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VOL 39 NO 24 JUNE 13 – JUNE 19, 2020 FREE 38 YEARS YOUR VOICE
Protest aftermath
Black Lives Matter
Photo by Assunta Ng
Over 100 artists lift up Seattle’s Chinatown
Asians for
By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Something beautiful is happening in the Chinatown-International District (ID) and it’s never happened before.
Photos by Becky Chan
Bruce Lee and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The artists, Shara Lee and Dozfy Nguyen, were inspired by the movie Game of Death, in which the two legends appeared. Abdul-Jabbar said Lee, a good friend, invited him to Hong Kong to film the movie.
The faces of two legends, Bruce Lee and Kareem Abdul Jabbar, are painted side by side at the Tai Tung Restaurant storefront. Half a block down, Breonna Taylor’s portrait graces Eastern Cafe’s panel. see AFTERMATH on 6
Kevin (left) and Ethan (right), students of the University of Washington, joined the rally on campus on June 6. Over 300 names of murdered victims are on this poster.
Pierce County hate crime shows challenges for Asians after COVID-19 By Alexander Chan NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY An alleged hate crime against an Asian American business owner from January demonstrates that racism and bias against Asians and Asian Americans are unlikely to disappear when concerns over COVID-19 subside. Daniel Sesung Park immigrated from South Korea to the United States 35 years ago, and has since become a U.S. citizen. Park has proudly owned the JB Mart convenience store in Bonney Lake for 13 years. However, on Jan. 20, he became a victim at his own place of business when 29-yearold Brian Connor McKenna allegedly threatened to kill Park and directed anti-Asian slurs towards
THE LAYUP DRILL 5
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him. Park described the ordeal with McKenna in an interview with the Northwest Asian Weekly. Park did not recall ever previously meeting McKenna. Park explained that McKenna had been in JB Mart earlier in the day randomly uttering expletives and causing a disturbance. “He acted like he was talking to someone on the phone but you could tell that he was just screaming, saying bad words, talking to no one. He looked as if he was high on drugs.” Reports from the Bonney Lake Police Department indicate that McKenna then returned to JB Mart in the evening. After being asked by
AT THE MOVIES 7
Asians for Black Lives Matter marched from Othello Park on June 7.
see HATE CRIME on 12
COMMUNITY NEWS 8
Cambodians were represented during the march from Othello Park to Rainier Beach on June 7.
412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 • f. 206.223.0626 • editor@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com
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JUNE 13 – JUNE 19, 2020
■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Shannon Gee inducted into 2020 Silver Circle
Seattle Channel General Manager Shannon Gee was recognized for her induction to the Northwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) Silver Circle at the virtual Emmy Awards ceremony on June 6. NATAS Silver Circle Shannon Gee honors media professionals with a minimum of 25 years in the industry and have solid records of making lasting contributions to the field and their community. Other AAPI winners include Ryan Yamamoto, Ryan Yamamoto Suzanne Phan KOMO 4 anchor —he garnered two Emmys; Suzanne Phan, KOMO 4 reporter—she also won two Emmys; Randy Eng, Seattle Channel videographer, editor, Randy Eng Corinne Chin and producer for the “Eat with Muslims” segment; and Corinne Chin, The Seattle Times video editor for her “Life After Deportation” segment.
New Rotary Club president: Henry Wong
Henry Wong will take over as president of the Rotary Club of Seattle International District on July 1, after having served as the club’s fundraising chair,
Club Services chair, and president-elect. “I’m excited to continue the great work of the club while, at the same time, exploring changes that better meet the needs of current members, future members, and the local and international communities Henry Wong that we serve,” Wong said. The director of the Food Business Resource Center & Special Projects at Business Impact NW earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering at the University of Virginia. Wong began his career at CarMax, where he spent seven years focusing on developing and implementing company-wide inventory and purchasing strategies. He left CarMax to launch a mobile food business in Tennessee before moving to Seattle where he has transitioned to the nonprofit industry.
Emily Lei Du of Interlake High School in Bellevue was one of four Washington state students named to the 56th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars. The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects scholars—high school seniors—based on Emily Lei Du their academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership, and demonstrated commitment to high ideals. A complete list of 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholars is
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From left: Tomio Moriguchi, former Uwajimaya CEO; Nga Vo, ICHS Operations Project Administrator; and Melissa Xu, DA LI Development USA.
DA LI Development USA and Uwajimaya delivered 7,100 donated surgical masks to various Asian Pacific Islander organizations in and around the ChinatownInternational District on June 5. This is in addition to the 2,500 N95 and surgical masks delivered to International Community Health Services (ICHS) and Legacy House in May. Among the beneficiaries in round two of donations were ICHS, Nikkei Manor, Kawabe Memorial House, Denise Louie Education Center, Seniors in Action Foundation, and Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority.
Statement of Solidarity InterIm Community Development Association (ICDA) stands in solidarity with this weekend's protests around Black Lives Matter and with every black community seeking justice around the criminal justice system and other matters. The recent killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and Nina Pop have brought our country's profound anti-blackness into full view. These incidences have caused us to reflect upon the anti-blackness that exists within our own community. We are committed to the fight for true equity in every measure of life for the Black community. As a broad Asian and Pacific Islander community, we have benefitted from the civil rights struggles and other efforts of the African American community. In the early fights of the 20th century to protect and preserve our neighborhood, the Black community stood by us when we needed help. As an organization rooted in the Chinatown International District, we recognize that there has been a long history of black residents and business owners as being an integral part of our community. This was part of the work that Uncle Bob did with the Gang of Four. Currently, many black people live in or visit the CID daily. We must never forget this. We will do work to reckon with our anti-blackness, as an organization and in our community advocacy. We are committed to fighting Institutional Racism and fighting for Racial Equity, as well as following racial justice principals in our Internal and Program work in all area's, including Homelessness Prevention, Housing Development, WILD Youth, Resident Services, Policy and Advocacy, The Danny Woo Garden, Employment Navigation, and Food Security. Finally, we encourage everybody to donate to Black Lives Matter: https://blacklivesseattle.org/bail-fund/. We encourage you to do what is possible in your personal capacity.
