PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA
VOL 40 NO 46 NOVEMBER 13 – NOVEMBER 19, 2021
FREE 39 YEARS YOUR VOICE
Steve Hobbs to become first POC Secretary of State
Sizzling Pot King burglarized
By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Gov. Jay Inslee named Steve Hobbs as Washington Secretary of State on Nov. 10—replacing Kim Wyman who is vacating the position to take a role with the Biden administration. As an Asian American, Hobbs will be the first person of color to serve in this role. In a video announcement (at press time, Inslee was in Scotland for COP 26, the world climate change conference), Inslee said, “Steve is a dedicated public servant. He has a strong national security perspective from his work in the Army and National Guard. His knowledge of cyber-security will be crucial as election systems around the country continue to face threats.” Inslee added, “Importantly, Steve has demonstrated political independence. That is crucial during this time of political polarization and distrust. He is a moderate who has worked effectively with people of all political perspectives. He is not afraid to challenge both Democrats and Republicans. Steve has worked to protect democracy and will continue that noble pursuit as Secretary of State.” see HOBBS on 8
Steve Hobbs
White House appoints Mike Fong as SBA regional director By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY *first published on NWAsianWeekly.com on Nov. 4 The White House just announced that Mike Fong, former senior deputy mayor of Seattle, will be the new U.S. Small Business Administration director for Region 10. Region 10 includes district offices in Alaska, Mike Fong Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, which are home to more than 1.3 million small businesses, representing over 2.7 million jobs. Fong, 44, told the Northwest Asian Weekly that he is excited about the opportunities to
help small businesses not only “to recover, but thrive.” Born in Spokane, Fong said he grew up with small businesses. “I have a front-row seat to pride and work ethic, and I saw how hard my dad and mom worked in the restaurant business.” Fong’s father owned and worked in Chinese restaurants for decades in Idaho and Spokane. “I learned first hand how hard it was to run a small business.” Growing up in his dad’s restaurant, Fong was always helping out in the kitchen chopping onions, doing prep work, and
Surveillance video footage from Sizzling Pot King on Nov. 7.
Thieves stole money and other equipment from Sizzling Pot King on South King Street on Nov. 7. Surveillance video captured a man and woman— who entered separately— taking $200 cash from the register, as well as eight iPads and a credit card machine. The thieves broke the restaurant’s store front window and climbed in. The glass has since been fixed. The owners tell the Northwest Asian Weekly their alarm did not go off as the battery was dead. This was the second break-in this year. The first incident was in January.
General election update *As of Nov. 9 TOP RACES City of Seattle, Mayor Bruce Harrell
OTHER RACES
59%
Port of Seattle, Commissioner Position No. 4 Toshiko Hasegawa 54%
City of Bellevue, Council Position No. 2 Conrad Lee 55% Dexter Borbe 45% East Bellevue Community Municipal Corporation, Council Position No. 5 Chiho Lai 57% see ELECTION on 6
see FONG on 13
COVID-19 vaccines for children arriving in WA UW Medicine
By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Sashi Olson, 9, getting his first Pfizer shot.
■
The woman’s voice on the phone was eager, intent, and even breathy in its desire to help. “We have nurses that can answer
questions, too,” she said. The call center, run by King County, for help with scheduling COVID-19 vaccinations is the latest sign of a pandemic response that has now reached see VACCINES on 15
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
NOVEMBER 13 – NOVEMBER 19, 2021
■ NAMES IN THE NEWS
Sandra Ung
Yasmin Trudeau is the next senator of the 27th Legislative District following the retirement of state Sen. Jeannie Darneille. The Pierce County Council voted to appoint her on a 7-0 vote, and she was sworn in by Washington Chief Justice Steven González last week. A Bengali American, Trudeau previously served as the legislative director for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. Before that, she was a policy analyst for the Washington State Senate Democratic Caucus, where she staffed the Senate Agriculture, Water, Trade & Economic Development committee and the Senate Ways & Means Committee on capital budget. Trudeau’s appointment takes effect immediately. A special election will be held in 2022 to fill the remainder of the term.
had. In addition to Sandra Ung, the daughter of Cambodian refugees, this historic group includes the first Korean Americans (Julie Won and Lin- Shahana Hanif Shekar Krishman da Lee) and the first South Asian Americans (Shahana Hanif and Shekar Krishnan) elected to the council. Only two Asians had previously served on the 51-member City Council. None of the candidates have run for office before.
CID community cleanup
5 AAPIs join New York City Council
Five Asian Americans were elected to the New York City Council on Nov. 2, the most the council has ever
Linda Lee
Photo by Seattle PD
Yasmin Trudeau
Julie Won
Nearly 40 people got together on Nov. 4 to help clean up the Seattle Chinatown-International District. The cleanup was the result of feedback from residents, small business owners, community-based organizations, and participants from the Public Safety Forum in September. Neighborhood residents, along with Community Service Officers from the Seattle Police Department and Seattle Public Utilities, collected over 40 bags of garbage.
Climate Pledge Arena uniforms by Luly Yang Photo provided by Luly Yang Design Group
Trudeau appointed to WA state Senate
Luly Yang (right) with CPA staff
Luly Yang has designed a sustainably-minded uniform collection fresh for Climate Pledge Arena (CPA). The collection features tailored pants, vests, buttonup shirts, blazers, and dresses that are made with 80% recycled materials—aligning with the CPA’s mission to be the first carbon zero arena in the world. The uniforms are currently being worn by the CPA ambassadors, and the team members in the Space Needle and Verizon Lounges.
CID community cleanup volunteers
SEATTLE RELIEF FUND You can apply to the Seattle Relief Fund if you are low-income AND one of these situations applies to you or a member of your household: • Live within the boundaries of the city of Seattle OR • Is a Seattle Promise student OR • Is a Seattle Public Schools student OR • Is an artist/cultural worker with an art studio/rehearsal space in Seattle
The City of Seattle is offering one-time financial assistance to Seattle residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information and to apply, visit seattlerelief.com. Call (206) 775-7490 if you have any questions or if you need help in your preferred language.
Accepting online applications starting on October 25, 2021. Application closes on November 15, 2021, 11:59 pm.
YOUR VOICE
■ COMMUNITY NEWS
NOVEMBER 13 – NOVEMBER 19, 2021
asianweekly northwest
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Reparations webinar
Dr. Ron Daniels
Larry Gossett
Alice Ito
Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action will host a webinar on reparations on Nov. 19. The webinar will be presented by Dr. Ron Daniels, the founder and president of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century (IBW), and co-facilitated by Larry Gossett and Alice Ito. Gossett is an iconic civil and human rights leader, and a former King County Councilmember, and Ito is the Senior Advisor on Racial Equity at the Seattle Foundation. Co-sponsors of the webinar include Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance Seattle,
LELO, WA Faith Action Network, and United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 21. Under Dr. Daniels leadership, the IBW has developed a 10 Point Reparations Program. NAARC also supports HR-40, the Congressional legislation that would establish a national commission to study reparations proposals for African Americans. To register for this event, contact organizer@psara.org.
Celebrating U.S.India partnerships A special program called “New Horizon” was held at the GIX Center in Bellevue on Nov. 8 to highlight the partnership between the United States and India. Speakers included Rep. Adam Smith, Consul General of India, Ambassador T.V. Nagendra Prasad, author Vasudha Sharma, Miss World America 2021 Shree Saini, Sens. Mankra Dhingra and Mona Das, and Diane Adachi. Close to 40
people attended. The event was organized by WASITRAC Washington State and India Trade Relations Action Committee and Debadutta Dash. Saini was honored for overcoming lifethreatening heart failures to succeed, and Priya Komarlingam, the CEO of CueMed, a start-up in the health care sector, was honored for the innovative product and service for preventing heart failures.
From left: Ekta Saini, nother of Shree Saini; Consul General of India, Ambassador T.V. Nagendra Prasad; and Miss World America 2021 Shree Saini.
