VOL 36 NO 6 | FEBRUARY 4 – FEBRUARY 10, 2017

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

VOL 36 NO 6

FEBRUARY 4 – FEBRUARY 10, 2017

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35 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Ease of payment at Thai restaurants The Gravity Payments and SmilePOS partnership

By Nina Huang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Photo provided by Gravity Payments.

What do you get when the Seattle CEO who made headlines in 2015 for announcing he will pay all his employees $70,000, partners with a Thai computer engineer?

A successful partnership that helps the Thai restaurant community work more efficiently and profitably.

Saksit Udompanit, CEO of SmilePOS, moved to Seattle in 2002 and started SmilePOS in 2006. The company began after Udompanit created his own software with friends. Another friend opened a restaurant and wanted to use the software for his business and that’s how the idea for see BUSINESS on 16 From left: Fay Suphaphian, Dan Price and Saksit Udompanit.

Representing diversity at King County Sheriff’s Department

Intro: Sergeant Loi Dawkins is a triple minority — a woman born to an Asian mother and Black father, she has spent over 15 years as an officer with the King County Sheriff’s Department.

Having lived her whole life in Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood, joining the police force was not something Sergeant

By MICHAEL BALSAMO ASSOCIATED PRESS LOS ANGELES (AP) — A man stabbed two men to death at a private recreational club in Los Angeles’ Chinatown neighborhood after one of the victims wouldn’t give him money to pay for an impounded car, Los Angeles police said in a Jan. 27 statement.

Police say Vinh Quok Dao, 37, walked into the Hop Sing Tong Benevolent Association club on Jan. 26, and stabbed two men in the see HOP SING TONG on 12

Loi Dawkins even thought of.

“Growing up there as a kid was not easy. The area was ridden with gang violence and there were a lot of problems with the police and community. I saw a lot of things that I didn’t understand and didn’t like. After high school, I went to the University of Washington and I earned my bachelor’s degree in political science. I then worked in Echo Glen Children’s Center, which is a Juvenile Rehabilitation see DAWKINS on 15

Crime scene in front of the Hop Sing Tong Benevolent Association club

see pictorial on 7 Phhoto by Janice Nesamani/NWAW.

By Janice Nesamani NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Suspect arrested in Los Angeles Chinatown deadly stabbings

Sgt. Loi Dawkins

WA STATE VS. DONALD TRUMP State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit against President Trump over the travel ban. » see 3

CUTE KIDS DRESS UP!

Photo by John Liu/NWAW

It’s a crowd favorite. See who took home the top prize in our annual Lunar New Year Costume Contest. » see 7

CROWD LISTENS INTENTLY AT “WELCOMING CITY” MEETING. Seattle is officially a Welcoming City, by order of Mayor Ed Murray who signed the executive order in November. It was affirmed by the Seattle City Council on Jan. 30.

The Welcoming City order means Seattle joins a network of other cities that are focused on inclusion and will work to reduce barriers to help immigrants and refugees succeed.

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“Seattle is at its best when we work to integrate and support our immigrant and refugee neighbors not isolate and punish them because of their nationality,” said Councilmember M. Lorena González.

She said the “Welcoming City” order also includes the intent to create a Legal Defense Fund for immigrants and refugees.

35 YEARS AND GOING STRONG Publisher Ng reflects on the last 35 years of bringing you the news. How it all began, how it’s evolved, and the challenges to staying profitable. » see 10

COMMUNITY » 2 CALENDAR » 4 SUDOKU » 4 ASTROLOGY » 13

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

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35 YEARS

FEBRUARY 4 – FEBRUARY 10, 2017

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Al Sugiyama memorial

“Broken Ceiling: Honoring Those Who Broke It” event on Jan. 29 at the Northwest African American Museum.

Approximately 180 people attended to recognize 45 male members who voted to admit women in 1986, despite opposition from their peers.

Among the men honored were past president Lloyd Hara and former Seattle City Councilmember Nick Licata. 

female African American mathematicians who were instrumental at NASA in the 1960s. 

New tiny house villages

Seven-hundred-fifty people attended the memorial for Al Sugiyama on Jan. 29 at Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center.

The Reverend Jerry Shigaki led the invocation. Daughter Mari Sugiyama shared memories and lessons from her father. Bob Watt, Dick Sugiyama, Warren Furutani, Merritt Long, and Daniel Miyaki also spoke.

In 1989, Al Sugiyama was the first Asian American elected to the board for Seattle Public Schools. He also founded the Center for Career Alternatives (CCA) and served as the executive director for the Executive Development Institute (EDI) until intense chemotherapy cancer treatments led him to step down in 2015.

Sugiyama passed away, surrounded by family and dear friends, on Jan. 2. 

Rotary’s broken ceiling

Photo by George Liu/NWAW

Mari Sugiyama at the podium with sister, Alysa.

Photo by George Liu/NWAW

New tiny houses built by the Tulalip Tribes TERO program will be going to the Georgetown site.

Gary Tang and friends

Close to 200 friends and staff of Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) held a retirement on Jan. 25 for Gary Tang.

There were various performances and dances. Many attendees wore their native costumes and took turns giving Tang hugs, bringing tears to his eyes.

Tang founded ACRS’ Club Bamboo, which caters to wellness for seniors, and he is credited for expanding the program. 

Yuna Shin wins grand prize in contest inspired by “Hidden Figures”

From left: Ahmed Jaddi, Paul Mar, Walle Ralkowski, Craig Abramson, Dennis Su, Richard Chan, Lloyd Hara, Phil Ginsberg, Nick Licata, and Jesse Tam.

The Rotary Club of Seattle-International District held its

Photo provided by LIHI.

ACRS’ Gary Tang retires

Yuna Shin

Yuna Shin, 17, of Bothell, won a $50,000 scholarship for her work studying and teaching science and math in a contest honoring women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields, inspired by the movie “Hidden Figures.”

The film tells the story of three

In partnership with Nickelsville, SHARE, the City of Seattle, and Seattle Mayor Ed Murray’s Bridging the Gap Initiative, Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) will be opening two new sanctioned encampment sites to help alleviate the homelessness problem.

The first site will be opening in February and is located at 1000 South Myrtle Street in Georgetown. The second site will be opening in April and is located on Nesbit Avenue North in Licton Springs. Volunteers and donors are working on completing 70 tiny houses. Hygiene and kitchen facilities will be on-site, and LIHI staff and case managers will be available to help residents move quickly into housing and access the services that they need. 

Send your exciting news to editor@nwasianweekly.c om.

YOUR VOICE

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

FEBRUARY 4 – FEBRUARY 10, 2017

asianweekly northwest

SEATTLE (AP) — Washington state’s attorney general declared on Jan. 30 that he was suing President Donald Trump over his temporary ban on immigration from seven countries with majority-Muslim populations, making it the first state to announce a legal action against the Trump administration over one of its policies.