YOUR VOICE
■ COMMUNITY NEWS
JUNE 13 – JUNE 19, 2020
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Seattle’s American Jewish Committee seminar urges unity
By Kai Curry FOR NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The American Jewish Committee (AJC) in Seattle hosted a webinar titled “Community Solidarity at a Time of Crisis with WA-10 Congressional Candidates” on May 26 to discuss how to combat the trend of increased racism and bigotry. Along with candidates from the 10th district, which comprises parts of Thurston, Mason, and Pierce counties, spokespersons from prominent local Asian American organizations attended. The question: what can we do and what will you do as a candidate for federal office? The answer: speak up, show up— together. The Jewish community has historically stood with minority groups to demand justice and equity. Former Tacoma mayor and canMarilyn Strickland didate for Congress, Marilyn Strickland, said, “One thing that I know is that, as an African American woman, as a Korean American woman, the Jewish community was side by side with African Americans during the Civil Rights strug-
AJC Seattle moderator Sam Jefferies listens to Winston Lee, president of United Chinese Americans of Washington state.
gle, unity can bring results.” AJC board member and panel host, Sam Jefferies, echoed this sentiment. “As representatives of the Jewish community, we stand in solidarity with the Asian American communities in Washington, and across the country…we know that hate and racism don’t discriminate. This pandemic has brought out ugly expressions of bigotry that, while they may have begun against Chinese Americans, they’ve since spilled over against other Asian American communities and increasingly, in expressions of anti-Semitism against Jews.” Similarly to racist accusations currently being spread about the Chinese, a conspiracy theory that Jews might be responsible for the COVID-19 outbreak is being touted by white supremacists in the United States and Europe. Jews are also being accused of starting the virus in a
KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO PROPOSERS Proposals will be received for E00676E20, Construction Management Services On-call; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, via email at procurement.submittals@kingcounty.gov, until 12:00 PM on June 29, 2020. There is a 15% minimum requirement for King County Certified Small Contractor and Supplier (SCS) firms on this contract. Total Estimated Price: $1,000,000 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, 206-263-3259
lab in China, as a deliberate ploy to gain power. In recent weeks, this kind of hate speech has proliferated on the internet, and has erupted into face-to-face acts of violence against all minorities, up to and including the death of George Floyd. “We’re at a very difficult time in our country’s history where racism, hate, and fear is once again beginning to override hope, civility, and constitutional law,” said Dale Watanabe, executive director of the Japan America Society of Washington State. As everyone on the panel agreed, racism in this country is nothing new, yet grows stronger in times of stress, with no help from our current administration in stemming the hate. One of the main solutions offered was that we need to act together. “The coronavirus crisis has, once again, demonstrated our vulnerability and our interdependence,” said Winston Lee, president of the Washington State Chapter of United Chinese Americans. “It offers further evidence that in order for us to survive, let alone thrive, we must come together, fight for our common destiny and common humanity. This is perhaps the greatest global crisis that we are witnessing. Whatever difficulties, whatever divisions we have had in this country, at this point, as long as on a people-to-people level we are together, we are going to survive. Act now to strengthen our communities…against the virus of hate.” Former state representative Kristine Reeves, also running for Congress in the 10th, emphasized the need for communiKristine Reeves cation. “I think that’s something that, quite frankly, we’re missing a lot of in this country right now, is the ability to talk to one another, to work to understand our lived experiences, and what drives our hopes and our dreams and…what drives our fears and insecurities.” Reeves, who grew up in foster care, and was homeless at 16, has been, as she says, “fighting racism and bigotry and, quite frankly, discrimination, for my entire life…I know what it’s like to struggle. But I can also tell you, I know what it’s like when the community comes together to take care of each other.” The most visible way to show up and speak out is to vote—for legislation and leadership. “If we harness the political power of people of color in this country, there is so much we can do,” Strickland said. “This
racism and bigotry that we’re seeing, it didn’t suddenly just happen,” but that President Trump “made it normal. He made it OK. He gave people permission.” But Strickland also insisted, “That’s not who we are. We are better than that as a nation.” Additionally, among her advice was, “If you see it, film it.” “We need a massive effort to turn the tide here,” said state Rep. Beth Doglio, another of the candidates Beth Doglio for the 10th district congressional seat. “I will use the power of my office to advance policies that will combat the structural racism so present in our country.” Doglio, who sponsored a bill to require cultural competency training in Washington state schools, said she learned a lot as a kid going from door to door with her parents to canvass for public health care. “We have to take responsibility for the future that we want, and fight for it.” As each panel participant addressed how we can come together to fight this racist “virus,” a common source of the problem was agreed upon by all: President Trump. The common solution? Elect more progressive officials who can better represent and defend our communities. “I think we need great leadership today, and we need leadership at all levels,” said Watanabe. “A new, more progressive president, who will fight for the rights of all minorities in the United States,” said Dr. Jeffrey Roh, board member of the Council of Korean Americans in Seattle. “Until then, we must organize and mobilize all of our AAPI brothers and sisters to build and galvanize solidarity with our fellow partners in the Jewish, African American, Latinx, LGBTQ, and other minority communities…” “The seeds of anti-Asian hate have been planted long ago,” said Stanley Shikuma, Seattle Chapter President of the Japanese American Citizens League. While dormant at times, Shikuma said it “springs to life whenever fertilized by scapegoating and hateful propaganda… it is not surprising that some people with racist leanings would jump to an antiAsian stance. The failure of political leadership to renounce and discourage such racial targeting early on has given the virus of racism room to grow.” Several of those present were reminded of the famous words about the Holocaust, where a man did not act because he thought the tribulations of others did not relate to him, until the Nazis came for him, too—and by then, there was no one left to help him. Shikuma put it in his own words, “Everyone needs to take the problem seriously and do their part. We cannot wait for ‘someone else’ to deal with the problem.” Kai can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
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JUNE 13 – JUNE 19, 2020
38 YEARS
■ COMMUNITY NEWS
Help for businesses damaged during protests
The CID Restaurants and other Small Businesses Relief Fund announced that donations made between May 30 and June 6 will be allocated to support repairs to small businesses that were damaged in recent protests and rioting.
If the need is greater, the CID Business Relief Team will consider expanding this fund. If you are a small business owner in ChinatownInternational District and your business was damaged, contact cidbizrelief@scidpda.org for more information.
The CID Restaurants and other Small Businesses Relief Fund was formed in response to the effect that the COVID-19 pandemic was having on small businesses. The CID Business Relief Team is a partnership of the CIDBIA, Friends of Little Saigon, and SCIDpda.