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asianweekly northwest
39 YEARS
NOVEMBER 13 – NOVEMBER 19, 2021
■ NATIONAL NEWS
Asian Americans push for representation via redistricting By SAM METZ AP / REPORT FOR AMERICA CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — From Hamtramck, Michigan, to Las Vegas, Nevada, activists are pushing states to ensure growing Asian American and Pacific Islander communities can be equally represented in government during the once-in-a-decade redistricting process. Asian Americans are the fastest growing racial or ethnic group in the United States and now make up more than 10% of the population in Hawaii, California, New Jersey, Washington, and Nevada. The demographic group—though diverse politically, linguistically and economically—has become a powerful voting bloc in these states and elsewhere. Though Republicans made gains in 2020, Asian American and Pacific Islander voters have mostly supported Democratic presidential candidates since 2000. In Nevada, they were a key constituency that candidates courted in the last presidential primary. For nearly two years, anti-Asian discrimination and violence prompted by the pandemic has politically engaged and unified the community, activists and academics said. Historically, the Asian American community hasn’t been large or unified enough to challenge political maps in court. But data showing political cohesion among different subsets of the demographic group has amplified calls to consider it a community of interest in
redistricting. “If we all just identify as our ethnicity in itself, it’s not significant enough in numbers to negotiate, to build power or to become centered,” said Eric Jeng of Nevada’s Asian Community Development Council. “Our community shares concerns on immigration, health care, and education. And when anti-Asian hate was rising, they weren’t asking for where you’re from. People who looked Asian got attacked.” Nevada has more than 400,000 residents who identify as Asian American, Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, according to census data. The majority live in the Las Vegas area and are of Filipino, Chinese, Japanese or Vietnamese descent. The population increased by 47.3% over the past decade—more than three times as much as the overall population—largely in areas like Spring Valley and southwest Las Vegas. But the growth also exemplifies the competing interests that arise during the redrawing of congressional and state legislative districts. Questions over whether to prioritize drawing compact districts, protecting incumbents or drawing majority Asian American statehouse districts will inevitably confront Nevada’s Democratic-controlled Legislature with difficult decisions when they meet to conduct redistricting. At least four Nevada lawmakers identify as Asian American but none represent the areas of southwest Las Vegas where the population is most concentrated.
Kikuchi chooses free agency after Mariners decline option By TIM BOOTH AP SPORTS WRITER
Yusei Kikuchi
SEATTLE (AP) — Left-handed pitcher Yusei Kikuchi is leaving the Seattle Mariners after the team declined a club option on the All-Star and Kikuchi opted for free agency. Kikuchi could have exercised a oneyear player option, but instead is choosing a fresh start elsewhere after struggling over the second half of last season. Seattle also announced on Nov. 3 that it would not be picking up the option on third baseman Kyle Seager, a move that was long expected. Kikuchi’s fate was one of the big questions for Seattle entering the
offseason. For the first half of 2021, it seemed likely the team would exercise the option on the Japanese lefty after he went 6-4 with a 3.48 ERA and was Seattle’s lone All-Star selection. But Kikuchi collapsed in the second half of the season and had to be removed from the rotation during Seattle’s push for a postseason spot in the final weeks. Kikuchi was 1-5 with a 5.98 ERA over his final 13 outings. In three of his final four starts, Kikuchi didn’t last beyond three innings. “Not the way I think anybody envisioned the season ending for him, certainly with the way it started,” manager Scott Servais said after the season. “But you have to make adjustments, you have to do what’s best for the team and at the time I thought that was the best thing for the team.” If Seattle had exercised its option on Kikuchi, it would have locked him in for $66 million over four years, but the Mariners didn’t seem willing to make that commitment based off his secondhalf performance. Had Kikuchi exercised his player option, it would have been for $13 million for one season. Kikuchi was 15-24 with a 4.97 ERA in 70 starts over three seasons. The move with Seager was first see KIKUCHI on 14
In the Assembly, Speaker Jason Frierson, Assistant Majority Whip Sandra Jauregui and Speaker Pro Tempore Steve Yeager represent neighboring districts where the population is 28% to 30% Asian American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. In the state Senate, Democrats Dallas Harris and Melanie Scheible’s abutting districts are 31% and 27% Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander. Groups like the Asian Community Development Council and the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada want the Democratic-controlled Legislature to draw AAPI-majority districts to encourage political participation and ensure the demographic’s voting power isn’t diluted or gerrymandered. Jeng said non-Asian politicians who represent districts with large Asian American populations often enjoy broad support and champion issues that matter to the community, but he wants districts to be drawn in a way that ensures Asian American candidates won’t be deterred from running. “When people that look like them represent them, then the community gets involved more. When they don’t see people representing them who look like them, they don’t really participate,” Jeng said, noting Michelle Wu and Aftab Pureval’s victories in mayoral elections on Nov. 2 in Boston and Cincinnati. The communities that fall under the umbrella “AAPI”—which stands for Asian American and Pacific see REDISTRICTING on 12
KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received by the King County Procurement Services Section through the County’s E-Procurement system for the following listed bids. 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. KC000385 OPENS: 12/3/2021 Telephone Based Interpreter Services for E-911 System KC000391 OPENS: 11/22/2021 Radio Testing Equipment for the Emergency Radio System RFQ#KC000388 OPENS: 12/9/2021 Community Engagement Translation Program KC000393 OPENS: 12/6/2021 RFP COVID-19 Response After-Action Review and Report Pre-proposal Conference November 16, 2021 @9:00 AM +1 425-653-6586,,909446508# United States, Seattle Phone Conference ID: 909 446 508# KC000360 OPENS: 12/7/2021 RFP - Waste Monitoring Services Pre-Proposal Conference November 17, 2021 at 10:30 AM via Microsoft Teams meeting. Conference call +1 425-653-6586, Phone Conference ID: 315 358 212# KC000370 OPENS: 12/7/2021 VanPool Maintenance and Repair Pre-Proposal Conference, November 18, 2021 @ 1:30PM, via Microsoft Teams meeting. Conference call +1 425-6536586,,552839899# United States, Seattle Phone Conference ID: 552 839 899#
NOVEMBER 13 – NOVEMBER 19, 2021
YOUR VOICE
asianweekly northwest
■ COMMUNITY NEWS ISRD Board announces candidates for annual election Nominations for the International Special Review District (ISRD) Board election closed on Nov. 2 and nine candidates were nominated. Five board positions are up for election: POSITION #1 FOR A BUSINESS OWNER, PROPERTY OWNER, OR EMPLOYEE Ryan B. Gilbert is the Chief Operating Officer of the Seattle Indian Health Board, an indigenous community health center located in the ChinatownInternational District (CID). He believes it is important to be part of the vital work put forth by the ISRD Board. POSITION #2 FOR A RESIDENT, TENANT, OR COMMUNITY PARTICIPANT Matt Chan is currently seated on the ISRD Board and is interested in a second term. He has worked and volunteered with many organizations and nonprofits, including CISC, ICHS, International Examiner, InterimCDA, and Wing Luke. He is dedicated to making sure the CID continues to be a place where all Asian Americans can celebrate and honor their cultures. Ming Zhang is an architect who worked with three community organizations to fundraise and assist in the design and construction of the Chinatown Gate. He is also a participant in Chinatown Chamber of Commerce
events. By serving on the Board, he hopes to contribute more to make the community a better and proud place for all people. POSITION #3 FOR A BUSINESS OWNER, PROPERTY OWNER, OR EMPLOYEE Brian Chinn is a property owner with family ties to the neighborhood that go back four generations. He has a strong desire to help guide future development in a way that preserves its cultural character and makes it economically viable. Michael Le and his family own multiple businesses in the CID. He wants to see policies that respond to the city’s growth, help employees and customers feel safe to enjoy the CID, address the homelessness crisis, and the preservation of culture. POSITION #4 FOR A RESIDENT, TENANT, OR COMMUNITY PARTICIPANT Dean Kumiko Ninja Kawena Kubota is a resident of the CID who would like to bring his knowledge of the neighborhood and passion for the community to the Board. He is passionate about protecting the community and giving the community the tools needed to protect itself. He has experience in housing, disability, and transgender activism, and a passion for historic restoration, preservation, and senior
■ WORLD NEWS
Thai companies accused of fraud in sales of medical gloves By CHALIDA EKVITTHAYAVECHNUKUL ASSOCIATED PRESS BANGKOK (AP) — Police in Thailand announced the arrest of the head of a company suspected of cheating overseas buyers of millions of dollars they paid for undelivered medical rubber gloves during the coronavirus pandemic. Thai authorities have been cracking down on a surge in rubber glove fraud, including the sale of substandard and used gloves. Police Lt. Gen. Jirabhob Bhuridej
said Florida-based company Rock Fintek filed a complaint that Thailand’s Sufficiency Economy City Co. failed to deliver 2 million boxes of nitrile gloves worth $15.5 million for which it had paid a 40% deposit. He said two other companies, from France and Hong Kong, also filed complaints about Sufficiency Economy City Co., which marketed gloves branded SkyMed. The Thai company’s CEO, Kampee Kampeerayannon, was arrested on Nov. see GLOVES on 14
citizens’ rights.
