VOL 39 NO 13 | MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2020

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VOL 39 NO 13 MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2020 FREE 38 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Survivor urges cooperation, Relief for ID unity in fight against COVID-19 restaurants,

Most heroes of the pandemic aren’t behind a podium. They’re in battle behind the scenes—their frustrations and anxieties masked by a uniform.

Facing shortages of equipment, supplies, and staff, health care workers are feeling the weight of the outbreak on their shoulders.

“Everyone on the front lines are burnt out in a magnitude of ways,” said emergency room technician Missy Cruz. “Some of the staff are working 14- and even 16-hour days to try and help combat this virus,” she said.

Cruz, 32, is a survivor. She is also among a legion of health care workers trying to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, or SARS-CoV-2.

The virus causes COVID-19, an acute respiratory disease that has led to tens of thousands of deaths globally and more than 120 deaths in Washington state—numbers that are only expected

E.R. technician Missy Cruz, who recovered from COVID-19, is rejoining efforts to contain the outbreak. (Photo courtesy: Missy Cruz).

chest coughs, and shortness of breath.

Her fevers ranged between 101.5 and 103.7 degrees Fahrenheit for eight straight days.

“I could not regulate my fever.

When I tried to take medication away, my fever would shoot back up,” she

What started out as a $100,000 donation from Vulcan has now turned into the CID Restaurants and other Small Businesses Relief Fund. The International district (ID) is home to over 400 small businesses, including 140 restaurants.

Managed and disbursed by the Chinatown International District Business Improvement Area, Friends of Little Saigon, and the Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority (SCIDpda), the fund will distribute money directly to small businesses in the ID to help them mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This initial contribution will focus on restaurants, which have seen a severe decline in business since early February. Additional donations raised by this fund will be distributed directly to small businesses.

SCIDpda will act as a fiscal sponsor for this

see SURVIVOR on 15

see RELIEF FOR ID on 12

A transmission electron microscopic image shows an isolate from the first confirmed U.S. case of COVID-19. The spherical viral particles, colored blue, contain cross-sections through the viral genome, seen as black dots. (Photo courtesy: CDC/Hannah A Bullock, Azaibi Tamin).

to climb.

Although the majority of those infected recover, Cruz understands the toll that the disease can take on even a young, healthy individual.

“I was utterly miserable. The fevers and body aches were the worst for me,” she said. Cruz experienced high fevers, body aches, headaches, deep

Inslee announces “Stay Home, Lt. Governor Habib giving up Stay Healthy” order office, joining the Jesuits On March 24, Gov. Jay Inslee signed a statewide order that requires everyone in the state to stay home. The order will last for two weeks and could be extended. This Stay Home, Stay Healthy order is similar to orders that other governors, in places such as California and New York, issued last week.

This proclamation will:

• Require every Washingtonian to stay home unless they need to pursue an essential activity.

• Ban all gatherings for social, spiritual, and recreational purposes. see STAY HOME on 15 Gov. Jay Inslee

#WashTheHate

Lt. Governor Cyrus Habib

campaign combats racism against AAPIs spurred by the coronavirus

OLYMPIA — Lt. Governor Cyrus Habib announced on March 19 that he will not seek re-election, and will instead join the Jesuits, a religious order of the Catholic Church known formally as the Society of Jesus.

“This decision follows two years of careful and prayerful discernment. But since that process has been almost entirely private, I realize that this will come as a major surprise to my constituents and supporters,” Habib said in a statement.

Gov. Jay Inslee said that while the news was unexpected, “anyone who knows Cyrus is not surprised by his commitment to faith. I have no doubt his future in the Jesuit priesthood will bring much good to a world that needs it right now.”

The son of Iranian immigrants, Habib is the first and only Iranian American elected to statewide see HABIB on 13

■

By Kai Curry NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The reports are out there. A student in Singapore beaten. A Vietnamese curator excluded from an art event in London. In New York, an Asian sprayed with air freshener. Another kicked in the back. Another punched Actor Tzi Ma washes his hands while sending out a message on Twitter as part of #WashTheHate campaign.

see #WASHTHEHATE on 12

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

Photo from WA State Governor's Office

small businesses

By Evangeline Cafe NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

2

asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2020

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Daniel Dae Kim tests positive for coronavirus

Dr. Xiao Ming Daniel Dae Kim

Actor Daniel Dae Kim posted on his Instagram page on March 19 that he’s been diagnosed with coronavirus.

The former “Hawaii Five-0” star believes he contracted the virus while in New York City filming the television series “New Amsterdam.” He developed a scratchy throat while flying back to Hawaii to be with his family after filming on the series was halted due to the pandemic.

Once back in Hawaii, Kim said other symptoms, like chest tightness, body aches, and a fever, showed up.

His doctor recommended he get tested for coronavirus, which he did at a drive-thru testing center in Honolulu.

Kim said while his case was not “a matter of life and death,” he urged others to practice self-distancing and follow other guidelines.

“If you treat this without care, you are potentially endangering the lives of millions of people, including your loved ones,” he said. 

4,300 masks to Seattle Children’s Hospital.

“I am so proud of our members,” said Dr. Xiao Ming, one of the organizers. She said the money to purchase the masks was raised within a day.

Libby Calovich, of Seattle Children’s Hospital, said, “We have received an overwhelming response from the community... particularly the local Chinese community has come out in waves. We have received tens of thousands of masks in just the last few days.” 

UW Professor Zhao maps the coronavirus

Chinese associations donate masks to Seattle Children’s Hospital

Members of Guangzhou Association of Washington State, Guangfu Association of Washington State, and Friendship of Gee How Oak Tin Association donated

Bo Zhao

University of Washington geographer Bo Zhao has produced an interactive map of the coronavirus, showing where the virus has turned up and how many people are infected.

The map updates every few hours with data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, the People’s Republic

of China, and other government agencies, including those in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

By zooming in on various countries, users can see the numbers of cases, recoveries, and deaths, as well as trends over time.

“Mapping is a powerful tool to tell stories of social, cultural, and political phenomena,” says Zhao. “As a geographer, and in what people call the ‘post-truth era,’ it’s important to weigh in with data sources to show people how things are happening.”

As more detailed data have become available, Zhao has added state and provincial totals from the United States and Canada, respectively.

Go to hgis.uw.edu/virus to view the map. 

Satwinder Kaur running for state House seat

Kent City Councilmember Satwinder Kaur announced on March 16 that she will run for state Representative in the 47th Legislative District, to succeed Pat Sullivan who is retiring after 16 years.

The 47th District includes Covington and parts of Kent, Auburn, Federal Way, and Renton.

Satwinder Kaur Kaur was elected to the Kent City Council in 2017 and is in the third year of a four-year term.

Satwinder grew up in South King County and received an MBA in technology management from the University of Washington. She works in the tech industry for a private company in Auburn. 

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This advertisement is donated by Northwest Asian Weekly & Seattle Chinese Post to support Asian businesses affected by the coronavirus.

MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2020

YOUR VOICE

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

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3

Bitcoin gets its first real test in a crisis scenario

By Alexander Chan NORTHWEST WEEKLY

ASIAN

The current instability of the stock market and economy may again boost the prominence of bitcoin and other forms of cryptocurrency.

Bitcoin was developed at the time of the last American recession. Donald Chan, a cryptocurrency trader based out of Vancouver, told the Northwest Asian Weekly that he expects more people to turn to bitcoin as an alternative.

“It would not be a shock if a global recession caused

investors and regular people to consider bitcoin as a way to protect themselves against a

financial crash.”

Cryptocurrency is a virtual currency that can be exchanged

for value. Bitcoin is the most popular brand of cryptocurrency.