ID to get lighting ACLU files suit for the upgrades firing of Dr. Ming Lin BELLINGHAM — The ACLU of Washington filed suit in late May on behalf of an emergency room doctor who publicly criticized the coronavirus preparations at his hospital in Bellingham. Dr. Ming Lin, a physician with over 30 years of emergency room experience, was fired in March after exposing inadequate COVID-19-related safety procedures at St. Joseph’s Medical Center. St. Joseph’s is owned by PeaceHealth, a nonprofit, religiously-affiliated health care system based in Vancouver. On Facebook and in media interviews, Lin repeatedly
Seattle City Light is upgrading the underdeck high pressure sodium light fixtures at several overpass locations in the ChinatownInternational District (ID) area this month. This work was previously scheduled for March and delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Existing lights on South Jackson and King Streets between 8th and 10th Avenue South will be replaced with new LED fixtures, which will increase visibility and improve pedestrian and traffic safety. The installations will also lower operations and maintenance costs for the City Light. Residents and pedestrians can expect noise from construction and heavy equipment, as well temporary parking and lane restrictions, in the immediate work area during construction hours.
see LIN on 10
■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR JUN 11
TAP-SEA: ZUMBA WORKOUT CLASS 6 p.m. shorturl.at/hqKU4
12 STATEWIDE SILENT MARCH
AND GENERAL STRIKE Meet at Judkins Park at 1 p.m. Closing remarks at Jefferson Park protests@blacklivesseattle. org
13 & 14 FREE COVID-19 TESTING & SUPPLIES Jun 13 at Healthpoint Renton, 955 Powell Ave. SW, Renton
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Jun 14 at Sea Mar Medical Clinic, 31405 18th Ave. S., Federal Way ididmypartkingcounty.com
24 TAP-SEA: GAME NIGHT https://discord.com/invite/ jG95qWu 7-9 p.m.
Dr. Ming Lin
Register at ihollaback.org/ bystanderintervention
THROUGH JUN 24
EVERY WEDNESDAY COVID-19: PIVOTING TO RECOVERY AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Register at https://bit.ly/35ysQPz 5:30-6:30 p.m.
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JUNE 13 – JUNE 19, 2020
YOUR VOICE
■ SPORTS
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5
The Layup Drill
By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Welcome to another edition of The Layup Drill. In this month’s edition, we highlight a new tennis queen speaking out for justice, a hoops hopeful foregoing college, and Taylor Rapp’s big workout.
Osaka lends support to Black Lives Matter Naomi Osaka used her platform as one of the most visible stars in women’s tennis to speak out about the George Floyd murder by a Minneapolis police officer, which has sparked outrage and protests across the nation. “Just because it isn’t happening to you doesn’t mean it isn’t happening at all,” Osaka wrote on Twitter on May 29. On June 1, she posted a picture Naomi Osaka of Colin Kaepernick on her Twitter feed when he knelt in silent protest during the national anthem while he was a quarterback with the San Francisco 49ers. The picture was in response to an NFL statement by Commissioner Roger Goodell addressing the unfortunate deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery and hoping to rectify systemic issues. Osaka showed the contradictory message given by the league as Kaepernick attempted to draw attention to those systemic failures in the criminal justice system which are skewed against the Black community. Osaka, who was born a Haitian man and Japanese woman, points out the error in the NFL’s statement as it ostracized and blackballed Kaepernick from the league. Osaka reportedly participated in marching against social injustice. She was among several professional athletes that
have spoken up in support and have marched in protest across the nation. It also should be noted that not only is Osaka aware of her social responsibility in standing up for what she believes is right, she is now the highest paid female athlete in the world. According to Forbes, the 22-year-old Osaka surpassed Serena Williams this year, earning $37.4 million based upon her deals with Nike, Nissan Motors, and Procter & Gamble.
Sotto chooses to skip college to train for NBA Following the example of Jalen Green, 7-foot-2-inch Kai Sotto is forgoing his chance to play college basketball in the United States to play in the NBA’s G League Professional Pathway Program. It is a one-year developmental program that is outside its traditional team strucKai Sotto ture that compensates elite prospects. The 18-year-old Sotto, who has played for the Filipino National team in international junior tournaments, moved to the United States in 2019 to focus on basketball. He joined The Skill Factory, an advanced training program for the sport based in Atlanta, Georgia. Under the program, Sotto will be playing with both prospects and veterans but on a reduced schedule than normal players in the developmental league. Last month, Jalen Green, a high school senior from California, announced that he would forego playing college basketball and enter the NBA G League Professional Pathway Program. Green, whose mother is Filipino, was the first entrant into the program. Green was a consensus
5-star recruit with offers from many of the nation’s biggest college programs. Sotto averaged 25 points, 14 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game in high school. His game has been compared to that of Yao Ming. As a center, his highlights show that he is an agile shot-blocker on defense and a nimble-footed post player on offense. Sotto’s father and godfather played professional basketball in the Philippines. Unique in stature for a Filipino, Sotto’s father is 6 foot 7 while his mother is 6 feet tall. At 7-foot 2 inches, his dad believes that he is still growing. Sotto will hope to improve on his game with the hope of being the first Filipino born player to play in the NBA.
Rapp burns 10,000 calories in one day Los Angeles Rams defensive back and former University of Washington football star Taylor Rapp had a long day of training on May 24. In fact, you can say it was a 10,000 calorie workout. Rapp, along with friend and current professional baseball player Austin Shenton, took the 10,000-calorie challenge. Taylor Rapp The challenge was simple: burn 10,000 calories in a single given day. The two brought along their heart rate monitors to ensure they kept an accurate count of the calories. As described by Rapp on social media and to reporters, it appeared that there was not an absolute plan on how to burn 10,000 calories as toward the end, the process of looking at their monitors to see how much more they had left became an exercise in improvisation. In order to do this, Rapp and Shenton woke up at see SPORTS on 10
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38 YEARS
JUNE 13 – JUNE 19, 2020
Photos by Assunta Ng
Mural at Mike’s Noodle House by Ly Marie
Mari Shibuya painted a portrait of Breonna Taylor at Eastern Cafe Kari Sa Morikawa painted George Floyd in different colors at Vital Tea
Net Timoney painted pine trees and landscapes outside Pacific Herbs
Artists spent six hours creating murals outside goPoké with Asians for Black Lives and Aloha messages
Crab and lobster mural at Honey Court Seafood, by Sydney Pertl
AFTERMATH from 1 She was killed in a police shooting in Kentucky. Across the street, goPoké is decorated with “Black Lives Matter” in four Asian languages. These are historical firsts for Black images to be fully displayed on the front doors of Asianowned businesses in the ID. Another first, the first protest in Washington state over the unjust death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, was held in the ID on May 29. Looting and destruction followed hours later, causing damage to over 20 storefronts and properties. While many U.S. cities look like ghost towns from boarded up after the protests, ID storefronts have been transformed into colorful and vibrant scenes with messages of unity, hope, and multiculturalism. The day after the protests, several volunteers from Seattle and elsewhere streamed into the ID to clean up broken glass, garbage, and graffiti, as well as shop and support. But the latest group of visitors descending on the ID on June 5 brought with them a different set of tools—paint, brushes, notepads, sketching pencils, and, above all, inspiration.
