PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA
VOL 36 NO 2
JANUARY 7 – JANUARY 13, 2017
FREE
35 YEARS YOUR VOICE
Remembering
ALAN SUGIYAMA
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Photos provided by Al’s family
1949—2017
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35 YEARS
JANUARY 7 – JANUARY 13, 2017
■ NAMES IN THE NEWS The mayor of Chongqing, Seattle’s sister city in China, resigned on Dec. 30, during the last session of 2016 of the Chongqing Municipal People’s Congress Standing Committee. According to People’s Huang Qifan Daily report, Huang Qifan’s resignation was accepted. No reason was given. Huang, 64, was part of President Xi Jinping’s official delegation when visiting Seattle in September 2015. It was reported that Huang shed tears while presenting and speaking of his resignation at the Dec. 30 meeting. Zhang Guoqing, Chongqing’s deputy Party chief, will serve as Acting Mayor.
Asian American leads Seattle’s newest charter school Walter Chen, an Asian American educator who grew up in the Seattle area, is now the founding principal of Green Dot Public Schools’ second middle school in Washington state. The school is located in Seattle’s south end and will open to a founding class of 6th graders in 2017. Walter Chen Chen’s parents immigrated to the United States from Taiwan. Growing up, he didn’t see many Asians in education, as teachers or school leaders. Chen’s work in education is shaped by his commitment to eliminate opportunity gaps and inequities in the education system, where too often the model minority myth still exists.
Attorney’s poem selected A poem written by Seattle attorney Dennis Lam has
been selected by the Poetry on Buses project to be shared on public buses and online. A partnership between 4Culture, the City of Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, Sound Transit, King County Metro, King County Wastewater Treatment Division, King County Water and Land Resources Division, and SeatDennis Lam tle Public Utilities, Poetry on Buses celebrates local voices. “Part of my motivation for writing the poem was that I was worried about the local Chinese community not getting enough representation on this project,” said Lam. He also said the poem describes his state of mind when he was younger.
Morisawa traffic box art
Citizenship certificates Photo provided by the National Park Service.
Chongqing mayor resigns
Traffic box in Shoreline artfully decorated.
Crews finished installing street art work created by Seattle artist Naoko Morisawa on Dec. 22, at Aurora Avenue North and 205th Street Southwest in the city of Shoreline. Traffic control boxes are the large metal boxes that control traffic signals — they are also prime targets for graffiti. Adding art to these boxes beautifies the neighborhood and discourages graffiti.
Teens reciting the Oath of Allegiance after receiving Certificates of Citizenship.
On Dec. 20, 20 young people, ranging in age from 14 to 18, received certificates of citizenship, designating them as U.S. citizens. Each had a parent naturalize, and received their citizenship through that act. When a parent naturalizes, each of his or her children below age 18 automatically becomes a citizen, too. This event was at Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. It was held in honor of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.
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NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY / SEATTLE CHINESE POST PRESENTS 8TH ANNUAL
LUNAR NEW YEAR COSTUME CONTEST
january 29, 2017
CHINATOWN-INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL
no age limit!
Please submit completed application through one of the following methods: Mail: Northwest Asian Weekly Lunar New Year Costume Contest 412 Maynard Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98104 Name:
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School Name: ___________________________________________Age: ________ Profession: ________________________________________________________ Phone:
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Contestants must adhere to all rules and regulations. Contest officials will remove any contestant failing to cooperate with officials or failing to comply with the rules and regulations. If you have any questions, please contact Northwest Asian Weekly at 206.223.5559 or via email at rsvp@nwasianweekly.com.
Costume Parade Schedule: • 11 AM — Registration • 1 PM — Line up • 1:30 PM — Parade begins • 2:15 PM — Parade winners announced • Start from Northwest Asian Weekly’s front door, march to main stage • Contestants must be present at the announcement of finalists (2:15 PM). • Finalists will be lined up in numerical order. • The first 20 registered will get a gift. Registration/Sign-Up: • You may pre-register for the contest by filling out this application and sending it in or sign-up on the day of the contest (Sunday, January 29) beginning at 11 a.m. at the registration table. Registration table will be located in front of Seattle Chinese Post/Northwest Asian Weekly – 412 Maynard Ave S. • Contestants must sign-in at the registration table 30 minutes prior to parade. Rules/Guidelines: • Adults & children are welcome to participate • Parents are welcome to accompany their children during the Parade • All contestants will be given a contestant number for order of Parade lineup • Contestants’ attire should be culturally relevant to the Lunar New Year Celebration Judging: • All contestants will be judged by the provided judging criteria. • Prizes will be awarded to First ($150), Second ($100), and Third ($50) Place Winners, Publisher Award ($100) (an organization which has the most participants), and 15 Honorable mentions will receive a gift bag. • All decisions made by competition judges are final.
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JANUARY 7 – JANUARY 13, 2017
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JANUARY 7 – JANUARY 13, 2017
35 YEARS
■ IN MEMORY OF ...
Community mourns passing of Al Sugiyama By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Long time community activist Al Sugiyama passed away on Jan. 2 at Swedish Hospital, surrounded by family and an intimate group of friends. One of his daughters told the Northwest Asian Weekly that his death was quick and peaceful. “During Sugiyama’s last 25 minutes, he was visited by a former student and employee. Her name was Yoli, and Al helped her out when she was 16 years old. About 20 years later, she now has a career in city government,” said Willon Lew, a long time friend of Sugiyama. “I found it so appropriate and timely that one of his many students would be there at that time, at his bedside, to express her thanks. This was Al at his best,
helping people get started in their careers and in their lives, like Yoli.” “From organizing Asian American students at [the University of Washington] in the 1970s, to establishing the Center for Career Alternatives (CCA) for young people in the 1980s, to serving as the first Asian American on the Seattle School Board in the 1990s, to serving as Director for the Executive Development Institute (EDI) until a few years ago — Al Sugiyama was always advocating and looking out for
the rights of others,” said the Seattle Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) in a statement. On running for the Seattle School Board three decades ago, Sugiyama told Northwest Asian Weekly publisher Assunta Ng, “If I don’t do it, who will?” Sugiyama told Ng that he wanted to help students of color succeed in education and narrow the achievement gap. In September 2015, when Sugiyama was in the midst of cancer treatments, the community held a party to celebrate his accomplishments. At that party, and to the amusement of the crowd, Sugiyama stripped off his sports coat to reveal a Superman T-shirt he had been wearing underneath. “I’m really not Superman,” Sugiyama said, “but I feel like it with all of you here.”
