cabin.

Alaska Airlines exceeds CDC cleaning guidelines, using high-grade, EPA-certified disinfectant to clean critical areas throughout the plane.

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

your own camper or trailer, you don’t even need to stay in hotels. It saves a lot of money and planning time. You travel at your own pace. You can even cook your own meals inside your trailer. And you can even bring your pets along. It does have many advantages. You don’t have to worry about crowds if you have your own transportation and lodging. You can change your itinerary anytime. You save

“The caged bird is finally free,” was my reaction after getting a dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine last Saturday.

For more than 15 months, I felt like a bird trapped at home. My husband and I laid low in the Seattle area, even though I consider myself an adventurous soul.

(We used to travel three to five times during the year.) We have complied with all the health regulations to do our part to contain the coronavirus.

Now, I want a vacation to renew myself. But traveling during a pandemic isn’t that simple. Not everyone is able to get the vaccine yet. And not every country has vaccinated most of its citizens, except Israel. The coronavirus is a deadly, contagious disease. Although I would love to go to Israel, it is unwise to travel that far away.

Several foreign countries have health guidelines for tourists, including a twoweek quarantine. Italy is in a lockdown.

And many European countries are struggling with partial shutdowns.

Traveling outside the U.S. can be a hassle. I can’t afford to waste two weeks in isolation.

Now that many states have opened up, traveling inside the U.S. is the right choice. It would be wonderful to see states I have not visited before. There

are 20 of them. I have dreamed about going to Nashville, seeing Elvis’ home, Graceland. Mount Rushmore and national parks would be fun to explore.

The other option is to revisit some of the U.S. cities. I wouldn’t mind visiting New Orleans or Atlanta again.

The pandemic has changed the dynamics in most U.S. cities. You can’t just take off like you could two years ago. You have to research and prepare.

What type of transportation would you like to take? Should you drive or fly?

My Chinese Post editor, Nancy, who is planning a trip in May, reminded me, “What about taking the train?” Thanks Nancy. Although I have never traveled on the train, there are merits in going

by Amtrak. I will share her research on taking an Amtrak later.

DRIVING YOURSELF

time by not having to go or check in at the airports.

Unfortunately, both my husband and I don’t have the energy to drive long distances. My maximum driving time is a little more than an hour a day. And I like to have breaks during my driving. It would take us days to drive from Seattle see BLOG on 11

Northwest Folklife presents

Movin’ Around the World: Virtual Featuring Philippine folk dance with FCS Kalahi presented by Northwest Asian Weekly, Northwest Tap Connection, a Turkish cooking lesson with Pinar Ozhal, and more!

Travel with your own camper

Flexibility is the key if you drive and have the time to do so. And if you have

Livestream:

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at nwfolklife.org/obn, Facebook, or Twitch

Bringing the arts, cultures, and traditions alive in the Pacific Northwest right to your own home!

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Travel by train

MARCH 20 – MARCH 26, 2021

YOUR VOICE

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

asianweekly northwest

7

Ed Hill comedy special hits Amazon and Apple TV

By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

stage went from people laughing at him, to laughing with him. Feedback has been positive as audience members came up to him after the show to tell him that his comedy resonated with them as they had someone in their lives that Hill described in his comedy.  Candy and Smiley debuted on Amazon Prime and Apple TV+ on March 2.

For more information on Ed Hill, visit kingedhill.com.

Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

Ed Hill Photo from Comedy Dynamics

Taiwanese-Canadian comedian Ed Hill released his first comedy special, which is now available on Amazon Prime and Apple TV+. The special, which was originally scheduled for a live audience last spring, was changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The life of a standup comedian is made up of traveling to comedy clubs in a city to perform one or two shows, and doing it all over again the next night in another location. However, with the worldwide pandemic, Hill’s tour ended.

“It’s been different, I can probably speak for most comics that it’s been a whole lot of nothing,” reflected Hill on the downtime.

He has tried to stay creative honing his craft through podcasts, online shows, and comedy shows outside in a way to abide by local social distancing and gathering rules.

Hill’s last performance in front of a live crowd was March 13, 2020. A frequent traveler to the U.S., Hill’s last tour was in Florida, two weeks prior to the lockdown of travel and closure of businesses.

“Thinking back, probably not the smartest thing to do,” Hill said of his last trip. “It’s been a year of very few shows.”

