VOL 39 NO 9 | FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 6, 2020

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

VOL 39 NO 9 FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 6, 2020 FREE 38 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Trash to treasure

By Becky Chan NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

see TAIWAN on 12

see TREASURE on 12

Photo by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Having vowed to close its four nuclear power plants by 2025, Taiwan is in the midst of transforming its energy

Thank you for helping Seattle recycle the Alaskan Way Viaduct. Yes, you, the sentimental ones who got a chunk of concrete as a keepsake via the Friends of Waterfront Seattle. The viaduct replacement or “displacement” project turned out to be a massive recycling program. With your help, no matter how small, Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) kept tons of concrete out of the state’s waste stream. Increasingly, people are finding creative ways to divert waste from the landfill.

Demolition of the 67-year-old viaduct began in February 2019 and finished in November. Some cheered and sneered as the 2.2-mile concrete stretch succumbed to the gang of enormous cranes. Others reminisced about their commute on the elevated freeway, slowed by the glorious Puget Sound sunsets against the Olympic Mountains.

Most agreed the viaduct was a barrier between downtown and the waterfront.

WSDOT recycled 240 million pounds of

Wind turbines and solar panels in Taiwan

By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Photo by Becky Chan

Taiwan changing to confront energy and environmental issues

Can you guess what Dumbo is made of? Art by Michael Arndt, co-director of Seattle Recycled Arts’ Zero Waste Market.

PHOTO BY PAUL CHRISTIAN GORDON

Celebrate Asia 2020

A dynamic and cultural musical event for the whole family

By Nina Huang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Photo by Brandon Patoc

Shiva Shafii, Seattle Symphony’s director of communications, shared excitement about this year’s Celebrate Asia, which will include a mix of diverse artists and repertoire with folk music from China and Russia.

The 12th annual performance will also feature Chinese American pianist Conrad Tao, whom Shafii described as having “a lot of dynamite” in Seattle Symphony Orchestra Celebrate Asia

see CELEBRATE ASIA on 11

T

oshiko Hasegawa, executive director at Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, introduced presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren at the Seattle Armory on Feb. 22, before a crowd of 7,000 people.

Warren’s campaign staff heard Hasegawa speak previously and chose her to do the introduction.

Inslee appoints Nelson Lee to the King County Superior Court

By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Nelson Lee

■

Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Nelson Lee to the King County Superior Court on Feb. 18. He replaces Judge Bill Bowman, who was recently appointed to the Court of Appeals, Division I. Lee has managed his own law firm for the past 10 years, where his practice focused on immigration, personal injury, wrongful death, and criminal defense cases.

“Much of my legal practice over the past nine years has involved immigration counseling,” said Lee. “The potential adverse impact of arrests and convictions on a person’s non-immigrant or immigrant status has been alarmingly exacerbated and muddied by the Trump administration.

This immigration knowledge would serve me well as a judge in both the criminal and civil contexts.” see LEE on 6

Seattle Public Utilities partners with food banks to save food and life  3

Seattle Children’s Film Festival: Eye-opening delights the world over 7

Proposal would allow elbow strikes in Muay Thai matches  9

Turning waste into treasures: Remake Remake things from home  10

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

38 YEARS

FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 6, 2020

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS

The Washington State Legislature joined together this month in observing the Day of Remembrance at the State Capitol.

Feb. 19, 2020 marked the 78th anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which authorized the forcible removal and incarceration of more than 120,000 Japanese Americans into concentration camps along the West Coast.

“The story of Japanese Americans during WWII is a lesson for all Americans to learn from,” said state Sen. Bob Hasegawa. “My entire family, my entire community, was swept up in the war hysteria... So this story is a lesson for all of us to pay attention to so that it never happens again.” 

Courtesy of ICHS

ICHS’ rat race

Photo by John Liu

“Song Lang” (Best Narrative Feature), “Born to Be” (Best Documentary Feature), and “SOMA” (Best Local Film). 

Andrew Yang joins CNN as political commentator

From left: Tony To, Wayne Lau and wife, Teri, and Bruce Harrell.

Approximately 60 people attended a party at Joyale Seafood Restaurant on Feb. 19 to celebrate the retirement of Wayne Lau. Many of the guests were former and current clients of Rainier Valley Community Development Fund (RVCDF). They spoke of the former executive director’s service and how he impacted businesses to grow and prosper in the face of increasing challenges.

Lau’s last day at RVCDF was Jan. 23. 

8th Annual SAAFF

Runners get off to a strong start at the ICHS 4th annual Lunar New Year 5K on Feb. 23.

Fans are getting ready for a showing of Love Boat: Taiwan, Ahma & Alan and Shell Yeah.

Wayne Lau’s retirement party

Screencap from YouTube

Community members, staff, and legislators posed for a photo on Feb. 20 after watching the Washington State Legislature commemorate the Day of Remembrance honoring Japanese Americans.

Three-hundred people participated in International Community Health Services (ICHS)’ annual Lunar New Year 5k Walk/Run on Feb. 23.

In celebration of the Year of the Rat, festivities included a traditional lion dance for good fortune and firecrackers to chase away evil spirits.

The event—which took place along the Interurban Trail in Shoreline—raised $30,000. All proceeds support health services for community members who could not otherwise afford them. 

Photo by George Liu

Courtesy of WHD

State lawmakers observe Day of Remembrance

The Seattle Asian American Film Festival (SAAFF) was held on Feb. 20-23. This year, SAAFF offered 12 feature-length films and eight shorts programs.

The Grand Jury Award winners were “The Visit” (Best Short Narrative), “YAI NIN” (Best Short Documentary),

Andrew Yang (right) and Anderson Cooper (left)

Andrew Yang, who ended his presidential bid in February, has joined CNN as a political commentator.

He made his first appearance on the network on Feb. 19 with analysis of the presidential debate that night.

“Maybe I’ll wear a tie,” Yang joked. But he didn’t.

Yang was the only candidate on the debate stage to regularly show up in a suit but no tie. 

Disease Knows No Boarders. Taiwan’s Exclusion form the World Health Organization creates a serious gap in the global health network. Like all people around the world, Taiwanese people deserve the right to health. 駐西雅圖臺北經濟文化辦事處

T aipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle

FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 6, 2020

YOUR VOICE

asianweekly northwest

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■ COMMUNITY NEWS Seattle Public Utilities partners with food banks to save food and life

By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Mami Hara, General Manager/CEO of Seattle Public Utilities

Standing outside a chain-link fence with a floppy hat and an old jacket faded from 30 years of washing, Fong Yuen, 70, said, “I don’t need new clothes. I can still wear these.”

She has come to the Rainier Valley Food Bank on two busses and is now standing for

a wait that she knows will be three hours.

She will receive a bag with some chicken, some vegetables, and other groceries.

“I can make it last a day, maybe two,” she said.

Then she’ll have to wait until the food bank opens again, which will not be for another three days. She is not alone.

According to Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), one quarter of a million people in

King County do not have enough food to eat.

And yet 30 percent of the garbage that is thrown away here is food.

“These two facts should not coexist,” said Mami Hara, the general manager at SPU. Now, SPU is teaming up with food banks, like the one in Rainier Valley, to make sure that food thrown away from restaurants,

Utility bill assistance The Utility Discount Program offers eligible customers a 60% discount on their Seattle City Light bill and a 50% discount on their Seattle Public Utilities bill. The program has served Seattle homeowners and tenants since the 1980s and supports the Human Services Department commitment to affordability and livability. The program is available for income-qualified residential households.

Your household may be eligible if: ● You are the homeowner or renter ● You have a Seattle City Light and/or Seattle Public Utilities bill in your name* ● Your total household income for the past month prior to applying does not exceed the amount listed in the table on the right:

*Eligible tenants may still qualify for utility financial help, even if the utilities are included in the rent.

Contact program staff if you have questions or would like to start the application process. Call (206) 684-0268 and let the staff know if you would like to have an interpreter assist you.

Pick a party. for one.

Sign on the line.

Return it by March 10.

Make your voice heard.

For more information on this election or how to cast your ballot, visit kingcounty.gov/elections Get social with us

see SPU on 15

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asianweekly northwest

FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 6, 2020

38 YEARS

■ NATIONAL NEWS

Legislation introduced to break free from plastic pollution

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) joined Reps. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) and Katherine Clark (D-MA) and Senators Tom Udall (D-NM) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) to introduce the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2020.

The legislation would phase out unnecessary singleuse plastic products, hold corporations accountable for wasteful products, reduce wasteful packaging, and reform our broken waste and recycling collection system.

“Plastic waste pollutes our lands and our waterways, and harms our bodies and our ecosystems. The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act revamps our recycling system and ensures the cost of cleaning up dangerous plastic waste falls on the large corporations responsible for dumping—not the communities these corporations pollute,” said Jayapal. “Climate change

is an existential threat, which is greatly accelerated by plastic production. Many of the solutions included in this bill are already being implemented in states and cities, including in my district. We need bold strategies that account for the disproportionate burden the climate crisis has on vulnerable people and communities.”