Andy Yip has served in a leadership capacity in organizations such as the Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the Greater China Hong Kong Business Association of Washington, International Examiner Board, ICHS Foundation, and Seniors in Action. He is currently seated on the ISRD Board, where he serves as vice-chair. He would like to serve one more term to support the community. POSITION #5 FOR AT-LARGE Nella Kwan has been a volunteer with the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce since 2013. She is a board member of Kin On, a representative for Seafair and member with the Seattle Center’s Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month. She considers the CID her second home and wishes to apply her knowledge, understanding of the community, and unbiased insight and perspectives to her work with the ISRD Board.
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Tanya Woo is currently seated on the ISRD Board and wishes to carry on her family’s long tradition of service to the neighborhood. She has spent the last 10 years working on the redevelopment of the Louisa Hotel, which is owned by her family. She recognizes the importance of honoring the past while helping to make historic buildings useful for the future. The special character of the CID is recognized and protected by City Ordinance. The ISRD Board was created in 1973 to preserve, protect, and enhance the cultural, economic, and historical qualities of the District. Due to continued impacts of COVID-19 and ongoing public health concerns, the 2021 election will be held by mail-in ballot only. There will be no in-person voting. Ballots must be received by the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods by Nov. 30. Community members who are registered for this election will receive a ballot and selfaddressed stamped envelope by mail.
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39 YEARS
NOVEMBER 13 – NOVEMBER 19, 2021
■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR NOV
18
12
STAND-UP COMEDY: HASAN MINHAJ: THE KING’S JESTER The Paramount Theater, 911 Pine St., Seattle 7 p.m. Tickets at stgpresents.org
14 NOW THROUGH 14
LIHI’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY VIRTUAL GALA & AUCTION TO RAISE FUNDS FOR TINY HOUSES & URBAN REST STOPS Preview and register at lihi2021.ggo.bid/bidding/ package-browse lihi.org NOW THROUGH 14
VANCOUVER ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL Vancouver, BC, Canada vaff.org
AISAYA CORBRAY AT SEATLE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT ROTARY 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free on Zoom For Zoom meeting link email club at rotaryofseattleid@gmail.com
CAPAA NOVEMBER PUBLIC BOARD MEETING Zoom Meeting is TBA 10 a.m.-12 p.m. capaa.wa.gov
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CLASSICAL INDIAN DANCE SHOW, “DHRUPAD JHANKAAR 2021” Issaquah Village Theatre, 303 Front Street North, Issaquah 5-8 p.m.
SEATTLE ASIAN ART MUSEUM 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Seattle Asian Art Museum Advanced registration required volunteerparktrust.org/event/ saam-free-fridays/all
THROUGH NOV 20
BETWEEN AND WITHIN: NEW WORK BY JIYOUNG CHUNG ArtXchange Gallery, 512 First Ave. S., Seattle 5-8 p.m. artxchange.org
DEC
DANCE TANTRA IN COLLABORATION WITH
ESTELA ORTEGA AT SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL
93%
63%
City of Kent, Council Position No. 2 Satwinder Kaur 97%
City of Newcastle, Council Position No. 5 Pratima Lakhotia
51%
City of Newcastle, Council Position No. 9 Frank Irigon 50% * Challenger Paul Charbonneau is ahead by 10 points City of Sammamish, Council Position No. 1 Amy Lam
SEATAC’S ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING FESTIVAL Seatac Community Center, 13735 24th Ave. S., SeaTac 5:45-8:30 p.m.
RONNY CHIENG, STAND UP COMEDY 7:30 p.m. The Neptune Theatre $28-$33.50
Bellevue School District No. 405, Director District No. 3 Joyce Shui 68% Faye Yang 32% Bellevue School District No. 405, Director District No. 5 Jane Aras 65% Highline School District No. 401, Director District No. 3 Joe Van 84%
31 SEATTLE ASIAN ART MUSEUM FREE FIRST FRIDAY 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Seattle Asian Art Museum Free admission Advanced registration required volunteerparktrust.org/event/ saam-free-fridays/all
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CAPAA’S 2021 PEOPLE OF COLOR LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT Zoom Meeting is TBA 10 a.m.-12 p.m. capaa.wa.gov
SCHOOL
stgpresents.org
JAN
4
12
2
City of Lake Forest Park, Council Position No. 5 Tracy Furutani 57%
City of Federal Way, Council Position No. 4 Hoang Tran 50% *ahead by 78 votes City of Issaquah, Council Position No. 5 Russell Joe
DISTRICT ROTARY 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free on Zoom For Zoom meeting link email club at rotaryofseattleid@gmail.com
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ELECTION from 1 City of Clyde Hill, Council Position No. 3 Kim Muromoto
SADHANA PRESENT DHRUPAD JHANKAAR 2021 Issaquah Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah 5-8 p.m. sumanasafoundation.org
“UNITED BY CHALLENGES,” U.S.-JAPAN FRIENDSHIP COMING OF AGE CELEBRATION Bellevue College and Zoom 1-3 p.m. RSVP required seijinusa.org/seijinregistration seijinusa.org
Lake Washington School District No. 414, Director District No. 3 Leah Choi 55% Seattle School District No. 4, Director District No. 4 Vivian Song Maritz 72% The secretary of state will certify results by Dec. 2. If there are any AAPI candidates we missed, please let us know at editor@nwasianweekly.com.
51%
View the solution on page 14
Assunta Ng
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Kelly Liao John Liu
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The only weekly English-language newspaper serving Washington’s Asian community. The NW Asian Weekly has one simple goal: “To empower the Asian community.” The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject any advertisement, letter or article. Subscriptions cost $40 for 52 weeks of the NW Asian Weekly and $30 for 52 weeks of the Seattle Chinese Post. The NW Asian Weekly owns the copyright for all its content. All rights reserved. No part of this paper may be reprinted without permission. 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 editor@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com
NOVEMBER 13 – NOVEMBER 19, 2021
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asianweekly northwest
39 YEARS
NOVEMBER 13 – NOVEMBER 19, 2021
■ AT THE MOVIES
COLOR, CHARISMA, AND CAREFUL CARING By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
The Thursday night opening of the new Marvel Cinematic Universe feature “Eternals,” at Northgate’s Regal Thornton Place, went as matter-offactly as most rollouts of big movies do, given our times. In a single-filed line, the gatekeeper checked vaccination cards one at a time. Popcorn got bought, plus soda (the Icee machine was down for the count). “That guy can’t act,” snickered one ticket holder, gesturing to the huge ad for the movie taking up half a wall. Of course, busy on my way to my seat, I couldn’t see who was being disrespected. And in a film with some 11 leading actors, I would have had a hard time picking out the man’s answer anyway. “Eternals,” now playing local theaters, consolidates the remarkable rise of director and co-writer Chloé Zhao, born in Beijing but a longtime American resident. Her first film, “Songs My Brother Taught Me,” from 2015, earned less than $150,000 at the box office. But she took Best Director at the Oscars for her third film, 2020’s “Nomadland,” becoming the second female and the first woman of color to take that honor. The new film, at more than two-anda-half hours with a total budget of $200 million, boasts an epic scale to go with its big numbers—a story so complicated
HOBBS from 1 The Washington Secretary of State preserves the integrity of elections in Washington state; safeguards vital government records, documents, publications and process; provides the business community and public with easy access to information about corporations and charities; and performs public outreach to improve civic knowledge and participation. Hobbs, of white and Japanese descent, grew up in Snohomish County and ran for Congress in 2012, and Lieutenant Governor in 2016. He has represented the 44th Legislative District in the state Senate since 2007. He currently serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Washington State National Guard. Hobbs thanked Inslee “for putting his faith and trust in me to perform the duties of this office. There is nothing
it might be good to read up on it before you head in. The Eternals themselves look human, but they’re imbued with fantastic powers and what appears to be immortality. They’re sent to Earth in 5,000 BC with a mission to follow. They’re also told not to get too close to the developing human race. Their mission is work, and they must keep to their work. This proves much harder in practice than in theory, especially as their mission stretches across years, decades, centuries, and eventually millennia. When they come to believe they’ve been tricked, they must find each other, both physically and emotionally, to arrive at the truth, although they may kill each other to get at that truth. Gemma Chan as Sersi gets a great deal of the screen time, and the British Asian actress does a great deal for holding the group together. She’s been disappointed in love, betrayed by those she should have been able to trust, and at times the others even question her. But she propels herself with a matchless, quiet dignity. Other crucial roles for people of color include Pakistani American
more sacred than the right to vote. I’ve fought for that right overseas and will do everything in my power to protect that right here in Washington.” Hobbs has both a Master of Public Administration and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington. He recently completed Defense Information School through the U.S. Department of Defense and has additional training for officers from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Inslee’s appointment of Hobbs takes effect on Nov. 22. There will be a statewide special election in November 2022 to complete the last two years of the secretary of state’s term. A replacement for Hobbs’ current senate seat will be made by Snohomish County. Ruth can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.
Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo, cheerfully selfish Eternal turned Bollywood legend; Korean American Don Lee as the superstrong Gilgamesh; Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos, the first gay superhero in any Marvel Cinematic Universe title; Indian actor Harish Patel as Karun, Kingo’s longsuffering personal assistant; and Mexican American Salma Hayek as Ajak, the group’s original leader. The long running time means director Zhao can keep a fight sequence going for 20 minutes, if she cares to. It also allows for a number of back-and-forth reversals, as the group struggles to understand what’s really going on. Watching thousands of humans grow, learn, fail, struggle, hurt each other, and help each other, have worn into them in ways they certainly didn’t anticipate. One thing they know, though—this is no longer
simply work. And at the end, some of the naysayers from before the film hung out by the restroom to pull apart what they’d just seen. In a universe supposing intelligent life all through it, they laughed, what’s so special about Earth? Why should Earth mean anything special? And I silently reflected that I couldn’t refute them. Not given the idea of life all around, through the stars. But through the universe into which we re-emerged when the lights went up, we sit alone so far as we know. We might as well care. We might as well throw in Eternals-level passion. Andrew can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
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NOVEMBER 13 – NOVEMBER 19, 2021
YOUR VOICE
■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
asianweekly northwest
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Jimmy O. Yang’s Crab Club feasts on Asian American stories
One of the hottest “clubs” in Hollywood is run by “Crazy Rich Asians” actor Jimmy O. Yang and his producing partners. There’s no DJ or bottle service. If you gain entry, you better know how to eat a Dungeness crab. Yang, whose Netflix holiday rom-com “Love Hard” debuted on Nov. 5, has been turning Crab Club, the production company he operates alongside Jessica Gao and Ken Cheng, into a real Hollywood force. Why Crab Club? The moniker comes from their regular crab dinners with other Asian American friends working in entertainment. The aim was not just to eat, but also to support each other. The meals rotate among their Los Angelesarea homes. For Yang, it was a “cool dinner club.” “I just felt very normal, kind of like when I was shooting ‘Crazy Rich Asians,’ where we didn’t have to explain ourselves,” Yang told The Associated Press. Being in Hollywood, the gatherings eventually transcended beyond being a support group and are now an incubator for TV and film projects told on their terms. In 2019, Yang, Gao and Cheng formed Crab Club, Inc., and it didn’t take
From CrabClubInc.com
By TERRY TANG ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jessica Gao
Jimmy O. Yang
Ken Cheng
long for the company to prove it has legs. Comedian Jo Koy showed up to one of the dinners and there was a spark of “synergy,” Yang said. Talk of all of them working together led to Crab Club’s first project: “Easter Sunday,” a comedy about a Filipino American family starring Koy. The movie, which will premiere in April, found a partner in Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment. “We all broke the story together. But Ken is the main writer,” Yang said. “He wrote such an amazing script that it was legendarily greenlit by Steven Spielberg
on the first draft.” They’re now co-writing “The Great Chinese Art Heist” with Yang’s former “Crazy Rich Asians” director, Jon M. Chu, attached. Crab Club is also producing an Amazon Studios comedy series, to be co-penned and executive produced by Cheng, about outcasts in Los Angeles. “If somebody sends us a project, we have two rules,” Cheng said. “The first is the project has to sort of spotlight a marginalized voice or a marginalized community. We’re three Chinese
Americans. Obviously, we’re going to lean towards Asian American projects or Asian diasporic projects...The second mandate is all three of us have to like it and want to do it.” Crab Club dinners—which were temporarily halted during the pandemic—weren’t intended to be some exclusive Asian Algonquin Round Table. It really started out as being about eating crab. Gao, showrunner of the highly anticipated Marvel/Disney+ “She-Hulk”
“Vaccination is one of the most important steps in ending the pandemic. I chose to vaccinate to protect myself from a deadly disease. Vaccinate to stop the spread of COVID-19 to your family, your friends, and to get back to doing the things we love.” - Trang P., Seattle, WA
see YANG on 14
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asianweekly northwest
NOVEMBER 13 – NOVEMBER 19, 2021
39 YEARS
Photos by Assunta Ng
■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG What we learned from the election
Flyers from Bruce Harrell‘s campaign mailed to voters
Flyers and a package of cherries from Lorena Gonzalez’s campaign mailed to voters
Sara Nelson‘s smaller flyer vs. Nikkita Oliver’s much bigger flyer
By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
with Asian American voters. Without naming Harrell’s opponent, Lorena Gonzalez, Tomio Moriguchi, former Uwajimaya chairman, who supported Harrell, said, “The other side is crazy,” talking about “defunding the police and encouraging lawlessness to ruin the city.” Ling Chinn, a Chinatown property owner, is quick to point out that there is one more victory in Seattle’s election in addition to the triple gains. “We got rid of that woman (Gonzalez). She always stirs up trouble. Businesses are not the enemies.” Giving up her City Council seat to run for mayor, Gonzalez said she represents workers. Her campaign was bankrolled by unions. With close to $1 million dollars to buy vicious attack advertisements towards Harrell and backtracking her views on defunding police, Gonzalez’s poor performance exposed her weakness as a candidate. She lumped sexual abuse and other issues together to confuse voters on the real challenges Seattle is facing. Her method angered businesses and the community at
large. It also exposed the unions’ miscalculation on the strength and choice of their candidate, and the strategies to win. The progressives miscalculated on several fronts. First, the majority of the voters weren’t fooled by misleading and racist advertisements towards Harrell. Those ads backfired as “racist,” forcing Gonzalez to pull the ads. She underestimated the intelligence of voters who were more concerned with solutions to turn the city around, convinced that leadership matters, and that divisive politics has no place. Gonzalez’s divisive style is to turn workers against the business community, especially big businesses. She has repeatedly said she would tax Amazon. Businesses provide jobs and income for the community, Chinn said. “Imagine Chinatown without businesses, we would have no jobs, no money, we won’t be able to thrive.” In contrast to Gonzalez’s approach towards Amazon,
Last Tuesday’s election reflected division between young and old, businesses and workers, progressives and moderates. The results were dramatic, showing the moderates’ winning and progressives’ miscalculation. Polls revealed the three business-backed candidates would win: Bruce Harrell for mayor, Ann Davison for city attorney, and Sara Nelson for City Council. But no one predicted that Harrell would win as big as 59%. Few could ever imagine that both Davision and Nelson would win, and with a substantial lead, as their opponents had made a lot of noise. The candidates ran on the issues of public safety, against police defunding, and much less on ideology even though Democrats had accused Davison of being a Republican, switching from a Democrat. Despite the national trend that many voters switched to vote Republican in the last election, it’s probably less true
see BLOG next page
YOUR VOICE
■ FINANCE
NOVEMBER 13 – NOVEMBER 19, 2021
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Halt credit card fraud this holiday season By Jason Shen EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR JP MORGAN CHASE Sponsored content from JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chase and other financial institutions issue hundreds of credit cards to consumers every day. Most people carry one or more, and they are heavily used for holiday shopping. But now credit card fraud is more frequent than ever. Millions of people are victimized by Jason Shen credit card breaches every year, with the holiday shopping season being a particularly vulnerable time. Not all issuers—and credit or debit cards—are the same. Choose wisely when opening a credit or debit card account with a financial institution. The decisions you make now will either haunt or comfort you should you ever be victimized by fraudulent activity.