With the U.S. border closed during the pandemic, it meant that Hill has yet to return to a lot of the normal comedy clubs that host him. Although he has pushed back his schedule, the end does not appear to be in sight.

“It seems as though that the break is becoming longer than we anticipated.”

It also meant that Hill came up with a different concept for his scheduled comedy special, which was to have been shot at the University of British Columbia. The university closed down two weeks prior to the scheduled taping. Instead, Hill had a more intimate gathering of family and friends this past July to shoot the special.

The show was produced when social distancing restrictions were eased. Hill indicated that there were limits as to how many people were allowed in during the shooting.

“What you see now, in the special, is what we came up with and what we can deliver in a way that doesn’t lose the essence of the story.” In his special, Hill has a ‘story circle’ with different people from his life coming in at certain times during the special.

Hill said that the family and friends in attendance did not expect the level of vulnerability and “emotionality” that is tied into this format. Over the course of one day, the special was shot in 20-minute

Photos from Comedy Dynamics

snippets for what is the one-hour special.

Since the name of the special was named after Hill’s parents, Candy and Smiley, his parents came on at the end of the filming.

He noted that it was the first time that they attended one of his comedy shows live.

“I’m happy they came,” said Hill, who noted they played a big part in the special.

He said the director helped with most of the instructions for his parents.

“I kind of just helped them understand it,” said Hill. His mom had a lot of questions and his dad, who he has a close relationship with, asked why he had to be there.

During a time which has seen a lot of antiAsian sentiment due to the misinformation about coronavirus, Hill notes that racism has been a part of his life. Hill immigrated to Canada from Taiwan when he was 10 years old. As a young kid in school in Canada, he recalled being told to ‘go back to China’ on the playground. He noted that recently his cousin in Vancouver was elbowed in the head by someone while he was walking down the street.

“Do I talk about it in my comedy? I have to say ‘no’ because I’m not a political comic. I don’t do objective observation.”

He said that he does not want to ‘botch it.’ However, he makes sure he talks about Asians and their experiences in two ways in his comedy.

“It’s the human condition. We are human beings. We have the same trials and tribulations, joys and triumphs.”

Hill added, “I always paint the Asian community in a perspective of strength. Even if there’s a stereotype that’s floating around them, I paint it as a misunderstanding. Everything that is happening around them is part of who we are and we are people that are trying to do the best that we can.”

In conveying these messages in his comedy, Hill witnessed that his stories on

“The Story of Seattle Chinatown International District Murals” youtube.com/watch?v=VE9BA7KkbKc produced by northwest asian weekly & seattle chinese post funded by

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asianweekly northwest

39 YEARS

MARCH 20 – MARCH 26, 2021

■ WORLD NEWS Chinese director of ‘Nomadland’ faces controversy at home

“It goes back to when I was a teenager in China, being in a place where there are lies everywhere.’’

— Chloe Zhao

By HUIZHONG WU ASSOCIATED PRESS TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Chloe Zhao’s success— she’s the first Asian woman and the second woman ever to win a Golden Globe for best director for her film “Nomadland’’—has not been met with universal applause in her country of birth.

The Beijing-born filmmaker, now an Oscar nominee, instead finds the news of her success overshadowed by a nationalist backlash regarding her citizenship and her identity. Censors have removed some social media posts about the film, which has raised questions about whether it will still be released in China.

Chinese web users questioned whether Zhao, who was educated in the U.K. and the U.S., was still a Chinese citizen and if she could be counted as Chinese given a critical comment she made about the country in 2013.

Even as some celebrated her win, others dug up two interviews where Zhao said things that they considered an “insult to China.’’

Now publicity about the film has been removed from social media, and at least two hashtags related to it have been disabled.

Searching for the hashtags “Nomadland has a release date’’ and “No land to rely on’’ (the film’s Chinese title) on popular microblog platform Weibo results in a message: “According to the relevant laws, regulations and policies, the page is not found.’’

A post on Weibo from the government-backed National Arthouse Alliance of Cinemas that had featured a poster for the film no longer displays the poster.

On Douban, a popular app where many urban Chinese users discuss books, films and TV shows, the official Chinese poster for the movie as well as a release date in China were deleted on March 5, according to Variety.

The app’s landing page for the movie, with comments and its English-language poster, remain visible.

At the heart of the controversy are two quotes from previous interviews done by Zhao. Online users circulated screenshots from a 2013 interview with Filmmaker magazine where Zhao said, “It goes back to when I was a teenager in China, being in a place where there are lies everywhere.’’ The interview no longer shows the quote, but archived versions of the webpage showed the original.

