VOL 33 NO 19 | MAY 3 – MAY 9, 2014

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

VOL 33 NO 19

MAY 3 – MAY 9, 2014

FREE

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

API Heritage Month Festivities at the Seattle Center » P. 8

Photo George Liu/NWAW

Minority biz owners ‘no longer silent’

The New Hong Kong Restaurant was packed with people sharing their concerns with the mayor and the two members of the City Council who showed up.

no-longer-silent point of view, one shared by many of Seattle’s minority small business owners in and around the International District who have banded together. Known as the Ethnic Community Coalition (ECC), they invited all nine Seattle city council members to an Apr. 23 community forum at the New Hong Kong Restaurant. Two showed up — Sally Clark and Jean Godden.

Photo courtesy of CAPAA

Celebrating 40 years of CAPAA’s rich legacy, from 1974 to 2014

In 2012, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Executive Director Kiran Ahuja, center, met with past and present CAPAA commissioners, from left, Tyati Tufono, Quang Nguyen, Jagdish Sharma, and Frieda Takamura.

By Nina Huang Northwest Asian Weekly For the past four decades, the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA) has worked to improve the wellbeing of Asian Pacific Americans by ensuring their access to participation in the fields of government, business, education, immigration policy, and other areas.

On May 15, youth, community leaders, Governor Jay Inslee, elected officials, and commissioners will gather to honor the APA legacy and bridge generations around CAPAA’s mission to improve the lives of Washington’s Asian Pacific American communities. King 5’s Lori Matsukawa will be the master of ceremonies for the free event at the Crown Plaza Hotel in {see CAPAA cont’d on page 16}

“All council members are deeply engaged in this discussion,” said Clark. “You don’t see everybody here today, but three of them (Nick Licata, Bruce Harrell, and Kshama Sawant) are actually on the mayor’s (Income Inequality Advisory) committee.”

“We also have Anthony Auriemma from Tom Rasmussen’s office,” moderator Enrique Cerna told the audience of over 150 people.

Godden said she has already discussed the issue with many small business owners.

“In my book, this is not a discussion about minimum wage so much as about income equity and opportunity,” she said.

Minority small business owners and other interested citizens brought their most urgent concerns and profit-and-loss {see $15/HOUR cont’d on page 16}

Group protests home foreclosures

By Sue Misao Calling it a “corporate crime scene” and shouting “Stand up, fight back!” a group of about a dozen protesters, organized

by SAFE (Standing Against Foreclosure and Eviction) staged a protest, followed by a press conference, at the Wells Fargo Tower on Third and Marion in downtown Seattle on April 28. The purpose of the protest was to “expose the fraudulent and predatory behavior of Wells Fargo towards its customers, Xiuhong Mair and Marilyn Takamaru,” said SAFE organizer Zarna Joshi. The protest was part of a national day of action against Wells Fargo, organized by the Home Defenders League, with similar events staged across the country targeting the financial institution.

Both Mair and Takamaru say they are being threatened with foreclosure, despite their efforts to negotiate with Wells Fargo.

One of the women, Xiuhong Mair, also known as Jane Mair, was a journalist in China who reported on the 1989 demonstrations and killings in Tiananmen Square. She and her family came to America, and eventually bought a home.

When she lost her job after being hit by a motorcycle and suffering a traumatic brain injury, she attempted to receive a loan modification, but says Wells Fargo

Photo by Sue Misao /NWAW

By James Tabafunda Northwest Asian Weekly

Following the “$15 Now” signs carried by demonstrators in downtown Seattle last February, there are new signs on the proposed $15 minimum wage with the words, “SAVE IMMIGRANT JOBS AND SMALL BUSINESSES.” This message brings up a different,

Zarna Joshi, left, of SAFE, is helping Xiuhong Mair, right, to save Mair’s home from foreclosure.

refused to mediate with her.

“Even though I did everything the bank asked me to and I trusted them to treat me fairly,” said Mair, “they haven’t been fair {see SAFE cont’d on page 12}

The Inside Story COMMUNITY Jeff Chen trial postponed » P. 4

■

WORLD Obama all over Asia » P. 7

ON THE SHELF Mysteries & thrillers » P. 8

MUSIC Songwriter Priscilla Ahn » P. 9

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

asianweekly northwest

2

MAY 3 – MAY 9, 2014

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS

ICHS Bellevue clinic manager Jenny Tsinker and director of operations Sherman Lohn.

More than 100 people attended the International Community Health Services’ open house on April 22 at its new clinic, located at 1050 140th Ave. N.E. in Bellevue. The 6,500-square-foot clinic, which will officially open May 1, includes 10 medical exam rooms, 8 dental operatories, behavioral health rooms, staff offices, and parking. Among the visitors were community leaders, elected officials, potential patients, and ICHS staff, including clinic manager Jenny Tsinker and director of operations Sherman Lohn. 

Photo courtesy of Suzanne Pak

Gov. honors health assisters

Left to Right: Shelley Ko, vice president of KOAM TV, Sunny Cho, Chewon Lee, former strategic partnership specialist at the Washington State Insurance Commission, Lori Wada, operations supervisor for the Insurance Commission, (and newly appointed to the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs), and Suzanne Pak.

On April 25 at Impact Hub in Seattle, Gov. Jay Inslee,

Sen. Patty Murray, Health Benefit Exchange CEO Richard Onizuka, and Health Care Authority Director Dorothy Teeters thanked Health Benefit Exchange in-person assisters and board members for their outstanding work in helping individuals get health insurance through the Washington State Health Benefit Exchange. Among those recognized were Suzanne Pak and Sunny Cho of Cornerstone Medical Services (CMS). Pak is the chief operating officer for CMS and has recently been appointed to the Washington State Health Benefit Exchange’s Outreach Technical Advisory Committee.

Cho is the director of case management for CMS. She was recognized as an outstanding in-person assister, having enrolled over 600 individuals in expanded Medicaid and Qualified Health Plans, and trained and managed 10 other assisters. 

2 on AAPI advisory committee President Barack Obama announced on April 24 that he would appoint 14 individuals to the President’s Advisory Commission on Michael Byun Asian Americans and Diane Narasaki Pacific Islanders, to improve the quality of life of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders through increased participation in and access to federal programs. Two of the appointees are Diane Narasaki and Michael Byun.

Narasaki is the executive director of Asian Counseling and Referral Service. She co-founded and currently chairs the King County Asian Pacific Islander Coalition, and is co-chair of the Seattle Community Police Commission.