The legislation would: Require big corporations take responsibility for their pollution, requiring producers of plastic products to design, manage, and finance waste and recycling programs.

Spur innovation, incentivizing big corporations to make reusable products and items that can actually be recycled.

Create a nationwide beverage container refund program, which is successful at the state level.

Reduce and ban certain single-use plastic products

that are not recyclable.

Establish minimum recycled content requirements for beverage containers, packaging, and food-service products, while standardizing recycling and composting labeling.

Spur massive investments in U.S. domestic recycling and composting infrastructure, while pressing pause on new plastic facilities until critical environment and health protections are put in place.

The bill will also end the practice of exporting plastic waste overseas to developing countries that do not have the infrastructure to manage that waste, preventing harmful impacts to those countries and unnecessary leakage of plastic waste into rivers, waterways, and oceans. 

Sports wagering legislation advances

By Alexander Chan NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Gambling enthusiasts in this state have many options to choose from with all of our tribal casinos and card rooms.

However, they still cannot legally bet on any sporting event while they are physically in the state of Washington.

Professional gambling, including sports wagering, is currently illegal.

But that has not stopped sports betting enthusiasts in the Asian community from taking their business to the dangerous black market of private bookies. Heather Songer, the public information officer for the Washington State Gambling Commission, told the Northwest Asian Weekly, “In general, gambling is prevalent among our Asian communities here in Washington. We also know that there is significant involvement in illegal bookmaking and wagering.”

Law enforcement officials have aggressively prosecuted individuals involved in illicit sports wagering. In 2003, federal prosecutors charged 10 Asians with running a sports bookmaking business out of Billiard Hoang, a

popular Vietnamese restaurant in Seattle. More recently in 2015, state investigators raided an Asian billiard hall in Tacoma that served as the location for an illegal gambling operation. Songer said that “illegal gambling activities are often associated with organized crime. The illicit revenue is often used to fund other nefarious activities.”

Washington state residents can place a sports wager only by traveling to one of the 14 states where sports betting is legal. House Bill 2638 and Senate Bill 6394 would change all that—allowing tribal casinos to accept wagers on sporting events. Both bills also allow tribal casinos to let their customers place a wager over the

internet as long as the online activity occurs at the casino.

Both bills would still outlaw sports wagering at any nontribal casino, cardroom, or horse racing track.

On Feb. 13, the Washington House of Representatives passed House Bill 2638 by an 83-14 vote. The Washington State Senate will now consider the bill. If 60% of the Senate approves the legislation, Gov. Jay Inslee will then have an opportunity to sign the bill into law. The Office of Financial Management estimates that either bill would generate between $6.5 million to $8 million in the next five years for the state.

The Washington State Gambling Commission supports the efforts to legalize sports wagering because it may reduce the market for illegal bookmaking.

“We expect that there will be a positive shift in the market if or when sports betting is legalized in Washington,” Songer said. “People usually prefer to gamble at legal, regulated gambling operators that are required to follow consumer protection and responsible gambling rules that protect them from being taken advantage of.”

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO PROPOSERS Proposals will be received for E00655E20, West Point Treatment Plant Power Switchgear Replacement Project; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 12:00 PM on March 18, 2020.

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 for Phase 1: $300,000 Total Estimated Price for all Phases: $1,000,000 All solicitation documents are published at: https://procurement. kingcounty.gov/procurement_ovr/login. aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fprocurement_ ovr%2fdefault.aspx Contact: Regina Sparano, rsparano@ kingcounty.gov, 206-477-4807

see SPORTS BETTING on 13

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YOUR VOICE

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 6, 2020

asianweekly northwest

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Seattle to launch Census New food serviceware Assistance Centers SEATTLE — As part of her 2020 State of the City address on Feb. 18, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced the City’s new actions to prepare for the 2020 U.S. Census.

The City will open a series of Census Assistance Centers and launch other focused education efforts to help ensure all Seattle communities can know their rights and be counted.

“From fear surrounding the failed ‘citizenship question,’ to this being the first-ever online Census, there are significant barriers to a complete 2020 Census count,” said Durkan. “But our Census Assistance Centers, coupled with the efforts of our community partners, will help people participate in the Census, and ensure Seattle receives our fair share of federal resources.”

By mid-March, every household in Seattle will receive a letter from the U.S. Census Bureau, inviting them to fill out their Census form online. A complete Census count would ensure that Seattle receives its fair share of federal resources, as significant funding is at stake for other federal programs that Seattle families and communities rely on, including Head Start, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Medicare and Medicaid.

The City of Seattle is deploying four key strategies to ensure a complete, safe Census count: City staff at all Seattle Public Library (SPL) branches and all Seattle Parks and Recreation community centers will be prepared to answer questions about the 2020 Census; Starting March 12, every SPL branch will have computers available for communities to fill out their Census form, regardless of whether they have library cards; On April 1, SPL will host Census Assistance Centers at the Lake City, Rainier Beach, and Ballard branches; and On April 15, community centers at Alki, Delridge, Garfield, High Point, Jefferson, Rainier, South Park, and Yesler will host Census Assistance Centers.

At Census Assistance Centers, community members can receive technical assistance when filling out their online Census form, get their questions answered about how Census information is used, and learn more about why the Census is important.  A full list of Census Assistance Center times and locations is available at seattlecensus.org.

Meeting on UW air and noise study El Centro De La Raza will host a community meeting on Feb. 29, on the results of the University of Washington study on air and noise pollution in Beacon Hill.

Beacon Hill is a majority minority neighborhood with significant immigrant and refugee populations.

It is surrounded by air and noise

emissions from land (I-5, I-90, Rainier and Dr. MLK Way) with airplanes (Sea-Tac, Boeing Field, King County International Airport) that fly over the neighborhood every 90 seconds on average.

The study’s primary researchers, Dr. Edmund Seto and Dr. Tim Larson, will present the results at 11

a.m. at the Centilia Cultural Center, followed at noon with free lunch and community discussion on what to do next.

Language interpretation in Amharic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Somali, Spanish, and Tegrean will be provided. 

Education equity bills pass state Senate Three bills designed to increase equity in Washington’s education system passed the Washington State Senate on Feb. 12. The bills, all sponsored by Sen. Bob Hasegawa, would increase equity by addressing ethnic studies curricula, the shortage of teachers from underrepresented communities, and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).

“My biggest priority for our education system is equity,” Hasegawa said. “Our kids need to know about their heritage and history, have teachers and role models who look like them, and have access to education that fits their needs.

While we still need to work hard to achieve true equity, these bills move us in the right direction.”

Senate Bill 6066 requires the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to provide ethnic studies materials for all grades, including grades K-6. Just last year, the Legislature passed a Hasegawa bill requiring ethnic studies materials

for grades 7-12. This new bill expands on that previous work, and encourages schools to teach ethnic studies.

Senate Bill 6138 modifies the purpose of the existing Beginning Educator Support Team Program to include support for mentor educators and beginning teachers of underrepresented populations. OSPI would give grant priority to schools and districts that work with program participants from underrepresented populations or have strong ties to these populations.

Senate Bill 6047 prohibits schools and districts from retaliating against employees who report noncompliance with IEPs. This helps ensure that educators and staff will advocate for their students without fear of retaliation, and that students will receive the support they need and are entitled to under their IEPs. All three bills now move to the state House of Representatives for consideration. 

requirements in Burien Starting Jan. 1, 2021, a new law goes into effect restricting the use of single-use plastic food serviceware in Burien. This law was passed by the Burien City Council in February to reduce the growing amount of non-compostable and non-recyclable waste that ends up in landfills. Burien is the 10th city in Washington state to pass a food serviceware ordinance and the third to pass a food serviceware ordinance that requires materials to be compostable.

Approximately 8.8 million tons of plastic pollution flows into the ocean each year, and this amount is expected to double by 2025. Non-compostable food service products never biodegrade. Instead, they break down into smaller particles that seep into the soil or are carried into the ocean, posing a critical threat to animal life.

Here are five things to know about the new law:

1. This law applies to businesses, such as restaurants, grocery stories, and coffee shops, and the products they offer their customers. It does not require residents to purchase compostable products for personal use.

2. Compostable products must be made from materials that can completely break down.

3. The types of products it restricts include styrofoam takeout containers, plastic-lined takeout containers, plastic to go cups, plastic utensils, and any other food service product that is not compostable.

4. Products that are exempt from this law include pre-packaged foods, catering trays, produce bags, clear food wrap and shrink wrap, containers for uniquely shaped foods such as deviled eggs and cupcakes, hot meat item containers, and straws.

5. Businesses can ask for a one-year waiver for a specific food service product if the business can prove that stopping use of a restricted product would cause an undue hardship. 

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asianweekly northwest

FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 6, 2020

38 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR FEB

MAR

DOCUMENTARY FILM BY LANE NISHIKAWA NVC Memorial Hall, 1212 S. King St., Seattle 1:30 p.m.