Trump’s executive order also suspended the United States’ entire refugee program and set off nationwide protests over the weekend, including one that drew 3,000 people to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

“If successful it would have the effect of invalidating the president’s unlawful action nationwide,” Attorney General Bob Ferguson said at a news conference.

Ferguson was one of 16 state attorneys general who released a statement on Jan. 29 calling Trump’s immigration action “un-American and unlawful.”

Trump has repeatedly said the order suspending immigration for citizens of the seven countries for 90 days is aimed at protecting the nation against extremists looking to attack Americans and U.S. interests.

Ferguson said the lawsuit against Trump, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and high-ranking Trump administration officials would be filed on Jan. 30 in federal court in Se-

Photo from Q13 FOX News

Washington is 1st state to sue Trump over immigration order

Bob Ferguson (foreground) and Gov. Jay Inslee.

attle.

The complaint seeks to have key provisions of the executive order declared unconstitutional, Ferguson said. The state is also asking for a temporary restraining order against enforcement of the order.

“We are a country based on the rule of law and in a courtroom it is not the loudest voice that prevails, it’s the Constitution,” Ferguson said.

“At the end of the day, either you’re abiding by the Constitution or you are not. And in our view, the president is not adhering to the Constitution when it comes to this executive action.”

Declarations of support from Amazon and Expedia — two Washington state-based businesses — will be filed with the lawsuit, said Ferguson, who was joined at the news conference by Gov. Jay Inslee. 

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Red Cross Home Fire Campaign

Did you know?

If a fire starts in your home, you may have just two minutes to escape. Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in home fires by half.

The Red Cross Home Fire Campaign aims reduce the number of fire deaths and injuries in the United States by 25 percent by 2020.

The Red Cross and partners are installing free smoke alarms for those who cannot afford to purchase them, or those who are physically unable to install a smoke alarm.  For more information, text the word “alarm” to 844-811-0100 or visit getasmokealarm.org

Lunar New Year 2017 at Bellevue Square The Bellevue Collection, Seattle Chinese Culture and Arts Association, Overseas Community Affairs Council Taiwan and the Taiwan Benevolent Association of America, are hosting a Lunar New Year celebration on Feb. 4 from 11 a.m.–6 p.m. at Bellevue Square in Center Court.

The celebration will feature numerous traditional and contemporary cultural demonstrations including martial arts, music, dance, and visual arts. The festival is open to audiences of all ages and includes fun, complimentary activities for all to participate in.

Forty-thousand people attended the inaugural celebration and 47,000 the following year. Over 100 volunteers, high school and college students, and generous sponsors make this event possible. 

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FEBRUARY 4 – FEBRUARY 10, 2017

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR FEB 2

LECTURE, “AT THE INTERSECTION OF ART AND ARCHITECTURE,” BY DESIGNER/ARTIST MAYA LIN University of Washington, Kane Hall 130 7:30 p.m. $5 uwalum.com/lectures OCA-GREATER SEATTLE GOLDEN CIRCLE AWARD Joy Palace Restaurant, 6030 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S., Seattle 6–8:30 p.m. $26/member, $50/non-member, $260/ table of 10 squareup.com/store/oca-greaterseattle-2 lius27@uw.edu

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LUNAR NEW YEAR WELLS FARGO The Museum of Flight, 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle 5–9 p.m.

Free first Thursday museumofflight.org 2017 CID KICK OFF High Hay Co-works 6–7:30 p.m.

Free PANAMA HOTEL JAZZ Wing Luke Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle 6:30–7:45 p.m.

Free first Thursday

3 GREATER SEATTLE CHINESE CHAMBER LUNCHEON 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

House of Hong Restaurant, 409 8th Ave. S., Seattle $20

NAPAWF ANNUAL SOCIAL Poco Wine + Spirits, 1408 E. Pine St., Seattle 6–8 p.m.

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2017 LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION The Bellevue Collection 11 a.m.–6 p.m. bellevue.com

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FREE FIRST SATURDAY FOR KIDS: LUNAR NEW YEAR Seattle Asian Art Museum, 1400 E. Prospect St., Seattle 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

RSVP required at bit.ly/2kkELLQ Free admission seattleartmuseum.org CIVIC SATURDAY Jones Playhouse, 4045 University Way N.E., Seattle 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

35 YEARS

2017 ETHNIC LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION Olympia Legislative Building, 424 Sid Snyder Ave. S.W., Olympia 5:30–8 p.m.

2017-ethnic-reception.eventbrite.com

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CELEBRATE 2017 YEAR OF THE ROOSTER China Harbor Restaurant, 2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle 5:30 p.m. $65–$1,000 seattlechinesechamber.org 206-552-0818 EAST MEETS WEST CONCERT WEEKEND Shorecrest Performing Arts Center, 15343 25th Ave. N.E., Shoreline 4:30 p.m.

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CELEBRATE LUNAR NEW YEAR WITH SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION Garfield Community Center, 2323 E. Cherry St., Seattle 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. seattle.gov

11 CELEBRATING CISC’S 45TH ANNIVERSARY China Harbor Restaurant, 2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle 5:30–10:30 p.m. $50/ticket mabelk@cisc-seattle.org 206-957-8520

5 SPEAKING & BOOK SIGNING EVENT WITH LORI TSUGAWA WHALEY King’s Books, 218 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma 2 p.m. loriwhaley.com RADICAL WALKING TOUR: FILIPIN@ HISTORY OF SEATTLE Eastern Hotel in the I.D. 1–3 p.m.

7 UW COLLEGE OF BUILT ENVIRONMENTS FOR THE 2017 DEAN’S DISTINGUISHED LECTURE BY DIANE SUGIMURA UW, Architecture Hall, Room 147, 3949 15th Ave. N.E., Seattle 6–8:30 p.m. be.washington.edu

View the solution on page 12

Assunta Ng

Account Executives

John Liu

rebecca@nwasianweekly.com

Ruth Bayang

kelly@nwasianweekly.com

Publisher assunta@nwasianweekly.com Associate Publisher john@nwasianweekly.com Editor editor@nwasianweekly.com

Han Bui

Layout & Web Editor han@nwasianweekly.com

Rebecca Ip Kelly Liao John Liu

john@nwasianweekly.com

George Hira

ghira@nwasianweekly.com

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

FEBRUARY 4 – FEBRUARY 10, 2017

YOUR VOICE

■ WORLD NEWS

asianweekly northwest

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Japanese arcade pioneer and ‘Father of Pac-Man’ has died

By YURI KAGEYAMA AP BUSINESS WRITER

Masaya Nakamura

TOKYO (AP) — Masaya Nakamura, the “Father of Pac-Man” who founded the Japanese video game company behind the hit creature-gobbling game, has died. He was 91.

