35 minute read
that is the question
■WAYNE’S WORLDS To jab or not to jab, that is the question
By Wayne Chan
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NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Before I go any further with my thoughts on whether or not to get the Covid-19 vaccine, let me just say, I get it. Collectively, the last year has been a shock to the system. We’ve lived through a year of unknowns and tragedy, and each step along the way has raised questions.
When it was first announced that there were vaccines to prevent Covid infections, did I have some concerns? Sure I did. So I thought I’d share my thought process on how I reached my decision on whether to get the vaccine or not.
Let’s start off with some of my reservations. The vaccines available today didn’t even exist a few months ago. They are brand new. Even after looking up terms like “MRNA,” I still don’t understand exactly how these vaccines are supposed to work.
I don’t really know what’s in them. How can I put something in my body that I don’t even understand? Well, I’ve eaten countless hot dogs before and I can make the same statement—I don’t really know what’s in them. I seem to be A-OK with that.
Another concern—what about blood clots? After all, it was plastered all over the news in recent weeks about some of the side effects related to Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine. Random blood clots sound like a serious problem.
And while I hope no one ever has to experience a blood clot of any kind, the probability of having a blood clot after taking the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is one in over a million. As a reference point, I looked up on the National Weather Service on the probability of being struck by lightning in someone’s lifetime and the chances are 1 in 15,300. That means you are about 70 times more likely to be struck by lightning than have a blood clot from that vaccine.
Based on those numbers, it would be a better investment for me to remove every piece of metal in my house and wrap all the doors and windows with duct tape, instead of worrying about the side effects from taking the shot.
But what about the unknown? What other side effects could I suffer if I get the vaccine? By now, if you’ve read this far, you can probably guess that I didn’t really struggle to decide whether to get the shot. The alternative—getting covid—was all the info I needed to make up my mind. Wayne Chan Still, I meant it when I said that I could relate to the fear of the unknown. For the first few hours after getting my first shot, I started waiting for something to happen. Whatever it was, I would be ready for it. Would I get a rash? Would my hair fall out? Would appendages just start falling off my body? Would my voice change and give me an irresistible urge to belt out show tunes in the produce aisle of my local market? The unknown can be scary. The experience was pretty anti-climatic. The only symptom I felt was a sore arm and one night of restlessness. No lost appendages. No show tunes. Get the shot, folks. The benefits are obvious. And if you do feel a need to belt out some show tunes, just stick to Rodgers and Hammerstein and we’re all good.
Wayne can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO PROPOSERS
Sealed bids will be received for KC000251, SR 169 Flood Risk Reduction; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, via the E-Procurement system, until 1:30 PM on June 29, 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 Invitation to Bid for details.
There is a 15% minimum Apprentice Utilization Requirement on this contract.
There is a 15% minimum requirement for King County Certified Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS) on this contract.
Brief Scope: This project provides for the improvement of SR 169 and the Cedar River Trail in the vicinity of Cedar Grove Road SE in King County by clearing and grubbing, grading, surfacing, paving with HMA, culvert excavation, installing a precast concrete box culvert and wing walls, erosion control, seeding and mulching, planting, placing guardrail, paint stripe, streambed restoration, detour signing, temporary traffic control, and other work.
Estimated contract price: $2,568,682
Pre-Bid(s): 9 AM on 6/22/21
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
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■ASTROLOGY
Predictions and advice for the week of June 19–25, 2021
By Sun Lee Chang
Rat—Luck has found a happy home with you, but don’t rely on it to come through for you every time.
Ox—Have you thought about rearranging things? A new layout could allow you to better utilize your space.
Tiger—Expecting immediate results will likely end in disappointment. Showing patience should yield a much better outcome.
Rabbit—When receiving guidance, it is worth taking note of the perspective of the one who is giving the advice. Dragon—Is a potential conflict on your mind this week? Unless it materializes, don’t worry too much about it.
Snake—Finding the perfect fit could involve some trial and error. Your persistence should lead you to what you seek.
Horse—What was once a novelty could soon turn into a necessity. That said, it won’t be a cause for alarm.
Goat—Even if you are content where you are, there is no harm in looking to see what else is available. Monkey—Are you finding it hard to get past a recent incident? Remember that forgiving does not mean forgetting.
Rooster—A prime opportunity could pass by if you aren’t paying attention. Be on alert for a potential opening.
Dog—Much to your relief, a point of contention should be resolved soon. A period of relative calm should follow.
