VOL 41 NO 4 | JANUARY 22 – JANUARY 28, 2022

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

VOL 41 NO 4 JANUARY 22 – JANUARY 28, 2022

FREE 40 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Unity of Voices honors newly- elected and appointed AAPI and Black officials

Steeped in two worlds, law professor crusades for women’s rights

Unity of Voices participants honored newly elected and appointed Asian and Black officials from 2021.

By Kai Curry NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY “Okage sama de (I am who I am because of you).”

It is a Japanese phrase that Toshiko Grace Hasegawa

wears as a tattooed reminder, and the theme of the Unity of Voices virtual celebration on Jan. 13, organized by Black and Asian American and Pacific see UNITY on 16

Courtesy: The Mission Continues

Little Saigon clean-up hints at community resolve

Volunteers on their way to Operation Clean Street in Little Saigon on Jan. 15.

By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

with a long trash picker, clamped down on a needle, and deposited it in a biohazard receptacle held by another

A student wearing a black rain slicker reached down

see LITTLE SAIGON on 11

THE INSIDE STORY

BUSINESS Comcast RISE business grant winner shoots through an equity lens to support community  3

■

WAYNE’S WORLDS The art and benefit of Asian stereotypes 5

NATIONAL NEWS Asian woman killed in subway shove at Times Square  6

SITAL KALANTRY

PUBLISHER’S BLOG Thank you for 40 amazing years  10

By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Sital Kalantry was a young girl when her parents sent her back to India to stay with her grandmother. During that summer, her grandmother told her that she was going to “marry her off to a rich man” so she’d never have to worry about anything except her household.

Kalantry cried the whole way back on the plane to New York, frightened by a glimpse into an alternate universe that might have been her life if her parents had not immigrated to the United States.

“My fate was altered by moving to another country,” she said.

As she grew up and later attended law school, she eventually found her calling by dedicating her life to making sure women and others disadvantaged by their societies had similar ways to escape their fate.

She has worked as a corporate lawyer (for 7 years), taught at Cornell Law School (for 15 years), and now teaches at Seattle University (S.U.) Law School, and her work has encompassed such harrowing topics as survivors of acid attacks in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, and women in prison in Argentina, in an interview in which she is almost breezy and cheerfully optimistic.

She uses her grounding in both Asian and American cultures to fight for justice in both places and encourage others to do the same.

“I feel like as somebody who is bicultural, I think I bring an approach to my academic work that is unique and that allows me to do comparative law work through a different lens, and to also bring those insights into public advocacy work in the United States,” she said. see KALANTRY on 12

CID shooting Seattle police responded to a shooting at 8th Avenue South and South King Street on Jan. 17 at around 2:40 p.m.

When officers arrived, they found a 53-year-old man with a graze wound.

The victim was transported to Harborview Medical

Center in stable condition.

The victim told police that he and the suspect had a dispute prior to the shooting, which occurred in a tent at an encampment.

Officers collected ballistic evidence and are continuing to investigate. 

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

40 YEARS

JANUARY 22 – JANUARY 28, 2022

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS PNB’s Noelani Pantastico announces retirement

Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB) principal dancer Noelani Pantastico has announced that after a 25-year dancing career, she is retiring to accept a position on the faculty of Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB).

Pantastico trained at CPYB before being hired at PNB in 1997.

“Leaving this Noelani Pantastico magnificent career is one of the most difficult, heart-wrenching decisions of my life, but I am fortunate to be taking this leap with a clear sense of purpose and overwhelming excitement for what’s to come,” said Pantastico. “Were it not for the confidence instilled in me at my first PNB summer course in 1994, I would not have pursued a future in dance, nor become the artist I am today.”

Pantastico plans to continue as co-artistic director of Seattle Dance Collective, the company she founded in 2019 with fellow PNB principal dancer James Yoichi Moore.

PNB audiences have one more opportunity to watch Pantastico perform, in the lead role of Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Roméo et Juliette. She is scheduled to dance on opening night, Feb. 4, and for the closing matinee on Feb. 13. 

Kin On announces CEO search

Kin On Health Care Center announced on Jan. 7 that CEO Min Chang has accepted another position outside of Kin On and that the Board of Directors has appointed Michael Woo as interim CEO, effective March 1.

“We are so fortunate to have Michael’s steadfast

designs for the Alaska Airlines Uniform Program.

Yang’s designs were judged among submissions from more than 80 countries and against stringent criteria by a panel of global fashion experts. 

Last chance for Chinese American WWII Veterans Congressional Gold Medal Display

Min Chang

Time is running out to see the Chinese American WWII Veterans Congressional Gold Medal Display at the Wing Luke Museum.

The display will be in the museum lobby through Jan. 28.

Wing Luke Museum is open from Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 

Michael Woo

leadership in place during this time of transition,” said Board President Sherwin Tsao. “Michael’s long tenure and invaluable experience with Kin On will ensure a stable operation as we proceed in identifying a permanent replacement for Min.” Woo joined Kin On in 1989, currently serves as the Care Network Director, a role that he assumed since 2011.

Kin On’s Board has assembled a search committee to begin identifying a successor to lead and further the organization’s mission. The job description is available on the Kin On website at kinon.org/current-openings. 

Luly Yang wins 9 International Design Awards

Luly Yang won nine awards in fashion design at the 15th Annual International Design Awards.

The Seattle-based designer claimed four Honorable Mentions, a Bronze Award, two Silvers, and two Gold Awards for her contributions to the industry.

The Gold Winners include the Luly Yang Bridal collection and her

Cindy Wong-Li honored

Cindy Wong-Li, the corporate relations manager at Vibrant Cities, was honored on Jan. 13 for her role in organizing the Unity of Voices event. She received a gift and Certificate of Appreciation.

At Vibrant Cities, WongLi manages and cultivates Cindy Wong corporate relationships and events, which aligns with her love to build and sustain the community. She said it was a natural progression for her to volunteer her time to be on the organizing committee.

Other members of the organizing committee include Nate Miles, Regina Glenn, Janice Zahn, Kristin Ang, Girmay Zahilay, Tim Otani, Henry Yates, David Della, Winona Hollins-Hauge, George Northcroft, Elaine Ikoma Ko, Abdul Yusuf, Lem Howell, and Assunta Ng. 

photo contest Organized by Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation & Seattle Chinese Post

Show us how you celebrate Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year opens the door to many photo opportunities. Whether it’s a family gathering, adorable children (and adults!) in traditional costumes, cute pets, or the awesome family cook showing off a delicious meal, we’d love to see the unique ways in which you and your family celebrate Lunar New Year.

Please submit your photo(s) to james@nwasianweekly.com by Feb. 7 for a chance to win gift certificates to restaurants and grocery stores, and Asian snacks. All entries have to be original photos. Fill out the information below.

There will be two categories of prizes: Judges’ Choice awards and People’s Choice Awards (readers vote). The winners will be announced in our Feb. 24 issue.

Name: _____________________________________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________________________________ Email: _____________________________________________________________________ Phone: _____________________________________________________________________ Describe in one to two sentences what the photo is about. ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________

YOUR VOICE

■ BUSINESS

JANUARY 22 – JANUARY 28, 2022

asianweekly northwest

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Comcast RISE business grant winner shoots through an equity lens to support community

By Nina Huang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Melissa Ponder has led a career dedicated to promoting equity and eliminating disparities—first in the education and nonprofit fields, and now through her photography.

Ponder is a Korean American army brat. She was born near her father’s hometown in southern Missouri and moved around with her family growing up. Her mother was one of the first Korean wives of the U.S. GIs. Their family had lived in air bases in Missouri, South Korea, and Germany.

Given her unique childhood and experiencing inclusivity and cross-cultural communications, she’s able to see things through an equity lens.

Ponder used to work in education, including conducting equity diversity training. She has also worked for International Community Health Services in program management, serving diverse populations to reduce diabetes disparities.

She made the pivot from the

Melissa Ponder self portrait

education and nonprofit sector to pursuing her hobby of photography. Ponder has been a professional photographer since 2007. It started off by carrying her camera and personally documenting sights wherever she

went and taking photos of mostly people.

Her first gig was to shoot a family friend’s wedding.

“It was a gift to them because I didn’t know anything about wedding photography,” she said.

Ponder did her homework. She went to the library and learned about wedding photography.

She didn’t realize “getting ready photos” were a thing and she’s not much of an ambiance person, but ultimately she ended up really enjoying the 10-hour day.

“I liked the challenge of it and it was stressful, but it wasn’t boring. That was my first professional gig that really pushed me in that direction to pursue photography,” she explained.

Ponder said that she originally wanted to become good enough of a photographer to help community members who would never hire a professional because of costs.

Photography has allowed Ponder to be involved in the community. Most of Ponder’s clients are nonprofits, including Health Point, High Public Schools, UTOPIA Washington, Native Action Network, and several others.

Her photography services range from event photos and headshots to images used for marketing materials.

“Mostly what I do is provide the imagery for folks to tell their

stories,” she said.

As a Comcast RISE grant recipient, Ponder hopes to establish her photography business as an LLC, as well as join the Minority Women’s Business Enterprise so that she can expand and increase visibility and awareness in the broader community.

She would also like to expand her team to hire additional support to stay in business, as well as update her website.

“I really like what I do and who I work with, because I get to work with so many communities that I’ve served and advocated for. I’m not restricted because I’m independent, if I can keep doing this, then I want to, and still maintain previous relationships,” she explained.

“Whether it’s through my training, or I naturally see things that folks who hire me don’t necessarily see around equity, because a lot of people that I work with aren’t familiar with our communities, I’m sensitive about producing work that may become poverty porn for certain clients,” she said. see COMCAST RISE on 14

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asianweekly northwest

■ SPORTS

40 YEARS

JANUARY 22 – JANUARY 28, 2022

Former NBA great Yao Clap, don’t chant: China aims for ‘Zero Ming addresses Peng Shuai, Olympics COVID’ Olympics

By CANDICE CHOI ASSOCIATED PRESS Athletes will need to be vaccinated— or face a long quarantine—take tests daily and wear masks when not competing or training. Clapping is OK to cheer on teammates, not chanting.

Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 will be sent into isolation and unable to compete until cleared for discharge.

Welcome to the Beijing Olympics, where strict containment measures will aim to create a virus-proof “bubble” for thousands of international visitors at a time when omicron is fueling infections globally.

The prevention protocols will be similar to those at the Tokyo Games this summer, but much tighter. That won’t be a stretch in Beijing, with China having maintained a “Zero COVID“ policy since early in the pandemic.

Still, China’s ability to stick to its zero-tolerance approach nationally is already being tested by the highly transmissible omicron variant, which is more contagious than earlier variants of the virus and better able to evade

protection from vaccines.

With just weeks to go before the Feb. 4 start of the Games, more than 20 million people in six cities are under lockdown after recent outbreaks.

Here’s how the Games will work.

DO ATHLETES HAVE TO BE VACCINATED? Yes, athletes and other participants including team staff and news media need to be fully vaccinated to be allowed in the designated Olympic areas without completing a 21-day quarantine.

Those areas will consist of the Olympic Village, game venues, other select spots and dedicated transport.

That’s different from the Tokyo Games, where participants didn’t have to be vaccinated.

Participants are considered fully vaccinated according to the definitions outlined by their countries. Before boarding their flights, everyone also needs to provide two recent negative tests from approved labs.

The threat of being sidelined by a see OLYMPICS on 13

By KEN MORITSUGU ASSOCIATED PRESS BEIJING (AP) — Former NBA great Yao Ming said on Jan. 17 that he and others had a pleasant talk when they met last month with Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, whose disappearance after making a sexual assault allegation against a former Yao Ming government official raised international concern.

He also said it is unfortunate that Novak Djokovic won’t play at the Australian Open because of his COVID-19 vaccination status. But Yao added that he isn’t qualified to judge Australia’s pandemic policies.

Yao, who played for the Houston Rockets from 2002-11 and is now president of the Chinese Basketball Association, used stories and humor to deflect challenging questions at a news conference to promote the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Asked about China’s relations with the U.S., which has announced a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Games, Yao likened

sporting and cultural events to the community temple gatherings he went to as a child in Shanghai.

“On that occasion, even with the neighbors I had bickered with, I would nod my head (in greeting),“ he said. “Then we went on with whatever we needed to do. I think we need more of this kind of temple gathering.”

He also called sports a bridge for communication, saying there are sometimes collisions on bridges, but “we hope we can keep the bridge.”

Peng, who won Grand Slam titles in women’s doubles, denied making the assault allegation to a Singapore newspaper on the same day photos of her with Yao and two former Olympians were posted on social media. The photos appeared to be part of a campaign to respond to international demands that Peng be allowed to talk freely about her situation. see MING on 14

■ NATIONAL NEWS

Pandemic hasn’t slowed China’s love for US lobster

By PATRICK WHITTLE ASSOCIATED PRESS PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — China is showing no signs of slowing its demand for American lobster this year despite disruption to the supply chain and international trade caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Chinese demand for the crustaceans grew dramatically during the 2010s in part because of the expansion of the country’s middle class. The lobsters are especially sought after in winter because they are a popular delicacy on Chinese New Year, which is Feb. 1 this year.

American exporters sent more than 13.2 million pounds of lobster to China during the first 11 months of 2021. That was about 6% more than the same time period the previous year.

The pandemic has made the already difficult task of sending live seafood across the globe more challenging, but Maine lobster exporters are gearing up for a decent Chinese New Year, said Bill Bruns. The operations manager at The Lobster Co. in Arundel said shipments

are complicated by the fact the company can’t send lobsters to Beijing because of COVID-19 restrictions— but they are able to send to other airports, such as Shenzhen.

“Chinese New Year is always a crapshoot the last couple years,” Bruns said. “But I’m prepared for it. I have the staff. Because otherwise it’s going to be a long spring.”

China buys lobsters from the U.S.—where the industry is based mostly in Maine—and Canada, where the industry is situated in the Atlantic provinces. Exports from Canada were up even more than the U.S. the first 11 months of 2021 compared to 2020, said John Sackton, an industry analyst and founder of SeafoodNews.com.

Signs point to a strong season for the industry, Sackton said. Consumption of seafood could also get a boost from the Beijing Winter Olympics, which are set to start a few days after Chinese New Year, he said.

“I’ve seen nothing that consumption of lobsters at Chinese New Year this year won’t exceed last year’s,” Sackton said.

The U.S. lobster industry weathered similar challenges during the first year of the pandemic in 2020 and ultimately had a strong export season. The value of exports was down from the record year of 2018, but still well over $100 million.

High prices for lobsters have played a role in the value of this year’s exports. The price of a live 1.25-pound hard shell lobster was $11.25 per pound in New England this month, according to business publishing company Urner Barry. That was more than a third higher than January 2021.

To send lobsters to China, American and Canadian fishermen have to trap them in the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Bad weather has made that difficult for Maine fishermen this year, but harvesters are still having a decent winter on the water, said Kristan Porter, president of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association.

“When guys get out there, they are doing OK,” Porter said. “It takes someone hardier than me to fish inthe wintertime.” 

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO PROPOSERS Proposals will be received for KC000428, ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE SAMMAMISH RIVER CAPITAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY PROJECT; by King County Procurement and Payables Section until 12:00 PM on

2/18/2022.

This contract includes development and submittal of an Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) Innovation Plan. The ESJ Innovation Plan details the approach, strategies, and actionable steps

that will be taken to maximize the participation of Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women Business Enterprise (WBE) firms.

Both MBE and WBE firms must be certified by the State of Washington Office of Minority and Women’s

Business Enterprises.

Total Estimated Price: $1,200,000 Prospective proposers can view more details at: https://kingcounty. gov/procurement/solicitations Contact: John Kim, johkim@ kingcounty.gov, 206-263-5825

YOUR VOICE

■ WAYNE’S WORLDS

JANUARY 22 – JANUARY 28, 2022

asianweekly northwest

5

The art and benefit of Asian stereotypes

By Wayne Chan NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Growing up as an Asian American, I was always cautioned that all stereotypes were bad.

But even when I was a kid, I had questions.

I would ask, “Well, are they all bad? I mean, the notion that Asians are a model minority, that we work hard, that we are great at math—those are bad, too?”

I think I was in sixth grade when I started questioning the idea that all stereotypes were unfair, inaccurate, and not constructive. At the time, it just so happens that I was getting all A’s, I was great at math, and never got into trouble.

I remember thinking, how bad could the model minority tag be if I was an example of how it was true (at least for me).

That all changed in the 7th grade when I was introduced to algebra. For me, it was the dreaded “A” word. All of a sudden, I wasn’t the best at math anymore. In fact, it was a real struggle.

I now had first-hand experience that not all Asians are good at math. Once that myth was busted, I started looking at some of the other Asian stereotypes that just didn’t square.

We’re all bad drivers? Really? As long as I could remember, my dad was a great driver. You could just feel it when you were sitting in the back of the car. He kept a safe distance from other drivers and if another driver made a mistake, he swerved out of the way like it was child’s play.

Then there were the stereotypes that did, kind of, sort of match. My dad did in fact start a Chinese restaurant and did start a laundry business. That’s when I started seeing how stereotypes too easily pigeon-holed a whole population.

Yes, he started a Chinese restaurant, but he did it in part to help some relatives earn a living when they moved from Asia

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to the U.S. And yes, he started a laundry business, but it was the largest laundry business in town, and it was so successful that he added another two locations after that.

He also bought a hotel in the 1970s, which is still in business today. And he did all of this while being the Chair of the Electrical Engineering Department at San Diego State University.

Seems like the stereotype doesn’t seem to mention any of that, which I suppose is part of the problem with stereotypes.

Now that I’ve got grown up kids and own businesses, as well as writing, I have

a more nuanced view of stereotypes.

While I agree that it’s never great to use stereotypes to corner people into a narrow category or group, I’ve also found that at times, use of stereotypes has gotten me out of a jam.

A few years ago, as I was traveling through China for business, I was at a border crossing going from one province in China into another. When I approached the Chinese border agent, I pulled out my U.S. passport and visa and I spoke to the agent in Chinese. He reviewed all the documents carefully, then started typing something into his computer. After a few

minutes, I decided to ask the agent if there was a problem, still conversing in Chinese.

He asked me what my Chinese name was, and I told him. I thought it was a strange question since I’m a U.S. citizen, born and raised in the U.S., and my Chinese name isn’t listed in my passport.

After I told him my Chinese name, he started typing more into his computer, and at this point, I was getting a little nervous. Nearly 10 minutes had passed now, and I politely asked the agent what the problem was.

He said that I have the same Chinese name as another Chinese national who is wanted by the police.

At this point, I immediately reverted to English and told him in English that I wasn’t born in China. He asked me a few more pointed questions, and by the end of the questioning, I had gone “full surfer dude” on him, saying things like, “Dude, that is totally trippin’ me out. I’m like, from California, bro!”

He let me go.

On another occasion, during high school, the local school bully decided to single me out for abuse. As I was getting a drink from the water fountain, he pushed my head into the fountain and turned me around, ready to fight.

With some quick thinking on my part, even though I had never taken a kung fu class in my life, I got in the most Hollywood kung fu pose I could think of, and I said, “Knee or nose?” He said, “What?” I said, “I’m either going to break your knee or your nose next. I’ll let you choose.”

He let me go.

It’s a complex world out there, right?

You do what you have to do, I figure.  Wayne can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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asianweekly northwest

40 YEARS

JANUARY 22 – JANUARY 28, 2022

■ NATIONAL NEWS Asian woman killed in subway shove at Times Square

By Jennifer Peltz and Carolyn Thompson NEW YORK (AP) — A woman was pushed to her death in front of a subway train at the Times Square station on Jan. 15, police said, a little more than a week after the mayor and governor announced plans to boost subway policing and outreach to homeless people in New York City’s streets and trains.

The man believed responsible fled the scene but turned himself in to transit police a short time later, Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said at a news conSimon Martial ference with Mayor

Eric Adams at the station.