Nakamura, who died on Jan. 22, founded Namco, part of Bandai Namco, in 1955. It started out as just two mechanical horse rides on a department store rooftop but went on to pioneer game arcades and amusement parks.

Bandai Namco, formed in 2005 from a merger of two game companies, confirmed on Jan. 30 that Nakamura had died.

Pac-Man, designed by Namco engineer and video game maker Toru Iwatani, went on sale in 1980, at a time when there were few rival games, such as Space Invaders. The plucky yellow circle with the huge mouth was a huge hit.

It’s estimated to have been played more than 10 billion times: Guinness World Record has named it the world’s most successful

coin-operated arcade game.

The game was non-violent but just challenging enough to hook players into steering the Pac-Man for hours through its mazes on the hunt for ghostly tidbits.

The iconic Pac-Man adorns T-shirts and other merchandise and inspired animation shows, a breakfast cereal and even the nickname for Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao.

The idea for Pac-Man’s design came from see PAC-MAN on 11

Study: Superbug infections found in Chinese hospitals

By MARIA CHENG AP MEDICAL WRITER LONDON (AP) — New research suggests a worrying number of people in China may be infected with bacteria resistant to an antibiotic used as a last resort.

Researchers examined more than 17,000 samples from patients with infections of common bacteria found in the gut, in two hospitals in China’s Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces, over eight years. About 1 percent of those samples were resistant to colistin, often considered the last option in antibiotics.

The study, published Jan. 27 in the Lancet journal, is one of the first to document the extent of drug-resistant infections in more than one Chinese province.

For decades, China has used colistin in its agriculture industry to speed animals’ growth, but the drug was not used in people. Scientists say the latest work is further

evidence that overuse in animals can spread to people.

Chinese officials earlier this year approved colistin for use in hospitals, raising fears that it could worsen the resistance problem.

“It will be very important to ration its use so that it’s only used when absolutely nothing else will work,” said Mark Enright, a professor of medical microbiology at Manchester Metropolitan University, who was not part of the research.

Health officials have long worried that colistin-resistant bacteria might spread more widely, setting the stage for superbug infections that would theoretically be impervious to medications. Only a small number of such cases worldwide have been detected, including in the U.S. Rising concerns over drug-resistant germs have prompted the United Nations to encourage countries to cut back on antibiotic use and develop new medicines.

People infected with these resistant strains can usually be treated with current antibiotics, but doctors warn that

as these bacteria — which are already untreatable with last-resort drugs — acquire resistance to current drugs, the infections may become impossible to treat.

Experts also noted a surprise: the apparent ease with which the resistant gene spread between bacteria, including different species of bugs.

“It now looks like there’s potential for the resistance gene to move around and spread between different species of bacteria,” said Nigel Brown, a spokesman for Britain’s Microbiology Society, adding that it could lead to a jump in infections.

In a separate study also published in the Lancet, another group of Chinese researchers analyzed samples from patients with blood infections at 28 hospitals. About 1 percent had the colistin-resistant gene — a much higher figure than would be expected in developed countries. see SUPERBUG on 11

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35 YEARS

FEBRUARY 4 – FEBRUARY 10, 2017

■ AT THE MOVIES

“Kung Fu Yoga”

By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Jackie Chan movies come complete with standard expectations.

You need Jackie Chan, of course — charming, modest, awkward, and ready to kick butt as always.

You need a beautiful lead actress.

You need at least one villain. You need a series of improbable events, which lead to improbable action sequences, each one ever more fantastic until the big finish, bigger than the sum of everything that came before it.

And Jackie Chan must win. And come up smiling.

Director Stanley Tong (who also wrote the script and worked on the fight choreography) delivers the

goods on the formula for “Kung Fu Yoga,” a new comedy blending archaeology, India, China, buried treasure, and of course, action.

Jackie Chan plays an archaeologist named, conveniently enough, Jack. Through no fault of his own (the machinations of the plot are never Jackie Chan’s fault), he finds himself caught in an imbroglio, involving Indian culture, Chinese culture, and who really controls the rights to an enormous treasure.

Provided, of course, that the treasure can be found in the first place.

He’ll take on the trip with him his beautiful assistant Mu Qimiya, although the other assistant, Lay Zhang, contributes a younger-man vibe to prevent Jackie Chan’s Jack from looking too lecherous. Disha Patani appears as another leading lady, a mysterious character who may not be who she claims. The famous character actor Eric Tsang drops by to lend a hand technically. And Sonu Sood holds them all in suspense as an Indian playboy, who will stop at nothing to get the gold, every last droplet of it.

The film succeeds reasonably well, although it doesn’t achieve the heights of 1995’s “Rumble In The Bronx,” also starring Chan and directed by Tong. Here, Jackie’s got no problem with his warm,

bumbling persona. At 62, he’s showing his age a bit in the fight sequences and the fight choreography, probably from the necessity of including non-Hong Kong stunt players, which doesn’t dazzle as it did in the old days. With a steady build, a back-and-forth between fighters often using props inventively, that, as Chan often remarked, was supposed to be as much like a dance.

Still, Indian and Chinese parity is achieved, with much mutual admiration of the yoga in kung fu and vice versa. The villain is vanquished … or is he? (I’ll leave you in a modest amount of suspense.)

And everyone sings and dances on the whole way out. Jackie Chan and Stanley Tong still believe that enemies, having fought each other, having won, having lost … can sit down and drink tea together, and find themselves as friends.

Perhaps, there’s a lesson in that for today.  “Kung Fu Yoga” is currently playing at the Pacific Place 11, 600 Pine Street in Seattle. Check local listings for prices and showtimes.

Andrew can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

FEBRUARY 4 – FEBRUARY 10, 2017

YOUR VOICE

■ PICTORIAL

8TH ANNUAL LUNAR NEW YEAR COSTUME CONTEST On Jan. 29, children and their parents, and for the first time, a couple of canines took part in the Lunar New Year Children’s Parade and Northwest Asian Weekly’s 8th Annual Costume Contest in Seattle’s International District. See the bright, colorful costumes and pay special attention to the creations that took home the top prizes. The Costume Contest was part of the Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area’s (CIDBIA) day-long Lunar New Year Celebration that included dances and martial arts demonstrations.

PHOTOS BY GEORGE LIU & ANDRE CHOW

Check out our video at vimeo.com/201818831

The crowd waiting for the show to start.

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray (right) with husband Michael Shiosaki. Murray spoke before the festivities began.

All the contestants.

Volunteers leading the parade.

Contestants line up.