TACOMA BUDDHIST TEMPLE TRADITIONAL JAPANESE SUKIYAKI LUNCH Tacoma Buddhist Temple, 1717 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

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JAPANESE IKEBANA HEADMASTER HIROKI OHARA AT NW FLOWER & GARDEN FESTIVAL 2020 Washington State Convention Center, 705 Pike St., Seattle 11:45 a.m. on the DIY Stage Tickets at gardenshow.com “BAN” MEANS MORE THAN FRIENDS (LGBTQ VIETNAMESE CONFERENCE) ACRS, 3639 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S., Seattle 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. https://bit.ly/2QwT66Z

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SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT ROTARY CLUB PRESENTS: MURDER MYSTERY DINNER Joyale Seafood Restaurant, 900 S. Jackson St., Seattle 5-8 p.m. $50/person RSVP at https://bit. ly/2RZYvTl A NEW AMERICAN FILM WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY LANE NISHIKAWA, “OUR LOST YEARS” Kent Lutheran Church, 336 2nd Ave. S., Kent 2-4 p.m. $15

LEE from 1 Before founding his firm, Lee & Lee, PS with his wife, Bethany Mito, Lee worked as senior deputy prosecuting attorney for the Office of the King County Prosecuting Attorney for 17 years.

There, he served as supervisor of the Special Assault Unit at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center and co-chair of the Special Drug Unit.

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ZEN MASTER ZEKKAI: THE LIFE AND POETRY OF A MEDIEVAL JAPANESE MONK UW, Kane 210 7 p.m.

UNPACKING THE U.S.CHINA PHASE 1 TRADE AGREEMENT Washington State China Relations Council, 1301 5th Ave. Ste. 1500, Seattle 12-1:30 p.m.

RSVP at https://bit.ly/3aSCMFx

5 CELEBRATE 2020 YEAR OF THE RAT China Harbor Restaurant, 2040 Westlake Ave., Seattle 5:30 p.m. $65 seattlechinesechamber.org

KIN ON’S 35TH ANNIVERSARY GALA Hyatt Regency Lake Washington, 1053 Lake Washington Blvd. N., Renton 5-9 p.m. kinon.ejoinme.org

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THE DANNY WOO GARDEN’S COMMUNITY SERVICE DAY Danny Woo Community Garden, 620 S. Main St., Seattle 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

EXHIBIT RECEPTION, “HEAR US RISE: APA VOICES IN FEMINISM” Wing Luke Museum 6-8 p.m.

He is a past president of the Asian Bar Association of Washington, a long-time volunteer with the International District Legal Clinic, and currently serves on the Board of Seniors in Action Foundation as a legal adviser.

“Nelson has a breadth of experience on a variety of issues, including immigration,” Inslee said. “His unique, diverse legal background will serve him well. He

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KIDS STORY TIME WITH BOOK, “MULAN” Wing Luke Museum 11 a.m.

WOMXN’S MARCH POSTER PARTY Uw, Husky Union Building 4-6:30 p.m.

CELEBRATE ASIA Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., Seattle 4-7 p.m. seattlesymphony.org

PAKISTAN ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE Skyline Retirement Center, 725 Ninth Ave., Seattle 2-4 p.m. $15-$20 friendsofasianart3.org

8 INTERNATIONAL WORKING WOMXNS DAY API CHAYA 25TH ANNIVERSARY VIGIL Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge, 12th Ave. S. & Golf Dr. S., Seattle 12:30-3:30 p.m.

16 CENSUS 2020: WHY IT MATTERS AND WHAT YOU CAN DO Town Hall, Seattle 7:30-9 p.m. townhallseattle.org

is also an experienced trial lawyer, and he will be ready to try cases on day one. He will make an excellent addition to the bench.”

Lee received his law degree from the Pepperdine University School of Law and his bachelor’s from Boston College.  Staff can be reached at info@ 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.

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FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 6, 2020

YOUR VOICE

■ AT THE MOVIES

asianweekly northwest

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Seattle Children’s Film Festival: Eye-opening delights the world over

“Summer of the Ice Age”

“Pickle Plum Parade”

“Konigiri-Kun Butterfly”

“Pen&Magic”

“Jinja”

“Engimon”

“Good Night”

“Ray’s Great Escape”

By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

changed quite a bit in 15 years, so the way we do everything here is different from the way it was when the festival started.

But one thing has always remained the same—our mission to help kids see the world and feed their minds and gain global awareness through the beautiful medium of movies.”

The new festival boasts a substantial number of Asian films, particularly the “Sun Circle” programming set, with eight animated shorts from Japan.

“Summer of the Ice Age,” directed by Kiyomi Aoyagi,

her town and finds a wonderland in pink and yellow hues. She’s delighted at all the colors, and happy to be moving through the universe of her town.

Now in its 15th year, the annual Seattle Children’s Film Festival counts itself as “a teenager now, deciding who it wants to be when it grows up,” in the humorous terms of festival director Elizabeth Shepherd.

She’s held that title since the first festival back in 2005, so she should know.

“It has grown in every way, with more films and a more expansive program every year,” she explained. “Technology has

features no spoken words at all—a canny tactic for kids, some of whom can’t read subtitles. In it, a boy’s memory of drinking a cream soda in summer becomes so vivid in color and intensity that the soda starts to seem like an ocean.

“Pickle Plum Parade,” from Eri Sasaki,

Mari Miyazawa’s “Konigiri-Kun Butterfly,”

another non-verbal short, uses vivid textures derived from Japanese bento box lunches, to portray a day spent chasing butterflies.

follows a little girl who sets out to discover

Weekly Specials FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 3, 2020

see MOVIES on 13

THOMAS DAUSGAARD, MUSIC DIRECTOR

Celebrate Asia SUNDAY, MARCH 8, AT 4PM

Kikkoman (20.5 oz)

MANILA STEAMER CLAMS

TAKUMI TERIYAKI SAUCE

Live! Ideal for seafood hot pot

2.99

4.99 lb

Tianyi Lu conductor Lori Matsukawa host Conrad Tao piano Adeliia Faizullina soprano Seattle Symphony

PRE-CONCERT | 2:30–4PM SAMUEL & ALTHEA STROUM GRAND LOBBY Aleksa Manila emcee Children’s Choir Filippino Youth Drill Team Oolleemm Seattle International Lion Dance Team

CALIFORNIA SUSHI ROLL

Painted Hills USDA Choice

Fresh!

BONELESS CHUCK ROAST

SHANGHAI BABY BOK CHOY

8 pc

6.49

5.99 lb

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CELEBRATE ASIA CONCERT | 4PM S. MARK TAPER FOUNDATION AUDITORIUM Huang Ruo Folk Songs for Orchestra Adeliia Faizullina Tatar Folk Tales: “Sak and Sok” and “Arba” Conrad Tao The Oneiroi in New York Chen Yi Si Ji (“Four Seasons”) George Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue

POST-CONCERT | 6PM SAMUEL & ALTHEA STROUM GRAND LOBBY CHIKIRI and The School of TAIKO Rhythms of India Jongga (85 g)

REAL KIMCHI RAMEN CUP

Meiji (9 pc)

FRAN BISCUIT

1.49

Shirakiku (5 pc)

SANUKIYA UDON Frozen

1.19

2.99

To see all of our weekly specials, visit uwajimaya.com seattle

•

bellevue

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renton

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beaverton

•

uwajimaya.com

Conrad Tao’s performance is generously underwritten by Eric and Margaret Rothchild.

Celebrate Asia is sponsored by the Atsuhiko and Ina Goodwin Tateuchi Foundation.

Celebrate Asia Composition Competition generously underwitten by Yoshi and Naomi Minegishi.

TICKETS:

206.215.4747 | seattlesymphony.org

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asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 6, 2020

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

‘Fresh Off the Boat’ leaving indelible mark on TV landscape

By TERRY TANG ASSOCIATED PRESS Even before “Fresh Off the Boat’’ hit the airwaves on ABC in February 2015, the show was facing pressure that other new shows weren’t.

It was set to be the first network TV comedy with an all-Asian cast since Margaret Cho’s “All-American Girl’’ premiered 20 years earlier. ABC canceled that series after one season, and some wondered how long this show would last too.

Randall Park, who portrays patriarch Louis, never even thought the pilot— inspired by restaurateur and TV personality Eddie Huang’s childhood memoir—would be picked up.

“The odds of a show getting picked up are tiny. On top of that, being an Asian American family at the center of a show just made it kind of seem impossible in my head,“ Park told The Associated Press in a phone interview from Atlanta, where he is filming the Marvel/Disney+ series “WandaVision.’’

After six seasons, “Fresh Off the Boat’’ made its final voyage on Feb. 21.

Without question, the sitcom, centered on a Taiwanese-Chinese American family in the 1990s living in predominantly white Orlando, Florida—will be immortalized in the canon of Asian American

representation. It accomplished some unique firsts, like being the first American TV show to film on location in Taiwan and having a majority of dialogue in one episode be in Mandarin. It paved the path for movie stardom for Park (“Always Be My Maybe“) and on-screen wife Constance Wu (“Crazy Rich Asians,“ “Hustlers’’). And having passed 100 episodes, the Huangs will live on in syndication for years to come.