“I don’t want to have people feel sorry or pity me or say ‘poor me.’” Sugiyama told the crowd he found strength from all his friends who care about him. Even while battling cancer, Sugiyama continued to demand police accountability, hiring Asian Americans for senior positions in the police department, and improving public safety in the International District. He joined the protest at King’s Hookah Lounge in July 2015 over the death of Donnie Chin. The protesters turned to Sugiyama for leadership. “What do we want?” Sugiyama yelled without missing a beat. The crowd responded, “We want justice!” In 2010, the Seattle City Council see OBIT on 13
■ COMMUNITY Crime against Asians heads north in South Seattle Photo by Janice Nesamani/NWAW
By Janice Nesamani NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
All proceeds from this memoriam will go to the family. Members of SPD addressing the community's concerns at a Dec. 20, 2016 meeting.
It seems like South Seattle’s Asian community can’t rest easy with criminals targeting them both on the streets and in their homes. It seems to be common knowledge that almost 50 percent of all gunshots fired in Seattle go off in South Seattle. On Dec. 15, 2016, some of these gunshots claimed the life of 45-year-old My Linh Nguyen. Nguyen, who worked at a nail salon, had taken the light rail back home. A few feet from her house, an armed gunman accosted her in an attempt to steal her purse. Nguyen resisted her attacker and yelled out her 15-year-old son’s name. The boy ran out to see a man kicking his mother and then shoot her several times. The attack left Nguyen’s husband and son grief-stricken. More importantly, it sent ripples of fear and anger through the Asian community in South Seattle who feel unsafe and specifically targeted. Take Hannah Tran. She used to live in South Seattle. Her husband and two children have now moved to Bothell. “We see CRIMES on 15
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Remembering Al Sugiyama “I have fond memories of going over to the Sugiyama house to play basketball in their backyard while we were kids. The “court” was an uneven dirt area with a rickety hoop attached to the side of the house. Every time you dribbled the ball, it went off in a crazy direction. Every time Al lost the ball, he would claim it was due to the uneven surface … yeah right Al. ... I was fortunate to have been able to chauffeur Al to and from his chemo treatments. We would go to lunch after and reminisce about all the civil rights stuff in our community and how some things still needed to improve. He was still passionate about this topic, even though he was not as active as he used to be. The community owes a lot to his hard work and commitment. I hope that one day there might be a scholarship fund in his name dedicated to young upcoming individuals.” — Steve Okamura, childhood friend
“I knew Al back in grade school, when we both were at Bailey Gatzert. As a new immigrant and not really fluent yet in English, I recall that I had very few friends and more often than I care to remember, some not-sogood-natured teasing. … We lost touch when my family moved to Southeast Seattle. … But Al remembered me during a time when I was unemployed, and told me about an opportunity at the Rainier Valley Community Development Fund, as he was aware they were looking for a director, but Al felt he was not qualified. Always thinking of others and furthering their careers, that was Al. My wife Teri and I will miss him dearly.” — Wayne Lau, Rainier Valley Community Development Fund executive director
“To me, [Al] was a special friend starting from our years at Garfield — back in the fall of 1965. We became the “Three Musketeers” — Larry Taylor (who has since passed away), Al, and me. The three of us represented the special bond of diversity at our school and of our class of 1968. I will sorely miss having him around as will all of us in the Seattle community.” — Jon Bridge, Ben Bridge Jeweler “[Al’s] heart was huge, generous, and immensely kind. He helped improve the lives of thousands through his leadership over the years in many parts of the community. … He was deeply humane and helped individuals live better lives through his direct assistance, as well as through policy advocacy. … I am grateful to Al for his friendship and all that I learned from him in service to our community. He was an example to us all on how to live a life of meaning with gusto.” — Diane Narasaki, ACRS executive director
“I considered Al more than a friend, but a brother. … Aside from his accomplishments as an activist, politician, and community leader, he was very much a down-to-earth kind of guy. Taking friends to new places to eat, ordering for us to try something new, jogging with him, and playing basketball. … I loved Al and I know that we all believed he’s now in a better place, not battling cancer, and feeling the pain, but I know that to him, there was no better place than to be with his family, granddaughter, friends, and enjoying a bowl of oxtail soup.” — Frank Irigon, Seattle OCA
“[Al] was not afraid to take on the “system” — be it the police department, educational institutions or local governments — to hold them accountable for inequities in their responses to the needs of our communities. … I will always remember how he welcomed me into the Seattle community. It helped ease my entry into the leadership circle of community-based organizations. … We will truly miss him.” — Dorothy Wong, CISC executive director “Al will be remembered for many things, his leadership, his commitment to justice, his love for his community. For me, I will always be grateful to Al for his steadfast friendship and support for me and many others as we began our careers. He was a teacher, a mentor, a coach, and dear friend. We have lost a giant.” — Mark Okazaki, Neighborhood House “I remember Al as a young man when he came to work for the Employment Opportunities Center and learned about helping folks in need of job/skill training, and securing employment. He was smart, ambitious, resourceful, and wanted to lead. He impacted many lives as a Seattle School Board member and when he led numerous community-based organizations.” — Lloyd Hara, community leader “Al and his brothers grew up with me in the Central Area. Al was always a pretty tough little guy, and he stood up for himself, his family, as well as all of us he considered his homies in the hood. This toughness and
being down for the community followed him everywhere he went. ... This “man of the people’s” legacy will be forever revered by those of us who had the privilege to serve with him.” — Larry Gossett, King County councilmember “Whenever Al would walk into the Executive Development Institute (EDI) office he would say “Your boy is here!” I will miss hearing those words. Those words had so much meaning — I have your back, I am committed and am here to support you in any way that I can. His presence and leadership helped propel EDI forward leaps and bounds. … It was an honor to have worked for Al and get a front row seat to see him work his magic. He took me everywhere with him, challenged me, constantly pushed me out of my comfort zone, got me up from behind the desk — exposing me to new experiences and connecting me with many people. For that I am forever grateful.” — Marci Nakano, EDI executive director “We have just lost one of the most dynamic advocates for social justice in our area … I can’t believe he won’t be with us for the see REMEMBERING on 16
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JANUARY 7 – JANUARY 13, 2017
■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR JAN 5
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CELEBRATE THE YEAR OF THE ROOSTER WITH THE TENTH STAMP IN THE LUNAR NEW YEAR STAMP SERIES, “FIRST DAY OF ISSUE DEDICATION CEREMONY” Wing Luke Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle 11:30 a.m. RSVP at usps.com/lunarnewyear FREE MUSEUM DAY SAM, 1300 1st Ave., Seattle Wing Luke Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle
8 MOCHI TSUKI IslandWood, 4450 Blakely Ave. N.E., Bainbridge Island 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
12 RED LINEAGE: ART, CITIZENSHIP, AND ACTION UW Center for Communication, Difference, and Equity, 4109 N.E. Stevens Way, Room 129, Seattle 5–7 p.m. CITY OF SEATTLE PRESENTS MLK UNITY DAY Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Ave., Seattle 7–8:30 p.m. townhallseattle.org DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. PROGRAM, “SEEING THE WATER: WHITENESS IN DAILY LIFE” Bellevue City Hall, 450 110th Ave. N.E., Bellevue 12–1 p.m. 425-452-7886
■ NATION
13
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THE 10TH ANNUAL KOREANAMERICAN DAY CELEBRATION Auburn Performing Arts Center, 702 4th St. N.E., Auburn 5:30–9 p.m. RSVP to Shari Song at sharisong@ hotmail.com, 206-790-9044 wakoreanamericanday@gmail.com
AAJA SEATTLE LUNAR NEW YEAR BANQUET 2017 China Harbor Restaurant, 2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle 6–9 p.m. aajalny2017.bpt.me
TAP-SEA PRESENTS: HAPPY HOUR MIXER Amber Lounge, 2214 1st Ave., Seattle 6–9 p.m.