Publisher’s awards winner, HUA Group

2nd place winner

Emcee Gary Tang

Honorable mentions

3rd place winner mom and daughter won matching Empress costumes

1st place winner

RON CHOW

JIM DOANE

YING KAM CHAN NG

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FEBRUARY 4 – FEBRUARY 10, 2017

■ ON THE SHELF

35 YEARS

Inspiring stories of strong, young people

By Samantha Pak NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

“In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl’s Journey to Freedom”

By Yeonmi Park with Maryanne Vollers Penguin Books, 2015 When she was 13, Yeonmi Park and her mother were smuggled across the Yalu River from their North Korean border village to China. Not only were the two escaping their harsh and brutal life in their country’s repressive society, they were also leaving to search for Park’s older sister, who had escaped days earlier and hadn’t been heard from since.

But instead of being welcomed by the Chinese, Park and her mother are separated and sold into sexual slavery, as “wives” to Chinese men who bought them.

“In Order to Live” tells the true story about the harrowing and unimaginable things Park — now in her 20s — and her mother had to do to find each other and survive.

In this memoir, readers will catch a glimpse of what life can be like in North Korea — from neighbors informing on neighbors, to Park and her sister being left alone for a month in the middle of winter while their mother went to the capital for information on her father’s interrogation by the regime, to the constant power outages that would

leave some people without electricity for months at a time.

In addition to the harsh conditions citizens have to endure, Park’s story shines a rare light on a country that has been nicknamed the “Hermit Kingdom,” for its isolation from the rest of the world. She shares how the country’s brainwashing of its citizens left her family ignorant about the rest of the world. This ignorance nearly cost them their lives and left them wholly unprepared for the freedom they sought.

Park also does a good job putting her family’s struggles into context with what was happening in North Korea and how that

bigger picture affected everyday people.

While Park’s story is not always easy to read, she balances the darker moments with some of the good memories she has with her family and friends, showing their resilience, optimism, and humanity’s ability to remain hopeful even in the darkest of times.

“How I Became a North Korean”

By Krys Lee Viking, 2016 Yongju is a North Korean university student from a prominent family. Jangmi has had to learn to survive on her own since childhood

by smuggling goods across the ChineseNorth Korean border. Danny is a Chineseborn Korean boy who has been deemed an outcast in his California high school.

When each of these young people are forced to flee their homes for different reasons, they find themselves in a small Chinese town just across the river from North Korea. A series of events brings the three of them together and they (along with a few others) become a sort of adoptive family, as they have to work (sometimes reluctantly) together to survive.

From government informants and thieves, to see SHELF on 13

YOUR VOICE

■ LUNAR NEW YEAR

FEBRUARY 4 – FEBRUARY 10, 2017

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New year, new family member

Lindsey & husband Tom Kim (Baby boy is Kian Kim)

Teresa & husband Trevor Jue (Baby boy is Elijah or Eli Jue)

Joanna & husband Joseph Pak (Baby girl is Rose Josephine Pak)

Leslie Ramirez & fiance Don Humphreys (Baby boy name TBD)

By Nina Huang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

the priority (or others as a matter of fact), but Eli has become the priority in life — not just during the holidays, but in our daily lives now. However, as parents, we’ve tried not to stop living awesome lives, but rather just allowed Eli to be a part of it!”

Joanna Pak, mother of 11-month-old Rose: “We’ve always reflected on our past year and goals, and looked forward to planning out the New Year and goals. With Rose, we have the addition of our roles as parents to consider, as well as looking forward to Rose’s milestones to come.”

Mom-to-be Leslie Ramirez: “This was the first New Year I’ve spent watching the countdown at home in PJs, and not out on the town or traveling, since high school. Being 23 weeks pregnant, this made sense, but beyond that, this signified a huge life shift. And I’m completely fine and excited about that.”

What do you look forward to most in 2017?

She has grown and developed exponentially this past year and her personality comes out more each day. You could say that we spent the last year very eager and excited to meet Rose, but this year, we are very much looking forward to getting to know her better.”

Ramirez: “2017 will be a year of firsts.

I’m in the midst of my first pregnancy. I’m excited to get married for the first (and only) time, and tackle the struggles and successes of parenthood with my fiancé by my side.”

The New Year brings a lot of new and exciting things for people. But welcoming a new family member is a whole new experience and celebration.

What does the New Year mean to you with a new addition?

Lindsey Kim, mother of 1-year-old Kian: “The New Year with my new family member means making it a point to make a lot of memories together as a family. The biggest thing I look forward to in 2017 is traveling with my family. It might be difficult with a baby, but it’ll be so rewarding.”

Teresa Jue, mother of 2-month-old Elijah: “The New Year really was another day. Our perspective on life has changed in general.

What we mean by that is, we no longer are

Jue: “The biggest thing I look forward to most in 2017 is doing things together as a family! We’re just excited to make memories with this little man as a family of three (well five, including our fur babies). Whether it’s doing simple things like going out to eat, grocery shopping, reading books, or visiting the zoo. We’re just super excited to see him grow and hit each milestone and be a part of it — crawling, walking, talking, eating solids, and more.”

Pak: “Rose is turning 1! In the Korean culture, the first birthday is a grand celebration, where the baby’s life is celebrated and blessed with longevity and prosperity. We have a big celebration planned for Rose and as much as we do look forward to celebrating with all our family and friends, we most look forward to Rose entering her new stage in life, a toddler.

What is your favorite aspect about being first-time parents/ having a baby?

Kim: “My favorite aspect about having a baby is being rewarded with his unconditional love. I am his person and the fact that he looks to me to comfort, nurture, and care for him is see NEW BABIES on 15

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35 YEARS

FEBRUARY 4 – FEBRUARY 10, 2017

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

OPINION

Asian Weekly, 35 going on 36, and still publishing

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY On Jan. 20, the day of the Presidential Inauguration, was also the Northwest Asian Weekly’s 35th birthday.

“Wow! How did you do it?” People ask me that question a lot. How did an independent pan-Asian weekly survive that long? Sacrifices, miracles, dedication, and extreme resilience are the key.

The Asian Weekly’s sister paper, the Seattle Chinese Post, published its first issue on Jan. 20, 1982. It wasn’t until 3 a.m. when we finished the paper. Seven hours later, the editor and I went to the print shop to pick up the first issue of the first Chinese-language newspaper in the Pacific Northwest since 1927.

“We did it,” I said triumphantly. Holding the paper in my hand, I had to pinch myself. Other people had attempted to start the first Chinese newspaper in Washington state before, but failed.

Honestly, it was a profitable but weak issue with errors and little content except advertisements. You see, advertisements required fewer words and they filled space nicely.

The truth was, we didn’t have enough time to type stories.