BLOG from previous page Harrell aims to work together for solutions. In meetings with the Asian community members, Harrell said, Amazon has made billions of dollars in the City, and it has a responsibility to contribute to the City’s wellbeing, implying that he won’t let Amazon off the hook for not doing its share. He would give them a chance first, rather than using direct attacks and insults like many City Council members. It reminds me of a Chinese saying, “Be a gentleman first, then be villain,” if it fails. Harrell supporter, Tony Au, an entrepreneur, along with other Chinese Americans, organized more than eight fundraising events for eight different candidates, from Bellevue to Seattle, Renton to Burien, who are moderates and most importantly, not anti-police. “I have learned to support candidates with the right policies. Being in the political process helps the community to fight for their rights and have a voice. All the political involvement creates an opportunity to unify the Chinese community whether they came from Hong Kong, Taiwan, or China. Then connecting the entire AAPI community, our family, we work together to choose the right leaders for the city. Democracy means our right to choose.” Rosa Melendez, a retiree who is overjoyed, relieved, and excited for the citizens of Seattle, had voted “for the principles and justices which Harrell stands for. I know he wants to increase law enforcement and social services to complement each other.” Melendez also voted for Davison and Nelson. “Being a Latina doesn’t mean I have to vote for another Latina (Gonzalez). I vote for the principles that are right for society.” In a South Seattle neighborhood meeting, Chinn said she could relate to Harrell’s comment that not all City Council members represent the city. Seven out of 9 council members represent a particular district with only two members for the city at large. Each of these seven members should pay attention to their own district’s needs and interests. A case in point is Councilmember Kshama Sawant of District 3. Her constituents complain that she has been unresponsive to her district. People would call her about problems, and she would never return phone calls.
What to look for in your credit or debit card: JUST SAY NO—AS IN ZERO If your credit or debit cards are physically stolen or used without your authorization, you may not be liable for any charges. If your card has zero liability protection, you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges. STAY ALERT Sign up for account alerts. Chase uses specialized fraud monitoring tools, and will text or email card holders to alert them to unusual card activity. FAST ACTION If fraud is suspected or your card is stolen, a good provider will ship a new card to you immediately—even if you’re traveling abroad.
in volume and amount if they go undetected. KEEP CONTACT INFORMATION UP TO DATE If you move or get a new cell phone number, make sure you update your contact information accordingly with your card provider. That will ensure they are able to reach you in the case of suspected fraud or other emergency. STRENGTHEN YOUR PASSWORD It may seem inconvenient, but a long password— using numbers, letters, and symbols—is much harder to hack. If you choose something simple or personal—like birth dates or your kids’ names—savvy hackers may be able to break the code simply by reading your profile on social media. Plus, it’s not a bad idea to change your password every few months.
GO PAPERLESS Eliminate hard-copy statements by signing up to access your credit and debit card account online. Be sure to monitor it every few days, or more frequently, during this busy shopping season. If you spot anything inaccurate or unauthorized, contact your provider’s customer service center immediately. If you wait to get your statement in the mail, weeks may pass before you identify a fraudulent transaction—which tends to grow
Throughout the end-of-year shopping season, and anytime, be vigilant in following these steps in tandem with a card issuing-partner that is similarly attentive. Doing so will further the likelihood of happier, stressfree holidays.
WHY PROGRESSIVES WON’T SUPPORT HARRELL A progressive organization, Asian Pacific American Coalition for Equality (APACE), endorsed Gonzalez. Rick Polintan, a board member, who was on the endorsement committee, said the question about Harrell’s role in defending former mayor Ed Murray, who was accused of sexual abuse while he was Council President, didn’t sit well. APACE endorsed Gonzalez, who was the first Council member to call for Murray’s resignation. Stephen King, who chaired the diverse Democrats’ 37th district, said it endorsed no one even though Harrell lives in the neighborhood. Contrary to the belief that progressives tend to be younger, King said most of his district’s members are in their 50s. But Gonzalez was only one vote shy of an endorsement. King said he voted for Gonzalez because when the mayor and the council are in line, they work together to get things done. But if the mayor is at odds with the council, it would be the same as before, four more years of fighting each other. There was more to these legislative districts. One older voter, who didn’t want to be named, said he wasn’t happy with the people running the endorsement process. “They took control of everything.” So he left. He figured his revenge would be voting against young people’s choices. In the past, the older Asian leaders, being inclusive, often encouraged and mentored young people to participate in politics. Instead of working with different segments of the population, the young folks thought they were ahead of the game by excluding those who disagreed with them.
people. Enraged by Nicole Thomas-Kennedy, candidate for City attorney, who advocated no jails for people who committed misdemeanors, Wu said, “There is no excuse for poverty crime. The candidate encouraged people to steal. She has no standard and no brain.” This was the first time she and her friends had worked so tirelessly for those candidates even though some are not Asian. “I hate to see the moral standard of our city going down. If the Seattle City Council had used common sense to run the city, none of these downtown and neighborhood businesses would be shut down, caused by shoplifting and homeless camps nearby.”
FIGHTING BACK When Harrell met with disenfranchised voters, he said, “Let’s take back our city with your help.” Many Asian Americans resonated with his sentiments. They felt the city was under siege by one-sided activists. Shiao-Yen Wu, another business owner, supported all three moderate candidates for the Seattle races by donating money to their campaign and organizing fundraising events for them. She and her friends advertised in the Seattle Chinese Post to promote these candidates to educate Chinese immigrant voters. She then emailed the advertisement to her circle of 2,000
For additional information, please contact Jason Shen at jason.j.shen@jpmorgan.com.
LESSONS Last week’s election was a referendum on what candidates should do to win. The results conclude that no candidate could win with a one-sided agenda. It’s also a reflection on the current City Council members, who are deaf to opposing views. The Council proposed on Nov. 9 to cut $11 million from the police department at the objection of Mayor Jenny Durkan. Mayor-elect Harrell also opposed. In a statement, he said, “The City Council needs to listen to voters’ desire for immediate investments in public safety and reverse the proposed $10 million cut to the SPD budget. Proposing further cuts deprives the City of resources needed to achieve national best practice staffing levels, decrease response times, and hire and train desperately needed officers—and is in direct conflict with what Seattle voters demanded just last week.” A City Hall insider, who didn’t want to be identified, depicted the City Council as “insular.” “They only want to listen to who they want to listen to— only a small group of people—labor and the young. That’s how they make their decisions. And they won’t back down. That perception is wrong. And they make no outreach on their policies. And it is their downfall.” Don’t wait till 2023 for some council members’ reelection. It’s time to recruit new blood to run against those who don’t listen to voters. Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.
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NOVEMBER 13 – NOVEMBER 19, 2021
■ WORLD NEWS
39 YEARS
Astronaut conducts first spacewalk by Chinese woman BEIJING (AP) — Wang Yaping has become the first Chinese woman to conduct a spacewalk as part of a sixmonth mission to the country’s space station. Fellow astronaut Zhai Zhigang left the station’s main module on Nov. 7 and Wang followed later. They installed equipment and carried out tests alongside the station's robotic service arm, according to the China Manned Space Agency. The spacewalk lasted until the early hours of Nov. 8. Wang and fellow astronaut Zhai Zhigang left the station’s main module on the evening of Nov. 7, spending more than six hours outside installing equipment and carrying out tests alongside the station’s robotic service arm, according to the China Manned Space agency. The third member of the crew, Ye Guangfu, assisted from inside the station, CMS said on its website.
Wang, 41, and Zhai, 55, had both traveled to China’s now-retired experimental space stations, and Zhai conducted China’s first spacewalk 13 years ago. The three are the second crew on the permanent station, and the mission that began with their arrival Oct. 16 is scheduled to be the longest stretch of time in space yet for Chinese astronauts. The Tianhe module of the station will be connected next year to two more sections named Mengtian and Wentian. The completed station will weigh about 66 tons, much smaller than the International Space Station, which launched its first module in 1998 and weighs around 450 tons. Three spacewalks are planned to install equipment in preparation for the station’s expansion, while the crew will also assess living conditions in the Tianhe module
and conduct experiments in space medicine and other fields. China’s military-run space program plans to send multiple crews to the station over the next two years to make it fully functional. Soviet cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya was the first woman to walk in space in 1984. Kathryn Sullivan became the first American woman to do so later the same year. In 2019, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Christina Koch participated in the first all-female spacewalk to replace a faulty power control unit outside the International Space Station. The walk lasted more than seven hours.