Like stocks, bitcoin can be purchased digitally for its market worth at any given time. Unlike stocks, bitcoin is decentralized, which means that no financial institution or business controls transactions involving the cryptocurrency.

Bitcoin and other forms of cryptocurrency make it possible to buy groceries, pay rent, and send money without cash or using a credit or debit card connected to a bank account.

More people are starting to use bitcoin as their currency of choice for personal transactions.

Chan said that the appeal of bitcoin is removing the middleman from transactions.

“The reason I use bitcoin is that it’s entirely peer-to-peer. No third-party takes a cut from my bitcoin trades and transactions.”

Asians have led the cryptocurrency revolution that started over a decade ago.

Satoshi Nakamoto is credited with creating bitcoin in 2007.

China, Japan, and South Korea are the world’s largest bitcoin markets. Asian investors pushed the value of bitcoin to new heights in 2017. In the United see BITCOIN on 12

Skyway is open for business

By Alexander Chan NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The 2000 census reported Skyway as the only majority-minority census designated place in Seattle while other areas, such as Bellevue, became majorityminority cities just recently.

However, Bellevue has prospered economically over the last decade, while Skyway’s growth has stagnated.

Skyway is an urban unincorporated area that borders Tukwila, Seattle, and Renton. It is unique in that a sizable majority of residents in this community of over 15,000 people are minorities. The racial composition of Skyway’s population is effectively evenly divided between whites, Asians, and Blacks, and a large percentage of residents are foreign-born.

According to the Skyway Coalition, an organization focused on equitable community development, the

median income in Skyway is $45,000, which is significantly less than the overall average in King County. The Washington Employment Security Department considered part of Skyway to be an area of high unemployment as late as 2017. There are no brand name businesses located in Skyway.

Skyway’s reputation for being a hotbed for criminal activity has been an obstacle to its development. Reports of a major homicide or robbery that occurred in Skyway seem to be in the news every couple months.

Thao Nguyen was raised in Skyway. She is now the co-owner of the popular Lotte hair salon in Bellevue.

Nguyen told Northwest Asian Weekly that she would love to open a branch for her salon in Skyway, but she has safety concerns.

“I love Skyway and its diversity is a major selling point for me. But businesses will only move to Skyway when it becomes safer and more attractive for entrepreneurship.”

King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay also grew up in Skyway. In an interview with Northwest Asian Weekly, Zahilay indicated that investing in “upstream resources and opportunities for people most likely to participate in violence” would help reduce the crime rate in Skyway. Zahilay advocated for programs focused on housing stability, after-school activities, mentoring, and job training.

Skyway has potential to succeed economically like its neighboring cities. Romans Casino is the largest business located in Skyway and it reported over $15 million in gross revenue in the 2018 fiscal year. The success of Romans Casino shows that a business can excel in Skyway. The challenge is ensuring that Skyway’s residents will benefit from the commerce.

Jeremy Williams, board president of the West Hill see SKYWAY on 14

Have you been financially impacted by COVID-19?

Seattle Public Utilities and Seattle City Light Are Offering Customer Assistance Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) and Seattle City Light (SCL) will keep utility services on during the COVID-19 Civil Emergency in Seattle. This will provide immediate utility relief for customers, both residential and commercial, financially impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.

heavily discounted utilities by simply completing and signing a short form on household income, rather than having to provide proof of income at this time.

* Flexible Payment Plans for COVID-19 Emergency

During March, the self-certification form will be available online, on the City's UDP website:

Effective immediately, all SPU and SCL customers (residential and commercial) can set up payment plans if their financial stability has been jeopardized by COVID-19.

http://www.seattle.gov/humanservices/services-and-prgrams/affordability-and-livability/utility-discount-program

http://www.seattle.gov/light/paymybill/arrangements.asp - Seattle City Light (electric) http://www.seattle.gov/utilities/services/my-account/payments-and-bills - Seattle Public Utilities (garbage, water, sewer)

** Utility Discount Program (UDP) Self-Certification for COVID-19 Emergency During the month of March, income-eligible residential customers can self-certify to enroll in the Utility Discount Program (UDP). This allows qualified customers to access

Summary of Utility Relief for COVID-19 Impacted Customers Utility Relief Policies for Customer Assistance in response to COVID-19 Suspending utility disconnections for non-payment Allowing for more flexible payment plans, including on the amount of down payment and the length of repayment* Allowing eligible residential customers to self-certify for the Utility Discount Program enrollment** Reaching out proactively to small businesses with delinquent accounts to offer to set up flexible payment plans Waiving interest charges on delinquent balances (pending emergency legislation)*

4

asianweekly northwest

MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2020

38 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

International Community Health Services (ICHS) offered drive-up appointments to test for COVID-19 on March 24–27 at its International District Clinic on 8th Avenue South, and of press time, it plans to continue testing through the week of March 30. Also, starting on March 30, ICHS will roll-out drivethru testing at its Shoreline location on Aurora Avenue North.

Community members must call ahead at (206) 788-3700, and testing is reserved only for those experiencing COVID-19 symptoms—which include fever, cough, sore throat, and

shortness of breath. You don’t have to be an ICHS patient to be tested.

During the drive-up appointments, you would remain in your car. A health care provider will then swab your nose and give you information on how to obtain test results.

CEO Teresita Batayola said ICHS has been addressing COVID-19 issues ever since the first case in Everett, and that it will continue to do so. For updates on the availability of drive-thru testing, go to ichs.com. 

Photo by Theo Bickel

ICHS offers drive-thru testing of COVID-19 Patients getting tested on March 24 at the International Community Health Service’s drive-thru COVID-19 testing at the International District Clinic.

Funerals barred in Washington state due to social distancing order SEATTLE (AP) — Funerals are now on the list of prohibited social gatherings under the state’s social distancing order intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Sports and arts events had already been halted after Gov. Jay Inslee’s March 16 proclamation shutting down restaurants, bars, theaters, and additional places where people gather.

On March 19, the Washington State Department of

Licensing in an email to funeral directors clarified the proclamation, adding funeral and memorial services, the Seattle Times reported.

Russ Weeks, president and funeral director of Weeks Funeral Homes, which has funeral homes and mortuaries in Enumclaw, Buckley, and Tacoma, said many families had already been electing to postpone memorial services.

“We’ve always been trained—and I grew up in the funeral business—you never say no,’’ Weeks said. “You

■ NATIONAL NEWS Gabbard ends longshot 2020 bid, throws support to Biden

By MEG KINNARD COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard suspended her presidential campaign on March 19, ending a long-shot effort that saw her Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard feuding with Hillary Clinton and raising fears among Democrats that she would mount a third-party 2020 bid.

In an email and a video posted to Twitter, Gabbard offered her full support to former Vice President Joe Biden, saying “it’s clear that Democratic primary voters have chosen” him to take on President Donald Trump in November.

Noting their political differences, Gabbard said she respected Biden and had confidence in the motivations of his campaign effort.

“Although I may not agree with the vice president on every issue, I know that he has a good heart, and he’s motivated by his love for our country and the American people,” Gabbard said. “I’m confident that he will lead our country,

guided by the spirit of aloha respect and compassion, and thus help heal the divisiveness that has been tearing our country apart.”

Gabbard was part of what once was a historically diverse Democratic field and the last of a half-dozen female candidates to depart the race. The 38-year-old American Samoan’s campaign website described her as “the first Hindu to run for president and first practicing Hindu in Congress.” And as one of the youngest candidates in the field, Gabbard outlasted senators and governors who came into the large Democratic primary race with higher profiles.

As the coronavirus outbreak continues, Gabbard, a military veteran and a major in the Army National Guard, said she would focus on her continued service, including military experience, should it be needed.