Boarded storefronts turned into murals
Scenes of a boarded up ID sparked something in Che Sehyun—he wanted to paint murals on the storefronts’ plywood. In less than a week, Sehyun, founder and executive director of Experience Education, reached out to the art community. Over 100 artists volunteered to paint. Sehyun raised $10,000 for the project in less than five days, including $5,000 of paint from Home Depot. Over 100 storefronts signed up for the free project. On June 5, a diverse community of artists arrived in the ID, rolling up their sleeves. Some brought family members and friends together, and they poured their imaginative juices to transform ID into an open art gallery. In just a few days, the ID has been reborn.
Mural by Eileen Granstrom (Vietnamese girl and Black child) at the U.S. Post Office
New An Dong’s animated figures by owner’s son, Baby Luc.
Why Black images
Americans. Asian Americans should stand up with them to fight for justices.” Amy Eng of Dim Sum King, whose mural of dumplings was painted before Sehyun’s group was put together, said, “I asked the artists to add ‘Black Lives Matter’ on the other boards. This shows we respect Black lives and racial equality.”
Freelance artist Mari Shibuya, who painted a portrait of Breonna Taylor, said it’s memorable for her to paint Taylor on her 27th birthday, on June 5. This is the only Black woman’s face among many Black men’s images in the ID. Shibuya has also done a portrait of George Floyd, which was featured in a KOMO 4 news segment. Andy Panda with his team of six artists painted goPoké, a corner restaurant with several powerful murals, including Asians for Black Lives and Hawaiian greetings. The artists worked on goPoké for six hours. At the U.S. Postal Service, four artists led by Eileen Granstrom created two compelling images side by side, a Black man with his hands up and a message, “Hands up, don’t shoot,” and the other was a little Black child standing next to a Vietnamese woman with her Non la (palm-leaf conical hat) and native outfits. Historically, the hat is mainly used by rice farmers. Amateur artist Kari Sa Morikawa painted on Vital Tea about Black Lives Matter with different colors and faces of George Floyd. What inspired her to join the project is her experience working with delinquent “brown youths being oppressed through the system. Asian Americans benefited from the civil rights movement led by Black
Artists’ motivation
“I love the ID,” said Kendra Azari, who led her daughters, sons, and a friend to paint on Iron Steak. Azair’s words were echoed by other artists. “We love the ID, I just want to help,” said Rosie Alyen, who painted H. Bistro. “It’s a way I can give back by putting some of my artwork up,” said Paul Nunn of Urban Artworks, who also worked on H. “It’s a nice event,” he said, as people walked by and talked to him and among themselves. “Those are big moments between people. It empowers you to protect these places.” What drew Nunn to H. was its front was tagged. And he wanted to get rid of it through his art. What if it’s tagged again after he painted it? “I would be happy to do it again,” he said. Illustrator Net Timoney, an ID resident, chose Pacific Herbs as his canvas. Interested in both Eastern and Western medicine, he
From left: Shara and Joseph Lee, and Patrick “Dozfy” Nguyen painted the Bruce Lee and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar mural
painted landscapes and pine trees, because the business owner had requested images of trees. Timoney picked a pine tree as it symbolizes a new life and strength. “It will help the ID to move forward.” Andy Panda said the community has suffered from the coronavirus and protests. “I want to do more for the community.” “An ‘awesome crab and lobster’ was what the restaurant owner asked for, and that’s what I painted,” said Sydney Pertl. She even taught herself how to do Chinese characters for Honey Court’s Chinese name with this reporter’s help. Honey Court owner said, “I appreciate not only the art, but the artist’s heart.” Two goldfish grace the entrance of the International House for seniors through the paintings of Jenisa Barr. Goldfish symbolize fortune in Asian cultures. Chris Liu painted the late Uncle Bob Santos, an ID community activist and leader, for the Eastern building. Ambrosia Bubble Tea’s mural is painted with a phoenix, a symbol of rising again and overcoming adversity.
Celebration
While protests were held all over the state over the weekend, several artists toiled in the ID to finish their artwork. Seeing the fruits of their work, “I felt people need to come together (after the protest),” said Sehyun. “Support each other, know each other, work together. It’s an opportunity to understand our life work in a meaningful way. We see change and our authentic self. We see real relationships with real people. “People thanked me at the end of the day. They are the ones doing the work. It gives us pain and joy (in the project). It helps us to appreciate what the society can give us. You can bring out the best in people [by having them] work together.” You can’t change the past, but you can illuminate the present with colors, love, and collaboration. The murals have conveyed a distinctive manner for the community to heal together. Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.