Hudson Yang, 16, was 9 years old when he won the role of Eddie. Thanks to his father, journalist Jeff Yang, he had an inkling this wasn’t just any TV gig.

“My Dad would definitely talk about how important it was to have this kind of show. We talked about how previously ‘All-

American Girl’ tried to do the same thing,’’ Yang said. “I knew a little bit about how important it was but I didn’t really know the full scale until a little bit later on.’’

The series used culturally specific humor while trying to universally appeal to a broadcast network audience.

“What was smart was having a writers’ room, showrunner and actors that felt more empowered like they were part of the process,’’ said Stephen Gong, executive director of the Center for Asian American Media. “They take that stereotype-based joke and turn it on its head a little bit more.

That’s where the in-community joke gets funnier.’’

The show may also be remembered for

headlines generated off-screen. Wu, who was not available for an interview, shocked viewers when she angrily tweeted about the show’s renewal in May. She issued an explanation the next day, saying she would have to give up another project. She also apologized for being “insensitive’’ to struggling actors.

During the show’s first season, the reallife Eddie Huang distanced himself from the show. In an essay for Vulture in 2015, he slammed it as a “cornstarch story’’ that was less about about specific moments in his life and was instead a bland, “one-sizefits-all’’ narrative. Huang hasn’t wavered.

“I take representing my experience as an Asian American in this country very seriously,“ Huang said in an interview in January. “I never compromised it for what a company or brand or studio told me to do.’’

For better or worse, the show was often treated as a default ambassador for the Asian American experience. So, the cast understands some of the criticism from Huang and others.

“As expected, there were some people who were like ‘This isn’t my family.’ It’s an understandable kind of response when there’s only one,’’ Park said. “But I get stopped by people of different races who say how much they love the show.’’

“Fresh Off the Boat’s’’ absence leaves see FOTB on 14

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YOUR VOICE

FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 6, 2020

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

asianweekly northwest

9

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The heavy thud of punches and kicks smacking punching bags could be heard through the walls of a gym for Muay Thai, a martial arts fighting style from Thailand.

Inside, groups of children smaller than the dangling bags practiced their kicks. Two men circled in the boxing ring. It was a typical weeknight at Giles Wiley’s gym.

With decades of experience in fighting, the sport Wiley loves is Muay Thai—distinguished from traditional boxing because fighters can use elbows and knees to strike devastating blows.

But Florida’s regulations for Muay Thai have long frustrated Wiley, metaphorically tying the hands of its fighters: The Florida Boxing Commission does not allow amateur fighters here to use elbows in matches. The strong, thick ulna—the bone in the forearm—functions like a hammer in the ring.

“Most other states allow them and have allowed them for a long time, so we’ve got quite a few guys who we can’t really get fights here in Florida because they’re at a higher level now,’’ Wiley said.

Fighters seeking a more authentic experience compete in other states: “We want real Muay Thai, so we travel outside of Florida,’’ he said.

The boxing commission for nearly two years has considered relaxing the ban. The conversation started after an email in August 2018 to regulators from Jeff Santella of Cape Coral, and the commission now says it has agreed to allow elbow strikes in sanctioned matches.

The new proposal is making its way through the rulemaking process. It requires a change to Florida’s

Photo from jacksonvillemuaythai.com

Proposal would allow elbow strikes in Muay Thai matches

administrative code. Once finalized, it will specify that striking with the elbow to any target is not a foul for amateur Muay Thai fighters who are at least 18 years old.

Santella, the Florida director of the World Boxing Council Muay Thai, said the old rule was akin to allowing a player in Little League Baseball to play every part of the sport except to use a bat.

Fighters in Muay Thai, the national sport of Thailand, use fists, elbows, knees and legs to strike opponents.

The sport is growing in popularity and advocates are working to include it in future Olympics.

Dr. Andrea Hill of Monroe, Georgia, is a ringside physician and the widow of a Muay Thai fighter who killed himself in 2016 from what Hill said was chronic traumatic encephalopathy caused by repeated blows to the head. She said the elbow is a solid surface with the potential to carry a significant amount of force. She likened it to being hit with a rock.

“It is really generally known, especially in Muay Thai, that the elbow is about the most dangerous thing to get

hit with for those reasons,’’ said Hill, who also trains as a fighter and is certified as a ringside physician. “When you throw an elbow, you throw it different ways. Knees only get thrown a certain number of ways, kicks are only a certain number of kicks. But with an elbow, you’ve got all kinds of positions you can strike with the elbow.’’

Santella said the change in Florida will allow the amateur matches to resemble professional ones more closely. State officials are still deciding details, such as required pads worn by fighters and training required for judges and referees.

“The authentic coaches, they’re called Krus, I’m sure, cringe every time they see something called Muay Thai without elbows,’’ Santella said. “That’s like a bicycle having one wheel instead of two. It’s an oxymoron there.’’

Other states that allow padded elbow strikes, including Texas, California and Arizona consider it “safer for amateur fighters to have elbow experience prior to becoming a professional,’’ Santella wrote in his email to the boxing commission.

“The current Florida policies have an amateur fighting one weekend and jump into a pro fight with bare elbows the next. This reckless transition has been declared not just dangerous but deadly in the world fight community,’’ Santella wrote.

As elbow strikes are legalized for amateurs, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will be thrown more often in matches, Santella said. see MUAY THAI on 14

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asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 6, 2020

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

Reuse, repurpose, upcycle Remake things from home

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

When I travel, I take mini boxes, compliments of Nordstrom whenever I buy my cosmetics—they give me samples of skin care products.

And they are left in my bathroom.

Now, I have over 60 of them to store my earrings. Do I want the sample creams, or am I actually after those mini plastics boxes?

Over the years, I have collected tons of name tags from the events I attended.

Plastic name tags are expensive, it is about a dollar each. I don’t throw them away. Every few years, we host a reception for Seattle Chinese Post writers. My staff designed each writer a pretty individual name tag, and the writers were so excited when they saw their own name printed, not handwritten, that they wanted to keep them as souvenirs. Times have changed, event organizers are now smarter, and they ask for our name tags back after the event. But I still have plenty left.

Photos by Assunta Ng

John Blasi, an inmate in Florida, uses candy wrappers to make art. He learned it from reading about another prisoner in California, making paint out of candy wrappers.

The idea to create art from garbage —turning waste into useful materials —creating something beautiful out of worthless litter—is an inventive recycling concept.

I am not an artist, but the inmates have inspired me. You don’t have to be an artist to make art. We all have creative instincts to improve our environment by reducing the amount of rubbish we individually produce.

Today’s eco-friendly slogan is “recycle, reduce, and reuse.” What intrigues me is how to integrate “reduce and reuse” to “remake.” It has become my recent lifestyle. Everyone, in his or her small way, can “remake” things to better the environment. “Rediscover” what you have, “repurpose” things for new functions, and then “re-make” to fit your needs.

My past behavior was strictly antienvironment. Whenever I needed something, my first thought was, how and where should I buy. Spend money. Although I am not in the same league as people who build their new home with doors from old houses, the satisfaction for me in remaking things gives me immense pleasure.

Challenging my brain is my goal.

Going through my shelves and closets, I often discover “treasures” that I have forgotten about for a long time. It is a satisfying process, especially for those who love to downsize and reduce the amount of stuff they have. Little did I know, it provides me a chance to “play.” Turn useless junk into purposeful tools. You would be surprised how much stuff you have at home, untouched. I have friends who have bought stuff with the price tags still attached onto the merchandise.

I remake things not because I want to save money. Simply, I feel magical.

It empowers me, realizing that I can redesign materials even on a small scale. It motivates me to be a problem solver and resourceful. Creativity enhances neuroplasticity and connects neurons inside the brain. Studies have found that creativity lowers anxiety.

It delights me and gives me a sense of accomplishment. And I have examples to share.

find a runner long and wide enough to cover the whole keyboard. Besides, it’s unreasonably expensive for an odd size. So I cut my square-sized shape silk scarf (which was buried in my closet for years) into two halves, and sewed it together. It’s now a beautiful and perfect cover.

My friend gave me a long formal scarf that I never wore. I don’t use a scarf because most of the time, I wear pants, convenient to work as a journalist with my notepad and camera as my constant companions. The scarf is now my 59-inch-long tablecloth for my kitchen table. No sewing is required. It just fits.

When I started to learn to play the piano, I bought a keyboard instead because it takes up less room. The keyboard needs a cover. I couldn’t

My dark gray pants have two halfinch holes. Some might think having holes in the pants is considered chic.

No, it’s not my definition of style. Buying a piece of gray fabric just to fill in two little holes in my pants is extravagant. I needed only a tiny piece of fabric, less than three inches long. So I started digging through my closet. I found a gray pajama coat. If I just cut a piece of fabric from the coat, it would ruin the coat.

I flipped the coat back and forth, inside out.

Then I saw a gray brand tag inside on the top, which was big enough to fill the two holes in my pants. So I unthreaded the tag and sewed it on my pants. No one could tell there were holes in my pants anymore.