The second quote came from an interview Zhao did with an Australian website, news.com.au, in December last year where she said “the U.S. is now my country.’’

Although the news site updated the story on March 3 to

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say they had misquoted Zhao, and that the article “has been updated to reflect she said (the U.S. is) ‘not’ her country,“ the uncorrected version of the story was the one circulating widely on the Chinese internet.

It is unclear if the film will still be released in China.

It was slated to be released on April 23, according to Chinese media. The China Film Administration did not immediately respond to phone calls seeking comment.

The online debate has been split. Nationalist commentators say Zhao betrayed her country, calling her “two-faced’’ and saying she left the country based on her father’s wealth as a former CEO of a state-owned enterprise. Other observers called for the debate to remain focused on her movie, which follows the story of a woman who lives in a van after the company that was the economic engine of her town in Nevada shut its doors. 

Report: Police chief violated bias policy by mocking Asians LIHUE, Hawaii (AP) — The police chief on the Hawaiian island of Kauai mocked people of Asian descent and in one case “squinted his eyes’’ and bowed his head while mimicking someone with a Japanese accent, a discrimination investigation found.

In another incident, Kauai police Chief Todd Raybuck relayed a story of meeting someone of Asian descent in a restaurant in which he parodied the person’s speech and mannerisms, the investigation by the Kauai Police Commission said.

The chief, according to internal documents obtained by The Garden Island newspaper, said the person had a haircut that looked like something out of a “Kung Fu movie.’’

Raybuck violated county discrimination policies and created a hostile work environment for an officer based on race, the investigaton found. Both are cause for “appropriate corrective action,’’ said a Feb. 26 letter about the investigation written by commission chair Catherine Adams.

“Given the findings regarding violation of the Policy Against Discrimination, the Commission will take appropriate corrective action to assure that future violations do not occur,’’ Adams wrote in the letter.

“The details of the corrective action are

confidential personnel matters.’’ The recipient of the letter was not disclosed.

The commission received an internal complaint against Raybuck in September. The investigation found two incidents that year, on July 29 and Nov. 13, violated the county’s discrimination policy, according to Adams’ letter.

Raybuck was accused of invoking broad stereotypes when explaining in the July incident why an employee of Japanese descent wasn’t chosen for a promotion, according to audio recordings submitted as evidence for the complaint and obtained by Lihue newspaper.

“So, somebody in the Japanese culture, if they think your idea is absolutely stupid and the dumbest thing they’ve ever heard, what’s their typical response to you?’’ Raybuck said, according to the newspaper. “`Yes, yes, yes.’’’

The complaint alleges Raybuck squinted and bowed his head when making the comments.

In the Nov. 13 incident, Adams wrote that Raybuck described to his command staff an Asian customer he saw at a fastfood restaurant. Raybuck used “facial gestures and accent, and commented on an employee’s haircut as something out see BIAS POLICY on 10

MARCH 20 – MARCH 26, 2021

YOUR VOICE DOG TREATS from 1 have been affected adversely by the pandemic.

For Moore, though, this is just another challenge. In fact, when the going gets tough, Rick gets going. Laotian-born Moore moved to North Carolina as a young teen. A visit to Seattle, with the waters of Elliot Bay on one side and Cascade mountains on the other, was enough to convince him to make it his home.

“When my wife and I opened our restaurant in Tukwila, there were no Thai restaurants there,” Moore said. He claims he was inspired by John F. Kennedy, who famously said, “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard...” Moore said, “Many thought I was making a mistake with the location, however, we persevered and became quite popular with the working crowd in the area.”

In fact, in 2008, when the financial crisis hit, Moore added salmon to his Thai dishes to drum up business and it worked. He even set up his fish processing unit (Sea Native) to primarily supply his restaurant with quality seafood, but began doing small projects for thirdparty businesses, too.

The dog lover even started smoking Columbia River King Salmon to make dog treats that he claims both he and his dogs enjoy. Things were okay until the pandemic hit—in March last year, everything came to a standstill.

“Through it all, my wife and I didn’t stop working,” Moore said. In fact, the

MINARI from 1 Chinese Chloé Zhao for her elegiac road-trip drama “Nomadland.”

Zhao, the first woman of color nominated for best director, is the most nominated woman in a single year in Oscar history.