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TAP-SEA PRESENTS: LUNAR NEW YEAR BANQUET China Harbor Restaurant, 2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle 7–10 p.m. tap-seattle.org
16 2ND ANNUAL MLK CAREER DAY Garfield High School, 400 23rd Ave., Seattle 1–4:30 p.m. mlkseattle.org CROSSROADS DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CELEBRATION Crossroads Bellevue, 15600 N.E. 8th St., Bellevue 11 a.m.–3 p.m. 425-452-7886
20 SEATTLE UNITED FOR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE FAMILIES McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St., Seattle 12–7 p.m. Free parking at 300 Mercer St., Seattle citizenship@seattle.gov
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35 YEARS
Bambi artist Tyrus Wong dies
COMMISSION ON ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN AFFAIRS PUBLIC BOARD MEETING General Administration Building, 210 11th Ave. S.W., Olympia 10 a.m.–2 p.m. WOMEN’S MARCH ON SEATTLE Downtown Seattle 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
21 & 22
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SEATTLE CENTER FESTÁL: TET FESTIVAL — VIETNAMESE LUNAR NEW YEAR Seattle Center, Seattle seattlecenter.com
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LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION & FAIR Wing Luke Museum 10 a.m.–5 p.m. wingluke.org
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NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY/SEATTLE CHINESE POST PRESENTS 8TH ANNUAL LUNAR NEW YEAR COSTUME CONTEST Northwest Asian Weekly’s front door, 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle 11 a.m.–2:15 p.m. 206-223-5559 nwasianweekly.com/2016/12/ costume-contest
Tyrus with his Lifetime Achievement Award from the Asian World Film Festival.
By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Tyrus Wong, the artist whose works inspired the Disney film Bambi, died at the age of 106 on Dec. 30. Wong’s death was announced on his Facebook page, saying, “With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Tyrus Wong. Tyrus died peacefully at his home, surrounded by his loving daughters Kim, Kay, and Tai-Ling.” A Chinese immigrant, Wong’s vibrant paintings captured Walt Disney’s eye and became the basis of the Bambi film’s distinct style. In a statement, the Walt Disney Family Museum said, “His influence on the artistic composition of the animated feature Bambi cannot be overstated.” Wong immigrated to the United States as a child, with his father — leaving behind his mother and a sister he would never see again. He attended the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles on a scholarship and began working with Disney in 1938 as an “inbetweener,” drawing hundreds of pictures between poses to create the illusion of motion. After leaving Disney, Wong worked as a concept and story artist for Warner Brothers for two decades, before retiring in 1968. In his retirement, he continued to create art, such as cards for Hallmark, ceramics, toys, murals, and kites. A documentary about him, Tyrus, was directed by Pam Tom and released in 2014. Wong is survived by his daughters and extended family.
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The only weekly English-language newspaper serving Washington’s Asian community. The NW Asian Weekly has one simple goal: “To empower the Asian community.” The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject any advertisement, letter or article. Subscriptions cost $40 for 52 weeks of the NW Asian Weekly and $30 for 52 weeks of the Seattle Chinese Post. The NW Asian Weekly owns the copyright for all its content. All rights reserved. No part of this paper may be reprinted without permission. 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 info@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com
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Deadly use of force committee recommendations: two yards gained or a touchdown? By Arlene Kiyomi Dennistoun NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The Joint Legislative Task Force on the Use of Deadly Force in Community Policing wrapped up its final meeting in a grueling 11-hour session in Olympia, and recommended changing the law applying to police use of deadly force. Suspense grew as each member cast their vote out loud. The recommendation passed in a 14-10 vote. The recommended change removes proof of malice and a lack of good faith when police use deadly force and opens police up to criminal charges when unreasonably or unnecessarily using deadly force. Prosecutors had shied away from charging police based on the three bullet-proof words — “malice” and “good faith” — in the current law because they couldn’t overcome the burden of proving it beyond a reasonable doubt. Law enforcement committee members had rejected the proposal to change the law. They argued police should never have to worry about being held criminally liable for using deadly force and proposed to leave the law as is. That proposal failed by a 14-4 vote. Law enforcement members argued that if police had to worry about criminal charges whenever they make a mistake using deadly force, it would have a chilling effect, and police may hesitate to respond to calls. Toshiko Hasegawa, representing the Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA), told the committee she honestly felt threatened to hear that if the law changed, police would be deterred from responding. “Whether it’s because you’re afraid or whether it’s out of
Toshiko Hasegawa gives her testimony on Nov. 21, 2016.
protest, if you’re not prepared to perform the functions of your job, then you’re not prepared to put on the uniform.” Hasegawa had held multiple community meetings to gather feedback and she heard from the community that the law needed changing. The current law makes it impossible to prosecute cops, said Hasegawa, and this “doesn’t resonate justice. In the interest of fortifying trust, it’s urgent and necessary to change the law.” Without a change, Hasegawa said, distrust between law enforcement and the community would continue. The task force discussed and painstakingly voted on over 20 different proposals. Members emphasized they recognized a change in the current law was not a single magic solution to improving relations between the community and police, and would not by itself reduce the number of fatal encounters involving police use of force.