Pig—The fastest route to the answer is by asking the right questions to the people who are in the know.
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.
BLOG from 5
vaccine so soon made him feel that America is an incredible country.
The U.S. manufactures the Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca vaccines. It plans to share 2.5 million vaccines with Mexico and Canada—750,000 doses were donated to Taiwan with no strings attached. What other countries in the world would be so generous? What other countries can act so fast?
According to the New York Times, the U.S. will donate 80 million vaccine doses, which is five times more than any other countries’ donation and with no expectation of favors. Wow! That would inspire many to leave their homeland.
Imagine those poor women working 12 hours a day, seven days a week, with little reward in Honduras. They would be determined to face the dangerous journey, for a brighter future in America, even if they fail the first and second time. Their rationale is simple: Staying home means a death sentence for them and generations to come. Why not shoot for the land of hope.
Americans have not learned anything from the hardships of these desperate migrants and how blessed they are.
A Chinese proverb says, “Those who live in plenty, do not appreciate it.”
Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.
TRAN from 6
resources, dig deeper. During that process, there are…ways to move forward.” She also hopes that, as part of a series of films she intends to create, this work connects her further with other AAPI creatives and brings her opportunities to assist young filmmakers in the future.
To help build this path forward and encourage solidarity, Tran and her team have created a website where people can watch the film and find resources. Bios of the team members are provided so that networking can be stimulated amongst the community and to fortify that belief that no one is alone; and charitable organizations are listed in case someone wants to donate.
To view the website and the film “Centuries and Still,” go to centuriesandstill.webflow.io.
Kai can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com. City of Seattle Request for Proposals
Title: Duwamish Valley Resilience District Community Engagement (RFP-OSEDVRD1)
Proposal Due Date: Submissions are due July 8, 2021 by 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time unless amended by addenda.
The City of Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment is seeking a qualified consultant team to provide public engagement, facilitation, and graphic communication services in support of a community-led decision-making process that will consider creating a Duwamish Valley Resilience District. This work will be managed through a partnership with the Office of Planning & Community Development, and Seattle Public Utilities.
Scope of Work: The City is seeking a multi-disciplinary team to assist with the following efforts. • Graphic Design Concepts and Communication Materials. Develop graphic design concept and produce multi-lingual and multi-platform communications materials that support inclusive community engagement. • Inclusive Community Engagement Strategy. Develop an inclusive community (residents and industries) engagement strategy that centers community capacity building, leadership development, and decision-making to establish a Duwamish Valley Resilience District, securing sustainable funding, preparing for sea level rise, and increasing access to open space and community-supportive services. • Inclusive Community Engagement and Facilitation. Establish and facilitate trusted and productive dialogues and support collaborative decision-making among community stakeholders with varied backgrounds, interests, lived experiences, and relationships to the project. Manage meeting logistics and report-backs, communication materials, interpretation and translation services, and compensation for community experts working to guide this work. Optional Pre-Proposal Meeting: The City will host an online optional, pre-proposal meeting at 11 a.m., on June 30. The link is provided in the RFP. Please notify City contacts of your interest in attending the pre-proposal meeting, so that they may manage any technical issues that arise. Estimated Project Budget: $100,000 - $125,000 City Contract Information: David W. Goldberg, davidw.goldberg@seattle.gov Alberto Rodríguez, albert.rodriguez@seattle.gov Emerging small businesses, as well as minority-owned, disadvantage-owned, women-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned enterprises are encouraged to submit a response to this RFP. The City of Seattle is an Equal Opportunity Employer and selection of the Consultant is subject to applicable laws and ordinances regarding equal opportunity employment. The full RFP and associated documents can be viewed and downloaded at the City’s Consultant Connection at https://consultants.seattle.gov
CLASSIFIEDS
METROPOLITAN KING COUNTY COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE CLERK, POLICY STAFF Closes: June 23, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.
The Metropolitan King County Council is seeking a detail-oriented, customer-focused, flexible, and self-motivated individual who works well with other team members to provide senior-level administrative support functions to the Council Committees.
The Legislative Clerk for policy staff ensures accountability throughout the legislative process in compliance with established standards by working with Councilmembers, Council Clerk’s Office and staff. With a focus on superior service, the successful candidate is expected to coordinate and clerk committee meetings, draft and proof documents, maintain legislative records and provide administrative support to the committees, policy staff and the legislative process. The most competitive candidates will have a working knowledge of the rules, regulations, protocols, and procedures associated with public meetings, hearings, and the legislative process. The Legislative Clerk is a full-time, hourly, overtime eligible, at will position.