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“The Half of It” By Vivian Nguyen NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY One of the first things you hear from Ellie Chu, the protagonist of Netflix’s latest teen rom-com “The Half of It,” is: “This is not a love story.” It feels trite to preface a teen movie like this. Isn’t this what all coming-ofage films strive to be? And don’t teens often say this to assert their identity? “I’m different—I’m not like the other teens.” Or in this case, I’m not like the other teen stories. Well, this movie, truthfully, is not like the others. “The Half of It,” which stars actors Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, and Alexxis Lemire, follows a shy yet bright Chinese American high schooler named Ellie (Lewis) who befriends Paul (Diemer), an inarticulate but sweet, white jock. Directed by Alice Wu, who’s best known for the beloved queer romance film “Saving Face,” “The Half of It” brings a familiar charm that echoes Wu’s first film and directorial debut. Paul enlists Ellie to secretly write eloquent love letters to his crush, Aster (Lemire)—someone who Ellie also happens to have a secret crush on. It’s like “Cyrano de Bergerac,” but set in a modern-day high-school setting, with a gender swap, and with a sprinkle of Mandarin. Initially, Ellie refuses to write letters on Paul’s behalf. But, after learning that her widowed father is behind on household bills, Ellie agrees to Paul’s request to earn some cash. Expressing heartfelt sentiments to Aster in letters and text messages comes easily to Ellie. The two talk about their shared interests over art, culture, and literature—all with Aster believing she’s talking to Paul. Paul and Aster finally go on their first date. It doesn’t go well. Paul struggles to talk with Aster in-person without Ellie’s knowledge and assistance. Ellie assumes that’s the end of it, but Paul talks her into teaching him about art and literature, so he can hold more organic conversations with Aster in the future. Paul and Ellie become closer friends during this time, and slowly open up about their respective family backgrounds set against a fictional small town in Washington state. When Paul and Aster make it to their second date, the two still struggle to find common ground to chat about until Ellie (from a distance) starts texting Aster as Paul. Aster reacts positively to the text messages from “Paul” and, seizing the moment, the real Paul decides to confess his love to Aster on the spot and later kisses her. One day, Aster invites Ellie to hang
out, and they go on a day trip to a nearby hot springs. Paired with some stunning cinematography, we see Aster and Ellie float on their backs as they share some of the most intimate conversations in the entire film and chat about things like identity, faith, and loneliness. It’s one of the quieter yet sweetest moments in the film, and shows how much natural chemistry the two share. Things get complicated as they always do in teen rom-coms. Paul grows to believe that Ellie has feelings for him and, having developed feelings for her, he kisses her. As Ellie recoils from the kiss, Aster naturally walks in on them (because, again, teen rom-com). When Aster storms off and Ellie calls out in protest, Paul finally connects the dots: Ellie’s in love with Aster. And because these characters live in an especially small, religious town, Paul spits out to Ellie, “It’s a sin.” And he, too, walks out on her. Everything finally comes to a head at a church service where it’s revealed that Ellie was the one writing Aster the letters, and not Paul. Aster feels hurt and betrayed by both parties. Paul gets slapped in the face. And no one truly understands Ellie’s real intentions for why she wrote those letters to Aster. One of the strongest points about this movie is how it resolves each main character’s story without letting anyone “get” the girl. Instead, the movie focuses more on personal growth. My favorite part was watching Ellie and Paul’s friendship blossom. Paul eventually realizes his bigoted response and apologizes to Ellie. The two remain close friends with Paul even seeing Ellie off at the end of the film as she heads to college. Aster and Ellie also find closure. The characters share a final scene where Ellie makes amends to Aster for deceiving her. Aster admits that “it’s not like she hadn’t thought about [her and Ellie being together].” It’s enough of a hopeful response to encourage Ellie to go for it and kiss Aster. While I honestly think the film would’ve been more poignant (and in my opinion, stronger) if Ellie hadn’t kissed Aster, there’s something to be said about Ellie actually finding the confidence to kiss Aster to begin with—something she never would’ve done at the beginning of the film. Ellie, too, has also grown. In the end, Ellie was right. “The Half of It” isn’t a love story. But it is a story about love. “The Half of It” is currently available to stream on Netflix. Vivian Nguyen can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
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asianweekly northwest
38 YEARS
JUNE 13 – JUNE 19, 2020
■ COMMUNITY NEWS
United Chinese Americans of Washington State step up They were not heroes. They were simply panicked. But in the end, they prevented the deaths of many. Knowing that their parents were locked in their homes due to COVID-19, hearing about the thousands dying, the Chinese American community in Washington state converted their panicked emotions into action. They used every connection they had in China to get over a million masks to Washington state quickly and efficiently. They flooded local hospitals with supplies and money. And in the end, they helped turn the state from the epicenter of the contagion into one of the safest areas in the country. “This was in direct result of the Chinese community being the first to step up in our state to assist the medical frontline staff, physicians, and nurses, as well as the community in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jennifer Hoyord, who coordinates major donations for EvergreenHealth. United Chinese Americans
Photo courtesy of UCAWA
By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Representatives from the Chinese American community unveil their contribution. From left: Miao Wang, nurse; Qiong Chen, vice president of HUST; Hong Qi, secretary of UCAWA; Xiaoning Jiang, Deputy Director Information Technology at City of Kirkland; and Xuemei Su, nurse.
of Washington State (UCAWA), the local chapter of a national nonprofit, united 65 Chinese American groups, forming a coalition with a network that reached into multiple provinces of China and obtained supplies that would otherwise have been unobtainable. “Americans have no idea the panic the Chinese people felt and still feel,” said Sean Shi, vice president of UCAWA. Volunteers worked around the
clock to fundraise and coordinate the acquisition, shipping, and distribution of masks and other personal protective equipment for many of the area’s hospitals and retirement centers. Shi, who was the founder and first president of the Seattle Suzhou Fellow Association, found friends and acquaintances in his home province that were willing and eager to donate 20,000 masks. Then he worked his connections further and got
both the municipal and provincial government to donate 2,000 more each—at a time when Chinese-U.S. relations were at a nadir. Linhui Hao, a board member of the Mercer Island Chinese Association, studied virology in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak in China. After receiving a Ph.D. in Biology from Ohio State, and moving to Seattle, she converted her scientific training into actuarial
skills and stayed up every night, all night, for a month to tabulate and record contributions from UCAWA’s fundraising drive. “I would put my kids to bed at 10:00, then stay up until the morning,” she said. “But I was used to it, as a scientist I used to do research like that.” The UCA was new, and they needed to earn the trust of the community, she said. “I couldn’t make a single mistake. I checked and rechecked all the numbers and finally posted them each night,” she said. In their first push, they raised $140,000, presenting it quickly and efficiently to Evergreen Hospital, which was the first and hardest hit hospital in the state. With the $10,000 more they raised subsequently, they have bought more supplies for retirement communities and other hospitals. Winston Lee, the president of UCAWA, helped oversee much of the efforts. The UCAWA worked with the Gates Foundation to host a conference, inviting leading Chinese and American scientists and doctors to share see UCAWA on 11
YOUR VOICE
■ NATIONAL NEWS
JUNE 13 – JUNE 19, 2020
asianweekly northwest
9
Mother gets time served for $400K college admissions bribe
By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER A woman who was locked up for five months in a Spanish prison after her arrest in the college admissions bribery scheme won’t spend any more time behind bars, a judge ruled last month. Xiaoning Sui, 49, of Surrey, British Columbia, was sentenced to time served after admitting to paying $400,000 to get her son into the University of California, Los Angeles, as a fake soccer recruit. During a sentencing hearing held via video conference due to the coronavirus pandemic, the judge said Sui has already been punished
enough. “I set a horrible example for my child and I was a bad influence. I promise that I will never do anything like that again,” Sui told the judge through an interpreter. Sui, a Chinese citizen who moved to Canada in search of better educational opportunities for her son, was arrested in September while traveling in Europe. While awaiting extradition to the U.S., Sui was held in a Madrid prison, where she was locked in her cell for fifteen hours per day in conditions far worse than what other parents in the college admissions case have experienced in U.S. prisons, her lawyer said.