The 40-year-old victim, identified as Michelle Alyssa Go of New York, was waiting for a southbound R train around 9:40 a.m. when she was apparently Michelle Alyssa Go shoved, according to police.

“This incident was unprovoked, and the victim does not appear to have had any interaction with the subject,” Sewell said.

A second woman told police the man had approached her minutes earlier and she feared he would push her onto the tracks.

“He approaches her and he gets in

her space. She gets very, very alarmed,” Assistant Chief Jason Wilcox said, describing the earlier encounter. “She tries to move away from him and he gets close to her, and she feels that he was about to physically push her onto the train. As she’s walking away she witnesses the crime where he pushes our other victim in front of the train.”

Police identified the suspect as 61-yearold Simon Martial. Martial, who police said is homeless, was charged with second-degree murder.

The attack against Go, who was of Asian descent, raised concerns amid a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in New York and around the country. Police officials said the killing, including whether it was a hate crime, was under investigation, but noted that the first woman Martial allegedly approached was not Asian.

Martial is Black.

“This latest attack causing the death of an Asian American woman in the Times Square subway station is particularly horrifying for our community,“ Margaret Fung, executive director of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, said. She said the community was still mourning the Dec. 31 death of Yao Pan Ma, a Chinese immigrant who was attacked in April while collecting cans in East Harlem.

“These attacks have left Asian Americans across the city and across the country feeling vulnerable and they must stop,” Fung said in a statement.

Adams has noted that a perception of danger could drive more people to eschew the subway, complicating the see GO on 14

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR JAN 22

FREE COVID-19 VACCINE & BOOSTER CLINIC Kin On Community Center, 4416 S. Brandon St., Seattle 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

More info, kingcounty.gov/ vaccine

NOW THROUGH JAN. 30, 2022

WILDLANTERNS Woodland Park Zoo, 5500 Phinney Ave N, Seattle 4-8:30 p.m. zoo.org/wildlanterns NOW THROUGH JAN 31, 2022

PAPER DIALOGUES: THE DRAGON AND OUR STORIES National Nordic Museum, 2655 NW Market St., Seattle For hours, please check online at nordicmuseum.org

FEB 3

CLUB MEETING ABOUT TINY HOMES WITH BARB OLIVER, SOUND FOUNDATIONS NW 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

For Zoom link, contact rotaryofseattleid@gmail.com

17

20

CLUB MEETING ABOUT ASIAN PACIFIC CULTURAL CENTER WITH FAALUAINA PRITCHARD 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

For Zoom link, contact rotaryofseattleid@gmail.com

MINH CARRICO WAS LOST AND NOW HAS BEEN FOUND, “KINGS TO KING” 2-3 p.m.

Via Zoom Zoom Meeting ID: 716 4280 1111 Passcode: 23x40X minhcarrico.com

KOREAN AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON’S 31ST ANNUAL BANQUET Via Zoom For more info, please contact kabawabanquet@gmail.com

View the solution on page 14

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Editor editor@nwasianweekly.com

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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

YOUR VOICE

JANUARY 22 – JANUARY 28, 2022

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

asianweekly northwest

7

The top 10 API celebrities

who kicked butt in 2021

By Stacy Nguyen NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY 2021 was a bit of a weird year. There was a pandemic raging on, which saw a lot of us trapped in our homes, spending hours on TikTok, and watching every streaming platform. At least, that’s what I did. All that effort was worth it. Because it enabled me to write this for you, with amazing broadness.

Without further ado, here is my list of the top 10 API celebs who kicked butt in 2021, in scientific order:

10. OLIVIA RODRIGO Upon its release, Olivia Rodrigo’s debut single, “Drivers License,” smashed a bunch

of records. Like, this song broke Spotify’s record—twice—for most daily streams ever for a non-holiday song with over 15.7 million global streams on Jan. 11, 2021 and over 17 million global streams the next day.

Her debut album “Sour” hit number one on the Billboard 200 chart and spent a total of five weeks there, making it the longest reigning number-one album by a female artist in 2021. Time Magazine also named Rodrigo its Entertainer of the Year.

Uh, did I mention that Rodrigo is only 18 years old! (She’s also Filipina, German, and Irish.) The fact that she’s so young and has an entire career ahead of her is why she’s not higher up on this list. That and the fact that I know some of you haven’t heard of her yet. Just wait!

9. TAIKA WAITITI

8. MICHELLE LEE

Taika Waititi, of Māori heritage, was super busy in 2021. Despite being mostly known as a film director, Waititi managed to win a Grammy Award in 2021 for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media as a producer of the “Jojo Rabbit” soundtrack (a 2019 film he directed).

He briefly flexed his acting chops as Ratcatcher’s dad in “The Suicide Squad,” in a performance that kind of made me choked up despite it being a Suicide Squad movie, and he released “Reservation Dogs,” an acclaimed Indigenous American teen comedy series, out into world. For that, we are forever grateful to him.

Michelle Lee did a little bit of career shifting in 2021. She started off the year as Editor in Chief of Allure Magazine, a publication she had helmed since 2015, and then announced in July 2021 that she was leaving that long-time role to head over to Netflix as its VP, Head of Global Editorial & Publishing—a brand new role for the streamer. Lee’s a huge freaking deal, guys.

7. KEN JEONG Ken Jeong was secretly everywhere in 2021! And for that, I salute his work ethic. see A-POP on 12

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asianweekly northwest

40 YEARS

JANUARY 22 – JANUARY 28, 2022

2021

Newly and Appointed

ELECTED OFFICIALS

Nick Brown

Michael Fong

Teresita Batayola

Steve Hobbs

John Lovick

Yasmin Trudeau

Brandy Donaghy

Conrad Lee

Jane Aras

Joyce Shui

Han Tran

Kim Muromoto

Hoang Tran

Joe Van

Russell Joe

Sydne Mullings

Angela Kugler

Awale Farah

Brenda Fincher

Satwinder Kaur

Tracy Furutani

Leah Choi

Salim Nice

Pratima Kakhotia

James Albertson

Amy Lam

Nav Otal

Mohammed Egal

Hamdi Mohammed

Toshiko Hasegawa

Brandon Hersey

Bruce Harrell

Kendee Yamaguchi

Matt Chan

Michelle Sarju

Monisha Harrell

U.S. Attorney Western District of WA

Rep. 27th LD, WA State

Councilmember Federal Way

Councilmember Kent

Councilmember Renton

School director, Seattle

Regional Director SBA Region

Councilmember, Bellevue

School District #3, Highline

Councilmember Kent

Councilmember Sammamish

Mayor, Seattle

President Biden’s Advisory Commission

School Board, Bellevue

Councilmember, Issaquah

Councilmember Lake Forest Park

Water Commissioner Sammamish

Deputy Mayor, Seattle

Secretary of WA State

School Director, Bellevue

School Board, Issaquah

School Board Lake Washington

Councilmember Seatac

Special Advisor to Mayor Seattle

Senator 44th LD, WA State

Councilmember, Bothell

Councilmember, Kenmore

Mayor, Mercer Island

Commissioner Port of Seattle

School Director, Seattle

Senator 27th LD, WA State

Councilmember, Clyde Hill

School Board, Kent

Councilmember, Newcastle

Commissioner Port of Seattle

Senior Deputy Mayor Seattle

JANUARY 22 – JANUARY 28, 2022

YOUR VOICE

asianweekly northwest

Tiffany Washington

Vivian Song Maritz

DeSean Quinn

Mohamed Abdi

James Randolph

Brenda Fantroy-Johnson

Clarence Moriwaki

Fred Chang

Joy Ramsdell

Marcus Young

Terrance Mayers Sr.

Maame Bassaw

Erica Buckley

Nikki Bufford

Randy Takehara

Mary Moss

Lawrence Boles III

Melanie Tinsley

Victor Hogan

Pat Cole

Chelsea McElroy

Joe Bushnell

Kiara Daniels

Victoria Woodwards

Ethelda Burke

Will Chen

David Simpson

Carl G. Cary

Nina Kim Hansen

Joshua Binda

Shirley Sutton

Councilmember, Lynnwood

Kyoko Matsumoto Wright

Steve Woodward

Louis Harris

David Chan

Felix Neals

Mayor, Mountlake Terrace

Councilmember Mountlake Terrace

Dontae Payne

Yen Huynh

Angela Jefferson

Peter Agabi

Deputy Mayor, Seattle

Mayor, Bainbridge Island

Councilmember, Edgewood

School Director, Steilacom

School Director University Place

Councilmember, Olympia

School Director, Seattle

Councilmember, Port Orchard

Councilmember, Fircrest

Councilmember, Sumner

Councilmember, Edmonds

Councilmember, Olympia

Councilmember, Tukwila

Water District 16 Commissioner, Silverdale

Commissioner, Fire District #16, Lakebay

School Director, Tacoma

Commissioner Port of Everett

Councilmember, Tumwater

Councilmember, Tukwila

School Director, Bethel

Councilmember, Lakewood

Councilmember, Tacoma

School Board, Granite Falls

Councilmember, Mukilteo

Councilmember, Tumwater

Councilmember Woodinville

School Director Bethel

Councilmember, Pacific

Councilmember, Tacoma

Councilmember Bainbridge Island

Councilmember Dupont

School Director, Steilacom

Mayor, Tacoma

School Board, Lake Stevens Councilmember, Lynnwood

Fire Rescue Position #7 Snohomish

Councilmember Snohomish

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40 YEARS

JANUARY 22 – JANUARY 28, 2022

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

Thank you for 40 amazing years COVID has not killed us

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Assunta Ng stands outside the Seattle Chinese Post office in 1984, inside the Bush Hotel basement.

When you wake up after a dream, the dream fades away because it wasn’t real.

I dreamt of starting the first Chinese newspaper in the Pacific Northwest in October 1981. I woke up after 40 years, and it still exists because it wasn’t a fantasy. (Our 40th anniversary is Jan. 20, 2022.)

Some say the newspaper is able to continue due to hard work, grit, and a great team. We all know that, don’t we!? We are still here because I have always listened to the needs of our readers and community.

And I put those concerns into reality.

