VOL 40 NO 50 | DECEMBER 11 – DECEMBER 17, 2021

Page 1

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA

VOL 40 NO 50 DECEMBER 11 – DECEMBER 17, 2021

FREE 39 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Courtesy of Washington State Archives

How Steve Hobbs won the Secretary of State job

Initial count shows Sawant recall ahead An attempt to recall Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant is passing in early results. As of press time, the recall is succeeding by a 53.1% to 46.9% margin. Kshama Sawant, 48, an Indian immigrant and an economics professor, is the longest-tenured council member. She has had an outsized influence on the tone and direction of Seattle politics since launching her political career under the banner of the Socialist Alternative party in 2012, when she ran unsuccessfully for state representative. see SAWANT on 6

Panama Hotel—testimony to a forgotten world Steve Hobbs and wife, Pam

see HOBBS on 13

New blood on ISRD board

Ryan Gilbert

Ming Zhang

Michael Le

The annual election for the International Special Review District (ISRD) Board was held by mail, with ballots tabulated on Nov. 30. Five positions were up for election and the results are as follows: Ryan Gilbert won Position #1 for a Business owner, Property owner or Employee; Ming Zhang won Position #2 for Resident, Tenant or Community Participant; Michael Le won Position #3 for a Business owner, Property owner or Employee; Andy Yip won Position #4 for Resident, Tenant or Community Participant; and Nella Kwan won Position #5 for AtLarge.

Online meeting screenshot

Eight days after the general election, Gov. Jay Inslee offered the Secretary of State position to Sen. Steve Hobbs. The former Secretary Kim Wyman, a Republican, accepted a job in President Joe Biden’s administration as

cyber security chief. The process for Hobbs to sit in Wyman’s chair would be the envy for Democrats who had challenged and ran against her since 2012. It was smooth sailing for Hobbs. Hobbs is the first person of color for the position, and he’s become the third most

Andy Yip

Nella Kwan

Due to the postponement of the 2020 election, the terms for positions 3 and 5 will be only one-year-long to retain staggered term limits. The newly-elected candidates started their terms this December. The outgoing board members are Tanya Woo, Matt Chan, Faye Hong, and Russ Williams. The special character of the Chinatown International District is recognized and protected by city ordinance. In 1973, the ISRD Board was created to preserve, protect, and enhance the cultural, economic, and historical qualities of the District. Board member terms are typically for two years, and members may serve up to two consecutive terms. 

A staircase in the Panama Hotel shown during a presentation before the Landmarks Preservation Board.

By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Built to resemble a Buddhist monastery, the interior of the Panama Hotel shines with dark, thousand-year-old wood that has been preserved for over a century. Appreciating such features, the city’s Landmarks Preservation Board on Dec. 1 voted unanimously to nominate the hotel, including its interior, to become a designated landmark site. “This will give another layer of protection” from developers, said Betty Lau, a community leader, who supported the nomination.

Newcastle recount highlights exclusionary tactics By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

BUSINESS AAPI business owner serves a latte kindness during tough times  3

SPORTS The Layup Drill 4

PUBLISHER’S BLOG Untold stories of the election 8&9

Frank Irigon believes he lost his bid for a seat on the Newcastle City Council in part through exclusionary tactics

But in granting nomination of the site, the board was acknowledging more than just the pristine beauty of the building, although they repeatedly praised its current owner, Jan Johnson, for preserving it. Through an hour-long presentation, they reviewed what the hotel had meant to different people at different times throughout its long history, including 8,500 ordinary objects that had been left behind in its basement by people of Japanese ancestry as they headed for concentration camps. In each phase of its existence, the importance of the hotel to the see PANAMA HOTEL on 15

Photo by Mahlon Meyer

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Halei Watkins, King County Elections communications officer, stands in front of the secure cage were ballots are stored.

that stigmatized his history of supporting Black Lives Matter and the anti-Asian Hate movement, as well as his age. This is perhaps the first time his long history of activism has worked against him. see RECOUNT on 12

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


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.