“It was a very isolating and anxiety-creating experience,” attorney Martin Weinberg told the judge. Prosecutors had also urged the judge for a sentence of time served, noting that Sui immediately sought to take responsibility for her crimes, among other things. Prosecutors say Sui paid $400,000 to a sham charity operated by admissions consultant Rick Singer to have her son admitted to UCLA as a fake soccer recruit. Through a translator, Singer told Sui that he would write her son’s application in a “special way” in order to guarantee that her see BRIBE on 11
■ COMMENTARY
JACL: Our outrage for George Floyd’s murder is not enough It has been weeks since George Floyd was lynched by four Minneapolis police officers. The death George Floyd of George Floyd was preventable, as were the deaths of Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, Nina Pop, Breonna Taylor, Sean Reed, Charleena Lyles, and countless other Black lives who have been lost to systemic racism in the United States. Officer Derek Chauvin, now being charged with murder and manslaughter, was not alone in George Floyd’s murder. Also complicit were officers Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng, and most visibly, Tou Thao, an Asian American officer who, instead of using his authority to stop Chauvin, chose to enable and protect his partner. The JACL denounces the actions of Officer Thao and stands with the Black community in demanding justice for George Floyd and all Black lives. We must recognize that as violence has erupted from the roots of peaceful protest, it reflects the violence we as a nation have inflicted upon the Black community in our 400-year history as a colonized nation. The genocide began with the colonization of Native American land, to the capture, indentured servitude, and enslavement of African peoples, to Jim Crow, and beyond. We continue to see the legacy of our traumatic history today in the inequities of COVID-19 as Black lives are disproportionately impacted by our failed healthcare system. During World War II, [the Japanese] community found itself fractured in the midst of the incarceration experience; families, friends, and neighbors torn apart by the decisions they were forced to
make. We remained divided in the post-war years, as we sought a path forward trying to find our place in the changing narrative of American society. In the fight for civil rights, there were those who joined Black leaders like Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., to ensure civil rights were not solely for the API community, but all communities of color. And yet, we also played into the model minority myth, a divisive narrative that has simultaneously served to both benefit and victimize. The privileges we have gained from this dangerous trope have only further driven a wedge between APIs and other communities of color. We cannot continue on this path: we must stand together if we want to create lasting change. Japanese Americans sought and achieved redress for our unconstitutional incarceration during WWII. It is time that we as a nation come to a reckoning with our history of oppression, and seek reparations for the legacy of slavery. To begin taking the
necessary steps to right a grave wrong. It is painful to acknowledge that in many ways, Mr. Thao does represent our community and our own complicity and failure to act for racial justice for Black lives. As APIs, we sit at the intersections of privilege and oppression. While our experiences with privilege and oppression as individual communities are highly varied and nuanced (for example, the frequent exclusion of Pacific Islander and South and Southeast Asian communities in discussions around race and social issues, or the privilege those of us with lighter skin experience), it cannot be said that we do not benefit from the same systems that serve to hold us down. Our privilege comes at a price, one that has historically served as a way to further oppress Black lives. If we cannot come to terms with and address the privileges we hold and why, then we are part of the problem. Our inaction is causing harm, despite most of our best intentions to do good. We can have the
intention to do anti-racist work while still committing racist acts. It is easy and justified to be outraged by the scenes of the police taking the life of an unarmed, handcuffed man. We must also be enraged by the systems that have led to the deaths of so many Black men and women. We have a broken economic system that underpays people for honest work. Hiring decisions continue to be clouded by prejudice. Housing discrimination persists because of unequal access to capital and the legacy of redlining. If we do not feel the same outrage for the daily discrimination that continues to exist, outrage over George Floyd’s murder is hollow and meaningless. There can be no peace so long as our society and our government remain violent, both in physical action and policy, towards our own citizens. Our time to stand together is now. Black Lives Matter.
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KCHA will accept Bids from Qualified General Contractors for the Avondale Manor Site Improvements project located in Redmond, WA. See website for details:www. kcha.org/business/construction/ open/
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University UCC church seeks Interim Music Director, 25 hours/ week, $40,000 per year salary plus benefits. Email a resume and cover letter to office@unievrsityucc.org Find the full job description at www.universityucc.org/interimmusic-director UCUCC is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applicants of all gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ability, and religious background to apply. Housekeeper/caregiver needed in Everett WA. Light housekeeping, fix lunch, walk dog. $1520.00/hour 30-40 hours per week. Position to start after resume and references verified. Must speak and understand English and have reliable transportation. Call 206799-4014.
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criticized what he saw as a sluggish response to the threat by the hospital’s administration. Lin insisted that the hospital was slow to screen visitors, negligent in not testing staff, wrong to rely on a company that was taking 10 days to process COVID-19 test results, and derelict in obtaining protective equipment for staff. After his social media posts, the medical center began to change procedures to address the concerns raised by Lin. He was removed from the emergency room schedule shortly thereafter. “By firing a doctor for pointing out its shortcomings, particularly at a time when every doctor is urgently
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needed, PeaceHealth prioritized its own reputation over the health and well-being of the communities it is supposed to serve,” said Jamal Whitehead, ACLU-WA cooperating attorney at Schroeter Goldmark & Bender. “When a hospital cares more about public relations than its patients and staff, who can the community trust?” Lin said his criticism of the hospital was motivated in part by what he learned as an ER doctor at a hospital near the World Trade Center on 9/11. He said he worked at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan, and the facility’s steady and competent response that day was due to the training and experience it had undertaken after being overwhelmed in the aftermath of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
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Outdoor Research Hiring
Outdoor Research is looking for a HR Administrator to support our new face mask production department. Duties include: perform a variety of personnel-related administrative tasks; posting job ads, processing employee requests. Min. of 2+ years of Administrative experience, strong written and verbal communication skills, computer literate, exceptional customer service skills and attention to details. 1 year of recruiting a plus. Bilingual in Cantonese dialect desired. We offer great benefits. For additional information, please contact our HR department 206-268-7255, or visit our company website www.outdoorresearch.com
SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 4.