Before the invention of Chinese computers, characters were typed manually. Our editor had to train the typesetters to use a bulky and noisy tool imported from Taiwan. The two machines arrived late. My newly hired employees didn’t have enough training on it. However, the grand opening invitation, with the Jan. 20 date, had been sent out to the Chinatown International District (ID) community.

“Sell ads,” said the editor. It was a novelty to have the first Chinese newspaper in the community. Luckily, people

Early editions of the Seattle Chinese Post line our lobby.

were receptive to spending advertising dollars, and eager to support our venture even though I was a stranger and a nobody in the ID. Many had never advertised for their business.

Separating the papers

A year later, the Northwest Asian Weekly was born.

I separated the combined Chinese and English version of the newspaper into two different weekly editions and distribution.

Looking back, I was gutsy and silly, too. In those days, I didn’t realize I was actually expanding the operation without sufficient planning and resources. Perhaps, you can call it my strength. Nothing can hold me back when I decide to do something. What I saw was not a gold mine, but the need

to cover the American-born and immigrant Asians in our community. Besides, I thought with the few English articles we already published in the Chinese Post, it shouldn’t be that hard to expand the existing content into a second newspaper.

I was not only wrong, but naïve.

The need turned out to be greater for the English edition after the Wah Mee Massacre in 1983, where 13 people were killed in a Chinatown gambling den. The mainstream media and the police needed help. I saw many people picking up our paper, and reading it during lunch in Chinese restaurants.

There was no turning back!

In 1992, we changed our name to the Northwest Asian Weekly with the encouragement of the late Ted Yamamura and others. I began to see that hard news was the future. We strive for two newspapers with different content, layout, and approach in reporting and writing — the Chinese Post with mainstream news written in Chinese, and the Asian Weekly with local and national ethnic community news.

Why events?

I organized events to diversify our sources of revenue in see BLOG on 14

YOUR VOICE

■ EDITORIAL

FEBRUARY 4 – FEBRUARY 10, 2017

asianweekly northwest

11

OPINION

Rise up against Trump Our representatives on Capitol Hill aren’t taking President Donald Trump’s so-called “Muslim ban” lying down.

On Jan. 31, members of Congress and Indian American leaders held a news conference condemning the ban on citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries — calling it unethical, unjust, unconstitutional, and un-American. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (DIL), and two people who served as diplomats in the Obama administration, Nisha Biswal and Manpreet Anand, stood together in opposing these discriminatory executive orders.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) make up 28 percent of the American Muslim population. And according to the Executive Director of the Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), there are 100,000 to 150,000 Muslims in the state.

In addition, since 2003, Washington state has received over 32,000 refugees, mostly from Middle Eastern or Muslimmajority countries. Washington was the 8th largest refugee-

PAC-MAN from 5 the image of a pizza with a slice carved out. Nakamura reportedly chose the word “Pac,” or “pakku” in Japanese, to represent the sound of the Pac-Man munching its prey.

“Pac-Man is a gamer friendly game with tons of cute characters and that’s why it was loved for such a long time,” Iwatani said in 2015 at a New York red carpet premiere of “Pixels,” that featured Pac-Man creatures and featured him in a cameo role.

The game started out as an arcade item and then was at first played on the Nintendo Family Computer home console. It since has been adapted for cellphones, PlayStation and Xbox

receiving state in 2015, according to the Migration Policy Institute.

On Jan. 30, Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) co-sponsored two bills by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) to block Trump’s ban on refugees and immigrants. However, on the Senate floor, Senate Republicans objected to voting on the bill, which would withhold any funding to enforce the executive order and makes clear the order is illegal based on the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, which banned discrimination against immigrants on the basis of national origin.

“What unfolded at Sea-Tac International Airport and in airports around the U.S. this weekend is nothing short of appalling,” said Murray. “I met with the family of somebody who was turned away from our country this weekend, and I saw first-hand the grief and confusion this executive order has caused. We cannot stand for this.”

It’s interesting to note that Jan. 30 was also the celebration

formats.

Other hits from Namco include driving simulation games like “Ridge Racer” and a drumming game.

Nakamura was a key player in Bandai Namco’s global growth. His pet saying was that his company delivered varied and total entertainment. He took pride in having fun and games for his job.

The company reported Nakamura’s death but would not comment on its cause or other personal details, citing his family’s wishes. A private wake and funeral were held for the family, but a separate memorial is being planned, Bandai-Namco said. 

of the birthday of Fred Korematsu — who stood up to the U.S. government, and challenged the constitutionality of the Japanese incarceration.

It should be a reminder to ourselves of why we should be careful not to repeat it.

More than 100 AAPI organizations have come together to resist the new administration. “We stand at a critical juncture in world history,” said the joint statement.

“AAPIs have faced indentured servitude, exclusionary immigration laws, bars to citizenship and land ownership, mass deportation, mass incarceration, war, sexual and gender-based violence, forced displacement, vigilante violence, surveillance, and racial and religious profiling.”

“Today our movements include Southeast Asian refugees organizing to end criminalization and deportation; Muslims, Arabs, Sikhs, and South Asians fighting surveillance …

Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders … ” To have your organization sign on, fill out the form at bit. ly/AAPIStatementOfPrinciples. ■

SUPERBUG from 5 Colistin’s use in hospitals should be restricted to avoid problems, said Yunsong Yu, one of the study’s authors.

“This is a warning shot about the possible scenario where we don’t have very much left in the armory to treat (bacterial) infections,” said Brown.

“I don’t think we are very close to that happening, but it is a remote possibility if we aren’t careful about how we use our antibiotics.” 

asianweekly northwest

12

FEBRUARY 4 – FEBRUARY 10, 2017

HOP SING TONG from 1 neck after an argument broke out during a mah jong game.

Police said Dao demanded that the club’s president, Tony Young, 64, give him $400 for vehicle impound fees.

When Young refused, Dao used a six inch knife to stab Young and when fellow club-member Kim Kong Yon, 64, tried to stop the attack, Dao began stabbing him as well, according to prosecutors. Both victims died at the scene.

Investigators said Dao was formerly a member of the social club, but had left the area years ago and only recently returned to Los Angeles.

Los Angeles police said Dao fled the club after the stabbings, leaving a trail of blood droplets. He was taken into custody the following day in Rosemead, about 10

35 YEARS

miles away from the club.

On Jan. 31, Dao was charged with two counts of murder with the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders and using a knife as a deadly weapon, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

The incident is a reminder of the Tong’s violent past when it battled with a rival tong, Bing Kong Tong, in the 1920’s. The fraternal organizations sprang up to defend the Chinese community from discrimination. As they grew in strength, the Tongs also expanded into such illegal activities as prostitution, gambling, and extortion.