HOW TO APPLY:
To apply and view a complete job announcement and apply, go to www.kingcounty.gov/jobs
Interested applicants must complete the supplemental questions and submit a resume and letter of interest highlighting your qualifications for this position.
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COURT ORDeR
KING COUNTY DISTRICT
COURT STATe OF WASHINGTON eAST DIVISION, BeLLeVUe COURTHOUSe
Khaled Youssef Ali, Petitioner Julie Renee Novak, Respondent
No. 21CIV22286KCX ORDeR ON MOTION
Having considered the motion, pleadings, record in this case, and any arguments of the parties, the Court finds: The requirements of RCW 26.50.085 have been met. Law enforcement has been unable to complete service because there is no addresss for the Respondent that is known to law enforcement. Petition has stated valid reason to believe Respondent is hiding to avoid service. There is no known address for Respondent, so the server cannot deposit the summons and order in the post office. It appears, based on Petitioner’s testimony regarding service of process, and on the petition, that reasonable grounds exist to believe Repond is concealing herself to avoid service, and that future attempts at personal service would be futile. Accordingly, it is ORDeReD: Petitioner is authorized to serve by publication per RCW 26.50.085 - Judge Michael J Finkle 5/28/21
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COMMENTARY from 4
ethnic studies classes have been visible to students since the end of March, Asian American studies was scheduled in early June, only after the OCA Greater Seattle chapter reached out to Locke and the Board of Trustees.
Since April, we have been given six different and, at times, contradictory answers to why Asian American studies was removed. We countered each reason with evidence and follow-up questions. To this day, the reason that Asian American studies was singled out for exclusion remains unclear.
Locke also failed to mention that Asian American studies has been offered twice a year for the last two years. The current schedule reduces the offering of Asian American studies to once a year.
We advocated for the class to be scheduled for fall quarter since it draws the largest enrollment based on enrollment data from the last two years, but our request was ignored. As spring tends to have low enrollment, we are concerned about the risk of cancellation. Additionally, the administration changed the class’s modality to an online class without any meeting times attached. This is the first time that Asian American studies is offered as a completely online, asynchronous class. We are concerned that this change of modality is not conducive to building community, especially since this is a class where class interactions and group discussions are needed and guest speakers are invited to speak on a variety of topics concerning the Asian community.
As the faculty who have been teaching this class, we have been sidelined in conversations and kept in the dark of how decisions are made in regard to this class. A request from our Asian Pacific Islander Student Association (APISA) to meet with the CES leadership was also denied. After we started to raise concerns, we were removed from our teaching in a public statement and have been subjected to harassment and disparate treatment. We heard that the class was finally scheduled, not from the College, but from the OCA-Greater Seattle chapter. Our experience is part of a larger pattern of exclusion of Asian faculty and the class’s removal is a part of a larger history of Asian erasure on our campus that dates back to the defacement of a mural to commemorate the incarceration of Japanese Americans last year. When we asked our school’s leadership to investigate the exclusion of Asian faculty in the department we were told that “[t]here is no evidence to suggest an investigation by the office of Academic Affairs is appropriate at this time.”
We advocate for Asian American studies, along with African American studies, Latinx studies, and Native American studies, to have a permanent place in the schedule and that these classes be scheduled regularly with at least two sections per year. We would like to see that BC makes a tangible commitment to help these classes grow and thrive. BC needs to uphold its core values by including adjunct faculty in its decision-making and ensure transparency in communication.
AAPIs comprise 28% of the BC student body. The fact that Asian American studies was singled out for removal during a time of increased anti-Asian hate and violence speaks volumes to the invisibility and disregard of AAPI struggles. We ask BC to conduct a thorough investigation and hold CES leadership accountable for this egregious act.
SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 6.
though he’s aware of it.
Sim likes to golf, and acknowledges that he has bad shoulders. He needed an MRI for his shoulder, but his medical team did X-rays on his bones. He knew that his bones weren’t the issue, it was his muscles.
As expected, his X-rays showed that his bones were fine, but now he’s left waiting for that cost to come out. He noted that in South Korea, basic routine check ups, as well as other complaints, can be addressed in one visit, but in the U.S., you get the basics done and then you need to be referred to a specialist where they’d charge you more.