When too many American-born Chinese moaned about their inability to read Chinese, I started an English edition, which later turned into the Northwest Asian Weekly.

It was challenging for a small company to publish two newspapers at the beginning, and it still is. There wasn’t that much going on in the community four decades ago to fill the pages. The easy way was to print every other week. But my team members insisted and persevered to keep two newspapers publishing week after week without fail. The community has grown not only in size, it has evolved politically, socially, and economically, and sometimes, there is so much happening, we don’t have enough manpower to cover it all.

for our community.

THE NEED TO GIVE BACK

The Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation‘s Summer Youth Leadership Program organized a field trip at Tsue Chong Noodles Co. with owner Tim Louie in 2010s.

(Photo by George Liu)

When major news breaks, like the Wah Mee Massacre in 1983, Donnie Chin’s murder in 2015, and the unexpected win of Donald Trump in 2016, we almost couldn’t deal with the heartbreaking news. We had to step back a moment before we could face reality.

Over the years, we have learned how to balance our issues every week, ask for help from different sources, and fill it with timely news and photos. Behind every issue, we have poured our heart and soul to make it not just a good issue, but a meaningful one

AAPI leaders and community members pre-2019. From top left: Anthony Ishisaka, David H. Fukui,

After a few years, we noticed there was Sam Mitsui, Vikram Jandhyala, Fred Yee, Ed Lee, Kimi and George Tanbara, Julie Locke, Al Bob Santos, Edward Chow, Ruth Woo, Tsuguo Ikeda, Donnie Chin, Ticiang Diangson, a need to fundraise for many community Sugiyama, Henry Miyatake, Vera Ing, Fred Cordova, Tama Murotani-Inaba, Kip Tokuda, June Chen, Cheryl projects. When the Chinese community Chow, Jimmy Mar, Gordon Hirabayashi, Ark Chin, Ping Chow, James Leong, Urbano Quijance, organized to raise money for the Kin On Jimmy Locke, and Ted Choi Tam. “It’s not that easy to get our photo and stoTo us, it’s painless and straightforward.

Nursing Home, we decided to help. We raised over $40,000 through two dinners in ry on the front page of our community paper see BLOG on 15 celebration of our 10th anniversary. There simply by running for office,” he said. was another proud moment when we raised $8,700 for the United Way of King County through a musical show, “The Westside Story,” produced by the Northwest Asian American Theater. And we also paid for the whole performance. I loved the fact that we were supporting both a charity and the arts. These ideas are similar to what we did in 2021 when we organized a virtual event to honor health care workers and reward all the honorees with grocery store and restaurant gift certificates. We always try to kill two birds with one stone.

Soon, we launched the nonprofit arm of the newspapers, Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation. Since then, we have supported countless organizations and causes. One of those causes is in education. The Foundation has raised money for many high school and college scholarships in addition to five scholarship endowments, including four for the University of Washington: The Business School, College of Education, Department of Communication, and School of Public Affairs.

THE NEED TO EMPOWER Years ago, a Jewish friend was surprised that his Asian American friend running for office got his photo and story on the Asian Weekly’s front page.

JANUARY 22 – JANUARY 28, 2022

YOUR VOICE

■ EDITORIAL

asianweekly northwest

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Out with the old…

Sleeves rolled up, all hands on deck.

Nearly 150 volunteers, or “Change Agents,” as organizer Linh Thai called them, turned up for Operation Clean Street in Little Saigon on Jan. 15. It was a combined effort of The Mission Continues, Friends of Little Saigon, and the City of Seattle.

Donned in KN95 masks, safety gloves, trash pickers, and trash bags, the Change Agents split up into smaller groups to clean their assigned grid.

Thai told volunteers, “We are here because we are making a commitment to tackle these challenges together in the spirit and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today and every day in 2022. If you and I

are committed to that, the collective impact will be felt, and we are the catalysts for positive change in our community. Your presence and leadership confirm this belief.”

It’s a good start for 2022 and the new Bruce Harrell administration.

The new mayor had emphasized public safety in his inauguration speech, noting that he wants to create a “one Seattle” where “we all feel safe and supported.”

Right now, Little Saigon feels supported.

Now, it is seen and heard, after years of what has felt like neglect, despite several pleas to rid the streets of trash and bad actors, someone has decided to step up and take action.

“Let’s be realistic about our impact on one day of work,” Thai said. “It won’t solve long and enduring issues and challenges confronting this neighborhood and other neighborhoods around this city.”

We agree. Operation Clean Street was a great first step. And we hope to see more— that this isn’t just a one-off.

We were happy to witness elected officials, such as King County Councilmembers Joe McDermott and Girmay Zahilay, Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales, state Sen. Joe Nguyen, and Congressman Adam Smith, get dirty. This is the only kind of dirt we want to see our politicians involved in! And we want to see more involvement from other officials and

community leaders—perhaps with their family members and children, as a show of confidence to the general public that it is safe to come here.

We’re tired of the old news of robberies, thefts, assaults, shootings, and drugdealing in the open.

We want fresh news of businesses thriving and booming because visitors are no longer afraid and are flocking in record numbers to experience all that Little Saigon and Chinatown have to offer.

Yes, please! Let 2022, the Year of the Tiger, be the year that the entire city will hear the roar of our community—and it will not be a cry for help, but rather a thunderous roar of our strength and prosperity. 

student. The act was small, but it indicated the resolve of almost 150 people who showed up on Jan. 15 to clean Little Saigon of refuse lining its streets, sidewalks, and parking lots.

The event, organized by a national nonprofit that links veterans with community service programs, The Mission Continues, in partnership with Friends of Little Saigon, was in response to a widespread sense among community members and advocates that they had been neglected by the government.

“The entire community has been traumatized, felt abandoned by elected leaders (at city and county levels), and frustrated by the pandemic and crimes. People hungered for the right message, the right team, with the right call to action to come and act,” said Lin Thai, regional operations manager.

A number of officials showed up for the event, called “Operation Clean Street,” and took part in picking up litter and needles, using gear provided by Seattle Public Utilities, such as safety vests and trash pickers with pincers at the end.

From the side of the road, the long train of brightly festooned volunteers appeared indistinguishable from a road gang of convicts released to clean up a city block as part of their parole.

But from closer up, as a video taken by a Seattle University student club revealed, many of the participants were in their teens and 20s, savoring coffee and making a V with their fingers for the camera. Students from Garfield High School, as well as almost a dozen veterans, also showed up.

The majority appeared to be Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI).

For some, including officials, the event was nostalgic, trying to save a blighted community that had once been a source of hope and joy.

“Little Saigon is a special community where just about

Courtesy of The Mission Continues

LITTLE SAIGON from 1

Volunteers pick up trash off the streets of Little Saigon

every Vietnamese family who came to Washington in the 1980s and 1990s would gather on weekends to enjoy the food and shop for groceries,” said state Sen. Joe Nguyen.

“Bringing together local leaders and community members is how we’ll be able to overcome the tough issues facing Little Saigon. We were able to make a small dent to build a brighter future and I believe this will serve as the catalyst for change.” ​​Congressman Adam Smith said the event honored the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., which he described as, “justice and equal rights, and the constant effort to improve that to achieve greater equality in America, to combat racism and bigotry and truly create equality in this country.”

Smith also praised the diversity of the participants.

“There are a lot of people here making a difference in the community and it’s bringing people together.”

The population of Vietnamese refugees grew after the Vietnam War in the late 1970s, but the neighborhood did not earn its nickname until 1984 after Southeast Asian merchants

established a presence there. But since then, like Chinatown a few blocks away, it has faced crisis after crisis as city and regional officials have funneled much of the city’s problems into its confines, even while neglecting its safety and upkeep.

Still, organizers of the event said many in the city have come to the realization that it must be saved.

“A couple of days prior to the event, I had to close down event registration, replying to text messages and emails turning down requests to participate from dozens of folks in the city, some coming as far as Shoreline to the North and Burien to the South,” said Thai, who was formerly a company commander in the U.S. Army. “Throughout the event, folks were asking, ‘Are you organizing more events like this soon?’”

Girmay Zahilay, a King County councilmember who turned out for the event, marveled at the number of volunteers.

“I am inspired by the number of volunteers who showed up for the Little Saigon Community Cleanup today! Great to see some love and attention for the

neighborhood. Thank you, The Mission Continues, Friends of Little Saigon, and Seattle Public Utilities for organizing. And of course, big shout out to Linh Thai!” he said.

Earlier this month, the Seattle Times published an editorial calling on local officials to protect Little Saigon. This newspaper followed with its own editorial, commending the Times for taking notice of the community’s problems, but pointed out these have been endemic for years, including rampant theft and burglary, drug problems, violence, homeless encampments, and a seemingly indifferent response by law enforcement.

During the clean-up, Seattle Police Captain Steve Strand, the West Precinct Commander, said the police were committed to providing safety.

“I am excited to take part in this day of giving back to honor the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. The Seattle Police are here to serve our community, today and every day. I am deeply committed to making our neighborhoods better for our children, and the future,” he said.

For the most part, Saturday’s event was focused on trash.

Volunteers assembled in a parking lot abutting the Mi La Cay restaurant, then disbursed.

According to organizers, they picked up over 2,000 pounds of trash, although exact figures were being calculated by Seattle Public Utilities. That amounts to approximately 304 work hours, said Thai.

The Seattle University video showed volunteers working behind dumpsters, gingerly scooping needles off the ground, and even removing a blue rubber glove from a shrubbery by the road.

Thai said he expected the event would kick off others to follow—perhaps even a recurring monthly clean-up— and was soliciting feedback from participants, businesses, and officials.

Officials who took part shared their exuberance about the project and promised to find more resources for the community in the future.

“The clean-up in Little Saigon was truly a community coming together in a time of need. I was happy to add my labor in the clean-up, but commit to ensuring King County is invested in the long-term work,” said King County Councilmember Joe McDermott.

Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales said she was collaborating with Zahilay and McDermott to “find solutions” for the community.