“I feel that the best way I can be of service at this time is to continue to work for the health and wellbeing of the people of Hawaii and our country in Congress, and to stand ready to serve in uniform should the Hawaii National Guard be activated,” said Gabbard, who served two tours of duty in the Middle East. 

do whatever you can to do what the family wants. But we have to say, ‘No, I’m sorry, we want to help you, but we can’t.’’’

But for some, he added, especially in families and cultures where funerals are a key part of community life, the decision has been especially difficult.

Weeks said funerals, with their hugs and handshakes, can be especially dangerous sites for virus transmission. 

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YOUR VOICE

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2020

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Governor approves prohibition on citizenship and immigration status discrimination OLYMPIA — On March 18, Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation to prohibit discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status into law.

Senate Bill 5165, sponsored by Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle), adds citizenship and immigration status to the list of characteristics protected by Washington’s Law Against Discrimination. The change prohibits

discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status unless a distinction or differential treatment is required by a state or federal law, regulation or government contract.

This bill protects anyone perceived to be a noncitizen, regardless of their actual immigration status, and would help prevent discrimination in numerous settings, such

Fare collections stopped on King County Metro, Sound Transit

Riders are no longer required to pay fare when riding buses, trains, water taxi, and Access paratransit, until further notice.

As of March 21, riders have been directed to board and exit at the rear doors of buses, reserving front-door access for customers using mobility devices or who require use of the boarding ramp.

“It is essential to keep this community

on the move, and I thank all the operators, mechanics, support staff, and riders who are helping us get through this, together,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine.

King County Metro and Sound Transit called on riders to take steps necessary to limit the spread of COVID-19 by avoiding traveling when sick, and covering coughs and sneezes. 

Bronze gates made by George Tsutakawa stolen SEATTLE (AP) — Foundation as a memorial Custom-made bronze gates to all who loved and cared that stood at the entrance for the arboretum. to the Washington Park The gates are about 20 Arboretum in Seattle since feet wide and kept open in 1976 have been stolen, part because they are so facility workers said. heavy, he said, adding that Arboretum curator Ray he fears thieves will take Larson said that gardeners them to a scrapper for the value of the metal. arriving for work on March An investigation is 19 noticed that the gates ongoing. were missing, and bolt George Tsutakawa Seattle-born Tsutakawa cutters were on the ground. died in December 1997, “It would be a pretty enormous task to haul them out,” Larson and is best known for creating over 70 said. “People are just shocked, and avant-garde fountain designs in North appalled. It was so brazen. Our hope is America and Japan.

Tsutakawa was associated with the that someone may have seen something.”

The solid bronze Memorial Gates University of Washington for more than were made by internationally-renowned 37 years, first teaching design courses sculptor George Tsutakawa and in the School of Architecture and later commissioned in 1971 by the University teaching in the School of Art.  of Washington and the Arboretum

DONATE YOUR CAR TO CHARITY. Receive maximum value of write off for your taxes. Running or not! All conditions accepted. Free pickup. Call for details, 855-635-4229.

as education, housing, public accommodations, and employment.

“People in our communities report living in fear, sometimes even afraid to take their kids to school,” said Saldaña. “We want this clarification of our law against discrimination to make people feel welcome and safe participating fully in their communities.” 

Stop AAPI hate Asian Pacific Planning and Policy Council, Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), and San Francisco Asian American Studies Department launched a reporting center to collect and track incidents of anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander hate violence, adult harassment, discrimination, shunning, and child bullying throughout the country.

This is in response to the escalation in xenophobia and bigotry resulting from

the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We want community members to know they are not alone. They can speak out and help stop the spread of bigotry.

Secondly, the collected data will allow us to assess the extent and magnitude of these incidents and to develop strategic interventions,“ said Cynthia Choi, the co-executive director of CAA. If you’ve been directly impacted by or witnessed firsthand this issue, share your story at a3pcon.org/stopaapihate. 

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO PROPOSERS Proposals will be received for E00657E20, Elliot West CSO Control Facility Alternatives Evaluation; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, via email at procurement.submittals@kingcounty. gov, until 12:00 PM on April 16, 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: $700,000 Total Estimated Price for all Phases: $5,000,000 All solicitation documents are published at: https:// procurement.kingcounty.gov/procurement_ovr/login. aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fprocurement_ovr%2fdefault.aspx Contact: Lourdes Bonifacio, lbonifacio@kingcounty.gov, 206-2633259

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asianweekly northwest

MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2020

38 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

Kids at home? What’s a tiger mom to do?

When the announcement came earlier this month that school was going to close for several weeks, my immediate reaction was shock. Once reality set in, my husband and I quickly realized we needed to come up with a plan right away. We both normally work in an office, but have switched to working from home. During a lunch break, we decided to take a trip to get arts and crafts materials, and an office supply store was in order.

Here is a list of what we picked up: • Large poster board • Ream of paper • Ream of construction paper • Markers • Watercolor paints • Several notebooks, lined and unlined • Math workbooks Our first task was to come up with a schedule. We enlisted the help of our grade school aged girls. We cut out scraps of paper, 2” x 4”, and wrote their names on some, and then the subjects on the rest of them. We then put times, hourly from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the side of the poster board. We agreed on the subjects to include and some we insisted on, including math, reading, snack time, recess, physical education, health, art, science, and history. Then we put those subjects on the board under their names next to the times we agreed on.

For math, we decided to assign them a certain number of pages from the math workbook. These workbooks are available at office supply stores and online. We really like the Spectrum series and picked up a few different subjects. The kids work silently on them, unless they need help. This enabled my husband and I to catch up on our work while they were able to work on their math.

For reading, we used the King County Global Reading

Photos by Sun Lee Chang

By Sun Lee Chang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Supplies for home schooling

Schedule outlined for each child

Challenge 2019 list that is online at kcls.org/blogs/post/ global-reading-challenge. We had some books, but others were readily available online. We assigned them 30 to 40 minutes of reading the book of their choice.

For writing, we thought it would be fun for the girls to come up with a family history book. The assignment is to interview everyone in the family, one by one, and then write up a page for each of them, including a drawing or photo of the interviewed person. This had the added

benefit of making them reach out to isolated individuals, especially during this time of social distancing. People in the family seemed to be genuinely excited about this project and are readily participating.

Physical education and recess include time outside in our backyard, on the trampoline, and on bad-weather days, inside on the treadmill or dancing to dance video games.

We also have some science workbooks and experiment books. That said, some of the most fun “science” activities include lessons on baking (where certain chemical reactions can be explained while baking). Even see KIDS AT HOME on 13

Our community calendar page has been suspended due to the uncertainty surrounding events over COVID-19 concerns. We apologize for any inconvenience.

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YOUR VOICE

MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2020

asianweekly northwest

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Chinese American teenagers auction art to help relief efforts

7

“Catitude”

By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY A group of Chinese American teenagers is fighting the coronavirus with art.

The Pacific Artists’ Alliance (PAA), a dozen mostly schoolgirls in the Seattle area, has organized an online auction to sell artwork by local artists to raise money for hospitals in Washington state.

Asked if it was an attempt to combat stigma against Chinese that is flying from the highest levels of the U.S. government, the teenagers, in a Zoom conference call, demurred.

“We’re not trying to change any image people might have of Chinese,” said Emily Zhao, 17, president of PAA. “We just had a deeper connection to the outbreak earlier on,” she said.

Nor is it solely about raising money.

“Art can help us appreciate what beauty there still is in life and bring us together at this time,” said Helena Feng, 15, one of the organizers and a writer.

Their website shows 44 pieces of art ranging from exquisite oil paintings done by renowned local artists, to sketches of dancing girls and vibrant pottery done by the students.

Some of the students reached out to local artists. Others contributed their own work. The students put no restrictions on the topics of the art works.