Today they are social clubs and maintain a presence in such large Chinese enclaves as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York. 

SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 4.

Have a story idea that you think would fit perfectly in Northwest Asian Weekly?

We want to know about it.

Send it to us at info@nwasianweekly.c om.

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FEBRUARY 4 – FEBRUARY 10, 2017

YOUR VOICE

■ ASTROLOGY

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13

Predictions and advice for the week of February 4–February 10, 2017

By Sun Lee Chang Rat — As you celebrate a major milestone, take a moment to remember how you were able to get there in the first place.

Ox — You want to know the answer, but some things cannot be rushed. Too many repeated inquiries might actually impede the process.

Tiger — Extra care should be exercised during a delicate transfer. You will find much relief after it is completed.

Rabbit — Are you looking for a chance to branch out a bit? A hobby could become much more than just a fun way to pass time.

Dragon — A keen observer, you are adept at gleaning the important details quickly. This ability should allow you to pick up on a crucial issue that others have missed.

Snake — Finding a combination that works is within your reach. You may have to try a few different variations before settling on a match.

Horse — Holding out for something that you are not yet seeing? It might take a while, but you will find it very soon.

Goat — While you do have to expend more time upfront, getting it right in the beginning is preferable to fixing it later on.

Monkey — An initial impression is very hard to change, so do your best to create the image that you want from the start.

Rooster — Was there clutter obscuring what you needed to see? Now that it is cleared away, a better route forward is also revealed.

Dog — Looking for a way to release some recent tension? A mixture of laughter and activity should do the trick.

Pig — You have been fortunate to be able to partner for success. Stick with your instincts and that trend will surely continue.

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.

SHELF from 8 angry husbands and shady missionaries, the trio are presented with danger and obstacles at almost every turn.

“How I Became” switches perspectives between Yongju, Jangmi, and Danny, showing what is going through each of their heads and what they each have to endure.

While this is a young adult novel, Lee does not sugarcoat the struggles the trio face. She may not always go into great detail, but she doesn’t leave things out, such as Jangmi being forced to “work” in online video chat rooms and talk to men who have paid to see her naked.

The hardships the three protagonists face are not something most young people in the Western world will have experienced.

Lee does a great job in showing readers the realities that some people in other parts of the world must live with.

Lee also shows the strength young people have. Despite all of the challenges and obstacles Yongju, Jangmi, and Danny are faced with, they continue to persevere and do what it takes to survive and find their way to safety and freedom.

pushy or bossy. Claire also realizes she can’t do it all alone, consulting with her brothers and their friends and working to come to a consensus before any big decisions are made — a nice change from stories that often have the hero or heroine setting themselves apart from others and going it alone.

In addition, Claire also has to deal with the everyday challenges of being a teenager in high school — from school work and soccer practice, to the changing dynamic among her inner circle, as some are preparing to graduate and leave for college.

Maetani also does a good job of portraying a second- and third-generation family of immigrants who may participate in traditional activities and practices, but may not always understand the significance. This could be a common feeling among those who live with two cultures. 

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And as they seek more information, they learn that their father was a member of the yakuza, a Japanese mafia. This discovery brings danger to Claire, her family, and her friends. She has to figure out what all of it means, where she fits in this puzzle, and find a way to keep herself and the ones she loves safe.

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14

35 YEARS

FEBRUARY 4 – FEBRUARY 10, 2017

Photos by George Liu/NWAW

BLOG from 10

Giving out red envelopes at our annual Lunar New Year lunch.

the 1990s. It didn’t give us a lot of profit, but it helped our brand and grew our credibility.

We were probably the first media organization in our state to honor unsung heroes, rising stars, and the movers and shakers in the community. What drives us to do events is the amount of goodwill we generate. The honorees feel empowered, and their families are so excited. We bring the community together. It makes me feel that we are doing something worthwhile, and a means to give back to the community.

A different kind of hardship

The digital revolution has made our life much easier.

Digital means speed. Also, it is less costly and laborintensive. The digital camera cuts at least six steps from print to the finished product — replacing our dark room, special camera, processing film, and developing photos. Instead of delivering the layout flaps on paper like we used to, we can send our files to the printer electronically. Instead of cut and paste, we just click one key on the computer.

We can do stories and advertisements at the last minute.

There are often ads that pour in late, like during the Lunar New Year. Quickly, we include them without problems.

The weather can deter us no more from publishing. I recall one freezing winter, my husband had to drive our workers back and forth from their homes to work in the office. Now, my staff can work from all over the world.

On another snowy day, four of us, including my husband and two kids, distributed the paper out in the ID on icy, treacherous roads. To get the paper delivered on time and into the hands of our readers, we made countless sacrifices, and overcame so many obstacles during the past few decades.

Today, we are experiencing a different kind of challenge.

Christmas potluck lunch.

Lunar New Year lunch we bought from our advertisers.

The internet is threatening our livelihood. Fewer want to read print. Many turn to their phone for news. There are fewer advertisers. So far, no print media has found an alternative revenue solution. It’s not only our problem — it’s a global one. The Seattle Times and KOMO-TV, which have a lot more money than us, laid off dozens of journalists. What is more shocking, the Issaquah Press, a solid community paper, founded in 1900 and owned by the Seattle Times, is going to shut down on Feb. 24.

One piece of good news — the Washington Post, under Jeff Bezos’ ownership, has gained readership through online subscriptions and delivering breaking news via new technology. Bezos’ team intends to sell those technologies to other companies. A little paper like ours can’t afford to revolutionize its operation like Bezos.

from other countries. I would rip articles and give them to my staff when I return. When the ocean is right before me, waves of inspirations rise, and I would jot down ideas in my notepad. I am still amazed that our papers can make a difference.

We now strive for efficiency. Under our editors’ leadership, both the Asian Weekly and Chinese Post have been able to finish ahead of schedule since the beginning of 2016. We will have more time for our family and ourselves. Health is our priority.

Nowadays, it’s tough to come up with strategies to increase revenue, but we try to keep ourselves lean. I credit this to my people who are smart, skilled, and dedicated to their profession. The word “can’t” is not in our vocabulary.

Our 35th anniversary celebration Our future

Many predict that print will die a slow death, and broadcasting is next. Our online presence should be our focus. But online ads are cheap, which will not be enough to sustain us. It doesn’t matter that we have over 200,000 unique visits a month — much bigger than our print circulation. We just give away everything for free.

I am aware of our plight — a business without a future.

I am not scared or worried, though. Instead, I feel really awesome about our accomplishments. I have never felt so free and content. We are proud of our record — publishing over 3,600 issues for both papers. Patience is now my virtue, amid uncertainty. I am just happy that we are still publishing.

To focus my energy more on the papers, I ended the Women of Color Empowered lunch last September. This will also give me more time to travel.