The group affirmed multiple times at every meeting that police do a great job and receive valuable training, but could always use more. No one disagreed about how dangerous and difficult police work is, members praised the excellent job they do, and echoed sentiments of their desire to ensure their continued safety. Other proposals included more law enforcement funding and training, data collection, deadly use of force reporting to the Attorney General’s Office, increased accountability of police practices, increased diversity of police officers, addressing implicit bias, and improving the behavioral health system. The task force forwarded its final report dated Dec. 1 to Gov. Jay Inslee and the Legislature. By Dec. 5, Sen. John McCoy dropped Senate Bill 5000 for the 2017 legislative session, which removes the “malice” and “good faith” barriers to holding law enforcement officers criminally liable when unreasonably or recklessly using deadly force. Despite the controversy, committee members displayed an unwavering commitment to getting the job done. Task force members were professional and civil, even while delivering messages tinged with undertones of suspicion, bitterness, sadness, and defensiveness. The community is invited to learn about the task force’s final recommendations on Jan. 5 at Emerald Queen Casino in Fife. For more information, visit the CAPAA website at capaa.wa.gov. Arlene can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
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■ TRAVEL
35 YEARS
JANUARY 7 – JANUARY 13, 2017
Photos by Rich Son
How I got on a motorbike, stared death in the face, and fell in deeper love with the motherland The view from Hai Van Pass
By Stacy Nguyen NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY A white bus with green decals cut in front of me — it was this pretty big and sleek-looking tour bus that carried Koreanlooking people. I remember looking up and perversely admiring how modern and new and clean the bus looked — thinking about how far Vietnam has come — when I realized that I was really just about to bite it. Hard. The bus came in hot, swinging its huge mass as if it was on an invisible pendulum, and my insignificant body was right in its trajectory. I squeezed the brakes with my hands. Later, I would wonder if I had squeezed the brakes hard enough and if the whole crash was deeply my fault. My general inexperience on a motorbike locked me up and kind of made me paralyzed. If I had better instincts in the moment, I probably would’ve swerved to the left as I braked, to get the hell out of the way of the bus. Or maybe it was just destined to happen no matter what. I couldn’t slow down in time. I slowed down significantly, but the very tip of my motorbike — the tire — still clipped the bus. I saw it happening right in front of my face. I anticipated it happening. And right as contact was made, right before the tap from the bus completely flipped my speed and the direction of my momentum in a bone-jarring way, I was almost at peace and resigned to what was about to happen. Still, I was all like, “F***!” about it, all
the same. The crash was insane. Honestly, I probably wasn’t going faster than 30 miles an hour, but it felt like I was going a million miles an hour. The motorbike slipped and shoved itself down to the pavement, and I was still straddling it and getting sucked down, as it nauseatingly rotated in complete circles, three times. Gravity and centripetal force kept me down, shoving my neck into the blunt point of the handlebar. I didn’t really have one coherent thought during the crash. My mind was just screaming out a lot of f-bombs and a lot of regret. My dad hails from Da Nang, in the central region of Vietnam. For this reason — and because it’s just a badass and beautiful place — I feel sentimental about this city. Da Nang is made up of billboards, errant skyscrapers, white sand, fresh seafood, a melodic Vietnamese accent, and it butts against the humbling South China Sea, at the start of the Han River. Da Nang used to house a major air base under the South Vietnamese government and the United States during the Vietnam War. Today, it is largely a massive hub for tourists — there are plans for expansion, as the needs of international and domestic travelers have outgrown the footprint of that airport. Da Nang is beachy and it’s slower-paced than the chaotic likes of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) or Hanoi. It was this stupid logic that kind of made me feel okay and sort of safe — as I threw my leg over the set of a motorbike and told myself, “This is
Stacy with a bloody knee
Rich (front) and wife, Soo
totally how you sit on a motorbike. This is totally how you get on one.” When I was 10 years old, I was riding my bicycle really, really fast down this hill near my house in Brier, a tiny city about 16 miles north of Seattle. I was a kid and prone to bad decisions and a victim of lack of knowledge and wisdom. For example, I didn’t realize that you accelerate the longer you travel down a hill. I didn’t realize accelerating felt so scary and like you’re out of control. I also didn’t realize that squeezing your hand brakes really hard makes your rubber tires catch against the asphalt as your bike stops too fast for your body. I shot out of the bike and bit it real hard and slammed myself into the ground at the bottom of the hill. The wind got knocked out of me, and I couldn’t move for a while. And it was a semi-busy road, so there was a sedan that had crept up
within 20 feet of me, just parked and kind of patiently waited for me to prove that I was not dead. I remember thinking that I was a freaking child and this woman totally saw me crash my bike, and now she was just waiting me out. My mom’s influence on me is strong. So I started to feel sheepish about inconveniencing this lady with my almostdying. I forced myself to get up and drag my janky bike to the side of the road — the front wheel got all bent and I couldn’t ride it anymore. Not that I would have. My arm was also jacked — very sore and weak and in pain. I remember it shaking when I tried to grip my handlebar again. The sedan gently whisked past me without a care in the world. And I walked my busted bike all see VIETNAM on 12
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JANUARY 7 – JANUARY 13, 2017
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Top 10 most read articles in 2016 on the Northwest Asian Weekly website Compiled by Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
10. Honorary Oscar for Jackie Chan
In November 2016, at the annual Governors Awards in Los Angeles, Chinese martial arts star Jackie Chan finally received his little gold statuette, an honorary Oscar for his decades of work in film. Chan has written, directed, produced and starred in dozens of films, dazzling with his stunts and martial arts. But he had never been nominated for an Oscar and doesn’t make the kind of movies that generally would be nominated. “Standing here is a dream,” said Chan
■ AT THE MOVIES
LION is a ferocious roar with a touching ending
By John Liu NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Our family usually has a Christmas tradition of watching a movie together on Christmas Day. My mom wanted to watch Lion after catching an interview of Saroo Brierley on TV. Lion had a limited release on Dec. 25, which meant it was playing at only 500 theaters. We were extremely fortunate. Lion is a drama film based on the book, “A Long Way Home,” written by Saroo Brierley, with Larry Buttrose, and is also the feature film see LION on 14
when he accepted his award. “After 56 years in the film industry, making more than 200 films, breaking so many bones, finally this is mine.”
9. WA representative blasts Seattle Colleges choice of new chancellor
Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos wrote an open letter to the Seattle Community College District Board of Trustees who passed on Mark Mitsui as its Chancellor. Mitsui was vice president of South Seattle Community College and president of North Seattle Community College. He was born and see TOP TEN on 15
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35 YEARS
JANUARY 7 – JANUARY 13, 2017
■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG
OPINION
The gifts Al Sugiyama left us By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Political career
Photo by John Liu/NWAW
When Al Sugiyama died on Jan. 2, so many people felt they had lost a great friend. That’s the way Al was — personable, caring, and committed to helping and supporting the people he knew. I don’t remember exactly when I met Al. But he quickly impressed many of the Northwest Asian Weekly editors as a remarkable leader. (Over the years, I had many editors.) Not everyone can be a leader, but we can learn from the way he treats people and he’s always approachable. From big shots to the everyday person, Al was interested in talking to people, finding out what and how they were doing, and how he could make a difference in their lives. Once I invited him to be the keynote speaker for the Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation’s high school diversity scholarship dinner. Yes, he’s a charismatic speaker, witty, and great at adlibbing. And he always ended on time. After the event, he stood at the door to greet and shake hands with more than 40 student
Americans breaking the glass ceiling, and being successful in diverse occupations. Al’s goal was to promote Asian Americans and seek out successful role models. It was part of his empowerment objective to develop people of color and the underprivileged communities.
nominees and their parents. He shook close to 80 hands.