And so the website blooms with festoons from paintings of flowers, shiny, glazed pottery bowls that seem suspended in an eternal opening upwards, and more prosaic subjects, such as a sketch entitled “tea time” that shows hands making tea.

On one hand, it seems a reminder of the constants that remain during a dark time—flowers, rituals of eating and drinking, nature scenes of lakes and trees. On the other, it contains traces of eerie steadiness.

A portrait of an Israeli girl donated by one of the artists stares out at the viewer in grim determination.

Still, many of the art works were completed before the outbreak.

Vanessa Ping, 13, painted a picture of two flowers and apples two years ago using oils, then donated it to the auction last week.

Jessica Ruan, 16, this year created two painted slabs with ceramic glaze showing a Chinese style drawing of a bird on the branch of a flower. Her piece has already sold for over $100. She plans to go to an art academy after high school.

“Being able to donate a piece means I can help even though I’m not a doctor,” said Ruan. “And it is doing what I like to do, which is art.”

Proceeds going to hardest hit hospital first The proceeds from the auction will be donated to Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland, where most of the state’s earliest cases have been treated.

As of March 20, PAA was still waiting for bidding to close. The deadline for the first round was midnight of the same day. But a new round of bidding opens after the deadline and will continue until March 29.

Proceeds raised from the next round will be donated to other hard-hit hospitals.

PAA is a nonprofit founded by the students. But under state law, an adult over 21 is required for a bank account. So PAA asked a local Chinese educational organization, Little Masters Club (LMC), to help transfer the money.

The request was natural because PAA grew out of LMC, which has over 1,000 Chinese families as members, mostly on the Eastside, and is dedicated to providing kids with leadership opportunities in education.

PAA began as workshops that older students were offering to younger kids in ceramics, crocheting, and other forms of arts and crafts. Workshops and art lessons were also conducted at Mary’s Place, a local homeless shelter for families, and Children’s Hospital.

But last year, they decided they wanted to form their own nonprofit.

Part of a cultural tradition?

Artists everywhere create art for both different and similar purposes.

Leading American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, for instance, wrote

By Vanessa Ping

By Jessica Ruan

that art focuses the mind away from all disturbances.

“Each work of genius is the tyrant of the hour and concentrates attention on itself,” he wrote in his essay on art.

But this auction could also be seen as a continuation of a Chinese cultural tradition, said Xiaolin Duan, a historian who specializes in the cultural history of pre-modern China. see RELIEF on 15

8

asianweekly northwest

■ PICTORIAL

38 YEARS

MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2020

SOCIAL DISTANCING LIFE “Tracy and I have more time to walk our dog, Fifi, and he is excited we are spending more time with him. We are unable to see the cherry blossoms at UW this year, but at least we can enjoy the ones in our neighorhood.”

— John Liu

Aidi Nguyen Tamura social distancing boxing at home since her gym is closed

Katherine Kang, 15 on day 11 of social distancing

“I sent out an email to a few organizations I’ve worked with asking if they needed any help. APACEvotes got back to me, so I’ve been helping them with various tasks remotely.”

— Edwin Ong

KonnichiwaSeattle.com said they have been catching up on editing the many interviews they’ve done. This is a photo of local Butoh artist, Kaoru Okumura.

Lelian Solip needed some vitamin D and she said her plants needed trimming.

“After isolating herself in the kitchen for most of the past week, my wife cooked vegetable soup, frittatas, chili, and banana nut muffins; she calls it “Cooking through COVID.” — Mahlon Meyer (Photos by Page Perey)

“Never been a fan yoga until I do it with my purrfect friend.”

— Lillian Young

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YOUR VOICE

■ SPORTS

MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2020

asianweekly northwest

9

Fans come out in force to watch Hachimura visit Almost four hours prior to the start of the Washington Wizards’ only visit to Portland to play the Trail Blazers earlier this month, a small group of fans, mainly young Japanese males, stood outside an upscale hotel in downtown Portland, hoping to get a glimpse of Wizards rookie forward Rui Hachimura.

One of the fans held up a picture of the 6-foot-8 rookie from his playing days at Gonzaga in Spokane. He hoped that Hachimura would stop and sign the photo before boarding the bus to the Moda Center.

The fans lined up from the door of the hotel to a bus parked next to the sidewalk outside, as they anticipated the Wizards departing for the Moda Center.

Hachimura, whose mother is Japanese and father is from Africa, has been the center of attention this year as he became the first Japanese player to be drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft and just the second Japanese player to ever be drafted in the NBA. As a result of his instant celebrity status, Hachimura has secured high-profile sponsors, including Nissin Cup Noodles, Jordan Brand, trading card company Panini, and watch manufacturer G-Shock. He’s also signed a deal with luxury shoe retailer GOAT

Photos by Jason J. Cruz

By Jason J. Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Fans lined up hours before the game at the hotel where the Wizards stayed, in hopes of seeing Hachimura

Rui Hachimura of the Washington Wizards warming up before a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center in Portland.

as a brand ambassador with the specific hope of drawing more East Asian customers for its burgeoning business overseas. Instead of getting paid a salary from GOAT, Hachimura has an online store on the site in which fans and customers can select from his pick of shoes.

Since the beginning of this season, Hachimura has been followed around by media detailing each game and each move he makes.

Prior to entering the arena, there were several fans with Washington Wizards jerseys or t-shirts with the number 8, Hachimura’s number, in addition to a smattering of Gonzaga jerseys with his old number. They lined up to get in to see if they could catch a glimpse of Hachimura warming up.

A Japanese sports journalist who flew all the way from Tokyo talked about Hachimura’s impact on sports back home. His trip stateside was not for the sole game as he explained he was going to fly to the East Coast the following day to cover the other Japanese player in the NBA, Yuta Watanabe of the Memphis Grizzlies. But he was not the only journalist that traveled across the Pacific to see Hachimura in person. There were many more media members than usual.

As Hachimura jogged out on the court for pregame stretching, fans trickled into the arena. Most of them were there early for Hachimura. For his part, Hachimura went through what seemed to be a normal routine pre-game of stretching, dribbling, and shooting from different areas of the court and then sat down with an assistant coach courtside to go over game video.

Hachimura sat intently looking at the coach’s laptop, which showed different plays from a previous game. Like a student in class, Hachimura intently watched the video and slowly nodded his head when given instruction.

Moving from Spokane to Washington, D.C. was no problem for Hachimura.

He told a local D.C. paper earlier this year, “I was happy when I got drafted to Washington. I knew that D.C. was the capital and knew it was diverse—it’s filled with different cultures. It’s a perfect team for me, coming from Japan to the U.S. only a few years ago. It’s also a good basketball city—a lot of people watch basketball down here.”

In order to ensure that the Wizards would be able to handle the additional media requests this season, it hired staffing specifically for Hachimura—a former Nippon Professional Baseball

League play-by-play announcer is their Japanese Digital Correspondent. The Wizards have developed a website and podcast dedicated to the Japanese basketball fan that, of course, centers around Hachimura.

Hachimura participated in the World versus USA game during NBA All-Star Game Weekend last month and was heavily featured in the media.

A report from the NBA office in Asia after the All-Star Game stated that Hachimura’s jersey is the top seller in Japan with 24% of all jersey sales being a Wizards number 8. The jersey sells more than that of global icons LeBron James and Steph Curry.

Hachimura’s Japanese following is similar to that of Ichiro Suzuki when he first became a Seattle Mariner.

There’s a devotional following in Japan and a clamor for news on the team and especially his play.