She was also tipped for the film’s adapted screenplay, editing, and as a producer in the best picture category.

Another directing nominee is Lee Isaac Chung for “Minari.”

The drama film about a Korean American immigrant family was produced by Christina Oh. Minari

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The smoked salmon treats Rick makes at his processing plant in Georgetown.

couple sat down with their children and had a difficult conversation.

“We told them about our finances and life insurance policies in case we contracted Covid,” he said.

With no office workers, things at the restaurant were slow, but seeing long lines at food banks prompted Rick to take hot Thai meals to where he saw a need—a local fire station, for example.

Rick had to furlough and lay people off at both his restaurant and plant.

“It was really a difficult decision, but we had kept them on despite not having enough business as long as we could,” he said.

Soon Rick realized he had to do something with the pounds of smoked salmon dog treats he had.

was also nominated for Best Picture, Original Screenplay, and Original Score.

Both “Nomadland” and “Minari” became the second most Oscarnominated films by a director of Asian descent. At the same time, “Opera,” directed by South Korean filmmaker Erick Oh, was included in the five final candidates for the Short Animated Film category.

The 93rd Academy Awards will be held on April 25.  For a full list of the 2021 nominees, go to oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2021.

“In 2019, I had some success by setting up a stall during the Issaquah Salmon Days festival...People really liked my smoked salmon products,” he said.

It was then that Moore decided to procure and smoke enough products and head to events such as the Puyallup Fair, Folklife, and Bite of Seattle, among others.

“None of those events happened,” he said, explaining how his plans were laid waste. Now, with the new season around the corner, Rick, who parents two German Shepherds and four Chihuahuas, has a new mission: giving all his dog treats away.

“I did talk to some dog treat makers in the region who were very impressed by my smoked salmon treats and the fact that I snack on my dog treats, too,” Rick said. “It’s really good quality, humangrade fish that I was using to make my treats,” he said. Having sold some of his treats through third party labels, Moore would like to see his product have a

asianweekly northwest

9

positive impact on pets in need.

“I see and hear about pets left out in the cold, neglected or uncared for, and my heart breaks,” Moore said. “I would like to do something to end it.” So, he’s sending out a message to dog owners in and around Seattle to email him at rick@seanativeusa.com if they want some yummy salmon treats for their fur babies shipped to their homes. All he asks in return is that recipients make a donation to an animal rescue or shelter.

When asked about how giving his treats away at no cost will affect his businesses, Moore brushes away the thought.

“I guess I get it from my father. He would give the shirt off his back to someone in need,” he said. “I just want to put some good out in the world and help care for some animals through the process.”  Janice can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

Want free yummy dog treats made of salmon?

Send a self-addressed-stamped envelope to:

SEA NATIVE USA INC. 745 S. MYRTLE ST., SEATTLE, WA 98108

The stamp amount should be $6.14 to hold the 5 oz. treats.

Offer expired on May 18, 2021.

For other info, email at rick@seanativeusa.com

MARYLAND from 3 “We didn’t lift restrictions. We did raise capacity limits, but we kept the most serious mitigation measures in place, which is masking and distancing, which many states have changed. We did not,’’ Hogan said.

“I think we took a kind of a balanced approach that’s trying to continue to keep people safe, but also try to get some folks

back to work and help support some of our small businesses.’’

Tapper also asked Hogan if he blames former President Donald Trump for hesitancy among his supporters to get the vaccine.

“Well, I think he certainly didn’t help any with his messaging ... on masking and not speaking out strongly enough on the vaccines,’’ Hogan said. 

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t 2:00 P.M. o attend; the

BIAS POLICY from 8 of a Kung Fu movie,’’ according to the letter.

The complaint said the chief laughed and thought his demonstration was funny.

Adams said the incident also was found to violate the

HARRELL from 1 Bruce Harrell officially announced his campaign for Seattle mayor at a press conference on March 16, surrounded by his family and supporters.

The former city council member and only Seattle mayor of Asian descent told the Northwest Asian Weekly, “My record proves I can bring diverse ideologies and backgrounds together to achieve real progress. That’s what Seattle needs at this moment—a unifier who will work with others to rise above the division, find common ground, and get to work addressing the challenges we face.”

Harrell announced his campaign outside Garfield High School, where he graduated as valedictorian before attending the University of Washington (UW). He grew up in a redlined Central area home with his father, Clayton Harrell, Sr. who’s Black, and his Japanese American mother, the former Rose Tamaye Kobata. They met through Quincy Jones who attended Garfield’s music program with the elder Harrell.