Formerly, she was director of the Northwest Labor and Employment Law Office, and has served on many healthcare committees, commissions, and councils. She has degrees from both the University of Washington and Seattle University.

Byun is executive director of the Ohio-based Asian Services in Action, Inc. He is a 2010 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Fellow. He received a B.A. and an M.P.A. from the University of Washington. 

VFA director starts new venture Vu Le, executive director of the Vietnamese Friendship Association (VFA), has announced he will step down in June, after serving nine years in the position. He will be leading the Rainier Valley Corps, a new project focused on strengthening the capacity of immigrant/refugee-led nonprofits, developing leaders of color, and amplifying the voice of communities of color. The project is guided by a partnership with VFA, United Way of King County, Vu Le and other organizations, so “I’m not going very far,” said Le. His tenure as director of VFA “has been a wonderful and life-changing experience,” Le said, “with lots of great memories. I will miss you all.

And I’ll miss the office. I might steal my chair.” 

Chinatown gets a new shine Photo by John Liu/NWAW

Photo courtesy of ICHS

ICHS presents new clinic

NAAAP and Seattle Central Community College Clean Up team celebrate a job well done.

Hundreds gathered at Hing Hay Park on April 26 for the 13th annual “Comcast Cares” spring clean event in the International District. Several community groups formed teams and went to work beautifying different areas, including the Asian Counseling and Referral Service food bank and the Danny Woo Community Garden. Graffiti was painted over and trashed picked up, giving Chinatown that freshly scrubbed feeling. Other organizations chipping in included CIDBIA, SCIDpda, InterIm and more. 

Congratulations

Erica Buckley

for being one of NWAW’s Rising Stars’ honorees!

Seattle Office 675 S. Lane St. Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98104 Office: (206) 622-1100 Toll free: (800) 404-6200 Fax: (206) 622-0688

Tacoma Office Wells Fargo Plaza Suite 1400 Tacoma, WA 98402 (appointment only) www.buckleylaw.net

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

MAY 3 – MAY 9, 2014

3

asianweekly northwest

■ community news

Trial postponed in Jeff Chen case of discrimination

By Jason Cruz Northwest Asian Weekly

The jury trial of ousted Medina Police Chief Jeffrey Chen has been postponed from the original date of April 28. The trial, which will take place in Western Washington District Court, is scheduled to begin July 28, 2014.

Chen filed a lawsuit on Dec. 16, 2011, against the City of Medina and City Manager Donna Hanson on the basis that he was dismissed from his job due to his race. Chen is Chinese American. He claimed that city officials and employees made derogatory statements about blacks and Asians, and disparaging remarks about Chen’s heritage.

In court filings, Chen allegated he was subjected to racial slurs, including being called a “regular Charlie Chan” and “Chinaman” by one of the City’s employees.

Chen was hired by the City of Medina on June 1, 2011, and became interim chief of police in early 2004. After internal conflict with the department, he submitted his resignation in December 2010, but revoked it six days later. He was then placed on administrative leave by the City and an internal investigation was launched.

The investigation by an independent investigator hired by the City, claimed evidence that Chen had voided citations for influential Medina residents, used his work vehicle to take a vacation, paid for gas with the City’s credit card, and tried to access the City’s e-mail archive.

In April 2011, he resigned.

The City of Medina argued that Chen was discharged due in part to his abuse of power in his position.

After 11 days of trial in March 2013, a jury found in favor of Chen and awarded him $2 million. This included back pay, loss of income, and $100,000 in

Jeffrey Chen

emotional damages. The jury found that race played a factor in the way that Chen was treated, and that it played a factor in his eventual dismissal in April 2011.

However, the Court, in a rare move and the first of its kind by Judge Thomas Zilly, set aside the jury verdict, finding that the jury’s award was not supported by the evidence presented at the trial. Chen’s $2 million verdict was wiped out and a new trial was ordered. Judge Zilly noted that Chen’s attorney intimated race was an issue when the Court originally ruled that any type of racial comments loosely attributed to former employees for the City had to be excluded because of its speculative nature.

While most judges allow the jury verdict to stand regardless of the weight of the evidence, Judge Zilly felt compelled to intervene by overturning the verdict.

The Court has put Chen’s attorney on notice that it will not tolerate further insinuations regarding race. Chen’s attorney recently submitted additional economic information on his behalf, which the City will evaluate in deposing the Chen’s expert witness. The City’s attorneys have objected to the use of the information, but the Court has allowed it for potential use at trial. 

42 years later, NU honors Japanese American student Northwest University (NU) in Kirkland will posthumously award an honorary bachelor’s degree to Yeiko Ogata, the school’s first Japanese American student. Research on the school’s multicultural history will be revealed during the ceremony, including how NU assisted Ogata in defiance of popular anti-Japanese sentiment during WWII. Yeiko Ogata was born in 1921 in Wapato, Wash., to immigrants Rinzo and Toriye Ogata. Her childhood was spent in Montana. In January 1942, she was a student at what was then the Northwest Bible Institute in the Roosevelt neighborhood of Seattle. It is now Northwest University in Kirkland.

She pursued education in Christian ministry.

In February 1942, U.S. President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, forcing relocation of all Japanese people along the West Coast to internment camps. Bainbridge Island received notice for Japanese evacuation on March 24, 1942, and a Seattle notice followed on April 21. Basic rights for U.S. citizens of Japanese descent were set aside as they were seen as potential enemies.

After just one quarter of study, records show that Ogata’s grades were excellent, despite taking a double class load.

“Northwest highly valued Yeiko as a student,” said NU President Dr. Joseph Castleberry. “Her race was seen as a benefit, not as a problem for the school.”

Photos in the school’s yearbook and a final note in her academic records cut short her NBI story, “Dropped Mar. 30 Japanese Evacuation”.

In January 2014, graduate student and independent historian Devin Cabanilla, who is a member of the Filipino American Historical Society, began researching NU’s archives. Cabanilla found online histories of Ogata as a student in Minneapolis, and theorized, and later confirmed, that NBI enabled Ogata’s transfer to sister-school North Central Bible Institute (NCBI) in Minneapolis, where Ogata finished a three-year diploma in ministry.

Photo courtesy of Dye Ogata

4

MAY 3 – MAY 9, 2014

Yeiko Ogata, with brothers Gen and Dye Ogata in Minneapolis, 1942

“Our first president, Henry Ness, was also a founder of North Central and likely arranged for her to be accepted as a student,” said Castleberry.