“Consistency is the big key,” Hachimura’s coach Scott Brooks explained to the media his big need during the pre-game news conference. Brooks acknowledged Hachimura’s talent, but qualified it with the need to consistently perform each and every game. As of the beginning of March, Hachimura has averaged 13.4 points in 40 games, and averaging six rebounds a game. He’s had a setback this year sitting out of 23 games after being kicked in the groin on a fluke play. In recent games, he’s scored 20 points in 30 minutes of play and then five days later failed to score at all in 40 minutes.

On his visit to Portland, Hachimura had an off night. On his first shot attempt, Hachimura drove the lane and attempted to make an off-balance layup, which did not go in. He pleaded with the referee that he was bumped while in the air to the hoop and a foul should have been called.

His second try of the night was another shot from close distance, which was stuffed by Portland Trail Blazers center Hasaan Whiteside. Hachimura ended up scoring 11 points, making four shots and three free throws. The Wizards ended up losing to the Trail Blazers, 125-104. see HACHIMURA on 12

10

asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2020

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

Babies or divorce?

Cultural clashes between China and the U.S. during coronavirus

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Gov. Jay Inslee spoke on live television ordering us to stay home to fight coronavirus. He was like a gentle parent pleading with his child. He never raised his voice. He was patiently trying to convey the urgency of his message, and mentioned no penalties for defiance. But the Chinese in China, who didn’t comply with rules and ventured out during a lockdown or didn’t wear masks during the virus outbreak, were dragged by security, beaten and locked up.

Those images are still vivid in my mind.

However, China’s toughness towards the coronavirus fight appears to have worked.

The virus is contained for the time being with no new local cases.

But the impact on marriages is astounding—the number of divorces in Xian, a city with a population of 12 million in northwest China, soared to 3.2% since its government departments are now back in service, according to several Chinese web sites. And it’s only the beginning of the year.

Wait a minute, doesn’t social distancing entice couples to be more intimate at home?

Last week, comedian Stephen Colbert predicted the virus might create a baby boom in the U.S. What a contrast!

Americans assume that couples would

Statistically, Asian couples cannot stand each other when spending too much time together.

have more sex because they’re spending more time together. We will find out if Colbert’s prediction comes true by the end of this year or early 2021.

Compare the two countries’ divorce rates—it is interesting to learn that China’s divorce rate was on the rise even before the virus, and it was on the decline in the U.S. Both have similar rates, about 3.2% per 1,000 people, according to 2018-19 statistics. Whether COVID-19 will affect the U.S. divorce rate, remains to be seen.

But it may not be as simple as a cause-effect of the virus.

Who do you want to be with 24/7?

Most people want to be with their family in times of crisis. That’s a choice. But in a lockdown and social distancing situation,

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As for American couples, it’s opposite. Even if they’re divorced, they still team up through tough times.

you have limited choices on who you are going to be with. Someone might have to stay with people out of necessity, not because he or she is desirable. It could include a spouse, parents, and even children. Some parents have been open about preferring to be in the office than being with their kids all day, while others like it.

In a TV interview, an American doctor was asked how he felt about being at home every day. He said that being able to have dinner with his wife and two college kids every night, is a gift. What if your kids are younger, have high energy, and are rebellious? I am assuming the doctor has a big house with a family room, and each person has his own room, and no one has to share a bathroom.

China and other Asian countries have a different home environment. Americans

don’t realize how fortunate they are.

Because real estate is so expensive, it’s common to have two or even three generations living under one roof in China.

China’s modern homes are pricey, smaller, and tighter. Personal space is impossible.

Imagine living in that kind of household during a lockdown, day after day, for a month or more. Conflict and tension are sure to arise. Many might feel trapped, as if in prison, without much room to breathe.

That’s how I felt when I was raised in Hong Kong over five decades ago. Things have not changed much regarding the housing crisis in many crowded metropolitan areas in Asia.

During my high school years, I shared a bunk bed with my grandmother, and a brother in the same 250 square foot room.

Before that, I was in a windowless room, only big enough to fit a bunk bed. Our dining table was multi-purpose, for my homework, mom’s spot to sew clothes, and playing mahjong with friends. It was often impossible to study at home because it was so noisy. In my senior year, I had to escape to Caritas, a Catholic organization similar to the Boys and Girls Club, to study in a cramped room, filled with over 100 people during the summer.

You could smell the sweat in that room. see BLOG on 15

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YOUR VOICE

■ COMMENTARIES

MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2020

asianweekly northwest

11

A time for solidarity between the Asian American and Jewish American communities

By Murray Lee and Sam Jefferies, board members of the American Jewish Committee-Seattle region A little more than a month ago, the COVID-19 crisis was seen as an East Asia problem. Two weeks ago, here in the United States, it was viewed as a Seattlecentric issue. Yet as the public health crisis unfolds at a dizzying pace, we are reminded constantly that viruses don’t recognize borders. This pandemic, and the economic recession accompanying it, will touch every country and every community. Our response should be guided by shared humanity and compassion, sound science, and medical expertise. And we must reject fear and xenophobia unequivocally, wherever we see it.

For some of our friends and neighbors, this emerging situation has taken on a fresh urgency.

Anti-Asian violence and prejudice has spiked around the spread of the virus, much of it directed against the Chinese American community. In the Seattle area, Asian Americans have been verbally assaulted at Costco, in schools, and elsewhere. Orders from Chinese restaurants have fallen precipitously, even as the Seattle community has stepped up to support

small businesses. This is simply unacceptable. While government bodies, including the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, have stated officially that “the risk of COVID-19 is not at all connected to race, ethnicity, or nationality,” it is up to each of us, as individuals and as community members, to live our values and speak out in the face of prejudice.

The Jewish community is no stranger to prejudice and scapegoating, and our organization, the American Jewish Committee (AJC), was proud to join 71 other Jewish organizations, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, on a Letter of Support to Our Friends in the Chinese American and Chinese Communities last month. For more than three decades, AJC has maintained its Asia Pacific Institute to foster stronger relations between the American Jewish community, Israel, and countries such as China, Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea, sponsoring cultural exchanges and advocacy missions across the Pacific Ocean.

In the past, AJC has partnered with Chinese American and other Asian American groups to advocate for the passage of Senate and House resolutions expressing regret for congressional approval of the discriminatory Chinese Exclusion Laws dating back to 1879 and 1904.

We have condemned racist accusations of dual loyalty directed against Chinese Americans, accusations which are frequently leveled against the Jewish community, as well.

Yet at this critical time, we recognize that old relationships and actions are not enough. We stand firmly committed to supporting our neighbors in this time of need, and to pairing actions with our words wherever necessary. We also remain committed to listening, and to seeking a better understanding of the challenges faced by our Asian American neighbors.

Our support will be neither conditional nor prescriptive.

The AJC was formed after the Kishinev pogrom in 1903, when anti-Semitic violence led to the deaths of 49 Jews. Immediately, the Chinese community reached out to support the Jewish people in their time of need.

As noted by Winston Lee, president of the United Chinese Americans of Washington in a recent exchange with AJC Seattle, “In this difficult time, we must come together to face the challenges, and fight for our common destiny and common humanity.” If we do so, we will emerge stronger than ever, united against the forces of prejudice and hate which seek to divide us. 

Asian people are not a disease

By David Inoue JACL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR As terms like “Chinese Virus,” “Wuhan Virus,” and “Kung Flu” are increasingly used by the president and other leaders in our country, so do we see the increase of racially-based David Inoue hate crimes and xenophobia against people of Asian descent.

While President Trump has defended his usage of these types of terms, as “not racist at all,” the impacts on our communities tell a different story.