Bruce Harrell went to UW on a football scholarship, playing linebacker, and

county’s policy against discrimination.

Other incidents involving complaints of favoritism and retaliation for not promoting someone were not supported by a separate investigation, according to another internal letter obtained by the newspaper, this one from county Director of Human Resources Annette

graduating with a passion for advancing the rights and opportunities of those left behind. He attended law school, worked in technology and telecommunications, and later represented working people who experienced workplace discrimination and helped minority entrepreneurs pursue their dreams.

First elected to the city council in 2007, then re-elected in 2011 and 2015, Harrell was the first council president of Asian descent since Liem Tuan in the 1970s. He also served for four days as Seattle mayor after Ed Murray stepped down. Since leaving the city council, Harrell said he returned to private practice to expand affordable housing for low-income Seattleites.

IF ELECTED MAYOR… Harrell promises a smarter approach to invest in neighborhoods.

“Seattle is divided into seven Council districts, but we have yet to change our core neighborhood investment strategy. I will explore appropriating real resources—$10 million dollars would make an impact—in each of the seven districts to provide Councilmembers with

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Anderson.

Raybuck became the Kauai police chief in 2019, following his retirement after nearly 27 years from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. 

the opportunity to work directly with their communities... Each district has unique needs, and each Councilmember will work collaboratively with City departments to meet those unique needs, working closely with the community.”

PUBLIC SAFETY We, as a city, can and must address structural racism and police bias, while ensuring public safety, said Harrell.

“We’re going to change the narrative and create a police department we all can be proud of.”

In addition to state-mandated reforms in training, techniques, and conduct, Harrell wants every sworn police officer in Seattle to watch the 8 minutes and 46 seconds of George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis and voluntarily sign an open letter stating: The Inhumane Treatment of Fellow Human Beings Will Not Be Tolerated In Seattle.

“The ‘us’ vs ‘them’ conversation is not working. We must start from the common baseline that every human being deserves respect and dignity.”

ON HOMELESSNESS “The homelessness crisis devastates not only the lives of those suffering on our streets and in our parks, but it affects the safety and peace of mind for too many Seattle families…. I believe we need to tap into our greatest and most important asset—our community. As mayor, I’ll create a new model that, in addition to using city resources, allows neighbors and nonprofits to contribute their time and money to solving this challenge. There are no quick fixes to this crisis, but we know strategies that provide immediate shelter, personalized case management, and long-term care and treatment work.

Let’s do this together.”  The Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation honored Harrell in 2018 as a Top Contributor to the Asian community for his three decades of community service. You can read more about his background here at: nwasianweekly.com/2018/11/topcontributor-bruce-harrell.

Ruth can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 4.

YOUR VOICE

■ ASTROLOGY

MARCH 20 – MARCH 26, 2021

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Predictions and advice for the week of March 20–26, 2021

By Sun Lee Chang Rat—Is your message getting lost in translation?

If you have the right words, your delivery may be the issue.

Dragon—You are not averse to going it alone, but there is something to be said for allowing others to help.

Monkey—To maintain the benefits, certain things must be done consistently. Once is simply not enough.

Ox—A successful transition is often preceded by a solid plan of action and an uncomfortable, but necessary, adjustment phase.

Snake—Old memories can be hard to leave behind. Don’t let them hold you back from making new ones.

Rooster—As much as you want a strong start, pace yourself so that you have energy to finish.

Tiger—Looking for a creative way to address a novel problem? The solution could come from an unrelated area.

Horse—Changing how you have operated isn’t easy. What you gain from doing so will be well worth it.

Dog—Want to make someone feel especially welcome? Think of a tasty treat or something that adds to their comfort.

Rabbit—Although you are hoping for an ideal result, err on the side of caution and prepare for the worst-case scenario.

Goat—There are little things you can do to brighten your living space. Start small and work your way up.

Pig—Big wins can be few and far between. In the interim, take the time to celebrate the small victories.

WHAT’S YOUR ANIMAL SIGN? RAT 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 OX 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 TIGER 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 RABBIT 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 DRAGON 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 SNAKE 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 HORSE 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 GOAT 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 MONKEY 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 ROOSTER 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 DOG 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 PIG 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

*The year ends on the first new moon of the following year. For those born in January and February, please take care when determining your sign.