I have to confess that even when I am traveling, I can’t resist working. Often, I would pick up papers and magazines

Mark your calendar. Saturday, Oct. 21 will be our anniversary dinner at the China Harbor Restaurant. For those of you who have been to our 10th anniversary dinner (with 850 guests), 15th (with 950 guests), 20th (with 850 guests), 25th (with 800 guests), and 30th (with 1,080 guests), you might be surprised and ask, “Why does the attendance shrink?”

We decided that rather than paying over $125 per person to a mainstream facility, we would give the business back to our community.

We would hate it if the price was the reason that was driving our supporters away. The only option is to go to a Chinese restaurant.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Seattle Chinese Post and Northwest Asian Weekly through thick and thin, rain or shine. Thank you for 35 amazing years. ■ Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

8TH ANNUAL LUNAR NEW YEAR COSTUME CONTEST ON JANUARY 29

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FEBRUARY 4 – FEBRUARY 10, 2017

YOUR VOICE DAWKINS from 1 Center and became a counselor there,” she said.

The calling

Luckily for the Sheriff’s Department, Dawkins’ brother-in-law, who also grew up in the same area, became a police officer and he planted the idea of her joining the force.

“He said, ‘You should think about becoming a police officer’ and I said, ‘No thanks. I don’t want be a police officer, I can’t see myself as one.’ He invited me to come on a ride-along and I thought that might be fun.”

The ride-along gave Dawkins a different perspective on police work. “He was not what I was used to seeing as police. Knowing that he was a good person and seeing him as an officer was cool. I went on a few more ridealongs with other police officers and thought I could do this,” she said.

The push, however, came when Dawkins told her friends at the university that she was thinking of becoming a police officer. “One of them said, ‘How cool would that be! You could be that officer that people want to talk to. You could be the cool officer.’ That’s where the idea for me came. I could be the officer that I would’ve wanted to see when I was growing up,” she said.

In 2001, Dawkins was hired by the King County Sheriff’s Department. Her career took her to Woodinville, a place she hadn’t heard of. She completed her field training in Shoreline, went back on patrol in Fall City, and then to in Shoreline and Burien, where she handled domestic violence crimes and property crimes and became a detective.

Now, 15 years later, she is a sergeant and supervisor of the Court Protection Unit at the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle.

Speaking about how her life shaped her for the role, Dawkins explained, “Where I grew up, my high school was very different. We had a bunch of different cultures, so I wasn’t

NEW BABIES from 9 so special. I wouldn’t trade it for anything!”

Jue: “Our favorite aspect is ‘being parents.’

When we look at our little man, I can’t believe how much he grows each day. I can’t believe that we get to call him ‘ours.’”

Pak: “Being first-time parents is a very peculiar thing. It encompasses so much with the highest of highs and lowest of lows. I am a much more appreciative person after having Rose. Whether it’s appreciation for your own body that has developed, carried, and sustained a life, or your own parents that raised you in much more difficult situations with such love and grace; as well as all the little things to be thankful for, like bathrooms with changing tables and spill-proof cups. You realize how precious life is. The precious life of your child and your own life, too. And SLEEP, sleep is so precious.”

Ramirez: “My most favorite aspect now is the anticipation of it all. I’m nervous, terrified, scared, but incredibly excited to meet my baby.”

What was it like to spend the holidays with your new baby?

Ramirez: “The highlight of the holidays was revealing the gender of the baby to both sides of the family, and reveling in their excitement. My dog actually received more presents than I did this year, and I can imagine more of the same next year with the baby.”

Kim: “The holidays were nice with my new baby because I tried my best to make it special for him. He might not remember the things I did for and with him, but it was the beginning of traditions for years to come.”

Jue: “This year, the holidays were a bit tiring, but only because Elijah was still a newborn. However, it was still exciting at the same time. It was Elijah’s first Thanksgiving, first Christmas, and first New Year! He was able to spend it with his friends and family.

limited to a particular group of people. In college, I had the opportunity to study, work, and meet with a lot of people from different backgrounds. So, diversity has never been an issue for me. Growing up in a lower income area, I know how to relate to people there and since I went to university, I know how to deal with people who are educated. My life experiences put me in this place. I felt well-prepared for doing this work in King County.”

Having lived in Seattle for 12 years, Dawkins knew what she was going to be dealing with. Being a woman, however, she feels that she put the most pressure on herself.

“I felt that I would have to prove myself even more because I remember hearing that there were guys who were like, ‘I hope she’s not going to be one of those women out there.’ My understanding of that was women who can’t handle the job on their own. This was when I first applied. So, I thought I’m going to have to prove that I am capable of doing this job just like anybody else,” Dawkins said.

As far as the skills required for the job, Dawkins knew she had what it took. “I knew there was going to be defensive tactics in the academy. I had a lower level of defensive tactics training while working at the juvenile rehab center. I always knew that how you relate to people makes a huge difference in your job.

With my experience of working with incarcerated youth who were sometimes almost 21, I knew that I had the ability to communicate well with people from all walks of life,” she explained.

was when she was in Fall City. “I got my car assigned to me and there was nobody sitting next to me anymore. It was my very first week on my own and we had an officer-involved shooting, where Deputy Sheriff Richard Herzog was killed. That was another awakening that there was no turning back,” Dawkins said.

Reality bites

Representing minorities

Dawkins understands the responsibility of her role, but a few instances helped put things in perspective. Dawkins recalled, “One of my first days on the job was 9/11. That was the realization of what the job entails — you’re literally putting yourself out there to ensure everybody else’s safety first. I thought to myself that there was no turning back, this is what I want to do.”

The second instance she recalls vividly

He was loved and spoiled by many!”

Pak: “This first holiday with her was extra special and exciting for us. It was as if we were experiencing it for the very first time.

This renewed wonderment wasn’t limited to just us as parents, but our extended family. I come from a very large and close knit extended family. My dad strung up extra lights this year and took out his granddaughter almost every night, as they both laughed and awed at the sparkling lights, just like my Grandpa did for me and all my cousins. Rose’s aunts and uncles, who range in age from 4 to 30, huddle around her and dote on her every move and it makes my heart burst to see our family grow outside of just Joe and me.”

Anything else that you’d like to share about being first-time parents?

Kim: “My family has been extremely helpful. Also, my family absolutely loves Kian!

My mom came to visit a few days after Kian was born, and stayed for a few weeks to help.

I was so grateful. She cooked and took Kian so I could sleep. She was so good with him that I didn’t think I could take care of him by myself after she left. My sister is also a huge help. She babysits when I need her to and I trust her to watch him over anybody else. I see her almost every Saturday and that’s her time to spend time with us.”

Pak: “You learn a lot about yourself and essentially learn about where you come from.