“We’re not a preventative system, we’re a treatment system,” he said referring to the U.S. healthcare system.
When physical exercise is too much
Physical exercise can be good and bad for your health.
For father of four and a partner at Trend Forward Capital, Jonathan Chang, 41, basketball has been a blessing and a curse.
“As an adult, I know my body well enough that things are functioning. If I can play basketball, then physically, I’m OK,” he said.
Despite Chang using basketball as a gauge of his physical health, the highintensity sport is also the cause of most of his physical health problems.
Over the last decade or so, Chang has endured a lot of physical challenges from playing basketball—he’s had three major surgeries—one for his back and two for his knees. He visited a physical therapist regularly for about two and a half years, and to this day, he still sees a chiropractor every week to get his muscles and joints aligned.
He said that the pandemic prevented him from seeing a doctor for a few years. He had planned to go in for his 40th birthday last year, which was during the peak of the pandemic.
Chang usually will decide to see a specialist if he’s endured physical pain for at least five days.
“If by the fifth day, the pain is still lingering, then that’s when I’ll schedule an appointment,” he said.
Seeking medical guidance
Scott Sato, physician assistant-certified, at the International Community Health Services (ICHS) at the Holly Park clinic, said that ICHS refers to the United States Preventative Task Force guidelines for all preventative health screenings.
“It’s common for the man to say that everything’s fine, but the wife will say that he needs to get checked out,” Sato explained.
Sato had a man in his 60’s come in with his wife for a check-up, and he asked how he was doing, and the man said that everything was fine, no problems, but his wife had a different story. She told Sato that her husband had been acting strange and differently, not being as present, and forgetting a lot, so Sato ordered a CT scan right away.
The scan showed that the man had a hemorrhagic stroke that was around two weeks old, and his wife was aware of everything that happened, but the man said he was fine. It was good that his wife was there to share observations.
“A lot of signs of cancer are very nonspecific. Even if you don’t have symptoms, still go get a check-up, we can catch things without symptoms during check-ups since a lot of problems don’t have symptoms,” he said.
Sato said the most common problems male patients—especially older men— come in for are pain or difficulty with urination.
“Men will come in with those problems, but they won’t come in for high blood pressure. They don’t necessarily think it’s a problem because they don’t feel anything,” he said.
Mental health is just as important as physical health
Sato explained that many of ICHS’ patients include Asian and East African immigrants, and a lot of them don’t recognize what depression and anxiety are.
“It’ll manifest in their complaints as feeling tired, unable to sleep, or even chronic abdominal pain. It takes a while to figure out, but nothing comes up as abnormal so you think maybe it’s psychological, not like in the Western world where they recognize I have a problem.”
Sato added that a lot of people don’t want to see a behavioral health specialist because they think, “I’m not crazy.” Even if he convinces them to see a specialist, they don’t end up seeing them.
“Mental health is harder to navigate in this population,” he said.
In Sato’s practice, they see whole families, parents and their kids as patients, oftentimes he’ll see the father, check their chart, and mention that he hasn’t seen them in a long time and encourage them to make an appointment if they’re overdue for a visit.
Sato’s advice to the general population is that if there’s any change in how you’re feeling, then it’s a sign to get checked out. For example, unintentional weight loss, more frequent abdominal pain and bowel movements, and nausea.
Nina can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
ICHS from 1
living on the Eastside. The expansion increases ICHS’ ability to integrate these services with medical services for whole person care.
Joined by Washington state, King County Council, and City of Bellevue elected officials, the small in-person event celebrated the expansion, as well as championed the importance of affordable and accessible behavioral health services in integrated care.
“The Bellevue clinic is the smallest of our multi-service clinics, but it is mighty,” said ICHS President and CEO Teresita Batayola. “Last year, we were the very first health center in the entire country to have a COVID positive case. It's not a distinction that we like, but it's a distinction that we're proud of because ahead of the CDC guidelines, our medical team here, our leadership team, figured out that it was COVID and they appropriately protected themselves and the staff so that we were able to actually handle that first COVID positive patient.”
Batayola shared that immigrants and refugees have been doubly impacted by past years of federal policies of exclusion, as well as the mental health crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vulnerable populations who were already impacted also face barriers to accessing behavioral health, from language barriers to the lack of culturally competent providers to stigma.