“It’s important to recognize that Yeiko would have graduated in Seattle if it hadn’t been for internment,” said Castleberry.

At Cabanilla’s suggestion, Castleberry petitioned the board of directors of Northwest University to confer a posthumous four-year Bachelor of Arts degree for Ogata, which the board unanimously accepted.

Cabanilla’s research of the 1930s and 1940s uncovered NBI’s diverse student body, including Native Americans, several African Americans, and many Filipinos, who lived together in nonsegregated housing despite the city’s racial codes.

“We do not frame this honoring of Yeiko as an apology, but rather as a fulfillment of all righteousness,” said Castleberry. “This is a celebration and reclaiming of a long forgotten NU heritage.”  The commencement ceremony is on Saturday, May 10, at 10 a.m. at Overlake Christian Church, 9900 Willows Rd. N.E., in Redmond.

Flowers & fun for the family

Jason Cruz can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

The second annual Seattle Luoyang Peony Festival will feature a new peony garden at the Seattle Chinese Garden, 6000 15th Ave. S.W. (at the north entrance to South Seattle College) May 3 and 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days.

There will be a lion dance, food booths, martial arts, art displays, music, kite flying and more. The event is free and fun for the whole family.  More info is at www.seattlechinesegarden.org.

KING COUNTY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ADVERTISEMENT King County is requesting Proposals from qualified firms interested in providing work orderbased multidisciplinary engineering design review, technical review and related services for the Wastewater Treatment Division.

The Request for Proposals, all addenda and current document holder’s list are available on the internet at http://www.kingcounty.gov/procurement.

The County will not mail, ship or fax RFPs and addenda.

Interested firms must register with the County at time of download and ensure that a valid contact email address is given. Notification of addenda will be sent to the registered email address. Failure to register will result in the Proposer not being notified of any addenda, which may result in rejection of the proposal.

The County may award up to two (2) contract(s) with a maximum price of $1,500,000 each. Each contract will have an initial period of performance of one (1) year. The County reserves the right to amend the contract duration in one (1) year increments up to a maximum of three (3) years, if funds remain.

Contract Title: Multidisciplinary Design Review and Technical Review Services Work Order Contract for the Wastewater Treatment Division Number: E00329E14 Proposals due: May 23, 2014 Time: 5:00 p.m.

Pre-proposal Meeting: May 6, 2014 Time: 3:30 p.m.

Location: Chinook Building, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, Washington, 1st Floor, Room 126 SUMMARY OF WORK: The work will consist of multidisciplinary engineering design review and technical review services for the Wastewater Treatment Division. The services relate to three main areas: design and technical review, facility and pipeline assessment/inspection, and value engineering/alternatives analysis.

SUBCONSULTANT OPPORTUNITIES: Provided for informational purposes only, following are subconsulting opportunities that may be available on this Contract: Multidisciplinary Design Review, Technical Review, Facility and Pipeline Assessment/ Inspection, Value Engineering/Alternatives Analysis

SCS UTILIZATION REQUIREMENTS: The Consultant shall ensure that at least 20% of the Total Price for all executed Work Orders, as amended, shall be performed by King County Certified SCS Firms over the life of the Contract. Evaluation points for meeting and/or exceeding the SCS utilization requirements will be provided to each Proposer responding to this requirement. King County will not evaluate the proposal and will not execute a contract with a Proposer who does not commit to meet at least the SCS utilization requirement as stated above.

QUESTIONS: Questions concerning this solicitation should be directed to Gib Myers, Contract Specialist at 206-263-9323, TTY Relay: 711. The Proposer may be requested to submit the question in writing. No verbal answers by County personnel will be binding on the County.

This information is available in alternate formats for individuals with disabilities upon advance request by calling 206-263-9400, TTY Relay: 711.

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ world news

MAY 3 – MAY 9, 2014

5

Slain U.S. doctor’s colleague recalls deadly Kabul attack KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — It was midmorning at Cure International Hospital in Kabul when Dr. Jerry Umanos took a phone call.

He told co-workers he had to meet some guests at the front gate and would be right back.

Minutes later, Umanos and two of his American guests were dead, gunned down by an Afghan police This undated photo provided by his family shows Dr. Jerry Umanos and security guard. his wife, Jan Schuitema.

A day after the April 24 attack at the hospital run by a U.S.-based Christian charity, those colleagues were mourning the pediatrician known as “Dr. Jerry,” who treated children and helped train Afghan medical workers.

An Afghan university official has identified the two Americans killed alongside Umanos as health clinic administrator Jon Gabel and his father, Gary. Jon Gabel’s wife was wounded in the attack. The younger Gabel ran a clinic at the university and worked with U.S. charity group Morning Star Development.

That Thursday began at the hospital like most other days,

■ national news

with Umanos, a 57-year-old Filipino American pediatrician from Chicago, talking with Afghan doctors and checking on the progress of the 30-to-40 children who are patients, according to Dr. Noor Ahmad, a physician at Cure. Umanos had been working in Kabul for at least seven years.

No one thought much about it when he received a call to come to the hospital’s front gate to escort some visitors inside, Ahmad said.

“Then, inside the hospital, a terrible sound of guns was heard,” he said.

By the time the terrified staff reached the scene, Umanos and two other men were dead, and an American woman was wounded in the left hand and chest. “It’s very terrible. I didn’t sleep last night,” Ahmad said.

Cure International Hospital has about 100 beds and a staff of 26 doctors and 64 nurses. It is located on the western outskirts of Kabul, near the hollowed-out ruins of Darulaman Palace that was destroyed by the civil war in the 1990s.

The hospital compound has a front gate and a security post set about 50 meters back, with the main building set farther back in a courtyard.

Umanos went to the gate at about 9:50 a.m. to greet and sign in his visitors, said Hafiz Khan, police chief of Kabul’s District 6.

As the party walked toward the hospital and approached

the security post, the police guard raised his Kalashnikov rifle and opened fire, Khan said.

“After that, he put the barrel of the Kalashnikov to his stomach and shot himself,” Khan said, confirming the account by Cure International. Earlier, an Afghan police spokesman had said the attacker was shot by other security forces.

Umanos’ colleagues saved his killer’s life by operating on his wounds. The shooter was sent to an Interior Ministry hospital, Khan said.

Identified as a low-ranking policeman named Aynuddin, the attacker has been on the police protection force for about 18 months, Khan said.