Since as early as January, Asian-owned businesses have been seeing drastic decreases in sales, to the point that some have had to permanently close. New York City has seen a significant rise in violence against

Asians, ranging from verbal abuse to physical assault, including a man chasing an Asian woman through the subway station before beating her. In San Francisco, a woman was spit on and screamed at by a man on the street, forcing her to flee to a nearby business to escape further attack. These types of incidents are only going to increase as rhetoric that points the finger at the Chinese, and more broadly Asians, continues to escalate.

Asians, especially East Asians, are being labeled as dirty, uncivilized, and animalistic based on cultural generalizations. U.S. Senator John Cornyn of Texas blamed the Chinese for causing COVID-19 because of the stereotype of a diet of animals exotic to American palates. This type of fear-based inductive reasoning hearkens back to moments in our history like the Chinese Exclusion Act and the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans, when people of Asian descent were targeted by our government through racist policies.

People of Asian descent are no more likely to be

carriers of COVID-19 than anyone else: viruses do not see race. The negative and, in some cases, violent reactions Asians have been experiencing serve as a reminder that we are seen as the perpetual foreigner.

It doesn’t matter how many generations our families have been here or if we have just recently immigrated, we are continually labeled as “other.” Had COVID-19 originated in a predominantly white country, the story would have looked a lot different.

This harmful narrative that is being divisively used by our government leaders is creating wide-spread hatred and fear against Asians that will have long lasting impacts on our community. As businesses close and racist attacks continue, we call on our leaders to use language that does not cast blame on Asian people.

COVID-19 is a global pandemic that impacts all of us equally. It should be called by its scientific name, not a colloquialism that is harming the Asian people. 

■ LETTER Chinese virus and kung-flu? Really?

Dear Editor, As a Fire Commissioner of South County Fire in Snohomish County and Board Member of Snohomish County 911, I am really proud to say that both organizations have been working very hard in handling the coronavirus situation. However, I am really concerned about treatment of this virus at the national level. With President Trump calling it “Chinese virus” and some White House staffer calling it “kung-flu,” it is not only harmful but very damaging to the Asian American community. Have they seen that many of the medical doctors appearing on television as experts are

of Asian descent?

This reveals the still deep down thinking that Asian medical technology and products are inferior to American or any Western technology. It starts with Trump thinking that the movie “Parasite” did not deserve to win the Best Picture Oscar. We have seen South Korea, Taiwan, and China take aggressive action to slow down the virus. However, I didn’t hear much about the United States sending teams to these places to learn from their experiences.

We are still stuck in the idea that America is the best in everything and there is no need to learn from anyone. A good example is the Centers for Disease

Control wanting to develop its own testing methods, rather than using the World Health Organization’s existing test kits. We, as Americans, need to wake up and realize that Asian technology and products are not inferior. Just take a look at our everyday products, such as cars, televisions, cameras, and computers.  — David Chan

12

asianweekly northwest

MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2020

#WASHTHEHATE from 1 in the face. Close to home, an Issaquah man of mixed race told by a Costco employee to “get away” from the food samples. University of Washington students being harassed, sometimes multiple times in a day, and told to wear face masks. The message: the coronavirus is your fault. The fault of Asians. And thus, the fault of Asian Americans.

The #WashTheHate campaign, launched on March 18, aims to “combat the rising tide of hatred.” Formed

by IW Group, an Asian American communications agency, and Asian American artists, leaders, and influencers, the hashtag campaign gives victims a voice, raises awareness, and presents a united front against racism related to the coronavirus. The Weekly corresponded with several key players in the campaign about what prompted them to start the campaign, and what we can do to help.

“Get on social media and let the world know this racism is unacceptable. None of these acts of violence will change the outcome of the spread of this virus,” said actor Tzi Ma, participant in the campaign and victim of racism. Ma, famous for his roles in “Rush Hour” and, more recently, “The Farewell,” was standing at a Whole Foods store when someone yelled at him to get into quarantine.

Actress Celia Au, seen in “Wu Assassins” and “Lodge 49,” has many friends who “have been sharing stories that are equally horrible and scary…I’ve

heard about people enduring verbal and physical abuse for wearing a mask, not wearing a mask, and often, just being of Asian descent.”

Telly Wong, IW Group’s chief content officer, said it brought to mind the xenophobia and hatred directed towards people from the Middle East and South Asia after 9-11. It was Wong and IW Group who came up with #WashTheHate.

“Our team was disturbed by the growing number of violent assaults and hate crimes against Asian Americans as the coronavirus began to spread throughout the United States. We were in a unique position to help bring likeminded people together in order to raise awareness about this issue.”

They created a webpage, washthehate. com, and have put out a call for videos in which participants are asked to record themselves washing their hands (has to be long enough to sing “Happy Birthday”), while sharing stories about how they have been impacted by the virus. The videos are then posted on social media, with the #WashTheHate hashtag, and the links are shared with the campaign.

Ma and others spearheading the campaign have already made theirs.

“Hate will get you sick. Even if the virus doesn’t,” Ma says while washing his hands. “A time like this is not the time to discriminate,” reminds Au in her 20-second video. “The virus definitely doesn’t.”

“We’d like the Asian American community to share their stories on social media and ask the broader community to

BITCOIN from 3 States, many of the leading voices in the expansion of the cryptocurrency industry are Asian Americans.

While cryptocurrency is primarily considered an investment vehicle, more Asians are using bitcoin for regular transactions.

Alan Pham, a paralegal and a qualified Vietnamese interpreter with the King County District Court, said, “I deal with a lot of Asians as part of my work and I’ve heard more cases about people using bitcoin to buy jewelry for example. In the past, they would just trade gold or other jewelry, but now it’s bitcoin.”

Asians have also used bitcoin to send money overseas.

Banks and money transmittal services often charge exorbitant fees for international remittances, especially

HACHIMURA from 9 Despite the loss, Hachimura’s fans were present throughout the arena. Every score he made resulted in a louder-than-normal

watch and share them. We’re trying to use transparency to combat misinformation,” said Wong. “Please spread the word,” urged Au. “In this time of crisis, the only way we can get better is by working together. Practice tolerance. Practice empathy…We can only defeat COVID-19 by remaining united.”

The president’s insistence on calling the coronavirus the “Chinese Virus” doesn’t help. But there are ways to fight words with better words.

“Rally rights groups of all ethnicities to condemn and stem racist rhetoric, especially from our so-called leaders,” said Ma. “Call them out on it. Hold them accountable.”

“We’ve seen this before during the AIDS crisis in the 90’s, when gay men were targeted as the cause and reason for the spread of HIV, and we know that not to be true,” continued Au. “So, why does this discrimination persist? Partly because it comes from our leadership, whether they are complicit in their speech or silence. It is their responsibility to proactively educate the public that these behaviors and actions are not right.”

IW Group and others leading the campaign have been directly affected by the shutdowns enacted to stop the spread of the virus, the stalled movie launches and the closed cinemas.

“Our clients include every major studio in Hollywood, so these delays have directly impacted our agency,” Wong shared. Ma, who stars in the muchanticipated live action version of “Mulan,” now postponed, said, “It’s right and the

to less developed countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.

Kim Chi Nguyen, owner of Galleria Nails and Spa in Bothell, shared her experience with sending bitcoin to her family in Vietnam.

“It was less expensive than sending the money through an agent because the fees are a lot less. My family got the bitcoin right away, too.”

Nguyen indicated that she would accept payments in bitcoin for her nail salon once the technology develops.

She will not have to wait long as VISA reached an agreement in February with Coinbase, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, to issue debit cards funded by bitcoin.

Owners of bitcoin can also convert it to cash by using a bitcoin ATM machine. One such machine is

cheer from the crowd, even though the Wizards were the visiting team. Families cheering their Japanese hero, including a father donning a Hachimura jersey over his regular work clothes and his three kids

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Government agencies in Washington state have tried to make the use of bitcoin and other cryptocurrency safer for consumers. This state’s Department of Financial Institutions regulates virtual currency and defines it as money. The Washington State Legislature passed a law last year that granted legal authority to blockchains, which are the electronic ledgers that record all cryptocurrency transactions. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington has aggressively pursued prosecutions against individuals engaged in fraud involving bitcoin and cryptocurrency. 