Listening to music on my iPad at night is what I do before I go to bed. It puts me to sleep. However, the darkened iPad screen was still too bright in the dark. Instead of buying a black cover, I searched around and found a small painting in my bedroom. However, the bright screen could shine through the painting. So I cut a red file to expand the size

of the painting. It works. Few people use files these days. I am glad I can reuse them.

Bring your own to-go boxes. When I was in Hong Kong, my aunt would bring her own containers for leftovers and to-go items. If diners don’t, restaurants would charge diners $1 HK (about 75 cents US) for each box.

If you enforce that in Seattle, people will curse management. Already, customers were angry years ago when the city implemented the plastic bags ban. But it actually makes sense for the businesses, customers, and the environment.

Asian restaurants have reported that businesses are down between 10 to 30 percent due to people being paranoid over the coronavirus. We can support restaurants by bringing our own boxes for leftovers to help the restaurants cut costs, and encourage others to resume dining out.

Can we replace plastics? Lately, a scientist spoke about a new action to protect the environment by urging the public to refuse to use and buy items made of plastics, which are not biodegradable and extremely damaging to the environment, especially oceans with tons of floating plastics found inside sea animals and drifting on shore.

My utmost admiration for those who refuse to buy or use plastics. Yet, is it possible that we can eliminate plastics completely? We see BLOG on next page

FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 6, 2020

YOUR VOICE

■ EDITORIAL

asianweekly northwest

11

Better late than never, California

One day after the Day of Remembrance, California lawmakers unanimously passed a resolution to formally apologize for the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II—and for the state’s “failure to support and defend the civil rights and civil liberties of Japanese Americans.”

In the months after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed executive order No. 9066 on Feb. 19, 1942—authorizing the military to forcibly move Japanese Americans into concentration camps. Feb. 19 now is marked by Japanese Americans as a Day of Remembrance.

“This apology is long overdue, but it is important, nonetheless,” said Rep. Mark Takano of California. His family members were imprisoned during the war.

“We must take the necessary steps to prevent anything like Japanese American internment from happening again,” said Takano. “That includes acknowledging the

dark times in our past and condemning present policies that are unjustly targeting and inflicting damage on innocent communities.”

California was home to an estimated three-quarters of those incarcerated in the camps. As California Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi stated, “California led the racist anti-Japanese American movement.’’

Muratsuchi was the one who introduced the resolution which doesn’t come with any compensation. It targets the actions of the California Legislature at the time for supporting the imprisonments. The resolution, cointroduced by California Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron, makes a passing reference to “recent national events’’ and says they serve as a reminder “to learn from the mistakes of the past.’’

Muratsuchi said the inspiration for that passage were migrant children held in U.S. government custody over the past year.

BLOG from previous page

CELEBRATE ASIA from 1

don’t have an alternative to replace plastics.

Perhaps, we can try to reduce the use of plastics. But I cannot refuse it in the ChinatownInternational District (ID), when 99 percent of the restaurants and grocery stores sell bottled water, and use plastic to-go boxes.

So always remember to bring your grocery bags for shopping.

Bring two or three bags and not just one. You can help to reduce waste.

If you don’t have bags, ID grocery stores will give you a plastic or paper bag. Then, think of your bag ending up inside the belly of a whale.

A whale found in Norway in 2017 had 30 plastic bags in its stomach. It happens to other animals, too. Don’t forget, your habits can impact the environment. Only you can decide to protect or hurt our environment. 

his performances. Tao, a Lincoln Center Emerging Artist, joins the Seattle Symphony to perform his own work, as well as George Gershwin’s iconic Rhapsody in Blue.

According to Shafii, Tao last performed with the Seattle Symphony in January 2018 when he played Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 2. In addition to Celebrate Asia, he’ll also be playing a recital in Benaroya Hall’s newest venue, Octave 9: Raisbeck Music Center, on March 6.

Returning for her fourth year, Seattle LGBTQ icon Aleksa Manila will be hosting pre- and post-concert activities and performances for Celebrate Asia. Emmy-award winning broadcast journalist Lori Matsukawa will be hosting the main event.

Shafii explained that what’s also special about this year’s event is that it focuses on new and emerging composers.

Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

TAITUNG

This is a unique opportunity where a major American orchestra holds a composition competition to allow these amazing composers to shine.

The annual Celebrate Asia Composition Competition receives a few dozen submissions each year.

This year’s winner, Adeliia Faizullina, hails from Kazan, Russia. Her musical inspiration draws from traditional Tatar folk tales. Faizullina, who is visually impaired, is committed to sharing her experiences with other visually impaired musicians, according to her website. She will be performing Tatar folk tales “Sak and Sok” and “Arba.”

In addition, the program will also feature Tianyi Lu as the conductor and Huang Rao’s folk songs for orchestra, Chen Yi’s Si Ji, Tao’s The Oneiroi in New York, and George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.

To mix things up and be inclusive of the different communities in the greater Seattle area, Shafii said that

While the apology may be decades late, we join with Asian American lawmakers and citizens in California who are applauding the effort.

Les Ouchida, a born American, was just 5 years old when he and his family were ripped from their home in 1942 and imprisoned in Arkansas. He holds no animosity toward the U.S. or California governments, choosing to focus on the positive.

“Even if it took time, we have the goodness to still apologize,” he said.

We cannot genuinely apologize if we can’t admit that we made a mistake. California is admitting it made a mistake. An apology doesn’t undo what has been done, but it is an important step in the healing process.

Thank you, California, for choosing the path of healing, for choosing to apologize. 

they incorporate and rotate different performance groups that they can work with and align well with each year’s theme for the pre- and postshow performances.

This year’s pre-show performers include the Children’s Choir, Filipino Youth Activities Drill Team, Oolleemm (Korean Traditional Performing Arts Group), and Seattle International Lion Dance Team. The show will close with vibrant performances by CHIKIRI and the School of TAIKO and Rhythms of India.

Shafii said that Celebrate Asia is the only cultural event that the Seattle Symphony holds annually.

Planning for the performances starts months in advance. Shafii said that a lot of the time, the conductor and composer will send music ahead of time to talk through details to make sure the essence is really captured. They generally hold two rehearsal performances: one a few days before the event

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and one day-of when they do the full run-through.

“What’s really special about Celebrate Asia is the relationships that we end up developing with artists and composers, and how they show themselves in future performances,” she added.

For example, Shiyeon Sung, who conducted last year’s Celebrate Asia concert, will be returning in October later this year to conduct one of Seattle Symphony’s Masterworks concerts. In addition, the Seattle Symphony announced their season for next year.

“There’s a pretty significant thread between music from three continents and it’ll be a cultural exchange from North America, Europe, and Asia,” Shafii said. 

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asianweekly northwest

FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 6, 2020

TREASURE from 1 concrete and reclaimed 15 million pounds of steel rebar from the viaduct. Most of the concrete was pulverized and used to fill the decommissioned Battery Street Tunnel. A few pieces went to you.

Ok, so you don’t have chunks of concrete to give away. You do have small pieces of leftover cabinet-grade laminated plywood saved for projects. They’ve been in the garage for years. They should go because you are now busy learning how to paint. Will you do the unthinkable and put them in the trash? Goodwill doesn’t want them. No bite on the Buy Nothing group.

Have you heard of Seattle Recreative (SR)?

SR, a Greenwood nonprofit, is “a creative reuse store and community art center.” It’ll gladly take your wood pieces plus a whole list of things most people would trash. You know those plastic tabs that keep your Dave’s Killer Bread fresh? Yep, they have those. While you’re in the store, you can buy paints, paper, and brushes at discounted prices to hone your new skill.

The store has a maker space with a large table, should you need one to cut a pattern or make a frame. Tools are also available. All free. Upstairs is a classroom for art classes.

Jenna Boitano, executive director and co-founder, recently told Northwest Asian Weekly how she came up with the idea for the business.

“I wanted my kids, really all kids, to have a space like this, to think about possibility and be creative in how they use things.”

Boitano founded the business with another Seattle mom, Emily Korson. Korson has since moved to Denver.

Both had experience working in nonprofits with similar missions. Boitano was on the board of Scrap Exchange in Durham, N.C. Korson worked for Materials for the Arts in

TAIWAN from 1 supply to more renewable sources. But the transition is fraught with challenges.

The first is the extent of the island’s dependence on nuclear power.

“Nuclear power is 17% of our energy,” said Alex Fan, director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Seattle.

“Where can we get that from?” he said.

In 2016, President Tsai Ing-wen promised to close the island’s three active nuclear power plants, most of which are nearing the end of their lifetimes. She also promised not to open a fourth one that is not yet complete.

Fan said opposition to nuclear power stems from fears that earthquakes could inflict catastrophic damage, as occurred in Fukushima, Japan in 2011. Taiwan is prone to earthquakes, he said. In the long term, Taiwan is switching to wind turbines and solar panels to compensate, and eventually plans for 20% of its power to come from those sources.

On Nov. 19, Tsai inaugurated Taiwan’s first off-shore wind turbine plant. She touted it as part of a broader program for Taiwan to become “Asia’s green energy hub.”