It was still unclear what prompted Aynuddin, who like many Afghans uses only one name, to open fire.

Such “insider attacks” are sometimes claimed by the Taliban insurgency as proof of their infiltration. Others are attributed to personal disputes or resentment by Afghans who have soured on the continued international presence in their country more than a dozen years after the fall of the Taliban’s ultra-conservative Islamic regime.

Foreign aid workers, contractors, and other civilians in Afghanistan are increasingly becoming targets of violence as the U.S.-led military coalition continues a withdrawal to {see UMANOS cont’d on page 14}

Report offers stats on APIs in U.S.

On the eve of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Center for American Progress (CAP) and AAPI Data released the first of a series of reports on the state of the Asian American and Pacific Islanders communities, featuring the most comprehensive research and analysis of its kind for what it calls “the fastestgrowing demographic in the United States.”

The reports, a joint project of CAP and AAPI Data, a project at the University of California, Riverside, examines how the growth of this group will affect a variety of key policy areas from immigration and education to health care and the environment.

According to the report, people of color will be in the majority in the United States by mid-century.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, or AAPI, are a significant factor in the nation’s changing demographics.

It states: · The fastest-growing states for Asian Americans are Nevada, Arizona, North Dakota, North Carolina, and Georgia, where the populations more than doubled between 2000 and 2012. · For Pacific Islanders, the states with the fastest growth are Arkansas, Alaska, Nevada, and Utah. · 55 percent of Asian Americans prefer an activist government that provides more services than a smaller government that provides fewer services. · Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are much more likely to support than oppose tax increases on high

California bill reignites affirmative action fight

Read the report series at www.americanprogress.org.

Assunta Ng

Account Executives

Sue Misao

rebecca@nwasianweekly.com

Han Bui

kelly@nwasianweekly.com

Publisher assunta@nwasianweekly.com

By Juliet Williams Associated Press

Editor editor@nwasianweekly.com

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – Nearly 20 years after California became the first state to ban the use of race and ethnicity in college admissions, a proposal to reinstate affirmative action has sparked a backlash that is forging a new divide in the state’s powerful Democratic Party and creating opportunity for conservatives.

The debate is unfolding in the nation’s most populous and most ethnically diverse state as an unrelated U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholds voters’ rights to decide whether racial considerations should factor into university selections.

The California proposal would allow voters to rescind their state’s affirmative action ban, but unexpected pushback from

Layout Editor/Webmaster han@nwasianweekly.com

Rebecca Ip Kelly Liao John Liu

john@nwasianweekly.com

Stacy Nguyen Editorial Consultant

The only weekly English-language newspaper serving Washington’s Asian community. The NW Asian Weekly has one simple goal: “To empower the Asian community.”

Photo by Tristan Harward

{see AFFIRMATIVE cont’d on page 12}

earners as a way to reduce the federal deficit. · Asian Americans are among the most open to diversity when compared to other racial groups. · 69 percent of Asian Americans consider themselves environmentalists, about 30 percentage points higher than the national average. · 58 percent of Asian Americans support a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. · K-12 AAPI enrollment from 1979 to 2009 grew fourfold and is expected to grow another 31 percent by 2019 — just short of the growth rate of Latinos at 36 percent. 

University of California, Berkeley

The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject any advertisement, letter or article.

Subscriptions cost $30 for 52 weeks of the NW Asian Weekly and $25 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

asianweekly northwest

6

MAY 3 – MAY 9, 2014

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR THU 5/1

WHAT: “Resist: Asian American Acts of Struggle” WHERE: Wing Luke Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle WHEN: 6 p.m.

COST: Free RSVP: rsvp@wingluke.org, 206623-5124

FRI 5/2 WHAT: “Rising Stars: Young Female Professionals Making a Difference” WHERE: China Harbor Restaurant, 2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle WHEN: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

COST: $35–$50 TICKETS: 206-223-0623 or rsvp@nwasianweekly.com INFO: womenofcolorempowered.com

SAT 5/3 WHAT: Bloom Gala WHERE: Seattle Marriott Waterfront Hotel, 2100 Alaskan Way, Seattle WHEN: 5:30 p.m.

TICKETS: $125 before 4/18, $150 after 4/18 INFO: 206-788-3672, christinel@ichs.com, ichs.com/ bloom WHAT: Asian Craft and Food Fair & Silent Auction WHERE: Blaine Memorial

United Methodist Church, 3001 24th Ave. S., Seattle WHEN: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

INFO: 206-723-1536 WHAT: Dedication of the Seattle-Luoyang Peony Garden WHERE: Seattle Chinese Garden, 6000 16th Ave. S.W., Seattle WHEN: 4:30–6:30 p.m.

RSVP: by 4/25 COST: $35 INFO: 206-934-5219, Katie@ seattlechinesegarden.org

SAT 5/3 & SUN 5/4 WHAT: Second Annual SeattleLuoyang Peony Festival WHERE: Seattle Chinese Garden, 6000 16th Ave. S.W., north entrance at South Seattle Community College WHEN: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

COST: Free, donations appreciated INFO: 206-934-5219, www. seattlechinesegarden.org, info@ seattlechinesegarden.org

SUN 5/4 WHAT: Kodomo no Hi (Children’s Day) festival with martial arts, storytelling, music, manga workshop, games, and more WHERE: Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington, 1414 S. Weller St., Seattle WHEN: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

COST: Free INFO: 206-568-7114 WHAT: API heritage celebration with music, arts, games, dances, contests WHERE: Seattle Center Armory WHEN: 11:45 a.m. – 5 p.m.

COST: Free INFO: apiheritage.com

WED 5/7 WHAT: Screening of “Dreams Unlimited” web series by Tay Siang and Val Tan Xin Hui WHERE: Wing It Productions, 5510 University Way N. E., Seattle WHEN: 6–8 p.m.

INFO: 206-659-9136, hello@ taynval.com

THU 5/8 WHAT: “You might be getting married on June 30 – did you

know?” Information on automatic conversions of domestic partnerships into marriages WHERE: Seattle City Hall, Bertha Knight Landes Room, 600 4th Ave., Seattle WHEN: 5:30–7 p.m.

COST: Free RSVP: mjohnson@legalvoice. org, 206-682-9552, extension 113

SAT 5/10 WHAT: Asian Pacific Islander Community Leadership Foundation 14th annual graduation dinner WHERE: 415 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle WHEN: 6 p.m.