Tennis star accuses China ex-vice premier of sexual assault By KEN MORITSUGU ASSOCIATED PRESS BEIJING (AP) — Chinese authorities have squelched virtually all online discussion of sexual assault accusations apparently made by a Chinese professional tennis star against a former top government official, showing how sensitive the ruling Communist Party is to such charges. In a lengthy social media post that disappeared quickly, Peng Shuai wrote that Zhang Gaoli, a former vice premier and member of the party’s all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee, had forced her to have sex despite repeated refusals following a round of tennis three years ago. Her post also said they had sex once seven years ago and she had feelings for him after that. Peng is a former top-ranked doubles player, taking 23 tour-level doubles titles, including Grand Slams at Wimbledon in 2013 and the French Open in 2014. The Associated Press could not verify the authenticity of her post, which was made on Nov. 2 by her verified account on Weibo, a leading Chinese social media platform. The post was removed soon after, and a search on Weibo for Peng’s account now turns up no results. Neither she nor Zhang could be reached for comment.
REDISTRICTING from 4 Islander—are diverse, but survey data shows the group is relatively united about certain political issues, said University of Maryland professor Janelle Wong. “There’s so much discussion about Asian American diversity,“ said Wong, who also works as co-director of AAPI Data. “But one of the most critical and astounding features of the Asian American community is that, despite this tremendous diversity, there’s actually a remarkable level of consensus around particular issues.” Asian American Republicans are more likely to support the Affordable Care Act than other Republicans and, across income brackets, they’re similarly likely to support increasing taxes on the rich, with those who
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The accusation is the first against a prominent government official since the (hash)MeToo movement took hold in China in 2018 before being largely tamped down by authorities the same year. Earlier accusations were confined to the media, advocacy groups and academia. The Communist Party’s response illustrates its determination to control public discourse and restrain social movements it can’t be sure of controlling. While social media has become ubiquitous in China, it remains firmly under party control. Screenshots of the post have circulated on Twitter, which is blocked in China, reinvigorating discussion on that platform about gender relations in China, where men dominate the top levels in politics and business. In the post, Peng, 35, wrote that Zhang, now 75, and his wife arranged to play tennis in Beijing about three years ago and that he later brought her into a room at his home where the assault occurred. “I was so frightened that afternoon, never thinking that this thing could happen,” the post says. Rumors and overseas reports about affairs between younger women and leading officials have long been staples of Chinese politics, starting with the founder of the People’s Republic, Mao Zedong.
Cases brought against present and former officials under party leader and President Xi Jinping’s decadelong anti-corruption campaign also frequently feature accusations of “lascivious lifestyles,” along with bribery and abusing their positions. Zhang retired in 2018 and has largely disappeared from public life, as is usual with former Chinese officials. Peng hasn’t played at the top tier since the Qatar Open in February 2020. In singles, she reached the semifinals of the 2014 U.S. Open and the Round of 16 at the subsequent Australian Open, but hasn’t progressed beyond the third round at any major since Wimbledon in 2017. The Communist Party has increasingly cracked down on civil society, including the (hash)MeToo movement that has struggled to gain traction in the country. Zhou Xiaoxuan, a former intern at Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, was shoved by bystanders in September as she went to court in a case against a wellknown presenter. Since then, the movement has been largely shut down by authorities as activists found their online posts censored and faced pressure from authorities when trying to hold protests.
make more than $250,000 annually almost as supportive as those who make less, Wong said. The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada is lobbying lawmakers to draw at least one district in which a majority of residents are Asian American or Pacific Islander to ensure the growing group’s voting power isn’t diluted. “We’re concerned that, if the Legislature were to advance maps that are relatively the same as they stand today, it would result in the dilution of voting power in Nevada’s growing AAPI community that has and continues to be woefully underrepresented statewide,” Athar Haseebullah, the group’s executive director, told lawmakers at an October committee hearing.
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YOUR VOICE
■ ASTROLOGY
NOVEMBER 13 – NOVEMBER 19, 2021
asianweekly northwest
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Predictions and advice for the week of November 13–19, 2021 By Sun Lee Chang Rat—Is there a task you’ve been delaying in favor of the perfect time? Remember that some things simply cannot wait.
Dragon—Working as a team has its challenges, but getting the best effort out of everyone is something you do well.
Monkey—Are there more demands on your time than you want? Free up your schedule by cutting some lower priority items.
Ox—Expecting immediate results from a few selective changes? Chances are you will have to be patient to see improvement.
Snake—Avoid letting your competitive streak interfere with your enjoyment of just being in the moment.
Rooster—Someone you admire has some eyeopening advice for you. Following it might not be as easy as you think.
Tiger—As your inner drive is quite strong, channel it into an activity or endeavor that you are truly interested in.
Horse—Even though it is not exactly what you had planned, there could be a benefit to the new scenario.
Dog—Your generous and forgiving nature is admirable, but it is entirely reasonable to set limits to both.
Rabbit —Are you suddenly in the middle of the action? Try to be calm in the center of the storm.
Goat—If you still have significant, unanswered questions, then it is incumbent upon you to follow up.
Pig—Although it might not be immediately evident, there is likely a substantial upside to getting an early start.
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.
FONG from 1 waiting tables. His parents worked in the kitchen for long hours, and his dad had to close down his restaurant in Idaho after being affected by a construction project next door. FONG’S CONTRIBUTIONS “I have tried to ensure the voice of the community is at the table for dialogue and decision-making,” said Fong, who was in charge of Mayor Jenny Durkan’s cabinet and executive team. Serving as a bridge between the mayor’s office and the Asian community, Fong is in frequent contact with Asian community members to see how the City can be of service. A Fong supporter, Tony Au said, “Michael has done a lot for the community. He inspires us to get involved in Seattle politics. He educates us about policy and its implications on the community. That’s why we organized the community to support pay raises for Seattle police officers and lobbied the City Council on other issues. Before, I didn’t know much about politics, and I have learned a lot from him.” Fong’s words meant action. He had the mayor’s ear. He was by the mayor’s side meeting with community leaders after Chinatown-International District (CID) was looted and destroyed by Black Lives Matter splinter groups in May 2020, and at other times during the pandemic. He supported funding for CID community groups so that they could survive. When CID businesses were first impacted by COVID in February 2020, Fong urged Durkan and her team to dine in CID restaurants as an example to support the community. Durkan paid for the bill. Several city departments and their staff members followed. They dined together in CID restaurants and ordered take-out food regularly. CID community members have
been distressed by the growing piles of garbage and filth in alleys, streets, and near the homeless camps under the freeway. Illegal dumping is a concern in the neighborhood. Au videotaped CID conditions to show Fong. Immediately, the city sent down cleaning trucks and doubled their cleaning schedule in the CID. Loads and loads of garbage were cleaned up. Fong also worked with city departments to increase funding for cleaning in the CID. However, Fong said he is most proud of the work “we did around creating the Seattle Preschool Program and Seattle Promise. It will have lasting impacts for young people in this City for years to come.” He managed the policy work through the mayor’s side and the legislation on the council’s side. Then he helped get them both passed in the public vote. Being a role model in the Chinese community, Fong is one of the few American-born Chinese officials who can speak fluent Cantonese. It is impressive to see that he can give a speech in Cantonese to his Chinese audience during Lunar New Year and other occasions. He hopes that his work would inspire more young people to go into public service.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE Fong’s journey to receive an appointment from President Joe Biden took a village. Former Gov. Gary Locke and former Seattle Deputy Mayor Hyeok Kim led an AAPI community letter campaign supporting his appointment, and close to 100 Asian community and business leaders signed the letter last June. “I’ve known Mike for many years and worked closely with him for nearly four years during my time in the mayor’s office,” said Kim, a consultant. “His analytical and political skills are strong, but it’s balanced by his deep commitment to community. He will be a tireless champion for small businesses in our region.” Fong was also grateful for support from the Washington state congressional delegation, including Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and Congress members Pramila Jayapal, Marilyn Strickland, and others. Fong credited Durkan for suggesting that he seek an appointment with the SBA while brainstorming his next career move. He worked for eight years under two mayors,
Durkan and Ed Murray, and also for King County Executive Dow Constantine. Currently, Fong has been working on a short assignment for Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers as a senior adviser and Chief Recovery and Resilience Officer since September. “This is good news for Snohomish County, Washington state, and the entire region,” said Somers. ”Michael’s deep experience and range of talents will be assets for the many small businesses and workers who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful that Michael has helped us organize and launch our Office of Recovery and Resilience.” A graduate of the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in political science, Fong will begin working on Jan. 5, 2022 under SBA administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. About 60 people will report to Fong from district offices in four states. Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.