“Taiwan must not let the business opportunities, technologies, and jobs of the green energy sector slip away to other countries,” she said at a press conference.

But even with the new plant, the island will not have enough wind and solar power to replace the 17% of total energy lost from the nuclear plants. So in the short term, the government plans to increase the use of liquid natural gas (LNG).

“But we must have tanks to store it, and at the moment, we don’t have enough facilities,” said Fan. Still another challenge is the precariousness of just getting the LNG. “What if someday you can’t buy it?” asked Fan. Ninetynine percent of Taiwan’s energy is imported, he said.

“Business and industry need a stable supply,” he said.

“You need business treaties, you need to think about the international situation.”

The long-term goal is to increase the use of natural gas to 50% of the island’s total energy supply while upping wind and solar to 20%. Meanwhile, Tsai’s administration plans to reduce the use of coal, which accounts for over 50% of the island’s power, to less than 30%.

Global issues and challenges

Taiwan is largely excluded from international political and strategic organizations, which impedes its ability to contribute to global environmental, health, and safety issues, said Fan. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory so it pressures other countries to prevent it from taking part

38 YEARS

New York City.

SR promotes the freedom to create, build community, and decrease landfill. Last year, the donation-based and mostly volunteer-run store took in 500,000 pounds of stuff, saving it from the landfill. Some of the inventory is used in community outreach programs in partnership with parks and libraries in King County and Seattle. SR also works with the Hunger Intervention Program.

Boitano on accepting donations, “I have to be picky because I want stuff that sells.”

Yet, the store is jam-packed with surprises. A visit guarantees a murmur, “What? They have this…”

Drawerfuls of crayons, pencils, bottle caps, small pieces of Plexiglas, twist ties fill the store. Foam boards, paper rolls, and wood pieces lean against the walls awaiting new homes. Colorful yarns, fabric, and threads tug at the artists’ hearts. Boitano recalled a customer telling her, “I can do my art because you’re here.”

SR partners with Ballard Reuse, a used and salvaged building materials store, to take in large donations. A percentage of the donation sale goes to SR. Ballard Reuse is one of three construction salvage companies in Seattle. The other two, located south of downtown, are Second Use and Earthwise Architectural Salvage. All specialize in donated and reclaimed construction materials. Leaded glass windows that once shone in a craftsman home or fir flooring of assorted lengths are ready for reincarnation. The proceeds from donations can benefit designated nonprofits.

With a red-hot housing market, construction and demolition account for about 31% of all waste disposed in Seattle, according to SPU. Second Use claims to divert over 3,000 tons of materials from landfills each year. Last year, it donated $250,000 to local chapters of Habitat for Humanity.

Another company that can help you get rid of stuff is Ridwell.

In 2017, Ryan Metzger and his then 7-year-old son Owen, while trying to dispose of some dead batteries, started a recycling drive in their neighborhood. Growing interest and demand helped Metzger launch Ridwell in 2018.

Ridwell provides paying subscribers with a metal bin and cotton bags marked for the four core recycling categories —batteries, lightbulbs, threads/textile, and plastic film.

Metzger said plastic film is the highest volume collected.

Films include the plastic wrap that goes around your Thanh Son tofu, meat trays from Uwajimaya, and plastic bags.

Since Seattle and King County stopped recycling plastic bags, the volume collected by Ridwell continues to rise.

Ridwell partners with PAC Worldwide, a package company based in Redmond, to recycle some of the plastic film.

At each bi-weekly collection, there’s a fifth rotating category. Broken or whole eyeglasses for Northwest Lions Club, kitchenware for Refugee Women’s Alliance, or bottle caps for Seattle Recycled Arts have taken turns.

Ridwell, Seattle Recreative, Earthwise, and Ballard Reuse are sponsors for Seattle Recycled Arts’ Zero Waste Pop-Up Market. This year’s event will feature goods made from at least 75% recycled material and a juried art show.

Mark it on your calendar. Get down to Georgetown on May 9 and be inspired on how to be creative with your waste. And then participate in their fall fashion show in November, featuring “trash fashion, everyday wear and dumpster couture.”

You’ll think twice before you trash that bottle cap, won’t you? 

in the World Health Organization (WHO), for instance.

But Taiwan is closely intermeshed with the rest of the world economically, and such exclusion is dangerous, for instance during the coronavirus outbreak, said Fan. There are 10 flights from Taipei to Seattle per week.

That will increase to 12 in May, he said. Without coordination through WHO, prevention and monitoring becomes more difficult, he added. Still, Taiwan has vowed to follow the conventions of international health and safety organizations.

Though the island is excluded from the 2015 Paris Climate Accord, Tsai has promised to uphold the greenhouse gas emission standards.

By 2050, emissions will be reduced to 50% of the levels of 2005, said Fan. “Taiwan can’t be a member, but still has the desire to be a member of the global village,” he said.

Taiwan is also excluded from Interpol, said Fan, which could lessen its ability to aid in the fight against terrorism. Nor does Taiwan have an extradition treaty with the United States.

“Nevertheless, if you committed a crime, we’d find a way to send you back,” he said.

with 60.9% in 2012, according to Harrell. The numbers also reflected a switch to fossil fuels rather than burning biomass for fuel, he wrote.

Soil restoration, as in other parts of Asia, has been much harder to implement. Industrialization and rapid economic development left areas of the island polluted with heavy metal and waste.

In 2002, the government began to officially clean up polluted sites, but progress has been slow. Some of this came about as the result of protests and activism.

Since the 1980s, as part of a pro-Democracy movement, environmental activists have pressured the government.

Now the environmental movement has turned professional and includes full-time staff, members of the urban middle class, teachers, students, fishermen, and indigenous people.

In one of Taiwan’s historically most polluted cities, Kaohsiung, life expectancy is 4.3 years shorter than in the capital, Taipei, according to a recent study.

Ongoing protests against industrial development have forced the government to close industrial plants.

And recently, school children and teachers monitored emissions from a nearby cement factory, sharing their data with the public.

Meanwhile, scholars have joined public television in examining attitudes toward environmental waste among indigenous peoples. One scholar found that indigenous people on the neighboring island of Lanyu, where nuclear waste has been stored for decades, opposed the repository. But another tribe of indigenous people on the southeastern coast of Taiwan was less opposed to a planned repository because the authority of their elders had been destroyed and replaced by loyalty to the state.

Transformation of the island

Scholars debate what combination of economic changes and democratization brought about Taiwan’s environmental changes. But the transformation of the island over the past few decades is indisputable.

“My diary from 1991 refers to Taiwan as ‘garbage island’—the air was terrible and foods were pesticideladen. Nowadays the streets are clean, the air is cleaner, and the environmental movement is active everywhere and a major factor in national and local politics,” wrote Stevan Harrell, a University of Washington anthropologist who is a leader in the study of East Asian environmental change, in a forthcoming book.

Taiwan’s air has improved due to “increasingly stringent regulations and in some cases economic incentives,” wrote Harrell. But ozone pollution, from vehicle exhaust, remains a problem.

Since democratic reforms in the 1990s, Taiwan has been grappling with its traffic problem, including tens of millions of scooters clogging the streets and throwing up clouds of noxious blue smoke.

Over the past few years, a Taiwanese company has begun manufacturing electric scooters. But this has yet to make a major impact, wrote Harrell.

As Taiwan grew rich through the 1960s and 1970s, and eventually developed democracy, the government has planted more trees, although the island was never severely deforested, as other parts of Asia were, particularly China.

In 1976, forest covered 50.8% of the island compared

Becky can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

An immediate issue

Such a heightened concern is emblematic of the mindset of a growing number of Taiwanese.

A poll last year found that the environment is now the number one concern for most people on the island, even above income, said Shu-hui Shih, deputy director for TECO in Seattle.

Some of this is due to the proximity to China. Taiwan is roughly 100 miles off its coast and is sometimes flooded with China’s air pollution, she said.

Meanwhile, because of climate change, typhoons, which once regularly slammed the island and provided necessary rainwater, have decreased in recent years.

These are reminders, for many, that environmental safety is not just a future issue.

“This is a problem Taiwan has to face right now,” said Shih.  Mahlon can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

YOUR VOICE

■ ASTROLOGY

FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 6, 2020

asianweekly northwest

13

Predictions and advice for the week of February 29–March 6, 2020

By Sun Lee Chang Rat — When building from the ground up, you’ll probably have a bit of a mess before order is established.

Dragon — Having difficulty finding common ground? You don’t have to dig too deep—it could be right in front of you.

Monkey — If you value your credibility, avoid making an offer unless you really intend to follow through.

Ox — Worried about missing a deadline? Set up a reminder that is both easy to access and highly visible.

Snake — Does your space seem a little cramped? Try removing unnecessary objects and rearranging for better flow.

Rooster — Don’t stop too often to check on your progress. You might be tempted to deviate from an otherwise sound plan.

Tiger — Listen when trying to have an open dialogue. It’s not just about talking, but hearing what is said.

Horse — Feeling pressured to move in a certain direction? Remember that it is you who must live with the consequences.