SPORTS from 5 4:30 a.m. and their quest ended at 9:09 p.m. They went on a 125-mile bike, hiked for 4 miles, ran for another 3 followed by 1.25 miles of swimming. Notably, Rapp had zero road bike experience and only had a couple rides in prior to the long day of working out. He definitely felt the pain of riding in the saddle for such a long period of time. They rode the first leg of the bike for 103 miles to Samish, and hiked four miles to Samish Overlook. They then were driven back to Bellingham where they continued their journey to 10,000 calories. After attempting to burn the calories off on a rowing machine,
they soon realized that the process would take too long. So they rode around Bellingham for another 20 or so miles but were still 700 calories short of their goal. Rapp and Shenton then attempted to swim to finish off the challenge. However, both experienced pain and cramping. Fortunately, the two pulled themselves through the rest of the challenge shortly after 9 p.m. “To all my fellow competitive athletes and everyone passionate about fitness, give this challenge,” said Rapp in an Instagram post. Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
JUNE 13 – JUNE 19, 2020
YOUR VOICE
■ ASTROLOGY
asianweekly northwest
11
Predictions and advice for the week of June 13–19, 2020 By Sun Lee Chang
Rat — A notable milestone is just around the corner, but there is no reason to fret for it is just a number.
Dragon — Some grudges just aren’t worth holding on to and rehashing. Shake hands with it and let it go.
Monkey — Before you take your next big step, make sure the footing is secure and is headed in the right direction.
Ox — Depending on your audience, it is best not to overshare your opinion. Say only what needs to be said.
Snake — Progress isn’t always obvious when it is in the process of happening. Be patient while the dust settles.
Rooster — While your expectations may have started off rather low, the results should surprise and delight you.
Tiger — The confidence that you have placed in a trusted ally will soon be validated by what happens next.
Horse — Pay attention to the delivery as well as the content of your message. Both are necessary to be received well.
Dog — Looking for a tool that will get heavy use? Invest in one that you won’t have to replace often.
Rabbit — Is there an issue that keeps reappearing? Finding the root cause should help to resolve it once and for all.
Goat — Having difficulty making progress with your usual approach? Tap into your creative side to figure out an alternative.
Pig — Don’t let a minor problem cause big waves. Deal with it while it is still manageable.
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.
UCAWA from 8 their experiences and come up with an understanding of their different approaches to the pandemic and what they could learn from each other. “As local and national governments prepare to relax social distancing and return people’s lives to a new normal while the virus still spreads and with no vaccine, what must be done to minimize rebound and safeguard public health?” This was the question they considered. Some of the projects were put on hold. The UCAWA had earlier started working with the Bellevue School District (BSD) to bring mental health counselors from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard as advisers. The specialists were Chinese and Chinese Americans psychiatrists with a deep appreciation for the particularities of challenges facing Chinese American students.
They had planned to expand efforts to other school districts when the pandemic hit. Still, UCAWA has organized a webinar to be held on June 13 to address the issue of racism in mental health for students and teachers in the BSD, said Lee. Meanwhile, UCAWA leaders jumped in to help in any way they could, driven by panic, worried that their new home would follow the fate of their old one. Lee delivered boxes of masks to the Ronald McDonald charity. UCA members assembled stacks of boxes of supplies outside the Bellevue City Hall so that representatives from eight area hospital groups could come and retrieve them safely. And they donated safety equipment, hand sanitizer, and other supplies to the local police. UCAWA joined with leaders from the Korean American, Japanese American, and Jewish communities to talk with candidates
KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received by the King County Procurement Services Section, electronically, at procurement.submittals@kingcounty.gov, until 2:00 PM of bid opening date for the following listed bids. To download a document, go to our web page at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/procurement. King County encourages minority business enterprise participation. King County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its programs, services, and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. 1080-20-JAS OPENS: 06/30/2020 New Flyer Bus Parts or Approved Equal 1128-20-TED OPENS: 06/24/2020 Back-up Passenger Vessel and Facility Services Pre-Submittal Conference: June 15th, 2020 at 10:00 AM via Skype or Telephone only Conference Call: 1-206-263-8114 Conference ID: 5340161
for congress about racism, Lee said. But their frenzied efforts led them to overlook the consequences of their own health. Shi drove out daily to the airport to meet with pilots on the last flights coming in from China. They had brought the desperately needed medical supplies. But the UCA needed the captains themselves to “give the nod” in order for the supplies to be unloaded. That meant Shi was talking to a different pilot every day in close proximity. “I ended up having a cough for two months,” he said. Every time he coughed, he worried about having the infection. But he kept on, eventually helping to bring in many of the million masks that UCAWA would distribute. Lee showed up for an interview with half his face swollen. He had neglected a tooth while he worked frantically, holding meetings with the other groups all day, coordinating efforts. Finally, he had to have the tooth pulled. “It hurts,” he said. Hao, the virologist, started coughing halfway through her efforts as well. But a doctor friend told her it was unlikely she had the virus. “The feeling you’d have from having the virus compared to a common cold is totally different,” he told her. She realized it was allergies. In the end, EvergreenHealth Foundation honored them by naming part of their new Intensive Care Unit after them. Two consultation rooms will be emblazoned with the title, “Chinese Community
Alliance Physician Quiet Consult Rooms.” “We, at EvergreenHealth, would not be in the position we are in without their assistance. EvergreenHealth felt that we owe a great debt of gratitude toward the Chinese community and this naming was our way of showing our appreciation in perpetuity,” Hoyord stated in an email. But the Chinese American community, despite coming together to assist the state, is now divided again. “The recent police brutality and killing of George Floyd shocked the country and the Chinese American community, and has led to a deep and comprehensive discussion and debate in the Chinese American community,” said Qi Hong, secretary of UCAWA. “The opinions of the Chinese community itself are divided, and the gap between the two generations is revealed. As a member of the community, I found myself struggling with reasoning out the options of two sides, and trying to rationally analyze their positions,” she said. “We hope that the Chinese American community can keep up the spirit of serving the community and increase our political participation. As a minority group, Chinese American voters’ turnout rate has been low. Although it has improved recently, it is far from enough. We should not get caught up in partisan disputes and quarrels, but integrate further into the community, just as we did in past months.”