Helping prisoners
As founder and executive director of the Center for Career Alternatives (CCA), which is now closed after 30 years of operation,
Al could have sought out some easier clients. But no, he visited out-of-the-city prisons to find out if the inmates there needed job training once they got out. One time, he came back all excited. “Guess what? The prison’s deputy superintendent is
Asian! You should do a story.” What Al was doing was not only giving us story tips, he was also connecting community members. Al was a frequent news tipper to our newspaper. Through the Asian Weekly’s stories, younger Asian Americans learned of other Asian
Most Asian Americans would prefer not running for office, especially the school board, because it’s demanding and thankless. Plus, it doesn’t pay very well. Al was the first Asian American to win a seat on the Seattle Public School Board. He told us that he spent as many as 100 hours a month in that role, in addition to his full-time job at CCA. He went on his own time to visit all the schools in his district. When he visited, he usually brought along cookies to share with staff and teachers. To this day, I hear praise about Al from his fellow board members. Here is Al’s amazing legacy. When he finished his two terms, see BLOG next page
All proceeds from this memoriam will go to the family.
JANUARY 7 – JANUARY 13, 2017
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Photos by George Liu/NWAW
YOUR VOICE
Al and community leaders at the Wing Luke Museum
BLOG from previous page
Hum Bow contest
he persuaded another Asian American, Jan Kumasaka, to run in his place. Kumasaka defeated another outstanding candidate and completed two terms. I can think of only two Asian American elected officials who thought of an exit plan, and the desire to groom other Asian Americans to take their place. One was former Seattle City Councilmember Dolores Sibonga, who had mentored Martha Choe until the day Sibonga announced that she wasn’t going to run again, and that Choe would be the perfect replacement.
Never petty
When former Governor Gary Locke ran for that office, some fellow Asian American leaders were angry that he didn’t call them personally to ask for their support. They griped that he was taking them for granted. They would withhold support until he called. “Has Gary called you yet?” I asked Al one day. “No, he hasn’t,” he said without any bitterness. “But I am not going to mess with it just because he hasn’t called me. Gary is my guy.” Ego can destroy relationships. A big picture guy, Al understood what was important and what was petty! Al realized that there are so few Asian Americans at the top. How could we not show anything but solidarity? And Gary did eventually call Al.
The Hum Bow contest came about because Al loved food. The contest was part of the API Heritage Month he founded, held annually at the Seattle Center on the first Sunday in May. The man was always thinking — how he could bring the community together and celebrate for the common good. Hence, the idea for API Heritage Month was born. In 1982, Al was elected the first chairperson of the Asian Pacific Directors Coalition, a group of API executive directors and leaders who advocated for the API community. In 2002, he organized a subcommittee to promote API Heritage Month, according to Peter Tsai, who worked for Al for 25 years at CCA. Al was inspired by Vancouver, B.C.’s API heritage celebration. “Can you believe their (BC) program for the API month was so thick, with pages and pages of events?” he remarked. Al used his experience of putting on API heritage celebrations and events at colleges, universities, and high schools in the 1970s to create what it is today — part of the Seattle Center Festival series promoting cultural awareness and diversity. The festival has included local and national API performing groups, educational displays and workshops, art contests, hum bow eating contests, API authors’ showcase, and API film festivals. The festival is part of Al’s legacy. There will be about 60 to 70 volunteers, said Tsai, who has taken a big role in
Al received Distinguish Alum award from Seattle Central College.
Photo from EDI
From left: Former UW President Mark Emmert, Al, and Paul Ellis. Al received his Charles E. Odegaard Award.
Alan Sugiyama with Mayor Ed Murray, Habtamu Abdi and Kim Long Nguyen at the Vietnamese New Year Lunar Celebration
organizing the event. So attend this year’s festival on May 7 at the Seattle Center Armory, because Al will be there in spirit. Discover how the community is going to honor Al. You can find some additional info on apdcwa.org. Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.
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JANUARY 7 – JANUARY 13, 2017
VIETNAM from 8 the way home. It took maybe 40 minutes. Because I had to take a lot of breaks. And I remember being terrified that my mom and dad would find out that I had crashed my bike, so I pretty much hid my busted arm from them — it was bruised and maybe lightly sprained — and acted like everything was cool. I don’t remember how I explained my bent wheel to my dad. I probably lied to him about it. He replaced it for me at some point. I thought about my bike crash in childhood, right before my motorbike crash. I actually thought to myself, “Man, that was funny. Man, Stace, that is why you’re kinda scared to ride bikes on interurban trails. It’s all them cars, man.” And then I got on a motorbike. If you talk to anyone who’s ever been to Vietnam, and you mention the word “motorbike” or “traffic,” you invariably get the same response. Always. “God, it’s so crazy and chaotic and dangerous there!” The human brain — sometimes it doesn’t make the connections that it needs to. Truth is that I was very being empathetic with my friend Rich. I was traveling in Vietnam with Rich and his wife, Soo. Rich had seen some episode of “Top Gear” that proclaimed Hai Van Pass as one of the best coastal roads in the world — he was drinking that Kool-Aid pretty hard. He was positively gushing about his hopes and dreams and bucket list stuff. Rich is great. So I thought — if Rich wants to drive a mini death machine on this pass because he saw it on some BBC show — then he will get to drive a mini death machine on this pass because he saw it on some BBC show! Hai Van Pass, which connects Da Nang to Hue, is really actually sickening beautiful. There is little separation between you, the deep green foliage, and the insane vastness of water. You feel like you are right on the very edge of a mountain the whole time. It mists over in the morning and when it’s cool enough. Hai Van Pass is also fairly dangerous. It has many twists and turns and is apparently renowned for its difficulty — that’s why it’s a fun drive. Leading up to the drive, Rich, Soo, and I joked about how many people die every year in motorbike accidents on the pass. “Zero. Probably zero.”