BLOG from 6 just to Arizona, for instance. By the time we arrive, we may be too exhausted to enjoy the Grand Canyon.

THE AIR DURING FLYING Our obvious choice is flying. But is it safe? I have friends and relatives who flew last year and recently, all assured me it was fine. None of them had gotten sick.

My biggest fear is the lack of air circulation on the plane. What have airlines done to improve the air circulation since the pandemic?

Alaska Airlines Public Relations Daniel Chun told me, “Most people tend to think of an airplane as a closed environment with recirculated air—and that’s not true!

“In fact, the air that you breathe on our flights is probably cleaner than the air you’re breathing right now. Our aircraft recirculates fresh air from the outside and through hospital-grade HEPA filters every 2 to 3 minutes. The filters also remove 99.9% of airborne contaminants. Harvard researchers recently showed the average age of clean air onboard is 1.8 minutes. In comparison, the average age of the air in a hospital room is 16 minutes, and in your home—it’s 240 minutes.

Also, because air flows top down in an airplane, rather than traveling the length of the plane, the air you breathe only comes in contact with your immediate surroundings, keeping you in your very own travel bubble. This constant flow of air is a big part of why those same Harvard researchers concluded that flying can be safer than common activities like eating at a restaurant or shopping in a grocery store. Several recent scientific studies have also shown that flyers who wear masks have a near-zero risk (0.003%) of being exposed to the virus because of onboard air circulation and HEPA-filtration, even when every seat is occupied on an aircraft.”

That’s reassuring. But how safe is it on the plane?

PLANE’S SAFETY “All airlines have made many changes throughout the pandemic and you can feel confident in the industry’s collective efforts to keep you safe whenever you’re ready to fly again,” Chun wrote in an email.

He added that Alaska has “implemented more than 100 safety measures as part of our commitment to Next-Level Care.”

It “starts with the now Federal requirement that all employees and guests wear a face mask or covering throughout the airport and on board...that’s probably one of the most important actions we can take to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, so our airport and flight crews are very good at ensuring that everyone is masked up and ready to go.”

CLEANING THE PLANE “Cleaning the aircraft between flights” is essential, Chun said. Once “you step onboard, you’ll really notice how clean the cabin feels with the enhanced aircraft cleaning procedures we’ve developed with our University of Washington medical directors, who specialize in infectious diseases.”

The cleaning process “includes electrostatic spraying and fogging procedures, and ...working around the clock to sanitize kiosks, gate areas, cabins, and key touchpoints— including tray tables, armrests, seatbelts, lavatories, you name it— with EPA-approved disinfectants.”

Guests have to enter into a health agreement at check-in to confirm that they are not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and will adhere to the mask policy,” Chun continued.

To limit interaction between our flight crews and guests, Alaska has temporarily reduced inflight food and beverage service, so feel free to bring your own snacks onboard.

“We encourage you to bring your

own refillable water bottle, which also supports our #FillBeforeYouFly sustainability campaign, as we work to reduce the amount of single-use plastic we have onboard,” Chun said.

GO BY AMTRAK If you don’t want to drive or fly, Amtrak is a great alternative in the U.S. mainland. Nancy and her husband are planning to take Amtrak from Seattle to Chicago to the East Coast, and then on the West Coast.

“You can have your own private room on the train,” she said. “Think of all the beautiful scenery you can see on the way. And you don’t need to cook.” Oh yes, the train can serve all your meals. It’s just like your mobile home. You can even bring your own food, and you have your own toilet and shower in your room.

The train also provides fresh towels and sheets. What a service!

Nancy told me that she plans to do some work on the train. “Are you sure?” I asked. “Yes,” she replied.

“The train has internet.” There are special lounges for travelers who don’t want to be confined in their own quarters. Nancy was excited to share that if you make reservations 14 days before your departure date, you can get as much as a 20% discount, and also 10% discount for seniors.

Train travelers can bring along any family members they want, including elderly and even pets.

Amtrak operates more than 300 trains, stopping in 46 states, including 500 destinations and British Columbia.

If you are already vaccinated, you can plan your trip now. It’s energizing to have a trip to look forward to. We just tried booking a national park visit. It’s all booked up from now until summer. So book early. Bon voyage!  Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

TRAVELING TO HAWAII

Alaska offers convenient service from Seattle and Portland to four of the major Hawaiian Islands—Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island (Kona). It was the first airline to coordinate with the state of Hawaii to develop and pilot its Hawaii Pre-Clear program, which allows Alaska passengers to bypass long lines, wait times, and airport screening upon arrival in Hawaii with an approved negative COVID-19 test.