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responsible thing to do. Audiences will see our film and will enjoy it later.”

While we wait, Ma suggested ways to support art and artists. “Enjoy all the shows we’ve worked on, on all the streaming services, if you haven’t seen it, or see it again. Search for your favorite AAPI actors, writers, and directors. You will find many. Alan Yang’s film, and his directorial debut, will be on Netflix on April 10. Streaming it in huge numbers will ensure more storytelling from our talented artists.”

Au commented on the unsettling news that doctors and nurses are running out of resources and supplies.

“They are our saviors, fighting an invisible enemy…How can we get them what they so desperately need? We need to protect our guardian angels, because if they are not healthy and safe, how can we possibly expect them to protect and help us?”

In a time of fear, people lash out. For some, a time like this is an opportunity to flaunt feelings they’ve harbored all along.

And like Ma said, we can “call them out on it.” For others, the hate is a wild and impersonal thing. But that doesn’t make it hurt any less.

“People need to consider what would happen if tables were turned,” said Au. “What if you were being attacked based on culture or ethnicity? Would you be OK with this? If not, then why cause this to others?” 

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YOUR VOICE

■ ASTROLOGY

asianweekly northwest

13

Predictions and advice for the week of March 28–April 3, 2020

By Sun Lee Chang Rat — Frustrated by what you can’t change?

Harness your power and channel that energy towards something positive.

Dragon — You like mapping how things should play out. However, this is one game that defies that sort of planning.

Monkey — Have you benefited from a small act of kindness? Instead of letting it end there, do your part to pay it forward.

Ox — You know your own truth and that should dictate what you do next. The right answer will come from within.

Snake — Even when the odds seem stacked against you, you should end up on top through sheer force of will.

Rooster — When trying to decide between two similar options, consider which one has the highest probability of success.

Tiger — Although you were less than pleased with your initial efforts, you now have the experience to do much better.

Horse — While others might get discouraged in the same situation, you use it as motivation to pull yourself to the top.

Dog — A modicum of common sense goes a long way. Prepare your response for the most likely scenario.

Rabbit — Once you realize what is actually happening, going back to the way things were before simply is not an option.

Goat — Why let limits keep you hemmed in?

Turn it around and use it as a chance to really test your creativity.

Pig — Take advantage of unexpected time together. Leave the distractions aside and really focus on each other.

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.

KIDS AT HOME from 6 slime can be educational if we take the time to break down why certain chemicals work to make different kinds of slime.

Last, but not least, we also incorporated materials that our teachers have emailed to us. We found that

HABIB from 1 office in the country. A three-time cancersurvivor, he became fully blind at the age of 8, and went on to graduate from Columbia University, Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and Yale Law School, where he was Editor of the Yale Law Journal.

Habib said, “I was moved to public service by my experience growing up as a blind kid from an Iranian family, and learning firsthand what it feels like to be excluded.”

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together, the materials complement and supplement what we found. Also, there are plenty of enrichment opportunities now being offered online, such as Seattle Symphony concerts and live camera feeds from zoos that have closed.

This all seemed pretty ambitious before we tried it. It definitely doesn’t take the place of solid instruction in a

Over the past couple of years, Habib said he has felt called to a different vocation.

“I’ve felt a calling to dedicate my life in a more direct and personal way to serving the marginalized, empowering the vulnerable, healing those suffering from spiritual wounds, and accompanying those discerning their own futures. In short, I’ve come to believe that the best way to deepen my commitment to social justice is to reduce the complexity in my own life and dedicate it to serving others.”

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Calling Habib’s life and career “an inspiration to many,” Inslee said Habib has had a meteoric career in elected public service. That career includes serving as a State Representative and as a State Senator before being elected Lt. Governor in 2016. As a state legislator, Habib was the sponsor of a bill to establish statewide paid sick leave, as well as the Washington Voting Rights Act to make Washington’s elections more equitable.

Habib has led nine international trade missions to promote investment and job growth in Washington state, which,

with 40% of its job market dependent on international trade, has the most tradedriven economy in the country.

Habib’s decision means at least one of our state’s nine statewide elected positions will be an open seat in the August primary and November general elections.

“Trudi and I wish Cyrus all the best as his life of public service now turns to a new stage that will be impactful to many,” said Inslee. 

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SKYWAY from 3 Community Association and a member of the Skyway Coalition, said that local officials could do more for the people who call Skyway home.

“Overall, we have heard the story too many times of the county’s budget limitations. The services we want can be funded, in part, by creative funding mechanisms such as reallocating marijuana tax revenue directly to the community in which it was generated. Our elected officials must ensure Skyway is seeing the benefits of the tax revenue that is already being generated by our community.”

State officials have recently taken steps to address the economic challenges in Skyway. On April 28, 2018, Governor Jay Inslee designated part of Skyway as an Opportunity Zone (OZ).

The program provides incentives for businesses to expand in economically distressed communities, and allows

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for the deferral and elimination of some federal taxes on investments made in areas with a poverty rate of at least 20%. Skyway is one of 23 census tracts in King County to have received the OZ designation.

In a comment to Northwest Asian Weekly, Robert Haglund, a management analyst with the Employment and Security Department, suggested that OZs would lead to more real estate investment in Skyway.

Tom Luu, the owner of the Skyway Park Bowl bowling alley and the Lucky Dragonz events center located next to Romans Casino, told Northwest Asian Weekly that he hopes to build a new housing development in Skyway.

“Real estate projects will be really vital to Skyway’s future. We want more people to move to Skyway to support our local businesses. But they will only move here if they have a place to live.”

Zahilay is optimistic about the future of his hometown. He believes

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that the large minority community in Skyway is capable of coming together to make Skyway a better and safer place for its families and businesses.

“These coalitions are powerful and have been able to accomplish amazing things in our region. As someone who grew up in South Seattle and Skyway alongside Asian American communities, primarily Vietnamese, Chinese, and Filipino neighbors and friends, I know our fates are intertwined.”

Zahilay’s hope is that Skyway can prosper like other majority-minority communities without experiencing the gentrification that occurred in Columbia City. Displacement prevented long-time residents there from fully benefiting from its economic and safety improvements.

“We all want prosperity, safety, clean streets, and walkable neighborhoods for Skyway. I’m not saying we should avoid the direction of Columbia City in those respects.

I’m saying thousands of people who

call Skyway home today should be able to stay in their homes to enjoy those improvements rather than being displaced like in Columbia City of the Central District.”  Alexander can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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YOUR VOICE SURVIVOR from 1 said. An X-ray came back negative for pneumonia and Cruz was able to selfisolate for two weeks at home.

It is believed that Cruz contracted the virus from a patient on Feb. 21, eight days before Public Health - Seattle & King County announced the first known death in the United States of an individual with COVID-19, although testing later indicated that two individuals had already died on Feb. 26. Cruz believes that she became infected after helping a patient who came to the E.R. for symptoms unrelated to the disease.

“The day I contracted COVID-19 was like any other day for us in the E.R.; it was busy. COVID-19 was not classified as a pandemic yet and was still in its infancy here in the U.S.,” she said. “This patient did not have any recent travels outside of the country and denied being in contact with any individual that could have been positive.

“Four days after my contact with the

STAY HOME from 1 • Close all businesses except essential businesses.

“The less time we spend in public, the more lives we will save,” Inslee said.

The proclamation states it’s still safe for people to go outside as long as they remain at least six feet from each other.