“Zero. Because they probably don’t keep records of fatalities.” “The actual number is probably a million. I bet a million people die on this thing every year.” I actually didn’t crash on Hai Van. I crashed in the process of getting there. From Rich’s point of view, he was just casually driving his motorbike with Soo sitting behind him, confident due to this expertise, talent, and surety that comes from years of experience on a motorcycle and also just general superior athletic ability. At one point, he looked back and he didn’t see me following him anymore. He pulled his bike over, left Soo with it, and then started running back up the route they came through, on foot. He found me back at the busy, multi-lane roundabout, with a crowd of about 20 Vietnamese nationals congregated around me like I was some minor YouTube celebrity. To him, I probably appeared kind of weirdly tense, but he brushed it off. We had a short conversation about stuff — I can’t remember exactly what. Because honestly, at that moment, I was probably still in shock. At some point, I felt like I couldn’t hold it back anymore. I tepidly said something to him like, “I crashed.” And Rich’s face was all like, WTF! Is she joking? I said nothing. And then his expression twisted to like, this serious concern. I remember thinking to myself that I wasn’t sure I’d be as kind — I wasn’t sure I’d take my friend’s apparent injury as gravely. So I was really touched. It came across as severe stoicism though. I remember waving goodbye to all of the nice Vietnamese people who stopped their bikes in the middle of the roundabout to make sure I wasn’t dead. People generally don’t pick out that I’m Vietnamese just based on my face or how I look. So one skinny dude about my brother’s age just nodded to me, trying to convey in his nod that he hoped I was okay. That’s a lot to convey in a head nod. But he did it. When Soo learned that I had crashed my bike — Rich told her, that blabbermouth — Soo was like, “What! You crashed!” And then at some point, she laughed at me. I don’t remember the laughing either, probably because of the shock. But Rich faithfully reported this. Rich, Soo, and I stopped at a restaurant to regroup and to have some hard conversations. It was obvious Rich felt
As a distinguished alumnus of Seattle Central College, Al Sugiyama will always be central to our campus community and the city of Seattle. Throughout his life, as a student and a citizen of this great city, Al consistently advocated for what is right and just. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the many people whose lives he touched during his lifetime.
1701 BROADWAY SEATTLE, WA 98122
SEATTLECENTRAL.EDU
All proceeds from this memoriam will go to the family.
35 YEARS horrible — for daring to have hopes and dreams — and he told me we could just scrap the trip and go back to the hotel. My brain was working so slowly, but it was trying so hard to figure out if death is going to be more likely or less likely, after the first motorbike crash. Oh God, I’ve started calling it the first motorbike crash. There was a tear in my pants and my jacket. The tear in the pants was significant. I would later have to throw away that pair in anguish. But I pulled the material off of my knee, and I slowly said, “I think I’m bleeding.” I pulled up the hem of my pants to check. I was definitely bleeding. And Rich’s expression when he saw that — in hindsight — was hilarious. Because it was obvious he felt so terrible. And I felt kind of special and important. That I could inspire someone to feel so terrible. Adrenaline is an amazing analgesic. Immediately after my crash, I texted my sister, who was in America, and I told her what happened. I wanted to tell her so that there was one member of my family who knew what had happened to me, in case I made another really bad decision and actually died. I wanted my sister to have a record of what happened to me so that she can trace the trajectory and put the puzzle pieces together, so she could tell our parents why their idiot first-born died in the place where our father was born. It’s really rough when parents don’t have reasons, in these moments. Or so I’ve imagined. I think about this sometimes. The day after my crash, I woke up feeling like I got hit in the face and butt by a bus. I would end up limping around Hanoi trying to score fresh bandages like a first-aid addict. I would end up developing all of these new theories on wound dressing and wound healing. I would tell myself that my physical pain made the emotion of being back in Vietnam, a beautiful country with a complicated and tragic past, all the more poignant. I would also casually tell my relatives to shut the hell up about my motorbike crash and not tell my mom and dad about it. Because when they know, they worry. And when they worry, they get really angry and lecture me a lot about my life decisions and stuff. Stacy Nguyen can be reached at stacy@nwasianweekly.com.
JANUARY 7 – JANUARY 13, 2017
YOUR VOICE
■ ASTROLOGY
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Predictions and advice for the week of January 7–January 13, 2017 By Sun Lee Chang Rat — You are considering many offers, but there is only one that really catches your fancy. Taking a chance could yield surprising results.
Dragon — Even if you are the only one who has a grasp of the big picture, it is enough for now as all are working towards the same goal.
Monkey — You have diligently followed the plan you had laid out. However, a change in circumstances will require a different course.
Ox — Going back to visit some old friends? Distance will reveal some things that you did not see when you were closer.
Snake — While it is natural to want to relate to someone else’s experience, true sympathy means taking the focus off of yourself and on to the other person.
Rooster — Are you looking for an enjoyable way to pass some free time? Rediscover a favorite pastime and experience it again.
Tiger — If you want to be kept in the loop, then it is your responsibility to reach out to those who have the information you are seeking.
Horse — Although it seems like you are starting from scratch, in reality, you are benefiting from the resources and experiences that you have learned up to this point.
Dog — In your excitement, you may have overlooked a couple of details. Address them quickly, before they become a major issue.
Rabbit — Mastering a new skill requires both time and patience. You will see results in due time.
Goat — There is something specific you have in mind, but are having trouble finding it. Depending on what it is, you might have to create it yourself.
Pig — This is an opportune moment to make that switch you have been mulling over. A leap of faith can be intimidating, but worthwhile in the end.
What’s your animal sign? Rat 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 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 Dog 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 Pig 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007
*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.
OBIT from 4 proclaimed Oct. 28 to be Al Sugiyama Day — in honor of his lifetime community work. On her Facebook page, Brittany Danyelle Ryerson, events manager at EDI, said Sugiyama “was not only an advocate for Asian American rights in Seattle, but a fighter for any and all communities that were in need. He lived a life of service for diversity, inclusion, and equality, and the community
adored him for it. He was a fighter for communities and a fighter for his own health.” Sugiyama was 67 years old. He is survived by his daughters, Mari and Alyssa, and his extended family. Alyssa told the Northwest Asian Weekly that her father will be cremated and buried next to their mother at Evergreen Washelli. Services are pending. Ruth can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.