“Little Saigon is one of Seattle’s most important cultural centers, and right now it’s struggling. I am committed to doing everything I can to help—from fighting for the city to providing much-needed resources for Little Saigon to rolling up my sleeves and helping keep our community clean,” she said.  Mahlon can be contacted at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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asianweekly northwest

KALANTRY from 1 The backdrop to this pursuit were the journeys between India and the U.S. that characterized her childhood and continued as an adult.

“Almost every summer when I was growing up, I was like an anthropologist, a participant, living and learning the norms of a society that was so very different from the world I was embedded in in New York,” she said.

Asked to speculate on a “counterfactual”—what her life would be like if her parents had not immigrated— she thought for a few moments then described a scenario something like what her grandmother had envisioned for her.

Although in the last few decades, girls in some socio-economic classes have more opportunities than they did previously, at the time she would have been growing up in India she may never have pursued higher education, lived in a dormitory, or been able to marry the person of her choice.

But worst of all, she would perhaps be unable to identify the injustices that surround her.

In a commencement address in 2020 to students at a prestigious law school in India, she repeatedly exhorted them to learn to recognize the disparities around them by engaging with those that are less fortunate.

She was chastised, on one of her trips back to Maharashtra, when she handed a dish directly back to the serving woman washing them, as she might have done back home in the U.S. Her grandmother scolded her for not placing it on the floor so that her hand never touched the dish at the same time the hand of the servant was placed on it.

In the address, Kalantry repeatedly talked about using the privilege of being born with wealth and caring parents—such as those who would send women to an expensive law school in India—to fight and struggle for justice.

TRANSPORTED INTO AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE Her first exposure to injustice was circumstantial, when her father left her mother—pregnant with her, in India—to find work in the U.S. Later, her mother left her in the care of her grandparents until she was 4.

Upon arriving in the states—in Queens— she said it was “like being adopted,” since

A-POP from 7 I also appreciate that his current career is mostly as a professional reality show judge. We need that kind of ubiquity for our people.

Okay, all in one breath, this is what Jeong did in 2021: He acted in “Operation: Rainfall” (terrible movie—don’t watch it), he starred in the live action “Tom & Jerry” movie, he was in “Boss Level,” he was a voice actor in “My Little Pony: A New Generation” and “Extinct,” he was a judge on reality shows “The Masked Singer,” “The Masked Singer UK,” “I Can See Your Voice,” “The Masked Dancer,” and OMG I’m skipping a bunch of things because I don’t want to write them all out. Dude was busy being in our living rooms last year!

6. PADMA LAKSHMI Padma Lakshmi is still helming the critically acclaimed “Taste the Nation With Padma Lakshmi” and “Top Chef,” but in addition to that, 2021 saw her release a

40 YEARS

JANUARY 22 – JANUARY 28, 2022 she had never met her father and had no memories of her mother. Her mother left her when she was 4 months old.

Her first English words, taught to her by her parents when she came home from pre-k after being pushed off the slide for only speaking Hindi, were, “He hit me, she hit me.”

Years later, teaching her students contract law at Seattle University, she would describe learning the vocabulary and analytical skills of the law as similar to learning a new language.

“You have been tossed into a country where you don’t speak the language and you know what, in two months, you will. And it’s okay to be confused, but this is a boot camp and you’re going to just transform,” she would tell them.

She tested into the prestigious Bronx High School of Science, gaining a scholarship.

When she would ask her father about his early years, he regaled her with a repeated story—not atypical of an immigrant—of his hardships in India.

“The story he told me is of wearing one shirt every day until it’s ripped and patched and working in candlelight and living as a squatter in a house,” she said. Her father also obtained a scholarship.

Her trips back to India during summers continued. On one of them, when she was 8, traveling alone, Air India left her passport in JFK Airport.

So she arrived in Indian immigration without a proof of identity. Immigration officials planned to put her in detention— essentially jail—until her uncle was able to come 24 hours later and post a bond for her, guaranteeing she wouldn’t vanish.

Her uncle had also used his contacts as a journalist to smooth the gears of her release.

It was another glimpse of that alternate universe she had escaped—and which she would spend her later life trying to free others from enduring.

“To be transported the way women were, as well as seeing the gender roles that my cousins and family were playing, to see how different life was, it was like Star Trek where you’re instantly transported into a completely different environment. You’re transported back and that’s what’s made me want to work to try to bridge the gap that exists in gender equality,” she said.

While she was at Cornell, as an undergraduate, she began to take feminist theory and join women’s groups, and was

children’s book titled, “Tomatoes for Neela” and named the United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA)’s 2021 Advocate of the Year, which recognized her work spearheading the agency’s #HalfTheWorld campaign, which raised awareness about the rate at which COVID-19 has exacerbated worldwide inequalities.

5. GEMMA CHAN Gemma probably first came to most of our attention through her U.S. breakout role in 2018’s “Crazy Rich Asians,” and she hasn’t stopped since.

In 2021, she acted in two mega movies: Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon,” and Marvel’s “The Eternals.” Also, last May, Chan launched the #StopESEAHate campaign, which assists East and Southeast Asian victims of hate crime.

4. SILK SONIC This one is a little bit of a cheat

first able to really articulate her objections to gender roles in India—and the U.S. She went on to the London School of Economics and finally to law school at University of Pennsylvania.

With loans to repay and still perhaps under the shadow of her parents’ mindset of desiring her to prove herself financially, she went into corporate law.

She worked on international development projects, such as financing for dams. But in the end, she realized she was not satisfied with commercial projects.

She entered academia when her former professor at Yale Law School, where she spent her third year, invited her to co-teach a legal clinic with him—she was able to work with students to represent people from marginalized communities.

As she went on, and taught at Cornell, she led students on trips to India to study and advocate for victims of horrific acid attacks, to Argentina to study women in prisons, and to other parts of the world to study the plight of indigenous peoples.

UNSEEN RACISM She became a crusader for justice and individual rights. Among her many published papers, media interviews, book chapters, columns, and other publications, she has written on “the consequences of the use of acontextual information” to support political and legal agendas.

Essentially, this means that actors want to advance their own particular ideology, take (mis)information about society and women in other countries, and apply it to the U.S. to justify legal decisions.

In one paper, published in the Cornell Law Review, she shows how U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and others take information from China and India out of context to justify opposing abortion rights.

The proponents of this view equate eugenics with abortion. They say that women choosing to have abortions in the U.S. are eliminating certain segments of the population here, such as women or children with Downs Syndrome, so the practice is tantamount to eugenics.

Kalantry argues that eugenics has been associated with the coercive actions of governments or organizations that seek to redefine a society’s makeup—it has never been seen to relate to individual actions.

More importantly, she points out, Thomas as well as other judges use the fact

because Silk Sonic is actually two wildly talented APIs with unimaginable skill and creativity.

Yes, Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak. The two of them formed a band and released music together in 2021.

The first single of their first album, “An Evening with Silk Sonic,” was “Leave the Door Open,” which won all the awards. Soul Train Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, a BET Award, an American Music Award, and we’re not sure how many Grammy Awards they’re gonna win just yet, but I’m guessing the answer is “many.”

3. DWAYNE JOHNSON It feels almost like a joke to always be including Dwayne Johnson on this list every year, but the dude refuses to stop being prolific and successful! In 2021, he starred in adventure-y action flicks such as “Jungle Cruise,” “Free Guy,” and “Red Notice.”

He also executive produced the TV series “Young Rock,” a show

that in India and China, abortions have led to an excess of men to argue the same thing would happen here, in the U.S., if abortion is not stopped.

But the fundamental flaw of this way of thinking is that it equates the behavior of people or governments in Asia, who desire to have at least one boy-child, with people of Asian ancestry here.

Kalantry also argues that any attempt to help a community must start by listening to those community members themselves.

During the commencement address, she spoke of a case in the Indian Supreme Court that led to the government banning transnational surrogacy—in which poor women bear the child of a paying couple.

But in coming to their decision, the judges didn’t speak to a single surrogate mother. And many later said they had relied on this practice to pay for healthcare or food.

SOLVING REAL-LIFE PROBLEMS At Seattle University, students and faculty are particularly concerned with issues of social justice, she said in response to a question asking her to compare her current classes with Cornell Law School.

One topic she visits with her beginning law class involves human rights and big business.

In her class, she asks her students to play the role of an officer hired by Amazon to identify human rights problems that may in part be a result of the company’s actions.

She is also hoping to start a center in India that would bring students from India to S.U. and send students from S.U. to India. The center would also tackle problems of immigrant communities here, such as Nepalese who may not have access to immigration services that are only in English and Spanish.

At Cornell, through the India center, she was able to facilitate high-level dialogue, bringing in the U.S. ambassador to India and a supreme court justice from India.

“It’s really at the stage of having conversations with people who could support it,” she said. “We want the faculty to have resources to use their academic knowledge for the solution of real-life problems impacting people in India, as well as Asian American communities in Seattle.”  Mahlon can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

based on his childhood, featuring a number of awesome Pacific Islander actors. He was also in a video game? I’m not a video game person, but you might know it? It’s called “Fortnite: Battle Royale.” Is it popular? What am I saying? Of course it’s popular. Johnson is in it.

2. CHLOÉ ZHAO Chloé Zhao is a Chinese-born filmmaker. She was formerly very indie, but then in 2021, she came at us with a Marvel Studio film, “The Eternals,” which she directed and wrote.

Also, earlier in the year, her 2020 film “Nomadland” was sweeping all the awards. It won a Golden Globe, a British Independent Film Award, an American Film Institute Award, Critics’ Choice Awards, British Academy Film Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, and also Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress. Like, for real.

1. BTS Uh, duhhh BTS is number one!

Man, these dudes aren’t even human. They are probably time travelers from the future who traveled back to this day and age with secret sneaky knowledge about how to achieve world domination through pop superstardom. And they’re doing it, man! They are doing it!

I can’t even list out their 2021 achievements because there are too many. Instead, I will list out the ones that are kind of the most interesting to me. Um, in 2021, they became brand ambassadors for Tamagotchi. Yes, the little pocket pets of our childhoods.

They also had a really cool McDonald’s meal come out in 2021.