COST: $100 INFO: 206-718-8249, aclfnw@ aclfnorthwest.org WHAT: Pickleball clinic WHERE: Asian Resource Center, 1025 S. King St., Seattle WHEN: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

COST: Free

INFO: 206-860-8533 or www. asianresourcecenter.org

SAT 5/13 WHAT: Evergreen Democratic Club luncheon: Sam Matsui of the Nisei Veterans Committee speaks about his internment at Minidoka and his service in the U.S. Army during WWII WHERE: Angelo’s Restaurant, 601 S. 153rd St., Burien WHEN: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

RSVP: fomalhaut2003@yahoo. com

THU 5/15 WHAT: CAPAA 40th anniversary with dinner, speakers, entertainment WHERE: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 17338 International Blvd., SeaTac WHEN: 5:30 p.m.

RSVP by 5/2: 360-725-5667, amy. van@capaa.wa.gov

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ PICTORIAL

MAY 3 – MAY 9, 2014

7

Obama bounces around Asia

P

From Korea, President Obama traveled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he was ceremoniously received in Parliament Square. He spoke at Istana Negara, greeted members of the U.S. Embassy in Malaysia, met with Prime Minister Najib Razak at Perdana Putra, spoke at the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Center, and participated in the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Town Hall at the University of Malaya.

On April 28, the president traveled to Manila, Philippines, where he was received in a ceremony at Malacanang Palace.

He met with President Benigno S. Aquino III, greeted members of the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, and had dinner with President Aquino at Malacanang Palace. The next morning, he spoke at Fort Bonafacio, laid a wreath at the Manila American Cemetery, and then went home. 

resident Obama launched his trip to Asia from Oso, Wash., where he visited the March 22 landslide victims’ families, friends, and rescue workers. From there, he began a week-long trip to four Asian countries.

First stop was Japan, where the president dined with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and met with Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace. He visited Akasaka Palace, spoke to students at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, saw the Meiji Shrine, and greeted members of the U.S. Embassy.

On April 24, the president went to Korea, where he laid a wreath at the National War Memorial, visited Gyengbok Palace, met with President Park at the Blue House, and participated in a Combined Forces Command Briefing at Yongsan Garrison.

President Barack Obama views the scene of the mudslide in Oso, Wash., from Marine One, April 22, 2014. The President later met privately with families who lost loved ones. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

President Ba rack Obama and President of the Blue Ho Park Geun -h us ye walk out Korea, April 25 e to walk in Little Garden , in Seoul, Re , 2014. Preside public of a tree she pla nt Pa rk sh owed Preside nted there on nt Obama her Inaugura House Photo tion Day. (Offi

by Pete Souz cia a) l White

d r Akihito an in ith Empero rial Palace ma talks w pe ba Im O e k th ac at ar o by call President B ring a state cial White House Phot du ko hi ic Empress M 2014. (Offi n, April 24, Tokyo, Japa ) Pete Souza

s to shake k Obama stretche ring a President Barac l held aloft du gir g un yo a of Sofitel the hand et and greet at the 14.

U.S . Embassy me pines, April 28 , 20 ilip Ph a, nil Ma uza) Hotel in Photo by Pete So e us Ho ite Wh (Official

All sale lasts from Friday 5/2 to Thursday 5/8

1221 S. King St., Seattle ∙ 206-720-0969 Monday—Sunday: 8:30 a.m.—8 p.m. lamsseafood.com

Hawaiian Rambutan $29.99/cs

Oroblanco $0.79/lb

$0.59 lb Ong Choy $1.99/lb

$1.69 lb

Honey Tangerine

$27.99 cs

Japanese Cucumber $0.99/lb

$0.69 lb

Roxy Dried Alimentary Paste 17.6oz $4.49

$3.59

Nang Fah Fried Onion 8oz $5.49

$4.49

Maggi European Seasoning 27oz $13.49

$11.99 Lee Kum Kee Hoisin Sauce 36oz $3.29

$2.69

Daily Farmer Condensed Creamer $1.39

$1.09

Offer only good while supplies last. We reserve the right to correct all printed errors.

Nong Shim Neoguri Spicy Seafood Noodle $12.99

$1.69/lb

Shang hai Bok Choy miu $1.69/lb

Hong Yuan Guava Candy 350g $1.99

$1.29 lb

Hae Seon Roasted Seaweed (2 types) $1.49

$1.49

Golden King Aloe Vera Drink 500ml $1.09

$0.89

$11.49

$1.39 lb

$1.19

Smooth Sailing Dong Rice Vermicelli 14oz $1.19

$0.89

Roxy Luncheon Meat (Ham & Pork) 12oz $2.79

$2.09

Beef Rib Bone $2.29/lb

Ba Nam Cali Mam Tom Hue 28oz $8.49/lb

$7.49 lb

Chicken Wing Drummet $2.59/lb

$1.99 lb

$2.39 lb

New York Steak $4.59/lb

Pork Belly $3.99/lb

$4.39 lb

Belt fish $3.49/lb

$2.49 lb

Steamed mackerel in basket $1.99/ea

$1.69 ea

White shrimp 50-60 Head-on

$4.99 lb $20.99/box $18.99 bx $5.99/lb

$3.79 lb

Fz featherback fish paste 14oz $4.49/ea

$3.69 ea

Marinated fish $3.99/lb

$2.49 lb

Fresh Sturgeon

$5.49 lb slice $7.49/lb $6.49 lb

whole $6.49/lb

ting bilateral mee in a restricted the Prime a participates at k am za Ob Ra ck l l ra du President Ba med Najib Ab , 2014. (Officia inister Moham Lumpur, Malaysia, April 27 with Prime M ence in Kuala M inister’s resid oto by Pete Souza) Ph White House

asianweekly northwest

8

MAY 3 – MAY 9, 2014

■ ON THE SHELF

Mysteries and thrillers Book recommendations

By Samantha Pak Northwest Asian Weekly

Inspector Singh Investigates: A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder

By Shamini Flint Minotaur Books, 2010

When Alan Lee, a big timber executive in Malaysia, is killed, police arrest his ex-wife, Chelsea Liew, as their prime — and only — suspect.

With the former Singaporean model on death row, the Singaporean authorities send inspector Singh to Kuala Lumpur to solve the murder. But like his Malay counterparts, Singh comes to the same conclusions after looking into the case. Alan was shot at pointblank range and Chelsea had the biggest motivation to pull the trigger, as the two were in a bitter custody battle over their three children.