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JANUARY 7 – JANUARY 13, 2017
LION from 9 debut for director Garth Davis. If you have not heard of Saroo before, his story is a real miracle. When Saroo was 5, he was separated from his family after getting on a train, trying to find his way. He was locked in that train as it traveled 1,000 miles from his hometown. Before that life-changing day, we get to know a boy who is not afraid of taking on any challenges. That series of unfortunate events started when Saroo agreed to accompany his brother on a night job to help make extra money for his family. After the long journey, Saroo is too tired to continue and waits on a bench at a train station. When Saroo awakes, his brother is nowhere to be found. He panics, gets on a train and falls asleep. The train takes him to Calcutta, where he survives three weeks alone without speaking the local dialect. Eventually, Saroo finds his way to an orphanage and is adopted by a wealthy
Australian family. Twenty-five years later, Saroo starts retracing his steps with Google Earth to find the Indian village where he grew up. I can barely recall any memories I had at age 5. To think someone was able to find their way back home after spending hours on Google Earth is unfathomable, but it happened. In the movie, it looked like he had spent, at the most, a few years to find his home village, but in reality, it took 6 years on and off. Many times, he gave up in frustration. The movie is separated into two halves. The first half, Sunny Pawar plays a young Saroo. Sunny has no professional acting experience, but plays Saroo perfectly. I was definitely feeling fear and sympathy at the lost child roaming the streets of India. The second half of the movie is played by Dev Patel, at Saroo’s current age of 25. Sometimes, it’s hard to get immersed in the story because I’m so familiar with Dev Patel’s work as the
35 YEARS
Indian protagonist in many movies, such as Slumdog Millionaire, Life of Pi, and The Man Who Knew Infinity. Although this half is not as exciting as the first, it provides a narrative of how Saroo balances his family and struggles to find his birth mother. Nicole Kidman does an outstanding job playing Sue Brierley, the adopted mother of Saroo. She goes through a rollercoaster of emotions trying to raise two Indian kids with different needs. I had already seen two other emotional 2016 biopics: Sully and Deepwater Horizon. Lion was no different and had me getting teary-eyed at the end of the movie. An incredible journey of survival makes anyone have the feels. If you are wondering why this movie is called Lion, I would advise that you not look it up. The reason is explained in the movie.
distribution film. Lion is showing at Seattle Regal Meridian, AMC Loews Oak Tree, and Sundance Cinemas Seattle. John can be reached at john@nwasianweekly.com.
SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 6.
Lion has grossed around $7,000,000 domestically in just over 500 theaters. This is an excellent start for a limited
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YOUR VOICE
JANUARY 7 – JANUARY 13, 2017
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then another 100 by the end of 2019.
didn’t feel safe anymore, especially with the kids. I come back to South Seattle to visit my friends and it is not safe. In fact, I tell my friend that it’s time for her to look for a safer place to live in.” On Dec. 20, a community meeting was called by the members of the Asian community in South Seattle to voice their concerns to the Seattle Police Department in light of the horrific incident. In attendance were South precinct Commander Captain Eric Greening, Operation Lieutenant Matthew Allen, and Asian Liaison Officer Lieutenant Paul Leung. Speaking to community members, Greening expressed his condolences to Nguyen’s husband, who was present. He also provided the community with statistics that show that the Asian community is being specifically targeted in the area. “Since I arrived in July, I noticed we had a pattern of robberies involving Asian women. We’ve had young men of color robbing Asian women usually above the age of 30, as they are walking in their neighborhoods or from the light rail or bus stop. Some of these instances took place right up to the front door of their homes,” Greening said. His precinct has instituted emphasis patrols (bringing in extra officers on overtime to supplement the officers that are working with 911) in areas with a concentration of these robberies. Most of them are around the light rail: Beacon Hill Light Rail Station, King Way and South Othello, King Way South Henderson, and streets east and west of the routes. Greening said that in 2016, there were a total of 183 street robberies in the South precinct. Many of the victims were Asian women. “We made about 47 arrests in 33 incidents. In a large majority of cases, they use body force, pushing the person over or snatching items from behind. Unfortunately, we had several now that have involved weapons,” he said. The robberies on the streets of South Seattle mostly take place during daylight, with criminals using body force to snatch cell phones or purses. A significant number of them occur in the Brighton-Holly area. “In October, we saw an uptick in robberies, but augmented patrols have seen the number drop by 50 percent. Robberies are down from last year, but that is not satisfactory. We had internal meetings to discuss strategies to combat robberies,” Greening pointed out. Another reason for concern in the area is the number of property crimes, specifically home invasions. They often occur late at night or early in the morning. Greening said that between Sept. 28, 2016 and Dec. 3, 2016, there were 11 home invasions, 10 of which were at Asian homes. Speaking specifically to community members, Greening asked for their help, especially when it came to reporting the home invasions. “One of the things the police have a problem with is that there are usually two or three suspects. They wear masks and gloves, and usually take cash or other items that cannot be traced. We need your help letting your friends, neighbors, and families know that whether they are street robberies or home invasions, call 911 immediately. Many people will walk all the way home and then call or wait for a family friend or neighbor who they believe is more fluent in English to
Anyone with information about Nguyen’s homicide is asked to call the Seattle Police Department’s tip line, 206-2335000, or Crime Stoppers, 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
TOP TEN from 9 raised in the Central Puget Sound where he graduated from the public schools before pursuing further education at state universities and he began his career in the field as a teacher at Renton Technical College.
8. Seattle restaurateur dies at 48
Walter Kwan, founder of Top Gun Restaurant and O’Asian, died on May 26, 2016 from an aneurysm. Kwan, 48, created several restaurants including Top Gun on S. King St. (closed in 2000), Dim Sum Factory in Bellevue, Tropics Thai on S. Weller St., and O’Asian, (closed in January 2016).
Photo by Janice Nesamani/NWAW
CRIMES from 4
From left: Lt. Paul Leung, Lam Lieu Nguyen (My Linh’s husband), Capt. Eric Greening, and Lt. Matthew Allen.
call 911. So by the time the police gets there, the trail is starting to go cold. Please call 911 in your native language and they will get someone to translate on the 911 system,” he urged. Allen informed the community to make note of items their attackers were wearing that cannot be easily discarded. “A person may take off his tie or jacket and get away, but he may not be able to get rid of his shoes. Be aware of your location and have a rough idea of the direction or street your attacker took off in, so you can inform 911 accordingly,” he said. Additionally, Linh Thach, Mark Solomon, and South Precinct Community Police Team staff have been reaching out to community members to heighten awareness by distributing crime prevention bulletins in different languages. Some of the guidelines instruct women to walk in groups, and report suspicious individuals or activities. However, this seemed to have not been well received. Tran Ng, a friend of Hannah’s, who still lives in South Seattle, feels that precautions that the SPD have asked women like her to take, are not always possible. “I have to go to work alone, how can I expect someone to accompany me at all times? We have to find some other solution.” Truong Le Tran, who runs Tony’s Bakery located off Martin Luther King Jr. Way South, felt that it was frustrating for him when he called 911 to report a robbery. He recalled an incident when his home was burgled a few years ago and the criminals got away with it. Quelling the people’s discomfort, Greening assured community members that his department was working around the clock to make South Seattle safer and bring the perpetrators to justice. He asked for the community to appeal to their representatives for more resources. Greening said, “I have control of officers that work in this area, but I have to ask for staffing and resources. We would like your assistance with getting resources in South Seattle commensurate with the types and number of crimes that we have.” SPD spokesman Sean Whitcomb said in a statement that uniformed and plainclothed patrol officers had been added in the area, and the department is coordinating with local and federal partners to address crime and safety concerns. He also added that the SPD is on track to hire an additional 100 fully trained police officers by the end of 2017, as directed by Mayor Ed Murray in 2014, and
columnist Samantha Pak. She highlighted “Grave on Grand Avenue” by Naomi Hirahara, “The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra” by Vaseem Khan, and “The Gangster’s Son: A Shig Sato Mystery” by Joseph Mark Brewer.