The BTS meal was a 10-piece chicken McNugget meal with medium fries, a medium Coke, and sweet chili and Cajun dipping sauces.  Stacy can be reached at stacy@nwasianweekly.com.

JANUARY 22 – JANUARY 28, 2022

YOUR VOICE

■ ASTROLOGY

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Predictions and advice for the week of January 22–28, 2022

By Sun Lee Chang Rat—Avoid focusing too much on one aspect so that you don’t wind up losing sight of the big picture.

Dragon—Are you receiving good value for the amount spent? If not, look at other options.

Monkey—A recent experience has revealed your true strength and that you are more than ready for the next challenge.

Ox—You manage quite the load and make it look easy. Take credit where it is due, you have earned it.

Snake—A luxury to one is a necessity to another.

It just depends on whether you merely want it or need it.

Rooster—A gentle voice can be just as effective as a loud one. Don’t underestimate the power of persuasion.

Tiger—Instead of looking for the easy solution, consider seeking the right one—even if it is more complicated.

Horse—Too much too soon can be overwhelming.

Try to slow down to a natural pace.

Dog—In the process of sifting through what you have, you should be able to find what you are looking for.

Rabbit —Why waste your time on something you don’t care about? Be selective about where you choose to shine the light.

Goat—You have been bestowed a great gift.

Exercise care to ensure that it is used wisely and with purpose.

Pig—The groundwork has been laid and is now ready for you to build what you have long envisioned.

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, 2022 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.

OLYMPICS from 4 positive test is adding to the pressure for athletes.

Mogul skier Hannah Soar said she’s avoiding contact with people indoors and behaving as if everyone has the virus: “We’re basically at the point of acting like it’s March 2020.”

WHAT ABOUT DAILY LIFE? Upon arrival at the airport in Beijing, participants will have their temperatures taken and be tested with throat and nasal swabs. An Olympics official who recently arrived on site said at a press briefing the process took him 45 minutes, though organizers note times might vary.

A bus will then take people to their designated lodging, where they’ll wait up to six hours for test results to clear them to move about in approved areas.

Restrictions on movement within that “closed loop” are intended to seal off any potential contact between Olympic participants and the local population.

Throat swabs for testing will be required daily for all participants. In Tokyo, participants spit into vials for antigen tests.

Standard prevention measures are being encouraged, such as ventilating rooms and keeping a distance of about 3 feet from others or 6 feet from athletes.

Masks that are N95 or of a similar caliber will also be required in indoor and outdoor areas with few exceptions, such as when people are eating or drinking.

Dining halls will have partitions and seating capacity will be reduced to help maintain distancing.

In spaces where distancing isn’t possible, such as elevators, talking isn’t allowed. Staff will be stationed in key areas to help guide people and ensure protocols are being followed.

WHAT HAPPENS IF AN ATHLETE TESTS POSITIVE? In Tokyo, organizers say 33 athletes tested positive during the Games.

Of those, 22 were withdrawn from competition. Even with the tightened precautions in Beijing, experts say some positive tests are likely, especially with omicron in play.

If an athlete or other participant tests positive but doesn’t have symptoms, they’ll need to go into isolation in a dedicated hotel. They’ll be provided

with meals and can open their windows for fresh air but won’t be able to leave their rooms, which organizers say will be about 270 square feet.

Athletes can request fitness equipment for training.

People with no symptoms can leave isolation after two days of negative tests.

Organizers say those testing positive will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, but it might still be too late for athletes to compete.

As a general rule, organizers say the panel will review those who keep testing positive for more than 14 days.

Those who test positive and have symptoms have to go into isolation in a hospital. They’ll also need two days of negative tests to be let loose, as well as three days of normal temperatures and symptoms subsiding.

Organizers have said athletes who recover after testing positive ahead of the Games will also be assessed on a caseby-case basis in a “more flexible manner.“ WILL THERE BE FANS? Spectators from overseas won’t be allowed. As for local fans, Beijing organizers say they’re finalizing rules for

their attendance.

It’s not clear how the recent outbreaks around China will factor into the decisions. But organizers of the Tokyo Games had also planned to allow some domestic fans, before scrapping the idea because of a surge in local cases. The result was surreal scenes of athletes competing in empty stadiums.

Even if some fans are allowed in Beijing, their presence will be muted.

Everyone is being asked to clap instead of shouting or singing, as had been the plan in Tokyo.

CAN IT WORK? Despite the omicron-fueled surge hitting many parts of the world including China, organizers may still be able to pull off the Olympics without as much disruption as some fear.

Olympic athletes are highly motivated to avoid infection so they can compete, noted Dr. Sandro Galea, a public health expert at Boston University. And even if it’s harder with omicron, he noted it’s no mystery what people need to do to avoid infection—take prevention measures, such as limiting exposure to others. 

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO PROPOSERS Sealed bids will be received for KC000453, Roof Replacements and Repair Construction Work Order 2022-2023, by King County Procurement and Payables Section, via the E-Procurement system, until 2:00 PM on 02/03/2022. Late bids will not be accepted. The public bid opening will only be conducted online following the Bid Close Date and Time; see Section 00 10 00 for details.

There is a 8% minimum

Apprentice Utilization Requirement on this contract.

There is a Voluntary Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Goal: 8% of the Contract Price.

There is a Voluntary Women Business Enterprise (WBE) Goal: 4% of the Contract Price.

The Contractor shall perform roof repairs, roof cleaning, and roof replacements to include (a) Sheet metal fabrication, (b) Cutting and welding of pipe vents, (c) Electrical

work performed by a licensed electrician, (d) Removing and reinstalling rooftop equipment and appurtenances, (e) Removing and legally disposing of the existing roofing system, (f) Installation of SBS modified bituminous membrane roofing and fluid applied protective coating systems, (h) Installation of curbing, flashing, sheet metal, and coping.

Not-To-Exceed contract price: $1,500,000

Pre-Bid: Please see Section 00 10 00 for details.

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

14

asianweekly northwest

40 YEARS

JANUARY 22 – JANUARY 28, 2022

CLASSIFIEDS NOTICE

NOTICE (Citizens’ Elections Oversight Committee Vacancies) Two positions on the Citizens’ Elections Oversight Committee (CEOC) are currently open for nominations and appointments.

The CEOC observes county elections, conducts oversight of election-related matters, meets roughly seven times per year and makes annual reports to the King County Council on committee observations, findings and recommendations. The 16-member committee is currently recruiting members representing the following expertise: · One representative from an academic institution who has knowledge of elections (nomination must be supported in writing by an academic institution) · One representative who has experience in technology More information on the CEOC can be found at: https://kingcounty.gov/ council/issues/CEOC/background. aspx More information about the position and how to apply can be found at: https://kingcounty.gov/council/ issues/CEOC.aspx Persons interested in serving on this volunteer committee should submit an application by February 11, 2022 for priority consideration.

EMPLOYMENT

Kin On Health Care Center, a nonprofit health and social services provider for the Asian community, is seeking a Chief Executive Officer to provide strategic leadership, direction, and resource stewardship for the future of this growing organization. The successful candidate should have an outstanding track record demonstrating leadership in the field of healthcare or human services. Excellent communication and fiscal management skills to serve as an effective liaison with other community organizations, government agencies, and the long-term care industry. Apply on KinOn.org or contact HR at careers@kinon.org for more info.

CAREGIVER LIVE OUT/LIVE IN IN EVRETT Need EXPERIENCED caregiver for 76 year old partial sight, lucid and ambulatory male. $15.00/hour starting w/ pay increases. Work Wed and Thurs.

In May or June 2022, caregiver live-in with weekly pay. Must speak and understand English.

Valid Driver’s license to drive family car. No smoking, drinking or drugs. References required. Call 206-251-6402 and leave message or call 206-261-5086 for more info.

EMPLOYMENT

Asian restaurants looking for 1 to 2 good wok chefs without or so so English. High pay with benifit and healthcare. Want to work long with our group call 206-502-9942.

FOR SALE

Asian restaurant for sale in Seattle area. Great business owner wants to retire and willing to sale on a good price. 206-356-5405.

NOTICE

4Culture is offering relief grants between $1,000 and $12,000 to cover COVID-19 related financial losses and help King County cultural producers move forward with their creative work. Deadline is February 2. More information at 4Culture.org/recovery.

Find NWAW on social media on Facebook, Twitter Instagram!

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MING from 4 Yao said that he has known Peng for about 20 years.

The four Chinese sports figures were photographed on an observation deck from where they watched a winter sports exhibition.

“We had a pleasant chat,” he said. “We asked many questions about the game as we were not familiar with snow sports.”

At one point, it was unclear if he said Peng was OK. Some, including the translator for the news conference, heard her say “she was fine that day,“ but others thought Yao said “we were all fine that day.”

GO from 6 city’s economic recovery as it tries to draw people back to offices, tourist attractions and more.

“We want to continue to highlight how imperative it is that people receive the right mental health services, particularly on our subway system,” the mayor said.

Through her independent work, Ponder can also educate her clients about inclusion and diversity in photography.

She has been able to provide recommendations and a perspective on capturing more photos of people of color, for example, which might not be something that one would notice. Ponder hopes that through her photography, she can help clients be more community-minded and comfortable engaging with various communities.

When Ponder isn’t busy taking photos for the community, she enjoys spending time and playing with her eightmonth-old grandson.  Nina can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

Mail to: NW Asian Weekly 412 Maynard Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98104 or call 206-223-0623 ELIMINATE GUTTER CLEANING FOREVER! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts.

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The International Olympic Committee, which has been pressured to move the Games from China because of human rights concerns, came under further fire after IOC President Thomas Bach held a video call with Peng. An IOC statement said that she assured Bach and others that she was well.

Regarding Djokovic, Yao said he is not familiar with Australia’s pandemic measures, “so I’m not in a position to comment if he did right or wrong.”

But, he said, “speaking as a former athlete, I think it’s a pity for a player to lose such an opportunity and for the spectators to lose an opportunity to enjoy watching the player’s skills.”

“To lose a New Yorker in this fashion will only continue to elevate the fears of individuals not using our subway system.”

“Our recovery is dependent on the public safety in this city and in the subway system,” Adams said.