Dog — Accepting responsibility could mean getting some blame now, but you will also get the credit in the long run.

Rabbit — Expect some frustration when learning something new. If you stick with it, that phase should pass.

Goat — Are you tired of watching from the sidelines? Your turn to play the game is coming up, so get ready.

Pig — Instead of forging ahead on your own, check with your partner so that you are not duplicating efforts.

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

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

MOVIES from 7

“Pen&Magic” [sic], directed by Ayako Kishi,

again uses no words. It’s a film about dreaming, as a boy finds a way to bring his dreams of food, friends, and flight to life.

“Jinja,” from Talin Tanielian,

is the one film in this program from America, although it’s shot in a very Japanese-influenced manner. It stars Mango, a red panda who suffers because he’s different from all the other red pandas, and goes on a search to find peace.

Koudai Sato’s “Engimon”

returns us to Japan, and a very Japanese-themed story.

The Engimon themselves watch over small children from the spirit world. They have their hands full one bright day when a little girl gets lost, and her brother needs help finding his sister.

SPORTS BETTING from 4 Songer did warn though that “there will always be a portion of the population that gravitates towards the illegal black market for various reasons.”

Oregon legalized sports wagering in 2019, permitting anyone in that state to place a wager online through an app that the state operates and manages. In a statement to Northwest Asian Weekly, Chuck Baumann, senior public affairs officer for the Oregon Lottery, said that the app has provided “the Oregon Lottery with another opportunity to raise funds for important state programs. To date, [the app] has provided over $3 million in lottery revenues.”

Gee Scott, co-host of the Gee and Ursula radio show, is an ardent opponent of the legalization of sports wagering. In an interview with Northwest Asian Weekly, Scott said that he was worried that 80% of the people who would bet on sports if it was legalized, live paycheck-to-paycheck and lack the financial stability to partake in this activity.

Scott expressed concern that legalization of sports wagering would open a Pandora’s Box and exacerbate this state’s issues with homelessness and a rising cost-of-living.  Alexander can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

“Good Night,” from Makiko Nanke,

completes the program with, appropriately enough, an ode to sleepy-time. The last part of the night, when it is time for bed, and even though you feel tired, it feels hard to let go of the day. A pair of quarrelsome twins fall asleep still fighting, then find adventure in their dreams.

In addition to the “Sun Circle” selections, the festival includes short films from mainland China, such as “Ray’s Great Escape,” “Carry My Heart to the Yellow River,” “The Quintet of the Sunset,” “Little Thinks,” and “Gallery Experience,” plus Taiwan’s “The Rainbow Giant.”

South Korea’s represented with “Saturday’s Apartment.” From India comes “Apples and Oranges,” “Saving Mr. Green,” “Baitullah,” “Nooreh,” and “The Fish Curry.” Films from Qatar and Iran also figure in the mix.

The closing night feature-length film is Rob Fruchtman’s “Moving Stories,” which, according to Shepherd, “tells the story of a group of dancers from New York who travel the world working with children in difficult situations.

One of the groups they work with is in South Korea, where they teach refugee children from North Korea how to dance with children who grew up in South Korea.

“It is very moving to see how these two groups of children learn to trust each other and work together to create a beautiful dance performance.”

The director isn’t sure how the festival will grow from here. But, she affirmed, “We think it is more important than ever now for children to see these films, which have messages about compassion and empathy and how life is different and the same in other countries. The past 15 years have given us a great foundation.”  The Seattle Children’s Film Festival plays Feb. 27 – March 8 at the Northwest Film Forum, located at 1515 12th Avenue. For prices, showtimes, and more information, visit childrensfilmfestivalseattle.org.

Andrew can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received for C01430C20 2020-2022 Electrical Work Order; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 1:30 PM on 3/17/2020. Late bids will not be accepted.

There is a 5% minimum requirement for King County Certified Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS) on this contract.

Scope of Work: The work under this Contract includes furnishing all labor, tools, equipment, materials, incidentals, superintendents, subcontractor coordination, and overhead to perform up to 15kV electrical repairs, inspections, modifications and replacements, electrical, cable, equipment, harmonics and switchgear testing, infrared surveying, power factor, protective relay and battery testing, and safety improvements in various King County owned buildings, including secure facilities. Secure facilities will require comprehensive criminal background checks for all personnel accessing the facility.

Work site: Various King County facilities

located throughout Washington for the Facilities Maintenance division. The work performed under this Contract shall not exceed $1,000,000 and the initial Contract Time shall not exceed 365 calendar days from the date of Contract Execution by the County. The County does not guarantee any minimum amount of work or that the dollar amount of the Work Orders issued will total $1,000,000 during the duration of this Contract. At the County’s sole discretion, this Contract may be extended for one additional year or until the Not to Exceed Contract Price is reached, whichever occurs first.

Estimated contract price: $1,000,000 Pre-Bid Conference: 3/4/2020 at 11:00 AM, 401 Fifth Ave, 3rd Floor, Room 328 – Seattle, WA 98104. A site tour is not scheduled.

Complete Invitation to Bid Documents, including all project details, specifications, and contact information are available on our web page at: https://procurement.kingcounty. gov/procurement_ovr/default.aspx

14

asianweekly northwest

EMPLOYMENT

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Auburn warehouse is looking for a part time/full time warehouse manager. Needs to know both English and Chinese, and have appropriate work permit. Experience in warehouse, e-commerce and forklift is preferred. If interested please call 206-963-3395 or albertchen0319@gmail.com.

FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 6, 2020

EMPLOYMENT

University Congregational UCC Church seeks Director of Children’s Ministry. Our ideal candidate is someone with a passion for developing programming that encourages children and families to explore and grow their faith and understanding of God, the Bible, and our Christian heritage. This job is 30 hours per week and pay is $21-$24 per hour, depending on experience, and includes benefits.

To apply, email office@universityucc.org by March 5, with the subject line “Director of Children’s Ministry.”

UCUCC is an open and affirming church, and encourages applicants of all race, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, and religious affiliation to apply.

FOTB from 8 “Awkwafina is Nora from Queens,’’ the Comedy Central series led by the star of “The Farewell,’’ as the only other U.S. series with a mostly Asian cast. But because of “Fresh Off the Boat,’’ there’s already hope that Asian Americanled successors will no longer be seen as out of the ordinary.

“It is redefining what mainstream culture is. I think that’s the legacy,’’ Gong said. “It helped redefined a space that will help all creative Asian American media, producers and artists.’’

As a young Asian American actor, Yang said it’s been exciting to see how much the landscape has already changed in six years. He cited Ken Jeong’s since canceled ABC

MUAY THAI from 9 “Even with padded elbows, they’re not thrown very much. It’s not that easy,’’ he said. “People thought once they allow elbows, everyone is going to get split and it’ll be too much damage to the competitor, which doesn’t happen, has never happened.’’

Austin Amell, an amateur fighter out of Jacksonville Muay Thai, has been training in the martial art for over four years and represented the United States at the International Federation of Muay Thai Associations’ 2019 World Championships in Bangkok.

Amell said fighting in Florida without elbows has made it more likely for him to be caught off guard when he is fighting in states and countries which do allow them. He isn’t always used to his opponents having the freedom to use these strikes.

He is ready for the rule change, he said. It’ll give him another weapon to use in the ring.

Though he said he has avoided most elbow strikes, he remembered one in particular.

EMPLOYMENT

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Learn to deal, pass the class, audition, and begin making $27.00/HR (Base wage + Tips/Tokes)!

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NOTICE

KCHA will accept Bids from Qualified General Contractors for the Cedarwood Site Improvements project located in Kirkland, WA. See website for details at www.kcha.org/business/ construction/open/

38 YEARS

Subscribe to the Northwest Asian Weekly $40 for one year.

Name_________________________________________ Address _______________________________________ City ___________________________________________ State__________________________________________ Zip Code _______________________________________ Phone _________________________________________ Mail to: NW Asian Weekly 412 Maynard Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98104 or call 206-223-0623

sitcom, “Dr. Ken,’’ and the game-changing opportunities for other “Crazy Rich Asians“ actors.

“Henry Golding, he’s playing Snake Eyes,’’ Yang said.

“I feel like things are slowly changing. Soon, we hopefully won’t have to worry too much about only having a few of us on TV, only having a few of us represented.’’

Park credits “Fresh Off the Boat’’ fame for allowing him to be choosier about work. The actor, who co-wrote “Always Be My Maybe’’ with friends including Ali Wong —a former staff writer on the show—recently formed his own production company.

“I’m in more of a position to create things now which is really exciting,“ Park said. “It’s been a focus of mine tell more stories from an Asian American perspective.’’

“There is one elbow I can think of where a kid hit with me a spinning elbow, clean on the chin. I was actually shocked I didn’t get knocked out. They’re very hard. It’s like getting hit with a real heavy bone,’’ he said.

Organizers of the International Kickboxing Federation World Classic, an annual amateur tournament, considered pulling out of Florida over the restricted rules. Fighters from California, where they were allowed to use elbows, couldn’t do so when the fights were in Florida, said Steve Fossum, CEO of International Fight Sports.