5. Lunar Chronicles, Nisei narratives, and the search for home, by Samantha Pak
Another monthly recommendation of books by Samantha Pak. She highlighted “Stars Above” by Marissa Meyer, “Japanese Eyes, American Heart Vol. II: Voices from the Home Front in World War II Hawaii” by Hawaii Nikkei History Editorial Board, and “In the Country: Stories” by Mia Alvar.
7. The making of a serial entrepreneur: Geekwire’s Jonathan Sposato, by Stacy Nguyen
4. 7 tips for surviving Ho Chi Minh City when you’re not Vietnamese, by John Liu
6. NWAW’s January must-reads — Mysterious murders, a petite pachyderm, and not-so-hardboiled detectives, by Samantha Pak
3. Maid in Japan — Japanese rock group BAND-MAID to debut overseas at Sakura-Con, by Emiri Aoki
Profile on Jonathan Sposato — where he grew up, how he got his start in the tech industry to becoming the first person in history to sell two companies to Google, and the chasing of his mother’s approval.
Book recommendations for the month of January by
Co-publisher John Liu recounts his trip to Ho Chi Minh City and how to survive if you’re not Vietnamese — from getting an unlocked GSM phone to dodging crazy motorcycles, and recognizing the legitimate taxi companies from the ones that will rip you off.
Profile on BAND-MAID, a five-piece, all-female Japanese rock group which made its United States debut at
If you’d like to help My Linh Nguyen’s family, you can make a donation here: gofundme.com/MyLinhNguyenATragicLossSeattleWA. Janice can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
Home invasions from Sept. 28, 2016 to Dec. 3, 2016 11 home invasions 10 of these crimes occurred at Asian homes. Crimes took place during the hours of darkness or during early morning hours.
Robberies in South Seattle of victims were Asian women From Sept. 1, 2016 to Dec. 15, 2016
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1 — 31% robberies occur in SAM 1; basically Brighton-Holly area 2 — 35% occur on weekends 3 — 60% happen during daylight (early morning, mostly evening) 4 — 73% involve body force 5 — 19% involve weapons or handguns 6 — 40+% of victims were Asian women Most suspects were described as colored males with varying ages (teens–adults). Purses or cellphones are most usually taken.
Sakura-Con in Seattle. They shared how they grew their fan base despite their controversial concept.
2. The Killing Art: Filipino martial arts, by Jason Cruz
Profile on Filipino martial arts (FMA) and an interview with Bellevue FMA instructor Belton Lubas The martial art was developed in the Philippines and cultivated by different regions and families. It was a necessity for the Filipino people, as the island country had to fend off invaders and local conflict.
1. USCIS website, e-verify now optimized for mobile devices
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced in February 2016 a series of enhancements to make its website and online products easier to use on mobile devices. Among the improvements: menu options that collapse for easier viewing on smaller screens or browser windows. Staff can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
asianweekly northwest
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35 YEARS
JANUARY 7 – JANUARY 13, 2017
Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) mourns one of our community’s greatest champions, Alan Sugiyama. Al helped our community’s most vulnerable members, through personal assistance, training and services, direct action and policy advocacy. Al fought for the rights of Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, immigrants, refugees, and people of all races with low incomes. He was bold, resourceful, wise and beloved. We celebrate Al’s selfless devotion and many achievements, even as we join our community in mourning the passing of a great community leader. Rest in peace, Al. — The Board and Staff of ACRS
3639 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S. Seattle, WA 98144 Mon–Fri: 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Sat & Sun: Closed
All proceeds from this memoriam will go to the family.
REMEMBERING from 5 upcoming battles to assure our past progress is not lost, as we forge into breaking down future barriers.” — Vivian Lee, UWAA Emeritus Leadership Circle “Al had many longtime friends, yet he took time to welcome me to Seattle in 2004. We became close friends. Al’s death is a reminder how life is not fair and I hate being reminded.” — Ken Colling, President Emeritus, Seattle Goodwill “Al was one in a million, no, one in a billion. He was unwaveringly loyal to causes, and to friends and colleagues, delighted in making self-deprecating comments, always followed through on commitments, and most of all, liked people and always thought of others first. He loved his family; especially, the newest member, little Kaia. We were so lucky to have been long-time friends with this special man.” — Merritt Long and Marsha Tadano Long, friends “Seattle has lost a champion. … Whether it was Asian American studies programs in our colleges, job training for young people, civil rights for people of color or the LGBT community, Al was always there. ... RIP my friend.” — Lori Matsukawa, KING 5 anchor “Our community has lost one of its greatest advocates. Al’s influence on higher education equity in our region opened doors to success for hundreds of students and their families.” — Sheila Edwards Lange, President, Seattle Central College “Al was such a positive, caring, and giving person, who was always thinking of others. He was a mentor to all who knew him and
helped everyone see and achieve their full potential. He will be sorely missed.” — Char Grinolds, EDI board co chair “Al was a good family man and personal friend. I often remembered the Easter egg hunts he would organize for our kids, softball games, BBQs, and retreats to Sudden Valley.” — Willon Lew, friend “Al was a beloved member of our community, a lifelong Seattleite who championed API and civil rights issues for over four decades; a trailblazer for API elected officials. He fought with determination and grace and we have lost a dear friend.” — Bruce Harrell, Seattle City Council President “He was an unstoppable positive leader … all the way through the cancer experience … and he did it with grace, class, a fierce determination, and a pretty good sense of humor on top of it all. … If there is one thing that most people don’t know about Al Sugiyama is — man, did that guy love to eat! I don’t know how he didn’t turn into a 350 pound giant given how much food he could put down. ... You couldn’t call him an epicurean because Puka Dog from Kauai was one of his favorite foods. A Puka Dog is not exactly epicurean food, but he loved it.” — Bob Watt, friend “Thus far, I’ve only have had a handful of close friends and I was fortunate that Al was one of them. Al had many, many close friends. He spent his whole life nurturing and developing friendships so others could benefit. We all lost something…one of our best and one of our finest.” — Paul Ishii, Mayflower Park Hotel general manager