To figure out the mystery, Singh must work with the Malaysian police, who are just as happy to work with him as he is with them — that is to say, not at all.

As the inspector digs deeper, more skeletons come out of Alan’s closet and it appears that Chelsea may not be the only one to have a reason to want to kill him.

Like any good mystery, “Malaysian Murder” is full of twists and turns that will have readers guessing until the very end about who the murderer is. Although Singh is the book’s title character, all of Flint’s characters are well developed and complex.

Flint weaves a web of mystery that is difficult to untangle — filled with religious conflicts, family drama, and love triangles. It has been a while since I have read a mystery with so much going on, but it will all make sense in the end. I’ve never been a fan of books that leave loose ends, so it is always satisfying to have everything work out like this.

In addition, Flint paints a vivid picture of Kuala Lumpur filled with its hazy skies, busy streets, and varied ethnic population.

For someone with very little knowledge of Malaysia, I found this aspect very interesting

■ arts & entertainment

Come out to the Seattle Center for API Heritage Month fun & festivities

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and one way Seattle is celebrating is with a free afternoon of family fun and cultural festivities from 11:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Seattle Center Armory on Sunday, May 4.

On tap are live performances, visual arts, hands-on activities, games, lion dances, drumming, martial arts, a marketplace, and a hum bow eating contest, featuring notables from around the city.

America’s Got Talent contestants Lions Ambition will be the headlining act. The Seattle-based, six-member team is known for captivating audiences with its blending of lyricism with soulful vocals. The band has garnered opening spots for such artists as Ludacris and Shwayze. Additional musical performances will include those by Rachel Wong, Natya, OKK Taiko, Au Lac Vovinam-Lion Dance, and others.

A highlight of the festival will be its first hom bow eating contest. Local dignitaries, including Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, community activist Bob (Uncle Bob) Santos, Tomio Moriguchi of Uwajimaya, King 5’s Lori Matsukawa, and Assunta Ng, publisher of the Northwest Asian Weekly and Seattle Chinese Post, will compete in what is sure to be an entertaining “who can eat hum bow the fastest” competition.

For more information about the Seattle

festival, see www.apiheritage.com

A little history

Asian heritage celebrations started locally in 1972 and were put on primarily by various Asian student coalitions at colleges and high schools, according to Al Sugiyama, director of Executive Development Institute. “In 1973, the Asian Student Coalition at the University of Washington started taking the celebration off campus in order to get the API communities involved,” said Sugiyama. “In the 1980s and 1990s, very few celebrations were occurring and none for the greater community.”

In 2002, the Asian Pacific Director’s Coalition (APDC) negotiated with the Seattle Center to hold an API Heritage Month celebration in the Center House, said Sugiyama, so non-APIs would attend.

“The typical family/person that comes to the Center doesn’t like to just sit and watch performances,” Sugiyama said. “They drop in and out of the Center House. That is why our acts are 10 to 12 minutes long. Our first event in 2002 was a success, so we have been organizing the celebration ever since.

APDC provided the seed money to start the event, but we have been self sustaining since, I believe, 2004.” {seeAPI cont’d on page 12}

and left me wanting to know more about the country.

The Case of the Deadly Butter Chicken

By Tarquin Hall Simon & Schuster, 2012

Delhi’s most private investigator, Vish Puri, is back and on the case. This time around, he’s been asked to investigate the murder of the elderly father of a top Pakistani cricket player, whose butter chicken had

been poisoned during a post-match dinner.

To solve the murder, Puri must infiltrate the world of illegal gambling and face down the Indian and Pakistani mafias — all the while trying to lose a few pounds to get his wife off his back about his health. The investigation also brings Puri to Pakistan, the last place he’d ever want to step foot in and a country in which many of his family members had been massacred during the partition of India in 1947. {see SHELF cont’d on page 13}

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

MAY 3 – MAY 9, 2014

9

Songwriter recalls lonely, idyllic childhood, & feeling ‘different’ The half Korean singer/songwriter Priscilla Ahn, coming to the Columbia City Theater on May 13, remembers her childhood in Pennsylvania as idyllic. “I started singing when I was 6,” she said. “One of the first songs I learned to sing was ‘If We Hold on Together’ from ‘The Land Before Time.’

My first public performance was when I was 7, singing ‘Away in a Manger’ in church.”

Ahn says she was “pretty aware” of her Korean heritage growing up. “My mom raised me on Korean food, and had many Korean friends, whose kids I played with,” she recalled. “We also visited Korea every other year. I think it subconsciously affected my life in a way that maybe I felt a little lonelier growing up. I grew up in a small city that was predominantly white and Latino.

“Then my family moved further out into the country, where the only ethnicity other than Caucasian was the four other Korean girls who happened to be adopted. So I always felt different in the way that I looked different from everyone else around me. But who knows, I may have felt lonely no matter what race I was! On the other hand, growing up in a multiracial, multicultural family really opened my eyes to how we as human beings are really no different from each other, no matter where or how we grew up. For the most part, we all have the same struggles, the same dreams.”

She took her mother’s maiden name, Ahn, for her professional surname, because her original last name, Hartranft, “is really too difficult to spell and pronounce.

Ahn is so much prettier and simpler. It’s also an ode to my Korean background, which is where I get my musical genes from.”

She knows her mother’s home country fairly well. “I used to visit Korea many times growing up because my

Courtesy of Priscilla Ahn

By Andrew Hamlin Northwest Asian Weekly

Priscilla Ahn

grandmother, uncles, and cousins all live there. I love Korea so much. When I go, it’s mostly to see my family, who live outside of Seoul. The few times I spent in Seoul were so much fun. So many creative artists, in music, fashion, and design.

I have a very warm fan base in Korea, but unfortunately, it’s not so big. I actually struggled with this fact, because Korea holds such a special and personal place in my heart. I wish that I had more opportunities to go there to perform.”

Her records are also released in Japan, and she’s just returned from her 12th visit there. “I feel that Japan is more welcoming to Western culture, so I’ve been lucky to be invited back many times to promote my music, as well as work on new projects exclusively for Japan,” Ahn said. “I’ve released three albums exclusively for Japan so far, so it’s definitely one of my larger fan bases.”