“The concern for behavioral health was big even before this expansion,” Batayola said. “But the pandemic has made that demand even more so. Behavioral health needs are so high that we are very concerned about our populations, not just our kids, but all ages. So we do want to acknowledge the work of our legislators of the 48th, 41st, 45th districts who successfully maneuvered the legislative maze to award ICHS with $1.6 million to create this space for much needed behavioral health and substance use disorder services.”
Offering health services in multiple languages, the ICHS clinic in Bellevue also provides substance use disorder services to address the opioid crisis, including medicationassisted treatment. Bellevue’s Asian population is over 35%, according to the U.S. Census.
Located in the Crossroads neighborhood, the ICHS Bellevue Medical and Dental Clinic currently serves over 5,800 patients. When a patient arrives for an appointment, ICHS primary care providers will inform a patient that they have a behavioral health provider as part of their care team and how their behavioral health has an impact on their physical health.
“Offering behavioral health services is an integral part of one’s health, as opposed to an optional service,” said ICHS Behavioral Health Manager Randon Aea. He and Bellevue Health Center Manager Kia Truong gave tours of the expanded clinic spaces to elected officials during the event.
State Rep. Amy Walen and state Sen. Patty Kuderer were the major sponsors of the state funding for the Bellevue clinic expansion.
“I think if this pandemic has shown us anything, it has shown us that mental health is so incredibly important. It is integral to physical health,” Kuderer said at the ceremony. “Too long in this country, we have neglected the mental health of our citizens. And what did we see? We saw an uptick in suicides. We saw an uptick in domestic violence. We saw an increase in opioid use and abuse. These things don't happen in a vacuum. They happen because we're not paying attention. They happen because we're not putting resources where we need to put them. One of the best investments we can make in the people of this state is in their health care.”
Also speaking at the celebration, former Bellevue mayor and King County Council Chair Claudia Balducci spoke about ICHS’ work in advocating for the community despite the perception that there aren’t health disparities on the Eastside.
“It’s often forgotten amidst all the wealth and economic dynamism on the Eastside,” Balducci said. “But ICHS knows there is a need on the Eastside. ... ICHS is more than just a health clinic. When it was clear that the rollout of the vaccines was not making it to the places that were going to be able to get to the folks most at risk, who were most in need and who were often underserved—some of our more diverse communities—Teresita [Batayola] and ICHS were some of the loudest voices saying that it’s not okay. That we’ve got to do better and they pushed and pushed until we did. And so you are also the strong champions and advocates for your patients and our community.”
KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO BIDDERS
Sealed bids will be received for KC000269, CORROSION REPAIRS 2021 WORK ORDER; by King County Procurement and Payables, via the E-Procurement system, until 1:00:59 PM on July 1, 2021. Late bids will not be accepted. The public bid opening will only be conducted on-line following the Bid Due Date/Time; see Section 00 10 00 for details.
The work consists of furnishing all tools, equipment, materials, incidentals, superintendents, subcontractor coordination and overhead to perform corrosion repairs primarily for the Wastewater Treatment Division. The work will require principally industrial abrasive blasting and other surface preparation and the application of coating systems and linings to metal and concrete structures; will include fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) repairs to wastewater odor control ducts and equipment on a work order basis.
Estimated contract price: $750,000
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
harassment in various work places, she had had enough.
Wu recalled a specific instance in which she was groped—and the traumatizing aftermath of it where, instead of being supported by her coworkers, she was gaslit, minimized, and made to feel that she was weak for not withstanding the harassment.
“The dishwasher grabbed me. The owner basically just invalidated what I told them and just told me it was an accident. Even the camera showed he walked 20 feet from his station to grab my ass. [And] when I spoke up, the kitchen crew knew, too. Most of them ended up making fun of me, bullied me, telling me shit [like] I should be so lucky someone grabbed me ‘cause my ass is actually small.”
“I felt so weak when it first happened,” said Wu. “Like I needed to keep that job ‘cause it paid well, and I’m the only earner for my kids. So I sucked it up for three months before I physically couldn’t.”
These days, Wu is still traumatized by the experiences. She can’t drive past the restaurant where she used to work without experiencing an unwanted reaction.
On Sunday, June 13, James Beard Award-winning chef Edouardo Jordan was the subject of a Seattle Times story, “Edouardo Jordan, acclaimed Seattle chef, accused by 15 women of sexual misconduct or unwanted touching.” The story detailed claims of sexual harassment and misconduct spanning years from 15 women. The allegations were supported by various others, including other local chefs,
One of Jordan’s accusers is Suzi An, an Asian American woman who worked with Jordan at Bar Sajor starting in 2014 and as creative director of operations, who saw him through the opening of his restaurants Salare and June Baby. She worked for him until 2017.