As visitors return to Hawaii, the Islands are asking travelers to mālama and be respectful of Hawaii’s land and people.

Mālama means “to nurture” or “care for,” in the Hawaiian language, and it’s a core value of the Hawaiian culture.

How can someone who wants to travel with Alaska prepare for a safe and seamless experience?

Alaska has a tool that you can access from its website that shows all the current COVID travel restrictions, which are still constantly changing and vary from state to state. The tool has a very user-friendly map of the U.S., and you can click on each state to pull up the information you’re looking for.

Download Alaska’s mobile app so that you can make sure your trip is as smooth and contactless as possible. It also has print-athome options for both your boarding pass and bag tags. Lastly, in addition to keeping that mask on at all times, remember to keep your distance from others, and be patient when boarding and deplaning.

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MARCH 20 – MARCH 26, 2021

last month by a man swinging a rock in a sock. Sean Holdip is charged with two counts of second degree felony assault.

Nasu told the crowd at Hing Hay Park on March 13 that other Asian Americans have contacted her since her story became public.

“I was horrified to know that so many of us have experienced, and are experiencing, pain, and nothing has been done,” she said.

“We’re not going to be silent anymore...it’s time for us to get angry, it’s time to demand justice!”

Former Gov. Gary Locke led the same crowd in a chant of “Hate is a virus!”

“This violence against Asian Americans, and especially our elderly, has got to stop,” he said and called the attacks “nothing but cowardly, racist thugs.”

King County Executive Dow Constantine, who is married to a Japanese American, vowed to allocate funds in the upcoming budget to address “racially based hate and bias in our community.”

Other prominent speakers at the March 13 Hing Hay rally included Frank Irigon, Larry Gossett, Girmay Zahilay, state Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, state Senators Joe Nguyen and Bob Hasegawa, Toshiko Hasegawa, Michael Itti, Port Commissioner Sam Cho, Janice Zahn, and Kim-Khanh Van. Additional rallies were held in Maple Valley on March 14, and in Renton on March 15.

Organizers stressed that recent hate crimes against Asian Americans have made them feel as if they no longer belong in this society.

“I grew up in Renton and called this city home my whole life,” said Anson Huang, 19, a University of Washington student who organized the rally there. “That’s why, when the Renton City Council took nine days to denounce the Asian hate incident, which occurred on Feb. 13, I was infuriated.”

In the incident, a local woman castigated a Chinese American woman on the street using racial epithets.

“When we don’t speak up, our elders are left shoved to the ground. Grandparents punched and abused when they’re simply minding their own business. Our faces are crushed and slashed leaving scars that leave a life-long mark, telling us that we aren’t accepted. That we don’t belong. That no matter what, we will always be seen as foreigners,” he said during an impassioned speech on the steps of Renton City Hall.

“We are here today to stand firm and sing proudly that we DO belong. We are proud. We are resilient. And we will not let hate, bigotry, and racism win.”

Disinformation and vitriol spread by the Trump administration, particularly blaming China for the pandemic and using racist epithets, has encouraged an uptick in hate crimes against Asian Americans.

New data released on March 16 by Stop AAPI Hate, a national coalition aimed at addressing anti-Asian American discrimina-

Photo by Mahlon Meyer

RALLIES from 1

In front of Renton City Hall, demonstrators heard speeches before heading to the street.

tion, indicated that it received a total of 3,795 reports of hate incident against AAPIs across the United States between March 19, 2020 and Feb. 28, 2021.

That prompted the organizers of the local rallies, AAPI Against Hate, to take action.

“Our youth came together when we recognized the need and rising tension to defend our elders in our own communities,” said Madeleine Magana, co-coordinator of AAPI Against Hate.

Activism for the AAPI community has been building for some time. In June, activists founded a night watch of volunteers that patrols the streets of the ID, said Tanya Woo, one of the leaders of the patrol.

“We started because we wanted to fill a hole when the police were preoccupied with rioters,” she said. “We wanted to stand up for the community. But we are not militant, we don’t carry any weapons.”

Since then, groups of at least four volunteers and sometimes over a dozen intervene in conflicts in the ID, using techniques of de-escalation. In one case, they stepped in when the occupants of a car were yelling at someone to leave the area, believing he had tried to rob them.