“That’s a great move for Florida moving forward to try to build Muay Thai-style fighting in Florida because I get a lot of complaints from people in Florida saying, `When can we do full rules here?’’’ he said.

Wiley said the rule change will more closely link the sport in Florida to its Thai heritage. Wiley and his gym members have traveled six times to Thailand as a group to experience Thai culture and explore the sport’s origin.

“It makes the sport more authentic,’’ he said. It brings it up to the same levels as most of the rest of the country and most of the rest of the world.’’ 

Park also recently was in a position to direct. He helmed the series finale, which will include flashes of the Huang family’s future. Pulling double duty distracted him from getting overwhelmed with emotions.

“While a lot of people were crying, I was thinking about the next step,’’ Park said.

For Yang, the next step will likely be college as well as the next acting job. And he knows he can think big.

“My dream role is always gonna be Amadeus Cho. He’s the Asian hulk,’’ said Yang, referring to the fictional superhero in the Marvel comic books. “But now, my dream for the next role is something fundamentally different from Eddie.’’ 

SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 6.

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FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 6, 2020

asianweekly northwest

15

Photos provided by SPU

YOUR VOICE

Mami Hara with colleagues in front of a new electric truck.

Randy Baldwin, volunteer, at Rainier Valley Food Bank.

James Gruspe, coordinator of the Rainier Valley Food Bank, which he calls “nurturing soil.”

Volunteers unloading food at the Rainier Valley Food Bank.

SPU from 3

call, later confirmed that on some days, Safeway offers a bounteous contribution.

The next stop is PCC in Columbia City, where there are stacks and stacks of food.

Red plastic cartons overflow with potatoes, apples, designer bread, celery, milk, tofu, cream, cabbage, and eggs.

There are even cans of organic turkey and liver cat food.

Hatcher-Mays pushes the tall stacks on a rolling platform through the plastic strips at the edge of the loading dock and loads them into the van.

Back at the food bank, volunteers rush out to help unload.

“We are not taking waste,” said James Gruspe, the coordinator for more than three years.

Standing in the midst of a surge of volunteers pushing carts to unload groceries and visitors coming up to ask questions, he said that the food bank creates a “supermarket-like” atmosphere where clients can choose the high-quality foods they want. Year round, he said, his workers and volunteers work with local farmers to provide fresh produce. And for holidays, they order specific food.

For Chinese New Year, for instance, they take in more red lettuce, snap peas, and green peas than usual.

For such an arrangement, they depend heavily on contributions, both from individuals and businesses. Some of the businesses they’ve found on their own.

Others have come to help, thanks to SPU. As a result, for every dollar donated, the food bank takes in a total of $12 thanks to matching funds from those businesses.

(RNG) — gas from garbage,” it said.

Waste management cleans garbage and processes it into RNG. “The fleet also includes 80 Recology trucks that are powered by hydrogenatedderived diesel, produced from a range of renewable feedstocks, such as vegetable waste, soybean oil, and animal tallow,” it said.

Another full-size electric truck will be put into service later this year, added Sabrina Register, public information officer for SPU. “Our solid waste fleet by the end of this year will be entirely fossil fuel free,” said Hara.

All of these changes are ways that SPU is coping with the huge growth of Seattle and its outlying areas.

as well as other improvements to the water supply.

Back at the food bank, such an approach is evident everywhere. One of the volunteers, wearing a hooded sweatshirt over tousled brown hair and a stubbled face, described working as part of a community to save lives as empowering.

Randy Baldwin, 60, struggled with drugs, gangs, and homelessness until he found a treatment program through Tabernacle Church. Now he arrives at 5:45 a.m. on Saturdays and volunteers for six hours. He also has a job driving dump trucks, but it is giving back to the community that keeps him going.

“It’s thanks to the guy up there,” he said, pointing up at the sky and winking.

Whether that is a concept, such as equity, mercy, or justice, or something else entirely, it’s certainly the same thing SPU is working towards. 

grocery stores, and individual households does not make it into the garbage stream.

Wasted food produces methane gas when rotting and is one of the leading causes of climate change. At the same time, that food could go to feed people like Yuen, who survives on less than $800 a month, a pension from her decades of working in a factory as a seamstress, which she must also use for all other expenses including medical bills.

The vision of yoking the two issues— wasted food and food insecurity—stems from Hara’s mandate at SPU. She was appointed in 2016 to focus on equity in Seattle’s public utilities.

“We provide the services that are essential for life,” she said in an interview.

“And this focus is emblematic of the knowledge we have that climate impacts disproportionately affect low-income communities and communities of color.”

Besides setting expectations for businesses to donate to food banks, SPU has launched an array of initiatives recently to keep Seattle’s environment clean while contributing to the health and welfare of all its residents.

These include a ban on plastic bags, a new fleet of green energy trucks for garbage, recycling, and composting, and keeping water sources clean in lowincome neighborhoods.

Food and life

On a recent Saturday, SPU arranged for a reporter to ride along with the delivery van for the Rainier Valley Food Bank to see how food partnership works.

Panting and rocking, the large van pulls out from a lot next to the food bank with David Hatcher-Mays at the wheel. A former telephone technician and the son of a minister, Hatcher-Mays said during his 30 years of entering homes around the Seattle area to effect repairs, he saw what a difference food made.

“When you would go into a house in Magnolia, for instance, the kids would know that every day when they came home, they would have food to eat, it made a huge difference,” he said.

In other homes, in other parts of the city, he noticed kids chugging soda and sugary drinks and fighting with each other. He guessed some of it was related to anxiety about food.

He backs into the loading dock behind a local Safeway. Entering the rear door, he gives a shout to the manager in a booth in the back. She asks him to sign in. Tentatively, he enters the meat department.

“Nothing for you today,” says the manager, coming over. Then he enters the store itself and walks down the aisle looking for the dairy department manager.

“Sorry, nothing today,” she says.

In the bakery, he takes away two baskets full of bread and one pumpkin pie. Asked if the food bank usually has such poor luck at Safeway, he replies, “It’s like life, you take what you get.”

His wife, Gloria, who is the executive director of the food bank, in a phone

Reducing pollution

The success is emblematic of the other changes that have come to the city in recent years.

A ban on plastic bags in Seattle, first introduced in 2008, finally passed in 2011, but was drastically updated in 2017. SPU spread word about the ban in a dozen languages, reaching out to all sorts of businesses, small and large. By last year, roughly 85 percent of businesses had stopped using plastic bags. And other cities nearby had introduced bans of their own.

One major threat to the ban, however, comes from an increase in food that is taken out or delivered from restaurants. In such cases, restaurants are not prohibited from using plastic bags. And the increase in delivery companies, such as Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Caviar, has amplified the problem, according to a 2018 report by SPU. Another way the city has fought to keep the environment clean is through the purchase of 200 new clean energy trucks for waste pickup.

“The fleet includes two, first in the nation, 100% electric class eight rear load trucks, plus four mid-size trucks for smaller routes and container delivery, and 12 small hybrid or full electric-support trucks or cars,” according to an SPU press release.

“The second all-electric route truck will be put into service in 2020. The green fleet includes 91 Waste Management trucks powered by renewable natural gas

Equity in water and food

Another one of SPU’s projects is to make sure wastewater and drinking water supplies are “the most resilient for income disparity and change,” said Hara.

This means shoring up low-income areas with up-to-date facilities.

Hara pointed to Southpark, where SPU has obtained a grant to build a new system and pump station to clean stormwater before it flows into the Duwamish River,

To donate to the Rainier Valley Food Bank, go to: rvfb.org/take-action/donate-food-funds.

Mahlon can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

16

asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 6, 2020

Lifelong Recreation Seattle Parks and Recreation

Arts, Fitness and Social Opportunities for Ages 50+

An Lạc 1253 S Jackson Street Seattle, Washington 98144

Studio, One, & Two Bedroom Apartments Leasing starts late February 2020.

Drop In Traditional and Modern Asian Dance Free Jefferson Community Center 3801 Beacon Ave S Wednesdays 6-8pm Van Asselt Community Center 2820 S Myrtle St Saturdays 1:30-3:30pm

Trip: Spend the day in Portland, Oregon $70

Applicants must income qualify Studio – 522 sq ft 1 BD – 591-622 sq ft 2 BD – 787-946 sq ft

Studios for $1,125 One Bedrooms for $1,200 Two Bedrooms for $1,435

New affordable rental property:

69 affordable apartments • Kitchens with Energy Star© appliances including built in microwave •Plank flooring •Laundry facilities on every floor •Rooftop deck •Community gathering space •Deck/balcony in select units Fabulous location in International District walking distance to transit, shopping, and community services.

For more info & pre-application, go to: www.lihi.org/an-lac Or email us at anlac@lihi.org

Friday, March 20, 2020, 7am-8pm Luxury coach bus meets at Garfield Community Center 2323 E Cherry St For additional information or to register contact Anne Nguyen at 206-310-8163 or anne.nguyen@seattle.gov

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