To The Seattle Times, An said that Jordan made sexualized comments about her race and also that he followed her to her bed one evening even though she said no. According to the Times, An “didn’t know how to ask him to leave, so she laid as far away from Jordan as she could, until he left.”
Another Asian American woman and a former Seattlearea cook (speaking on the condition of anonymity) relayed to us her experience with Jordan in 2015.
“He grabbed me by my waist and whispered sexist and racist shit at the StarChefs afterparty in 2015,” she said. “[I] brushed it off at the time because I’ve been desensitized by normalized toxic behavior.”
“Edouardo is just the tip of the iceberg of an entire flawed culture,” she added. “There are worse chefs who will never face consequences. The abuse is cyclical. Surely, he learned this behavior from his mentors and leaders. But that doesn’t excuse his behavior. We all have the ability and responsibility to do better and break the cycle.”
On June 13, after the Times published its story, Jordan released a lengthy statement on his social media in response, one that simultaneously stated, “I don’t make excuses,” along with, “I deny many of the reported allegations.”
Responses to his denial of the accusations have been varied, with many condemning him and some defending him publicly while commentating on cancel culture.
Notably, Melissa Miranda, Filipinx chef and owner of the acclaimed Musang, has been among his most vocal critics. In a public statement posted on her social media, Miranda said, “Some of you may be asking how did this go on for so long, why didn’t people come forward sooner. Believe me when I say that we have been trying. A year and a half ago, a couple of these friends and I sat down with [Seattle Times reporter] Jackie Varriano and brought all of what we knew forward. It has taken a year and a half, patiently waiting for the research, fact checking, and honestly just people willing to come forward without the fear of repercussions.”
“This industry sends a lot of conflicting messages about who we are and what we should accept if we’re to last in this environment,” said Chef Tiffany Ran, of Ba Ba Lio Taiwanese Pop Up, who has worked in the kitchen of Walrus and the Carpenter, Miyabi 45th, and White Swan Public House. “That adds to a whole level of confusion when initially you’re teased, then maybe yelled at, then eventually groped. It’s easier for those outside to see what is acceptable and what isn’t, but that illusion of ‘restaurant fam’ can really muddle those boundaries for a person who has been wronged and feels conflicted about reporting it and speaking out.”
A difficult and often dysfunctional workplace
“I’ve seen chefs date GMs, servers, and even hosts. Some relationships have persevered while others have exploded into emotional chaos,” said Zachary Pacleb, a Filipinx chef and co-owner of Brothers & Co. Pacleb previously worked in the kitchens of Crush, Canlis, The London Plane, and with Staples Restaurant Group before starting his own business with his brother, Seth.
“I always just saw it as a part of the culture,” added Pacleb, “but in the beginning was too young and naive to really understand why. However, a title in a workplace does not equate to consent from your staff to do whatever you want with them. Misogyny, ego, and various other forms of abuse have run rampant in our industry (and many others), while we’re told to just ‘keep our heads down and work,’ which is a pretty messed up code of ethics.”
According to 2018 research from FairKitchens, one in four back-of-the-house restaurant employees suffer physical abuse on the job. Nearly two-thirds of chefs suffer from depression because of the work—74% lose sleep to the point of exhaustion and 53% feel pushed to their breaking points.
These workers also work long hours for extremely low pay. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has the May 2020 median pay for cooks at $28,180 a year, while the national median pay across all occupations during the same time was $56,310.
Local Filipinx Chef Wil Yee has worked as a professional chef for over 20 years at restaurants such as The Ruins and Osteria La Spiga, at Duos Catering, at the nonprofit Farestart, and with celebrity chef Martin Yan. Yee is a gay man and has also experienced a lot of toxicity during his years in the industry.
“This is the daily conversation: [Which woman] was the hot mess of the night. What girl so-and-so took home,” said Yee. “The guys literally go into detail, whether you want to hear them or not. Never mind that I’m gay. I’ve had my fair share of dudes grabbing their junk in front of me or drunk whispers about how, if I was a woman, what they would do to me.”
In his 40s, Yee said that he’d like to say that these incidents came from a different time and that things are now better in 2021—but he cannot say that.