BRIBE from 9
Sui’s son was admitted to UCLA as a soccer player in November 2018, authorities say, and was awarded a 25% scholarship. In September, UCLA said it had taken “immediate corrective action” after learning of the case. More than 50 parents, coaches and others have been charged in the admissions cheating scheme involving prestigious universities across the country. Sui is among nearly two dozen parents who have pleaded guilty.
son could get into the school, according to court documents. Singer worked with Laura Janke, a former assistant soccer coach at USC, to fabricate an athletic profile depicting Sui’s son as a top soccer player, prosecutors said. Singer gave $100,000 to then-UCLA soccer coach Jorge Salcedo in exchange for his help with the scheme. Both Singer and Janke have pleaded guilty.
Mahlon can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
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asianweekly northwest
38 YEARS
JUNE 13 – JUNE 19, 2020
HATE CRIME from 1 Park to leave, McKenna began making racially derogatory statements about Park being Asian. McKenna allegedly told Park that his ethnicity meant that he was not an American and that Park lacked rights as a business owner because he was Asian. Police reports also indicate that McKenna told Park that he would kill him and physically hurt him. Park captured many of McKenna’s threats to commit violence and racial epithets on his phone. “He said that I was Asian and not American, so I couldn’t tell him to leave.” Police officers arrested McKenna at JB Mart that same night. McKenna allegedly uttered additional racial slurs about African American inmates after learning that he was going to be transported to the Pierce County Jail on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney charged McKenna with a hate crime and felony harassment for his racist comments towards Park. McKenna remains in custody. Park said that he had obtained a restraining order against McKenna. “I want to ignore him. I hope he gets treatment.” Prosecutors declined to comment on the McKenna case as it is still pending. Concerns have been raised over McKenna’s mental competency to stand trial. A competency hearing is scheduled for July 1. Requests for comment to McKenna’s attorney have not been returned. Adam Faber, a spokesman for the
Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, did explain to the Northwest Asian Weekly the process that his office follows for evaluating raciallymotivated crimes. “All criminal referrals that come to our office are from law enforcement. Anytime we receive a referral of a potential hate crime, that is taken seriously. Our deputy prosecutors evaluate the police reports and other information to determine which elements of crimes, including hate crimes, are provable.” Many of the documented incidents of racism, bias, and hate crimes towards Asians and Asian Americans in the Puget Sound area over the last several months have been attributed to ignorance over the COVID-19 outbreak. However, what stands out about the McKenna case is that his alleged racism seemed entirely unrelated to COVID-19. McKenna does not appear to be an outlier either as the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office just a week ago charged 28-yearold David Altamore with a hate crime for allegedly threatening to kill the leader of China, while yelling racial slurs at an Asian couple. Park is an optimist. He is grateful and thankful for the support that he has received from Bonney Lake residents. He recommended that other Asian business owners try to establish connections in their communities. “Most people respect Asian people. We are working hard. We’re friendly.” Alexander can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE For the City of Bellevue
2021 – 2026 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM A public hearing before the Transportation Commission will be held virtually via Zoom Webinar on Thursday, June 25, at 6:30 PM. Details on how to view the meeting and provide written or oral communication at the public hearing will be provided on the published agenda, June 18 and can be found at https:// bellevuewa.gov/city-government/departments/transportation/ planning/transportation-commission/transportation-commissionminutes-and-agendas. The purpose of the hearing is to receive comments on the Proposed City of Bellevue’s 2021 – 2026 Transportation Improvement Program. Additional information may be obtained from: Kristi Oosterveen, Transportation Program Manager at 425-452-4496 or koosterveen@bellevuewa.gov Affidavit of posting has been filed with the City Clerk’s Office for the Bellevue Transportation Commission. Published in the Seattle Times, June 11, 2020 American Sign Language (ASL) is available upon request. Please contact Kevin McDonald at 425-452-4558 or kmcdonald@bellevuewa.gov at least 48 hours in advance. It is the City of Bellevue’s policy to assure that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin or sex, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise discriminated against under any of its federally funded programs and activities. Any person who believes his/her Title VI protection has been violated may file a complaint with the Title VI Coordinator. For Title VI complaint forms and advice, please contact the Transportation Department’s Title VI Coordinator at 425-4524496.
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Canton Noodles House
China Harbor Restaurant
Dim Sum King
羊城麵店 206-329-5650
中國海景大酒樓 206-286-1688
點心皇 206-682-2823
Gourmet Noodle Bowl
H Bistro
Harbor City Restaurant
津津鍋 206-264-8899 Homestyle Dim Sum
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麵貼面 206-285-9999 (華埠) 206-682-6666 (市中心)
Fortune Garden
利苑餐館 (206) 521-8933
Ho Ho Seafood Restaurant
Honey Court Seafood Restaurant
Jade Garden Restaurant
我家小館 206-382-9888
生隆酒家 206-621-2228
利口福海鮮飯店 206-382-9671
Hong Kong Bistro
Hong Kong Dim Sum
House of Hong Restaurant
錦棠海鮮酒家 206-292-8828
來來點心 206-340-6122
美味來香港茶餐廳 206-682-1922
海港明珠 206-829-9189
康樂酒家 206-622-7997
翠苑酒家 206-622-8181
Kau Kau Restaurant
King's Barbeque House
King’s Chinese Seafood Restaurant
Little OceanSheep Star Mongolian Hot Pot Seafood Restaurant
Phnom Penh Ocean Star Noodle House Seafood Restaurant
Purple Dot Cafe
Simply Thai
Szechuan Noodle Bowl
Tai Tung Restaurant
巧巧燒臘 206-682-4006 Phnom Penh Purple Cafe NoodleDot House
綠島餐廳 金邊潮州粿條 206-622-0288 206-427-0113 The Dolar Shop
豆撈坊 425-390-8888
皇上皇燒臘 206-622-2828
綠島餐廳 206-622-0288 Tsukushinbo
206-467-4004
君悅海鮮酒家 425-378-8009
小肥羊 星都海鮮酒家 206-623-6700 (西雅圖) 206-623-1670 425-653-1625 (表爾威)
206-575-8777
真川味牛肉麵大王 206-623-4198
T&T Seafood Restaurant
663 Bistro
(Southcenter, Burien, Renton)
好世界海鮮酒家 (425) 776-3832
金邊潮州粿條 金豐海鮮酒家 206-427-0113 206-623-1670 大同酒家 206-622-7372
663小館
206-667-8760
This advertisement is donated by Northwest Asian Weekly & Seattle Chinese Post to support Asian businesses affected by the coronavirus.