Under his predecessor, Bill de Blasio, the city repeatedly said it was deploying

COMCAST RISE from 3

Subscribe to the Northwest Asian Weekly for just $40 a year or pay online at http://www.nwasianweekly.com Name_______________________________ Address _____________________________ City _______________________State_____ Zip Code ____________________________ Phone ______________________________

The former Rockets center also said he wants to invite Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter Freedom, who has argued for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics, to visit China to develop a deeper understanding of the country. He said he couldn’t comment on Freedom’s position, but that “everyone receives information from different channels and it may lead to different points of view.”

Yao, who is 41, said society should embrace technology because it brings more convenience and promotes communication. But he started his answer by saying, “If you allow me to choose, I would rather go back to 10 years ago without these high technologies so I can move more freely.” 

more police to subways after attacks last year and pressure from transit officials.

The agency that runs the subway system, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, sped up work to install security cameras in all 472 subway stations citywide, finishing that project in September.

However, the city also has repeatedly

faced complaints in recent years about heavy-handed policing in subways.

Protests erupted, for example, after police were seen on bystander video handcuffing a woman they said was selling churros without a license at subway stations in 2019 and punching a Black teenager during a brawl on a subway platform that same year. 

SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 6

JANUARY 22 – JANUARY 28, 2022

YOUR VOICE

up after the destruction by splinter groups who took advantage of BLM protests. As we got the front-row seat to witness history, we were preoccupied to cover story after story. When our community is in troubled waters, we should stand by our community, not quit. Abandoning the community in times of crises, reveals cowardice. A miracle unfolded every week, and then it was multiplied into mini miracles. There were several news-breaking stories, as well as business opportunities throughout 2020, spreading to 2021.

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

VOL 39 NO 24 JUNE 13 – JUNE 19, 2020 FREE 38 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Protest aftermath

Greater Seattle AAPI candidates in 2021

DEVELOPING JOURNALISTS AND OTHER TALENTS Three years ago, I visited the New York Times office. A former Seattleite who now works for the New York Times, Laura Chang, said I gave her her first break in journalism by publishing her story. She was kind enough to acknowledge my contribution. I would not have considered it as our accomplishment years ago. It made me realize that when we say yes to interns or give jobs to inexperienced young people when they first walk into our office, we are offering them priceless training not only in skills, but confidence, human relations, and organization development.

The teens who had worked for me are now managers and aspiring leaders in many professions with new employers.

From six to 30 years, six young immigrant women had stayed with me. Although they are not young anymore, their knowledge and skills have now excelled beyond my expectations in digital skills, layout, translating, writing and editing, and their smart sense in news and business. Some could hardly speak English when they first joined. Now, their English proficiency is so great that they read and comprehend English news thoroughly or deal with English-speaking clients without any problems. Representing us, one even gave a short English speech without notes in front of 50-plus people. Wow! It just makes me cry with joy whenever I think of their remarkable journey with our newspapers.

Many of my former Asian Weekly editors have also made me proud. One is a Microsoft book editor, one works for NBC, and one owns her own business in writing, design, illustrating, and editing.

One of our former freelance writers has already published four books. Several Chinese Post writers have also published many books on their own.

THE PANDEMIC Bruce Harrell told dinner guests, “I am inspired.”

And our prayer has been answered. The victory of Bruce Harrell, Seattle’s first Asian American mayor in 152 years and second Black mayor since 1990, has empowered both the Asian and Black communities. His election also put Seattle in the national spotlight with the other two newly-elected mayors of Asian American descent in Boston and Cincinnati.

When the pandemic struck, it did kill quite a few newspapers. It didn’t kill us, even though I thought it might.

March 2020 was so terrible that a few close friends were telling us it’s time to fold. I took the time to prepare myself mentally to exit. Yet what happened in May changed the fate of both newspapers.

The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement happened because of George Floyd’s unjust murder by police. The whole Chinatown-International District was boarded

Photos by Becky Chan

The Asian Weekly can make a lot of noise even though we are a tiny paper.

While I hate the label of activists for the paper, we are unapologetic when advocating for our people and community. And we are unafraid to denounce Asian and non-Asian politicians who have not served our community well.

Something beautiful is happening in the Chinatown-International District (ID) and it’s never happened before.

The faces of two legends, Bruce Lee and Kareem Abdul Jabbar, are painted side by side at the Tai Tung Restaurant storefront. Half a block down, Breonna Taylor’s portrait graces Eastern Cafe’s panel. see AFTERMATH on 6

Kevin (left) and Ethan (right), students of the University of Washington, joined the rally on campus on June 6. Over 300 names of murdered victims are on this poster.

Pierce County hate crime shows challenges for Asians after COVID-19

By Alexander Chan NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY An alleged hate crime against an Asian American business owner from January demonstrates that racism and bias against Asians and Asian Americans are unlikely to disappear when concerns over COVID-19 subside.

Daniel Sesung Park immigrated from South Korea to the United States 35 years ago, and has since become a U.S. citizen. Park has proudly owned the JB Mart convenience store in Bonney Lake for 13 years. However, on Jan. 20, he became a victim at his own place of business when 29-yearold Brian Connor McKenna allegedly threatened to kill Park and directed anti-Asian slurs towards

THE LAYUP DRILL  5

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him.

Park described the ordeal with McKenna in an interview with the Northwest Asian Weekly. Park did not recall ever previously meeting McKenna.

Park explained that McKenna had been in JB Mart earlier in the day randomly uttering expletives and causing a disturbance.

“He acted like he was talking to someone on the phone but you could tell that he was just screaming, saying bad words, talking to no one.

He looked as if he was high on drugs.”

Reports from the Bonney Lake Police Department indicate that McKenna then returned to JB Mart in the evening. After being asked by

15

Publisher Assunta Ng and editor Ruth Bayang won the Editorial Excellence award from Real Change

and 27 journalism awards from the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association.

I remember when the awards were announced last October virtually, I couldn’t keep up writing the names of our writers down on my notepad. What my editor, Ruth Bayang, and writers had achieved in their craft amidst deadlines is simply amazing. And my son John Liu coordinated two events with Zoom Master John Chen in honoring over 50 health care workers in early 2021 and Unity in Voices for the Asian and Black communities last September.

see HATE CRIME on 12

AT THE MOVIES  7

COMMUNITY NEWS  8

Cambodians were represented during the march from Othello Park to Rainier Beach on June 7.

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

Then the game changed in July 2021.

The Asian Weekly was bouncing back, but not the Chinese Post. At least one paper thrived and supported the other. This reversed the trend in which Chinese Post was the main breadmaker for years. It matters little as we are one company. And we were able to resume our “lucky red envelope” (year-end bonus) tradition for every employee and writer last December, just like in 2019 and before. They have earned it, and we were so glad that we could do it.

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

VOL 40 NO 47 NOVEMBER 20 – NOVEMBER 26, 2021

FREE 39 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Bruce Harrell announces diverse transition team Seattle Mayor-elect Bruce Harrell announced members of his transition team on Nov. 16—the nearly 150 members make up the most racially and ideologically diverse mayoral transition team in Seattle history.

The transition effort, built around 12 topically-oriented committees, will be chaired by former United States Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, Equal Opportunity Schools Interim CEO Eddie Lincoln, Uwajimaya President and CEO Denise Moriguchi, and Sea Mar founder and CEO Rogelio Riojas, along with

23 co-team leads.

“With this transition team in place, we have the opportunity in front of us to thoughtfully develop the urgent and forward-looking agenda that will restore our City and propel Seattle forward,” said Harrell. The team of local civic, business, conservation, youth advocacy, philanthropy, labor, and community leaders will help shape and define Harrell’s agenda.

“I’m excited Mayor-elect Harrell has made Seattle’s small businesses and working families core see TEAM on 12

Denise Moriguchi

Hyeok Kim

James Wong

Mike Fong

Sharon Santos

Dr. Shouan Pan

Taylor Hoang

Vivian Song Maritz

Sung Yang

ON THE SHELF Grieving the loss of a parent  8

GUPTA

By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

PUBLISHER’S BLOG Justice Mary Yu’s portrait unveiled at SU  10

Dr. Vin Gupta

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ‘Sesame Street’ debuts Ji-Young, first Asian American muppet  11

Restaurants Open Thanksgiving 2021

Want to feast without the stress of cooking on Thanksgiving? Here are the restaurants open on Thanksgiving Day in the Chinatown-International District.

VIN

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northwest

Asians for Black Lives Matter marched from Othello Park on June 7.

Photo by Han Bui

Our mission is to empower the community. Running for office takes courage, sacrifice, and commitment. People who place themselves in vulnerable positions deserve a lot of credit. We want to do our part to support Asian Americans to go into politics and be part of the team and process in decision making and legislation, as well as all levels of government. To have our voice at the table is crucial. People who are willing to lift our community through the political process, will have our back. And covering their stories and featuring them prominently in the Asian Weekly is the least we can do.

When our papers were first launched in the 1980s, there were few Asian elected officials, including King County Council member Ruby Chow, Judge Warren Chan, Judge Liem Tuai, then Rep. Gary Locke, Rep. Art Wang, and Seattle City Council member Dolores Sibonga.

In contrast to the present, more than 40 Asian Americans were elected and appointed at all levels of government in 2021 in Western Washington. You can call it progress. After the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes, it has become a demonstration of “Asian Americans’ consciousness and fearlessness to fix the system and protect ourselves.”

As we celebrated the victories of many Asian American candidates in the general election, it lifted the Asian Weekly up when delivering positive news. Good news was and is much needed not only during COVID, but in normal times as well. Newspapers should be a tool for inspiration. Telling positive stories can inspire us to help and better each other’s lives or spark action to lift our community and city. Don’t forget we are as much journalists as human beings. We want to see good things happen in our community and fighting to get our qualified and moderate candidates to break the glass ceiling remains a high priority.

Bruce Lee and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The artists, Shara Lee and Dozfy Nguyen, were inspired by the movie Game of Death, in which the two legends appeared. Abdul-Jabbar said Lee, a good friend, invited him to Hong Kong to film the movie.