“We listened to both sides for an hour. It turned out it was just a misunderstanding. In the end, the people in the car ended up sharing pizza with the person in the street,” said Woo, who grew up in the neighborhood and whose family owns an apartment building there.

Professional organizations and the police have also responded to the spate of anti-AAPI crimes.

The Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area (CIDBIA) hired a public safety coordinator two weeks ago to advocate for more services from the city. The position had been empty for a year. The CIDBIA already provides receptacles for the night watch to use for needles their members pick up off the street and assists in cleaning up the area.

“We work with them, but we are not Batman,” said Cecilia Liang, the new hire.

Seattle Police Chief Adrian

Diaz said in a video statement on March 5 that the police department was finalizing the hire of a new public safety liaison for the ID. As of press time, SPD told the Northwest Asian Weekly that it will be accepting applications until the end of this month.

Demonstrators at the rallies said a common feeling of disillusionment and shock led them to march and hold signs that said such things as “hate is a virus,” as cars sped by, many honking in support.

In Maple Valley, Debra Erdenemandakh, 16, said it was important to rally because “the entire Maple Valley area is more rightwing and not exposed to diversity.” Her parents immigrated from Mongolia to Chicago, where she was born, but later returned to found a nonprofit.

“We’re here to show them we’re the ones who get the hate crimes and we’re standing our ground,” she said under an overcast sky that occasionally dribbled rain on the more than 50 people who showed up.

While most cars honked in support at the line of demonstrators along the main road, an occasional large pickup truck jetted its engine and roared away. When the same thing happened the following day, in Renton, a demonstrator said he didn’t know if that was meant as a condemnation.

“We are asking officials to denounce hate crimes and small businesses to show support for us, we want our government to pro-

tect our elders,” said Erdenemandakh.

Nam To, 46, who grew up in Oregon, was with his three daughters and his wife. He said he faced racist taunts even when doing something as innocuous as snowboarding.

“That sticks with you, that makes you feel not good about yourself, and that’s where my faith helped me get through my adolescence,” he said. “I want to impart to my kids that we are all made in the image of God, and I pray that they will grow up in a society where there is diversity and love and peace.”

The rallies also drew people who were not Asian American but wanted to show support. A white mother with two young girls with blonde hair had earlier approached Erdenemandakh and thanked her for organizing the rally.

“Love has no color,” said a sign held by one of the girls.

Looking around at the crowd, To said, “It’s cool to see not only Asian Americans out here, it shows solidarity, a sense of oneness.”

Yet the presence of some from other marginalized communities also highlighted the complexities of a coalition seeking solidarity with other movements, yet navigating concerns particular to the AAPI community.

Leaders of the coalition do not support any measures to defund the police (some do not even want to mention the word), but among individuals there are gradations of

opinion.

“We as a movement don’t agree with defunding the police. Even that word is not helpful. We want community-based solutions, otherwise people will not come to the table,” said Kim-Khan Van, a Renton City Councilmember who was at the Renton rally.

Many members of the CID night watch, for instance, prefer to seek social workers or other resources when they encounter a person in emotional distress.

“On a recent patrol, we encountered a woman who had been raped. This woman was Black and she was combative. We were afraid if the police were called, something terrible would happen,” said Woo. So they called a social worker instead, who came and offered assistance.

Other organizers expressed support for diverting excess funding to social programs.

“I don’t fully support getting rid of the entire police force, but reimagining policing,” said Huang.

“Police aren’t equipped to handle issues of homelessness and mental health.”

For the most part, though, demonstrators felt more concerned with raising awareness about the pervasiveness of hate crimes and racism against Asian Americans.

“We were just fishing at Camano Island,” said Elsa T., a sixtyish Hong Kong immigrant, holding a sign in Renton, who preferred to withhold her last name. “And this group of white men yelled at us and said, ‘You Asians have eaten all our fish!’”

The men took photographs of them and their license plate.

“So we took photos of their license plate, too,” she said.

Thirteen-year-old Allison Leber, who came to the rally with her mother, a teacher at Benson Hill, said she had written a research paper last year regarding the question, “Is America a racist country?”

“Yes,” she found. “Systemically.”

Russell Jeung, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, said, “Hate incidents are not abating. We cannot let anti-Asian American hate be a legacy of COVID-19 or the last presidential administration, but that’s exactly what will happen unless we demand concrete action.”  Mahlon can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

Photo by George Liu

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