VOL 36 NO 14 | APRIL 1 – APRIL 7, 2017

Page 1

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

APRIL 1 – APRIL 7, 2017

Photo by Daria Kroupoderova/NWAW

Pulitzer Prize winner, former Seattle Times reporter, dies

FREE 35 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Campaign for

STUDENT SUCCESS Fighting for education dollars and equity

By Arlene Kiyomi Dennistoun NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Alex Tizon speaking at Elliott Bay Book Company in 2014.

By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Alex Tizon, a Pulitzer Prize winner and University of Oregon (UO) journalism professor, died in his sleep of natural causes on March 23. He was found by Eugene see TIZON on 12

Courtesy of the Campaign for Student Success

VOL 36 NO 14

On March 27, Washington House Democrats unveiled a $44.6 billion plan which would include a new funding formula to fully fund education in Washington as mandated by the state supreme court in the 2012 McCleary case. McCleary was the “catalyst” for the “Campaign for Student Success.” Tony Lee, cofounder of the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC), gives the “Campaign for Student Success” four out of Tony Lee five stars for its overall effectiveness. Suddenly, the conversation about funding basic education has shifted, and people are now talking about a studentcentered funding formula, driving resources to kids who need it the most, and reducing opportunity and achievement gaps. “To shift the conversation is a huge victory, and I think

the campaign is hugely responsible for that.” Officially launched this January to address the fundamental inequities in the education system, the campaign’s message is clear — student funding is unfair today. According to the campaign, wealthy school districts get more money from the state than the schools with a lot of low-income, immigrant, refugee students, and students of color. Diverse members of the campaign are fighting for sustainable funding, quality education, and fair and equal opportunity for K-12 students, regardless of their background. The campaign is bringing a unified message from its members, parents, and the public to Olympia. “Ultimately, we want to elevate the voice of Washingtonians to the legislature because at the end of the day, that’s where the decisions are made,” said Daniel Zavala, Director of Policy and Daniel Zavala Government Relations at League of Education Voters (LEV). The LEV is one of the founding members

of the campaign, along with Stand for Children Washington, the Equity for Education Coalition, APIC, and the Statewide Poverty Action Network. The campaign continues to attract members, and at last, count included 31 organizations. McCleary gives the legislature until 2018 to fully fund basic education. The campaign looked at McCleary as an opportunity to reengage the public in conversation about education funding. Washington has historically underserved communities in most need. It’s a conversation that must include input, feedback, collaboration, and partnership from these communities, said Zavala. If people are not a part of the conversation, their needs won’t be met. “We must increase the achievement of the children who get left behind,” said Lee. The Washington Roundtable was initially a campaign member because they shared common goals with the campaign. Thirtyone percent of Washington’s graduates go on to get a post-secondary degree or credential,

US-born panda Bao Bao makes first public appearance Metro ready to expand late-night bus service in China

Photo by Han Bui/NWAW

Bus passengers traveling after 1 a.m. will have expanded latenight service under legislation approved on March 27 by the King County Council. It is the first major expansion of “Night Owl” bus service in 40 years. In partnership with the Seattle Department of Transportation, King County Metro will expand late-night bus service on Sept. 23 to meet growing demand from late-night and early-morning workers, as well as those enjoying nightlife and traveling off-hours to the airport. see METRO on 12

Metro bus in the ID

DUJIANGYAN, China (AP) — American-born giant panda Bao Bao made her first appearance on March 24 before the public in southwestern China following her move there from Washington, D.C. Bao Bao was born at the National Zoo in Washington to pandas on loan from China. Under the standard loan agreement, such

see BAO BAO on 12

see STUDENT SUCCESS on 11

RICH KID ESCAPING JUSTICE? Red Bull heir enjoys jet-set life 4 years after fatal hit-andrun. » see 7

COMMUNITY » 2

CALENDAR » 6

TRAVEL ASSUNTA-STYLE

DIVERSITY AT UBER

From packing light to battling insomnia... » see 10

A revealing look at Uber’s first report on employee diversity » see 11

SUDOKU » 6

ASTROLOGY » 13

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VOL 36 NO 14 | APRIL 1 – APRIL 7, 2017 by Northwest Asian Weekly - Issuu