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asianweekly northwest
39 YEARS
NOVEMBER 13 – NOVEMBER 19, 2021
CLASSIFIEDS EMPLOYMENT
Program Manager for Nursing Programs, R21031B Bellevue College (Bellevue, WA) is seeking qualified applicants to fill the Program Manager for Nursing Programs, R21031B position. This position supports the delivery of instruction and student success by administering, organizing and managing student guidance, recruitment and operations of specific programs within the Health Sciences, Education & Wellness Institute (HSEWI), Academic Affairs Division. Requirement: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant educational and work experience. Three (3) years of experience providing customer service to the public/special groups/clients. To review full position announcement and detailed application instructions, please go to http:// www.bellevuecollege.edu/jobs/
EMPLOYMENT 2 WOK CHEF -
EMPLOYMENT
- Decent English required - Great work ethic! - Team work. Good Pay. - Good benefits. Call 206-227-8000 Now hiring -Waited staff -Kitchen helpers -Dishwashers ($20/hr.) T&T Seafood Restaurant 425-776-3832
Advertize in our Service Directory below. Just $10 a week! Minimum: 12 weeks for $120. Call John at 206223-0623 for more info.
NOTICE
NOW HIRING Infant, Toddler, Preschool & Pre K
Lead, Assistant and Substitute Teachers Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA) is seeking to fill positions with energetic and enthusiastic individuals who will utilize our learning through play curriculum. Essential skills include being highly creative, organized and flexible. Effective communication for interacting with children and adults alike and the ability and desire to mentor and work collaboratively with co-workers is key.
NOW NOWHIRING HIRING
Infant, Toddler, Preschool & Pre K Infant, Toddler, Preschool Prestandard K Lead, Assistant and (CPR, and Must meet federal and state health & and safety and maintain credentials for Childcare Assistant first aid, HIV,and CPS Substitute Training, passTeachers TB test). Substitute Teachers.Lead, Refugee Womens’s Alliance (ReWA) is Minimum Qualification: Reflective id: 30 STARS Certification seekingPreferred to fillQualifications: positions with energetic and enthusiastic individuals B.A. degree in early childhood Education or related field. Experience volunteering working in our a multi-cultural environment with variousplay educational backgrounds. Bicultural/bilingual in who will orutilize learning through curriculum. Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, French. Omoro, Amharic, Eritrean, Somali, or Tigrinya. To apply: Visit Toour employment page at ReWA.org Apply: Visit our employment page at ReWA.org Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA) is seeking to fill positions with energetic and enthusiastic individuals who will utilize our learning through play curriculum. Essential skills include being highly creative, organized and flexible. Effective communication for interacting with children and adults alike and the ability and desire to mentor and work collaboratively with co-workers is key. Must meet federal and state health and safety standard and maintain credentials for Childcare (CPR, and first aid, HIV, CPS Training, pass TB test). Minimum Qualification: Reflective id: 30 STARS Certification
Preferred Qualifications: B.A. degree in early childhood Education or related field. Experience volunteering or working in a multi-cultural environment with various educational backgrounds. Bicultural/bilingual in Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, French. Omoro, Amharic, Eritrean, Somali, or Tigrinya.
To Apply: Visit our employment page at ReWA.org
DONE RITE
CARPET CLEANING
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS KCHA is soliciting bids on for Street Sweeping, Vactor and Snow Removal Services for commercial and residential properties located in King, Thurston and Skagit Counties. Women and Minority owned companies are strongly encouraged to submit proposals. Proposals are due by 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 18th, 2021. Proposals are available at kcha. org/business/construction/open or via email October 28, 2021. Contact Danielle Munroe at KCHA (206) 574‐1200 or daniellem@kcha.org REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS KCHA is soliciting bids on for Bed Bug Treatment Services for commercial and residential properties located in King, Thurston and Skagit Counties. Women and Minority owned companies are strongly encouraged to submit proposals. Proposals are due by 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 18th, 2021. Proposals are available at kcha.org/business/construction/open or via email October 28, 2021. Contact Danielle Munroe at KCHA (206) 574‐1200 or daniellem@kcha.org
206-487-8236
GLOVES from 5 2 on charges of fraud and posting false information online, he said. Kampee could not be contacted on Nov. 3 and his company declined to comment. In a separate case, the Thai attorney-general’s office announced that a Thai employee of Paddy the Room Trading Co., Pipatpon Homjanya, was sentenced to four years in prison. The company had exported millions of substandard and in some cases secondhand gloves to the United States which were packed without permission in boxes of a legitimate glove producer, Thai officials said. Pipatpon was found guilty of producing and trading
KIKUCHI from 4 reported by The Seattle Times and was expected since the start of the season. Seager’s option would have been for $20 million, but both sides seemed ready for the relationship to come to an end. Seager will receive a $2
YANG from 9 series, said they and two other friends created a text thread in 2017 to alert each other if they saw Dungeness crab at a bargain price. “When the prices dropped to the single digits per pound, we would all—like the Avengers— assemble to have a crab dinner,” Gao said. “We would all take turns hosting at each other’s houses. And we’re all very good cooks.” It’s been invite-only due to the difficulty accommodating beyond 1015 people and because the host has to buy the crabs. Their little supper club has started to generate buzz, with producers and actors asking how they can join. People in the group have spent so many years “siloed off” always being the only Asian on sets, Cheng said. Here, they can cook up ideas or gripe about having doors closed by industry people because of their race or ethnicity. They also have each other’s back outside of Crab Club productions. When the plot of “Love Hard” and Yang’s casting were revealed, there
substandard medical gloves and medical equipment and of using the trademark of other companies without permission, Thai media reported. The managing director of Paddy the Room, Luk-fei Yang Yang, identified by police and corporate records as Chinese, left Thailand before prosecutors were able to formally charge him in court. The dealings of Paddy the Room attracted public attention in May when an American businessman who had filed a complaint about being cheated by the company was himself arrested. Louis Ziskin and several associates were arrested for allegedly detaining a Taiwanese representative of another company, Collections Enterprise, to unsuccessfully
pressure it to refund money after Paddy the Room’s gloves proved to be low grade. Collections Enterprise had handled the payment for the deal. Ziskin, who denies involvement in the alleged detention, had paid $2.7 million for gloves to be delivered to his Los Angeles-based company, AirQueen. He filed a complaint with Thai police in March against Paddy the Room. Ziskin and his associates left Thailand when police failed to provide evidence in time to apply to a court to hold them for further investigation, police commissioner Jirabhob said.
million buyout. The separation seemed apparent on the final day of the regular season when Seager was tearfully removed from the finale as a last send off after 11 seasons with the club. Seager, who turned 34 on Nov. 3, hit a career-high 35 homers and had 101 RBIs. The increase in power
production caused his batting average to dip to .212, a career-low for a full season. Seager was an All-Star and Gold Glove winner in 2014. He signed a $100 million, seven-year deal after the 2014 season.
was immediate criticism that the story would hinge on the trope of the nerdy Asian guy not being a believable romantic option. In the sweet but not sappy Christmas flick, a New York man (Yang) uses a photo of his hunky childhood friend as an online dating profile pic. He forms a bond over text and phone chats with a Los Angeles writer (Nina Dobrev). When she busts his catfishing after surprising him at his home, Cyranoesque hijinks ensue. “I knew that there would be tweets like that from watching the trailer because of course you boil that story down...It’s like, ‘Oh what are you trying to say? Oh, this kind of Asian guy with glasses is not hot and this other guy is hot?”’ Yang said. He assures the movie is more nuanced. Originally, his character was not written as Asian American. Yang took the role after he got producers to agree that the “hot guy” be played by someone of Asian descent (Darren Barnet of “Never Have I Ever” has the role). Yang also knew playing this part meant viewers would see an Asian family on screen. That level of consideration is one
reason Cheng and Gao are protective of Yang when it comes to critics. “This is a situation that I think really illustrates the kind of unfair position that actors of color are put in,” Gao said. “Jimmy actually cares about his community and wants to protect his community.” Like Yang, Gao and Cheng are extremely busy with projects outside of Crab Club. Gao has her hands full with “She-Hulk,” where people of color comprise more than half the writing staff. Cheng has a slew of commitments including an HBO comedy pilot about siblings running a Chinese restaurant. It would be easy for the trio to only focus on their own careers in such a cutthroat business. But, they also want to help emerging writers and actors add to what could be a “golden age of Asian American art,” Cheng said. A golden age seems long overdue. In May, a USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative report found that only 5.9% of 51,159 speaking roles across 1,300 top-grossing movies between 2007 and 2019 were portrayed by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Only 3.4%, or 44, of those movies had Asians or Pacific Islanders as a lead or co-lead. The ongoing lack of representation is why the trio will send projects to other writers if they’re not the right fit. Gao says they need to overcome Hollywood’s history of making people of color compete for scraps of opportunities. “The circle gets bigger,“ Gao said. “A rising tide lifts all boats. That’s the philosophy that we believe.”
SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 6.
YOUR VOICE
NOVEMBER 13 – NOVEMBER 19, 2021
asianweekly northwest
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Photo by Mahlon Meyer
a new stage—vaccines for children. As a reporter spoke to the agent, she was able to connect him with a Chinese interpreter, one of multiple languages available. It was also an indication of one of the ways that the government and the private sector are rallying around the influx of the newly-authorized pediatric vaccines. The state, King County, school districts, pharmacies and neighborhood health providers are in the process of receiving the first batch of the vaccines, that were unanimously endorsed by advisory members of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for children between the ages of 5-11. “Several independent panels of experts advising those agencies found the vaccine to be 90% effective at preventing symptoms of Covid-19,” said Dr. Jeff Duchin, health officer with Public Health–Seattle & King County, at a media briefing last week. The vaccines have also been endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians. It is just in time. The highest incidence of infection among any age group in King County, over the past seven days, has been among 5-17 year olds, with a rate of 159/100,000. Among 18-64 year olds, the rate is 124/100,000. The number of children in the 5-11 year age group who have died of COVID-19 has reached approximately 94 in King County, since the pandemic started. “Children should not be dying at 5-11 years of age,” said Duchin. “Some people might be saying that’s a relatively small number compared with the number of adults, but again, children should not be dying at that age.” COVID-19 has become the eighthleading cause of death for children in that age group since the pandemic started. There are other dangers. Once young children are hospitalized, one-third require intensive care. Nor does the virus particularly afflict children that are medically fragile— one-third of those who have severe Covid are otherwise healthy. Children are in danger of developing multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) or long-haul Covid, which could permanently stunt brain development. They can also transmit the virus in school and other gatherings, “that are so important to children’s development,” said Duchin. “I think it’s quite clear this is a very significant disease for children.” Some parents are reacting already. At a vaccine clinic for children run by University of Washington (UW) Medicine at Shoreline Community College last week, a dozen parents brought their kids to be vaccinated for television crews in the hope it would inspire other families. Crystal Wong, a family medicine doctor affiliated with the UW, said, “The Covid vaccine is the best defense against getting it and the right thing to do to protect people who are medically fragile. We had no doubts at all about getting it for our own kids. None for our own kids. As a healthcare worker, I got mine in December,” she told the Northwest Asian Weekly. Some of the children getting the vaccine seemed initially concerned at getting a shot. Wong’s son, 10-year-old Micah, wearing a black mask and green
Photos from UW Medicine
VACCINES from 1
Brandon and Dr. Crystal Wong with their three vaccinated children (from left) Micah, 10, Vivi, 5, Ellie, 7
baseball cap, kept his eyes straight ahead as the needle headed for his arm. But the moment it made contact, he turned his head to watch. “I feel really excited that I get to do more things, and I don’t have to be as worried about the virus,” he told reporters. The pediatric vaccine is a smaller version of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine used for adults. It has the same active ingredients but is 10 mcg while the adult formulation is 30 mcg. “Children 5-11 must receive this pediatric formulation, they cannot just get one-half of the adult formulation,” said Duchin. He added the same vaccine has been given to over 200 million people in the U.S. and has an excellent safety record. There is a very low incidence of myocarditis—heart inflammation—in males. But it is less common among this age group. The complications of myocarditis are much less than the actual complications that Covid causes in the heart in the same age groups and young children. A person is more likely to have a serious cardiac event from Covid-19, whereas the carditis that is uncommon but can occur in younger males is less complicated and most people recover uneventfully, said Duchin. At the last update, cardiologists caring for these patients reported 90% had recovered at the time of follow up, he said. “The cost benefit clearly favors vaccination for this age group.” Many parents agree. While the state, the county, and school districts are in the process of receiving doses, waiting lists are filling up. King County is in the process of receiving an initial 97,000 doses from the CDC, enough to vaccinate 48,000 children in this age group, which is roughly one-fourth of the total 200,000 eligible in the county. “School districts in King County are partnering with a number of different vaccinating partners, including Costco, Safeway, Seattle Visiting Nurses Association, Othello Station Pharmacy, Harborview Medical Center, local EMS providers, and others,” according to a spokesperson for Public Health — Seattle & King County. UW Medicine received 5,700 doses on Nov. 2 and expects more in coming days. And some pharmacies and community health care centers have already received doses. There is an increased urgency because children can transmit the coronavirus—so vaccinating them protects not just them but their families and the community, said Duchin. As winter approaches, it is especially
Micah Wong, 10, getting vaccinated
Vivi Wong, 5, getting vaccinated
important. “Our kids are ready to get vaccinated, they’re back at school, and there is still a lot of anxiety about Covid,” said Dr. Shireesha Dhanireddy, infectious diseases and clinical lead of the UW Medicine COVID-19 vaccination clinics. “Even just a case of the sniffles, our usual winter sniffles, are bringing much fear and concern among not only the kids, but the parents and teachers.” Wong told Northwest Asian Weekly that she knows some parents are hesitant. “I understand their concerns, they are concerned about it because it’s their own kids,” she said, her three kids and her husband at her side. “The vaccine is very safe. The threat is real. And going into winter, with the increased need to stay indoors, the risk is much worse than any side effects.” Sashi Olson, 9, the son of Dhanireddy, was wearing a sweatshirt from Camp Orkila—a summer camp where he said he learned archery. As if watching the flight of an arrow, he kept his eyes glued on the needle as it arced to his arm. But once the vaccination was over, he cavorted behind his mother as she talked to a reporter. Like their kids, these parents could now
sigh with relief. In another three weeks, their children would get the second dose. Then two weeks after that, they’d be fully immunized. On Nov. 6, the Washington State Department of Health announced a significant milestone in the state’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, just days after children became eligible. More than 10 million doses of vaccine have been given out across Washington since distribution began in mid-December 2020. Duchin stressed,“People need to understand, if you’re not vaccinated, Delta will find you. It’s just a matter of time.” To sign up for the King County waiting list for pediatric vaccines, go to: kingcounty. gov/d e p t s/ h e a lt h /c ov i d -19/ v a c c i n e / distribution.aspx. Mahlon can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com. This health series is made possible by funding from the Washington State Department of Health, which has no editorial input or oversight of this content.
asianweekly
39 YEARS
NOVEMBER 13 – NOVEMBER 19, 2021
bəqəlšuł We are Muckleshoot Descendants of the Duwamish people
Muckleshoot Jingle Dress dancer Madrienne White at the 2021 Muckleshoot Powwow. Photo by Joshua Trujillo.
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northwest
We Are Muckleshoot Our name and our tribe represents our ancestors, the Duwamish and Upper Puyallup peoples who moved from Puget Sound – including what is now the Seattle waterfront – to our reservation on the Muckleshoot prairie. For more than 164 years, we have fought to preserve and uphold our treaty rights, our sovereignty, and our heritage. Today, the spirits of our ancestors live on in our traditions, our arts, and our community. They define where we came from, who we are, and where we are going.
November is
NATIVE AMERICAN
HERITAGE MONTH Join us in celebrating native heritage and the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe’s contributions to this region’s history, economy, and culture.
Our survival and continued growth hinges on teaching our children history, culture, and leadership skills so they may carry our mantle for generations to come. Our identity, our legacy, and our treaty rights are unique to our name and Tribe, and ours alone.
bəqəlšuł LEARN ABOUT THE FIRST PEOPLE OF SEATTLE
WeAreMuckleshoot.org