Grocery stores, doctor’s offices and other essential businesses will remain open.

People can still participate in activities

patient, I started to feel sick initially with some mild symptoms. On the first day, I had a mild cough that went away within a day. Throughout the week, I started to feel headaches and body aches,” said Cruz. “It was at the end of that week I was informed that I was in contact with a patient who tested positive for the virus. The following day, I was tested by the Centers for Disease and Control and within 24 hours, I was informed that I, too, tested positive for COVID-19.”

Health care workers and the government are begging the public to do their part in helping flatten the curve of the pandemic.

On Mar. 23, Gov. Jay Inslee announced a statewide “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order. The order requires Washingtonians to stay home except to pursue essential activities. The order bans social, spiritual, and recreational gatherings, and closes all businesses except for those deemed essential.

“The less time we spend in public, the more lives we will save,” Inslee said in a televised announcement.

such as bike rides, gardening, and dog walking — as long as they follow social distancing rules.

What’s closed

• Recreation areas in parks operated

by King County, Seattle, Sammamish, Bellevue, Lynnwood, and Kirkland.

• All Everett Parks playgrounds • State campgrounds • Olympic National Park • Mount Rainier National Park

A reverse trend

BLOG from 10 When I visited a Beijing university a decade ago, I saw how small the dormitory rooms were, and each one housed four students. One student said, if his roommate’s girlfriend visited him over the weekend, the other roommates had to get lost.

Now imagine three generations of a Chinese family cramped into a 400 square foot unit behind a store. There’s no wall separating the living room and bedrooms, just a curtain. That’s what I saw in Chengdu, China.

During the lockdown in Wuhan, food was delivered to people’s doorsteps. And they did not know what was going on in the outside world as they got their information from the state-owned television, usually full of propaganda.

Here in America, we have many sources of news. Our governor, county executive, and mayor appear on television and tell us how serious COVID-19 is. I believe every word they say. I trust the coverage on local television news and the Seattle Times. I don’t have to worry about fake news.

We have to count our blessings.

Our grocery stores and pharmacies are still open. At least, we can still get out for fresh air, see people and walk around. It doesn’t sound too terrible. In strange times like these, it means a lot to be able to walk around in the International District, and feel the sunshine, even for a short time.

“Social distancing is so important right now because this virus is easily transmittable from person to person,” said Cruz. “If people continue to abuse social distancing, the frontline health care workers will never be given a chance to catch up with this virus. We will continue to overload the hospitals and resources we have left to combat this pandemic. So please, if you do not need to leave your house, just stay home,” she pleaded.

“The scariest part is some people are infected without even knowing it because some can carry the virus without showing any symptoms. Those are the people who are a threat to our elderly and immunocompromised population. There is still a lot unknown about COVID-19, so the only way to control the spread is to keep people home as much as possible,” she said.

Cruz said that when she returned to the E.R. after completing self-isolation, the hospital already looked so different.

“It was like walking back into a war zone. We are constantly battling staffing and supply shortages, like masks,” she

Americans.

“It was very common among artists, especially literati painters, to express emotion through art to counter social decay,” said Duan, assistant professor of Chinese history at North Carolina State University.

Art was used specifically to counteract evil and death.

As the coronavirus pandemic has spread, paintings of deities and other talismans for protection and to ward off death have begun to surface on WeChat, the most popular form of social media used by Chinese and many Chinese

Early sorrow and intimate knowledge For the students organizing the auction, their commitment stems from their early and intimate exposure to the horrors of the disease. All of them have family still in China, some in the epicenter, Wuhan.

“My grandparents are still in lockdown, they haven’t been able to leave their home for months,” said Ruan.

As the outbreak started, they and their parents called family members in China every day. Now, they still text them

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said. “Day in and day out, we come back to work, and we just never know if it will ever slow down, or if our supplies will be enough. It is a tremendously scary time for us in health care right now.”

Cruz hopes that people of all ages will take the disease seriously.

“People who are not concerned about contracting COVID-19 because they are young and feel this is just like the flu—it is true that the chances of you recovering from the virus is good, but it is not just about you.

It is about the many others who cannot fight this virus off. You can become the carrier that can infect a lot of people. This is why people are dying at a rapid rate.”

“COVID-19 is no joke,” stressed Cruz.

“It will only continue to spread if we do not follow the proper measures to contain it.”

“We have to help each other by supporting each other,” she said.  Evangeline can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

Businesses temporarily closed • Shanghai Garden

• Joyale Seafood Restaurant

• King Noodles

• New Star Seafood Restaurant

• Dong Sing Market

• Green Leaf

• 85°C Bakery Cafe

• Momosan Ramen & Sake

• goPoké

• Kinokuniya Seattle

• Ho Ho Seafood Restaurant

• Phnom Penh Noodle House

I received a surprised text on Sunday from my former high school friend in Hong Kong, and also a University of Washington alum. In her text, she said the Chinese government listed over 6,000 experienced doctors who have experience in treating COVID-19 patients. They are now available to provide information and service globally.

Many of these physicians speak English too.

Suddenly, America and China switched roles. Americans used to be the experts in global health, and now China is leading the way after a health crisis. Would President Trump want China’s help? The world can gain so much if the two global powers would collaborate. Unfortunately, U.S.-China relations have been strained since last year’s trade war.

We chatted on the phone. A reverse trend happened. She said, “At the Hong Kong post office, people wait in line to mail masks to England, Canada, and America. Two months ago, many Chinese Americans raised money to mail masks to China,” she said. “You can easily buy masks in Hong Kong (as the illness has been controlled). And prices have dropped a lot.”

To save masks and money, my sisters-in-law in Hong Kong locked themselves at home for days, typical for many Chinese families. Never mind they missed their grandkids.

Never mind they didn’t get to play mahjong for more than a month.

Only one person from each household was allowed to go

RELIEF from 7

asianweekly

out to do grocery shopping, and it’s usually the husband.

They take the virus much more seriously than Seattleites, some of whom which I read about, organized private parties and everyone got infected, even though no one had the symptoms before. It didn’t occur to these folks that they can be a carrier of COVID-19.

She said, “As long as you wear masks, wash your hands and don’t touch (your) face, you are safe.”

I told her, many Americans are ignoring warnings about COVID-19. They congregate on beaches and don’t wear masks.

“In Hong Kong, people learned a hard lesson after SARS (in 2003),” she said. “In Hong Kong, if you don’t wear a mask in public, people stare at you with scorn because they think you are nasty, and spreading the virus. Americans feel strange towards people who wear masks, and discriminate against Asians who wear masks, according to what I saw on the news.”

Another reason American health officials don’t want the public to wear masks, she explained, “America doesn’t have enough masks to meet the demand. If the government tells everyone to wear masks, you won’t have enough for the doctors and nurses on the frontline.“ Please listen to Gov. Inslee’s plea. Stay home and save lives.  Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

frequently, but usually call at least once a week.

This kind of immediate contact gave them an awareness that was perhaps lacking in the United States until later, they said.

“We learned about the strict quarantine measures early on, perhaps even before reporters made it known,” said Ruan.

They also learned early on of the nightmarish horrors and ravages suffered by family friends and relatives.

“This was very intimate for us right from the start,” she said.

Their current sale of art works is actually the second auction they’ve held.

The first, launched three weeks ago, was to fund hospitals in Wuhan, the hardest hit province in China.

They raised $1,300 for relief efforts there.  To donate art to be auctioned, go to: pacificartistsalliance.wordpress.com/ contact.

To view or bid for an art work, go to: biddingowl.com/Auction/index. cfm?auctionID=20571 Mahlon can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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asianweekly northwest

MARCH 28 – APRIL 3, 2020

38 YEARS

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