Her new album, “This Is Where We Are,” marks a turn toward an electronic sound for Ahn. “Whenever I make an album,” she muses, “I really have no preconceived idea or concept. I like to let things naturally flow out when I’m writing, and be whatever they’ll be. I think the biggest reason why this album ended up sounding so different from my previous two is because I wrote most of these songs on a keyboard, instead of my guitar. I bought a keyboard, learned how to use Logic Pro, and used their basic audio samples as a songwriting tool. It opened up a whole new world to me sonically, and all these new songs just came pouring out.”

Asked about previous trips to Seattle, she recalls, “The only venue I’ve ever played at before was The Triple Door, which I love. I’ve performed there three or four times now.

The audience has always been so warm and supportive. I absolutely love playing in Seattle.”

After the conclusion of her tour, she’ll go back to Japan, where she landed a plum gig singing the ending theme song to the new Studio Ghibli movie, “When Marnie Was There.”

“As a huge Ghibli fan, this really is a dream come true, so I’m really really, really looking forward to it!”  Ahn’s performance, with Matt Bishop, at Columbia City Theater (4916 Rainier Ave. S.) on May 13 is at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15–$18. For information, call 206-722-3009.

Andrew Hamlin can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com.

719 S King St., Seattle, WA 98104 206.623.5124 | wingluke.org

asianweekly northwest

10

MAY 3 – MAY 9, 2014

OPINION

■ editorial Celebrate your awesome, Asian heritage May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time for celebrations and festivities throughout the United States. And Asia, being the planet’s largest and most populated continent, is host to almost too many countries to name, each with its own rich culture. Most of them have representation in the United States, as do the many islands in the Pacific.

AAPIs make up less than 6 percent of the U.S. population, but, according to the 2010 Census, its Asian population grew faster than any other race group between 2000 and 2010.

The commemorative month originated in 1977, when U.S. Reps. Frank Horton of New York and Norman Y. Mineta of California introduced a House resolution that called upon the president to proclaim the first 10 days of May as Asian Pacific Heritage Week. The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.

The House resolution was followed by a similar Senate bill introduced by Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark

The Chin Quan Chan family of Seattle, c. 1911. (Photo from the U.S. National Archives: Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files, compiled ca. 1892 – ca. 1920)

Matsunaga. Both bills passed, and on Oct. 5, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a Joint Resolution designating the annual celebration. Twelve years later, President George H.W. Bush signed an extension making the week-long celebration into a month-long celebration. In 1992, the official designation of May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month was signed into law.

Two children of the Mochida family who, with their parents, are awaiting an evacuation bus in Hayward, Calif. The youngster on the right holds a sandwich given to her by one of a group of women who were present from a local church. The family unit is kept intact during evacuation and at War Relocation Authority centers, where evacuees of Japanese ancestry will be housed for the duration. (Photo from the U.S. National Archive: Central Photographic File of the War Relocation Authority, compiled 1942 – 1945)

We celebrate everyone with origins in the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and the Pacific Islands who’ve made the Northwest their home. See you at the Seattle Center on May 4! 

■ publisher’s blog Leroy Hood, a global award-winning biologist, and Xiao Dong Feng, a prominent Chinese artist, have forged a win-win solution, despite language barriers.

What Hood and Feng got is more than what they had expected. They both got what they wanted because they knew how to craft the art of negotiation.

At a reception honoring Feng, held at Lee’s condo in Belltown, Lee told the story of how he met Feng at Feng’s gallery in September 2013 in Suzhou, China. Lee was in China to give the keynote talk at one of Cold Spring Harbor’s Asia conferences. His plan was to visit a museum. A change of plans brought him to Feng’s studio instead.

It was love at first sight when Hood saw Feng’s painting of a gray mountain and clouds, and Hood said he would like to buy it. Recalling the incident, Feng said through a translator, “No, I can’t sell it to you.”

Feng couldn’t sell to Hood because Feng had a contract with a New York agent.

Hood had to buy through the agent if he really wanted it. That meant a lot of hassles.

The painting cost over $100,000.

The artist then said, “But I can give it to you.” And Feng named one condition: Hood was to buy Feng a business class ticket for him to visit Seattle.

“Deal!” said Hood.

Lee gave Feng one business class ticket (but has offered to give him a ticket to Seattle every year).

Want to get the inside scoop on the latest happenings of Seattle’s Asian American community?

Follow Publisher Assunta Ng’s blog at nwasianweekly. com under the Opinion section.

Photos by George Liu/NWAW

How a Seattle scientist and Chinese artist make deals

Painting by Xiao Dong Feng

It must have been a pretty funny joke told at a reception for Chinese artist Xiao Dong Feng, center, at the home of Leroy Hood, right, with the help of Dr. Qiang Tian, left, who translated.

Today, Feng’s painting, which has influences from Lao Tze, hangs in the living room of Hood’s home. At the time, Hood didn’t know the meaning of Feng’s painting, although he fell in love with it.

The painting’s implications of longevity is actually connected to Hood’s DNA and other scientific research in his company, Feng said. Hood’s Institute for Systems Biology (ISB), founded in 2000, has made many seminal discoveries in the fields of immunology, neurobiology, and

biotechnology. Most recently, ISB has been a leader in the development of systems biology and its applications to cancer.

Before the reception, ISB organized a seminar for Feng, who presented a show of his art and music. Another part of the program focused on how to integrate art and science.

The public knows about Hood’s achievements as a scientist, but doesn’t know that he’s an ardent art collector.

His condo is filled with many art pieces,

including a massive sculpture at the entrance of his front door.

Hood said that when it comes to art, he’s weak, meaning that he is more inclined to say yes and yield to artists’ requests. That actually is a strength, not a weakness, when it comes to supporting artists and promoting art.

Feng will likely be back to ISB next year for another seminar. Since their initial buyer-seller relationship, Hood and Feng now behave like old friends. Whoever said that right-brain people cannot relate to leftbrain folks was wrong! 

Drama continues with $15 indecision Anxiety struck the Asian business community on April 24, when Mayor Ed Murray was supposed to announce his plan in the afternoon for the $15 minimum wage.

No one knew exactly what the mayor wanted to do. Drama began in the morning, with a chain of e-mails flooding many ethnic businesses’ inboxes.

One wrote that an Income Inequality Advisory Committee member had leaked details about the mayor’s plan, and the news didn’t sound good.

“The mayor’s proposal is calling for non-franchised businesses (Subway, McDonald’s, etc.) to go to $15/hr in three years. All other small businesses, such as our community, needs to be $15 in five

years with everyone by $17.29/hr in 10 years.