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Photo by Jovelle Tamayo

BLOG from 10

Asians for

Black Lives Matter

Photo by Assunta Ng

Over 100 artists lift up Seattle’s Chinatown

asianweekly

Finally, the death threats have stopped.

For most of 2020 and until a new administration came in, Vin Gupta regularly received not only threats but even unmarked packages to his home.

Gupta, who is a leading health policy analyst for NBC and MSNBC, has always tried to remain apolitical. But when the networks made him fact checker for the

see LIST on 3

UW professor, NBC contributor on communication Republican National Convention, it was very hard to be seen as anything but partisan.

“Actually, the whole of 2020 was that way...It was hard not to be perceived as political,” he said.

This was difficult because one of the keys to his success—besides his mentors—has been “staying in my own lane.”

This does not apply to other subjects though. When it comes to medicine and policy, Gupta is outspoken.

During an interview with Northwest Asian Weekly, Gupta offered several bold policy recommendations, including delicensing doctors who spread false information about Covid-19 and encouraging health authorities to come up with a unified definition of the purpose of vaccination.

Even though he is a few months shy of turning 39, the journey has been much longer, and less straightforward.

His parents were immigrants from India, his mother a neonatal intensive care doctor and his father a civil engineer.

After she completed her training at several top medical schools, she found a job in Toledo, Ohio. But Gupta’s father was working in Long Island.

So the family split up. The marriage remained intact, but Gupta spent much of

his early childhood raised by his mother.

“She did everything for my brother and me, and given how young we were and the nature of her demanding career, to do it largely by herself for years— that’s a tribute to her selflessness and unconditional love,” he said.

When his older brother went off to college, it was decided the father should quit his job and move to Ohio to help look after Gupta. Gupta was sent to Maumee Country Day School, a private school.

But he was shy and introverted.

“I didn’t develop those communication skills early on. I don’t think I innately had those skills, I had to really work at it.

Even when he went to Princeton, he said he spent the first years simply putting one foot in front of the other to get the highest grades possible. He had chosen a hardcore science track, like his brother, who was shining at schools like Stanford. And although he did well, albeit not quite as well as his brother, something was missing.

It was not until he spent his junior year abroad, in South Africa, that he learned to start taking risks, he said.

The country was less than 10 years out of Apartheid, and everyone was taking about issues that would later come to see GUPTA on 13

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

We are grateful to the Washington State Department of Health, which approached us to apply for grants in early 2021, and had agreed to give us complete editorial independence. We did a series of COVID-related stories and received positive feedback. And we were excited about our published interview with Vin Gupta

by Mahlon Meyer. Gupta is a smart and articulate MSNBC commentator. I am a Gupta fan.

Serendipity has been our 2021 passage. All my family members have been vaccinated and boosted. I felt calmer and more relaxed. It’s fun to dine outside with friends and family. And a couple of my team members even took vacations. One took as many as 15 trips in a year.

Unexpectedly, we won the Real Change newspaper “editorial excellence” award,

John Chen emceed the Northwest Asian Weekly’s virtual Healthcare Excellence Awards on Feb. 9, 2021

It resulted in much goodwill for the Asian Weekly, even though we didn’t receive much monetary rewards. But our purpose is to do the right thing. It is important to show our appreciation for the frontline workers. And to promote understanding and build trust between the Asian and Black communities is now more essential than ever in the context of the BLM movement and anti-Asian hate crimes.

Whether you like it or not, we need one another to fight institutionalized racism.

OUR FUTURE It’s getting harder and harder for community newspapers to survive. Since 2004, the U.S. has lost almost 1,800 newspapers, including non-daily and daily publications, and vanishing readership with decreasing circulation from 122 million to 73 million in 2018, according to “The Expanding News Desert” by Penelope Muse Abernathy/UNC Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Local Media. Then in 2020, the print and digital circulation of weekday newspapers was 24.3 million. In three years, it had decreased another 32%.

It is apparent that our future looks bleak and the past six years have been increasingly challenging. What keeps us going all these years is I have known at the beginning that it wouldn’t be an easy path.

Before our papers, the news industry was already tough. Four out of five newspapers failed in the U.S. then. The Chinese community has a saying, “If you want to ruin someone, tell him to start a newspaper.”

We were in trouble then and are still not quite out of the woods. When we have experienced the most difficult times, something always meanders our way to give us a hand. Is it our guardian angel? Destiny?

Or the good deeds we did for the past four decades, now flowing back to us in possibilities and fortunes during adversities. I have no explanation. Do you?

Yet, I am certain of one thing: If you have a dream, you can create it to make it happen. It’s never too late.  Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

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40 YEARS

JANUARY 22 – JANUARY 28, 2022

UNITY from 1 Islander (AAPI) community leaders. The online gathering honored a shared past, while recognizing Western Washington’s newly-elected and appointed Black and AAPI officials in what was the banner year of 2021.

“As I step into this role as a separately elected official and yes, the first Asian American woman to serve in this capacity, I do so humbly because I recognize that I’ve only arrived at this place, at this moment, because of the fight and the sacrifice, the beautiful audacity of the people before me who advocated so that I might,” said Hasegawa, a newly-elected Port of Seattle Commissioner, in her rousing closing remarks. “We also recognize that it’s not just our right, but it’s our responsibility, to preserve that legacy and to pay it forward.”

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, the keynote speaker, emphasized to the over 70 incoming AAPI officials the importance of reciprocal support and inspiration, and of love, especially to a younger generation filled with frustration and anger in the face of an unjust system.

“We have to show patience to the younger generation. We have to show leadership to the younger generation, which means WE listen [and] we show how to listen. We’ll be better leaders if we do that.”

Harrell reiterated his “One City One Seattle” aspiration and his meaning that, while the Black and AAPI communities might not agree on everything, they can agree on certain values and stand stronger together, as they have done in the past.

“We realize it is our collective power, not our sameness, but our collective power to love one another…that’s how we get things done.”

Throughout the call was a warm and

safe feeling of understanding and mutual respect. Emcee Nate Miles discussed the history of Black and AAPI allyship and the hope that this unity would continue into the future, for the success of both communities.

“We also want to…celebrate the strength that the Asian and African Americans have enjoyed over the last several years… going back to a time when people like Senator George Fleming teamed up with people like Ruth Woo, but even before that…[to] Wing Luke, when he ran for the City Council…we all had to come together because we knew we were stronger as a group than we were divided.”

Fellow emcee and former Seattle Deputy Mayor Hyeok Kim recalled the help she received from Miles himself at the start of her political career.

“Nate was one of the first faces I saw in Olympia…Think about this incredible, beautiful tapestry, and legacy, that… the giants before us laid the groundwork for…of Asian and Black elected officials working together, collaborating, supporting each other.” That’s what Unity of Voices was about. Kim continued, “Honoring that legacy, but also heralding some of the new elected officials, the new Black faces, the new Asian faces, that are going to pick up that legacy and take us to the next level and into the future.”

Following Harrell’s remarks, an impressive list was read of each of the newly-elected Black and AAPI officials in King, Pierce, Thurston, and Snohomish counties, as well as at the federal and state levels. Each honoree received a few words on their accomplishments or responsibilities, and if present, they were brought to the screen and congratulated publicly. Significant milestones were mentioned, such as the diversity of Harrell’s administration, which includes

three women of color as deputy mayors.

The refreshingly broad age range of new officials introduced includes seasoned political veterans and newcomers like Tukwila Councilmember Mohamed Abdi, the youngest Somali to hold the position.

Recognition and thanks were given to event organizers and fellow community leaders like the Weekly’s publisher, Assunta Ng, who Miles described as a “voice for the voiceless, and a voice for all of us when we need somebody to speak up for us”; and Cindy Wong-Li, of Vibrant Cities, who received a gift basket and certificate for her help in putting the evening together.

“Excuse my French,” joked Miles.

“You’re a badass…in a great way!”

Throughout the night was this feeling of shared respect and appreciation, as well as high hopes for what changes might be achieved by new and old blood alike.

“It really is a tremendous honor for me to share this platform with people who I have across my life so long admired, figurative but also literal giants in our community, who are breaking ceilings and making history,” said Hasegawa. “We could all take a look at the attendees today and give gratitude to someone among us who has mentored you or empowered you or held you accountable to be your greatest self.”

Hasegawa spoke of how the Black community held fundraisers when Japanese families were released from internment, so that those families might “find their footing.” And how, in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, Asians marched holding signs that read “Yellow Peril Supports Black Power.” Or how, when violence rose along with the coronavirus, it was the NAACP who first spoke out against anti-Asian hate. She and the other speakers proved we have many examples “of what it looks like to stand

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up for each other, but more importantly, with each other,” to organize “interracially,” “inter-sectionally,” and “intergenerationally,” because “infringing upon people’s rights is a slippery slope, and a threat to one of us is a threat to all of us.”

Harrell, too, described a legacy of unity.

He remembered empowering slogans like “I’m Black and I’m proud,” “Black is Beautiful,” or “Black Power,” whereas now the message is “We matter.” “We have to say, “we matter,” he explained, “when we look at African Americans dying at the hands of police, unnecessarily [and] with the rise in violence against Asians.” Harrell talked about the Chinese Exclusion Act, and the myth of the “Model Minority,” the belief that everything is going well for AAPIs, when it’s often not.

“Look at your history books,” he urged.

“Here we are in 2022 grappling with the same issues. The good news is we are here to make history.”

Harrell asked the audience, “What inspires you?” The answers came in a flood. “Remembering the struggles of those who went before me,” said Tiffany Washington, Seattle deputy mayor. “Great leaders like Bob Santos, Roberto Maestas, Larry Gossett, and Bernie Whitebear,” listed event organizer Tim Otani. “The students of Seattle Public Schools,” said Brandon Hersey, new Seattle school director. In sum, we are inspired by a heritage of leaders and loved ones, and the legacy we wish to leave our children and grandchildren.

“What I hope we do in 2022, and the purpose of this gathering, is that we learn how to inspire people,” said Harrell. “Let’s inspire one another. Let’s hold each other up.”  Kai can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.