The holidays are inevitably a time spent with your family and with a baby you start to reflect on where your feelings and own traditions started. I don’t remember exactly what I myself experienced as a baby, but being a parent, you almost get an out-of-body experience of what it probably was like for you when you joined the family.”  Nina can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

asianweekly northwest

15

cerns on both sides. I have a lot of real conversations with people and it’s tough. At times, there is a huge lack of understanding between both groups. The more positive interactions and communication between the police and community, the more positive change we can bring about. So, I encourage people to interact with one another.”

Dawkins always tells her kids to say hello if they see a police officer. She believes that people fear what they don’t understand and sometimes the only way to combat this fear is having good, positive interactions. “We all have implicit biases against different people.

Showing that you’re positive is one of the most important steps in coming to understand one another. Now, many are operating out of fear and people are on the defensive because they are fearful. As a police officer, I don’t have to interact with people only when I show up in an authoritative role. In my spare time, I can take time to have a conversation with someone who is on the elevator with me. Making yourself more approachable is helpful.”

Today, Dawkins balances her role managing different Court Marshals and screeners, making security arrangements for the Courthouse, and helping people achieve career goals. As a recruiter, she helps fulfill people’s lifelong dreams of becoming police officers.

She is proud that the King County Sheriff’s Department has a diversity recruiting team.

Dawkins makes appearances at cultural fairs to increase diversity awareness. “I often wonder if it would have made a difference if someone had talked to me when I was in college. For some, it takes a reflection of themselves to be okay with the idea of becoming a police officer. It’s important for us to be able to show that we have women doing this, people with college degrees, and people from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds. It’s important to represent as much of the community as we can,” she said. 

Family matters

Becoming a police officer is a difficult job and Dawkins’ mother thought she was physically too small, but Dawkins’ father, who retired from the military, was thrilled. “My father wanted at least one of his kids to go into the military but none of us did. When he found out I had applied for the job, he loved the idea. This was as close as it was going to get for any of us.”

When Dawkins passed the academy, her dad pinned her badge on her. Two months later, he passed away and Dawkins almost thought of quitting her job to take care of her mother. “My mother told me there were people out there who needed me. So, I stuck with it.”

Today, Dawkins lives close to her family and raises three girls with her husband. The job gives her the freedom to choose shifts that adjust to her kids’ schedules. “It can be difficult at times. I try to stay focused on my role at work and when I am home, I stay focused on my role at home. When I work overtime, I try to do it during hours that don’t affect my household as badly. ” In her time with the department, Dawkins has seen people turn to her for a lot of things.

“You are supposed to be an expert on everything, whether or not you are. Each day, you are reminded of what it means to do this work. I’m beyond proud to represent women and the under-represented in this field, which for me happens to be Asians and Blacks.

When it comes to racial tensions and the police, Dawkins said, “I can understand con-

Janice can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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asianweekly northwest

16

35 YEARS

FEBRUARY 4 – FEBRUARY 10, 2017

BUSINESS from 1 SmilePOS came to be.

Udompanit earned his computer engineering degree in Thailand before moving to Seattle to get his MBA. Based in Lynnwood, SmilePOS slowly grew and later Udompanit met Gravity Payments’ CEO Dan Price in 2008 at a Thai restaurant in downtown Seattle.

Udompanit’s friend, who owned the Thai restaurant, had already been using Gravity Payments, but also wanted to use SmilePOS — thus began a successful partnership.

Emery Wagner has been with Gravity Payments for three and a half years and spent the last two and a half working closely with SmilePOS, as well as other internal departments.

Wagner explained that their industry is one of the most opaque and complex in credit card processing. This makes it hard for a business owner to operate in the industry. It is harder for folks who are newer to the industry or to the United States.

“There is so much complexity in it that it’s impossible for a business owner to fully understand the credit card processing industry. You can spend the time to understand every bit of it, but it’s unrealistic and it’s definitely important to find a partner that you do trust because there’s going to be a need for that trust in operations,” he said.

About 500 restaurants in the country, including those in California, Florida, Maine, and Oregon, are currently serviced by SmilePOS and Gravity Payments. Three hundred of those are restaurants in Washington.

Wagner sees a lot of opportunity to build trust and improve that community. The company is taking baby steps to improve the industry and make it easier for business owners to navigate the waters of credit card processing.

Like-mindedness

Gravity Payments and SmilePOS share the same values and goals, which makes the partnership work.

Wagner added that SmilePOS created a great software to service Thai restaurants and just needed a partner who was an expert in credit card processing to team up with to benefit the community. Because the employees at SmilePOS speak the same language as their customers, it’s easy for them to communicate and help them with questions or problems that may arise.

“It was a small partnership that grew over time.

It’s been a great opportunity to build trust in the Thai community,” Wagner said.

Wagner explained that Gravity Payments run the backups on the credit card processing side and provide industry expertise and knowledge.

SmilePOS does a lot of the technical and software development, as well as the customer service and support in Thai.

“Gravity will set up an account and Smile will get all the equipment ready and go out to the business to do the installation. Gravity attaches the services in equipment and gets the business up and running in a matter of days, or a couple of weeks,” Wagner said.

A custom solution

SmilePOS works with customers on a proposal that includes what terminals and equipment they’ll need and combine the credit card processing services in a package. Customers would pay a one-time fee for both the hardware and software, and the credit card processing fee is a percentage of the volume of sales, Wagner explained.

How Gravity Payments differentiates itself from others is its ability to provide a custom solution that most businesses need. Since SmilePOS operates completely in Thai, Gravity Payments provides that custom experience for Thai business owners and the partnership becomes a onestop shop.

“We see a lot of businesses stuck in terminal leases and end up not having the time or language skills to read and understand it. They end up paying for cheap equipment 10 times over the course of that lease,” Wagner said.

He also reiterated how important it is to gain the trust and understanding with a partner in the

Photo provided by Gravity Payments.

The beginning

Saksit Udompanit (left) and Dan Price (right).

credit card processing industry.

Gravity Payments is currently develop-

ing a cost-effective POS (point-of-sale) system to transition from a credit card ter-

minal to a POS system without incurring a setup cost. They are trying to determine through experimentation the best fit for clients and how to improve on that.

“There are a lot of Thai restaurants in the U.S., and we want to help them as much as we can and do business with them to create long-term relationships,” Udompanit said.

“Gravity is the best partner that I’ve ever had. They’re very honest, professional and they also have very creative ideas,” Udompanit said.

What has helped SmilePOS over the years is Udompanit’s ability to work effectively with Thai restaurant owners. When his clients are happy, he’s happy.  For more information about Gravity Payments, call (206) 388-5900 or visit gravitypayments.com.

Nina can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.