“Just this past Friday, two of us were working a big event and this guy wasn’t having it with us. … His energy was sucking the life out of us. I finally had enough and stopped what I was doing and looked up at him to say, ‘Are you always this courteous to your guest chefs?’ The look I received was one I’ve seen far too many times growing up gay. He wanted to murder me. … I was scared, but I knew I couldn’t back down.”
Like Wu, Yee found that he was on his own and there was no support system in place for moments like these.
“The worst was that [other] people were right there and acted like nothing happened. Like, this was normal behavior for this guy in their kitchen.”
Wu misses working in a kitchen, so sometimes she tries to re-enter the industry. She tells herself it’s been three years, that she should be over it by now. Just a month ago, she tried to start a job at a local brewery.
“I couldn’t show up on my first shift,” she said. “The traumas and the panic attacks were so bad. I was shaking and puking and crying. I tried to fight it but I ended up being honest to the owner, that I thought I could do it but I’m still not over it apparently.”
Wu’s story is unfortunately not uncommon. She is one of the many people who burn out of the restaurant industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employee turnover rates in the restaurants and accommodations sector is abnormally high (at 74.9% in 2018) compared to the total U.S. private sector (48.9% in 2018).
“I know of many—who have given and accomplished so much to this industry—who decide to leave it entirely,” said Ran. “I’ve been at that precipice a few times myself. It’s painful to feel like you couldn’t cut it because you were devalued or looked down upon for whatever reason and to feel that you are weak for having feelings about your mistreatment.”
Accountability and what it could look like
Over the last few years, post #MeToo, a number of high profile chefs have been accused of sexual misconduct, chefs like Mario Batali, Mike Isabella, John Besh, Johnny Iuzzini, and more. While alleged abuse from celebrity chefs make good headlines, what often gets glossed over is the culture that supports and upholds the kind of power disparity and hypermasculinity that fosters such abuse.
“It’s too easy to demonize one or two egregiously bad chefs and imagine that their downfalls solve everything,” said Kristina Glinoga, butcher and owner of Butchery 101, who has worked in the kitchens of Canlis, Cascina Spinasse, and Radiator Whiskey. “But this is more than one man and one industry. The systems in place will keep grooming people to be problematic if we let them.”
“Restaurant kitchens—as a whole—for so long— haven’t been operated as professional workplaces,” said Diep Tran, the Vietnamese American and Los Angelesbased former chef-owner of Good Girl Dinette. “The lack of professionalism has meant, among other things, a breakdown of boundaries. In fact, that lack of boundaries is something that’s been celebrated for so long—by chefs, by the media—even as it has put workers vulnerable to harassment and abuse.”
According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, using data from between 1995 and 2016, the restaurant industry is the single largest source of sexual harassment claims, accounting for more than one-third of all sexual harassment claims from women. (It should be noted that this statistic reflects documented complaints and does not include issues that were resolved internally or issues that weren’t resolved at all.)
“If we are to rebuild our workplaces to be healthier, safer, and more equitable, those who perpetuate this toxicity need to be held accountable,” said Pacleb. “In this moment of substantial change in our society, we as new owners and new leaders have a responsibility to do the good work that needs to be done to set better examples for the future.”
One such example of accountability is from INCITE!, a network of radical feminists of color. INCITE! defines community accountability as a process in which a community works together to create and affirm values and practices, develop sustainable strategies to address community members’ abusive behavior, commit to ongoing development of all members of a community in order to transform the political conditions within it that reinforce oppression and violence, and provide safety and support to members who have been violently targeted in ways that respect the community members’ self-determination.
“To me, I need to see a lot more self-examination from people,” said Glinoga. “I think we need to look at these public cases like they’re the Ghost of Christmas Future, showing us nightmare scenarios we’re building with everyday behavior.”
“There are very distinct power differentials between workers and owners, chefs, and managers,” said Tran. “Not acknowledging these differentials only empowers the owners at the expense of the workers who, in this culture, have very few resources they can turn to when violations happen. This is one reason why I’m hoping we can shift away from a restaurant model that centers owners and chefs in favor of one that resembles worker co-ops, where the power is somewhat more balanced and no one person has so much power over so many.”
While progress on this front tends to be slow and incremental, Wu can track the movement. When she read the recent Seattle Times article, when she read the accounts from women who have come forward and who have spoken out publicly against the abuse they suffered—she felt less alone.
“I’m so glad we are more outspoken now and not afraid to hold these people responsible for their shitty actions.”