“In essence, every piece of what you have been asking for has been totally ignored,” wrote the e-mail sender.

More than 10 members of the ethnic business coalitions showed up at the press conference within two hours’ notice, only to learn that it would be delayed until 3 p.m. The mayor didn’t come into the conference room until 3:20 p.m.

Many business owners had left to go back to work before the press conference started. Those who attended were surprised that Murray said he had no plans to announce due to the committee {see BLOG cont’d on page 15}

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

MAY 3 – MAY 9, 2014

11

OPINION

■ commentary

What is and why become a PCO?

By Washington State Rep. Cindy Ryu

In Washington state, the Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs) are the grassroots base of either the Democratic or the Republican Party and are vital to their successes. They serve as the political representative for their respective precincts. They form the Washington State Rep. Cindy Ryu basis for communicating the values and principles of either party to those within each of their precincts.

PCOs are non-paid, publicly elected officials who may serve for unlimited two-year terms. They are elected to office by the voters within their own precincts during the state’s primary election every even numbered election years. This year, the primary election will be Aug. 5. Once certified, they become the duly elected partisan representative for their precinct for their respective party.

PCOs are responsible for electing the leadership of their legislative district, county, and state party organizations. When there are midterm vacancies in the legislature, the PCOs of the same party as the last occupant of office elect their first, second, and third choices of candidates for appointment by the county council (or the governor when the district encompasses more than one county).

Several appointments occurred in 2013 and 2014, making the PCOs crucial in these appointments.

PCOs participate in their precinct and district caucuses, as well as the county and state conventions every two years. Democrats elect state convention delegates in the legislative district caucuses.

As part of the Electoral College process during a presidential election year, Democrats elect their national convention delegates at both the congressional caucuses and at-large delegates at their state conventions. Republicans may be elected by their fellow PCO delegates to serve as a state delegate at the Republican National Convention.

Fun facts

It looks like a lot of work to be a PCO, doesn’t it? Yes, you can spend a lot of time if you would like to. But most active PCOs invest two or three hours per month to attend the monthly meetings and volunteer a couple of half-days to “walk” their precincts during an entire election cycle. It is an excellent way to get to know your neighbors, become a part of the democratic process, and find friends with similar political values. You will become a part of an extensive political grassroots system which will be crucial to your success when and if you decide to seek higher office.

Benefits of becoming a PCO

You earned your election to office. It is easy to step up to leadership positions within the party with opportunities to contribute and practice your leadership skills. If you are seeking a judicial position years later, you cannot state which party you belong to, but you may state the fact that you were a Democratic or Republican PCO to the endorsement board.

How do I become a PCO?

Find your county here: http://www.sos.wa.gov/ elections/auditors.aspx and look for Elections, Candidate Filing.

King County online filing occurs from May 12 to May 16: http://www.kingcounty.gov/elections/ candidatefiling.aspx.

2014 Precinct Committee Officer filing information can be found at http://your.kingcounty. gov/elections/candidate/pdfs/PCO-filing.pdf.

Snohomish County candidate filing information can be found at http://wa-snohomishcounty. civicplus.com/1989/Candidates-Political-Parties.

Online filing occurs from May 12 to May 16: http://www. snohomishcountywa.gov/228/Candidate-Filing.

File, win

If you can’t file online or in person, you may file by mail.

Filing closes at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 16. If no one else files, you win automatically! If you must campaign, it is easy — doorbell (visit) 50 of your neighbors and tell them that you will be on the ballot. If they like you, they don’t have to be of the same party, since they can cross over on the same ballot, but make sure they don’t vote twice for PCO. You most likely will win with some amount of campaigning.

A lot of people vote the first weekend after the ballots “drop” about three weeks before Election Day. So get out by that weekend with a short explanation of who you are and why you want to be a PCO on a “Doorbelling Piece.”

If no one answers the door, leave a “Hi, I came by to meet you” note.

Appointment to be a PCO

Missed the election cycle? Then check in with your preferred party. Many precincts go unfilled and you may be appointed to this office upon the recommendation of the legislative district to the county organization. If it is already occupied, then you can “adopt” another precinct, show the whole world that you are a good party person, and you will win over your party leadership and members, and may be asked to run for higher office!  (Text adapted from the 47th District Republicans’ description of the PCO and the Washington State Democratic Central Committee) Washington State Rep. Cindy Ryu represents the citizens of the 32nd Legislative District, which includes northwest Seattle, Shoreline, south Edmonds, Woodway, west Mountlake Terrace, and Lynnwood. In 2008, she was elected as the first female Korean American mayor in the United States.

asianweekly northwest

12

MAY 3 – MAY 9, 2014

{SAFE cont’d from page 1}

{AFFIRMATIVE cont’d from page 5}

to me and they haven’t corrected their wrongs. America can do better than this.”

Marilyn Takamaru, a single mother of a disabled son, works full-time to pay for her son’s medical bills. She was unable to attend the protest because she was at work. Takamaru claims Wells Fargo “gave her predatory loans” when she refinanced her home, leading to her home being worth far less than her loan amount.

When the housing market crashed in 2008, she sought and was granted a loan modification, but it did not reduce her principal, and her payments are set to increase dramatically in 2015.

“I desperately need principal reduction so that I can afford to pay to stay in my home that I’ve owned for three decades,” Takamaru said. “Wells Fargo must negotiate with me because I refuse to tolerate their predatory banking anymore.”

In response, Wells Fargo spokesperson Lara Underhill said Wells Fargo’s goal is to “exhaust all efforts” to keep borrowers in their homes with foreclosure being the last option.

“Ms. Mair’s situation is an unfortunate one,” said Underhill. “Regrettably, despite our numerous outreach efforts beginning in 2009 and continuing through this year, we were not successful in finding an option that would allow her to retain the property or avoid foreclosure.

Modifications have certain guidelines that must be followed, including certain housing and debt ratios. While we were unable to reach an affordable payment on Ms. Mair’s loan during past reviews, we would be glad to review her loan again should her situation change.”

According to SAFE, onethird of Seattle mortgages are underwater, many of them minorities.

“It’s pretty obvious what the banks are doing,” said Joshi, “and who they’re doing it to.” 

families of Asian descent who mobilized through Chinese-language media, staged rallies, and organized letter-writing campaigns has all but killed the measure this year.

“I was surprised,” said Sen. Ed Hernandez, D-Covina, the author of the bill. “I didn’t expect it.”

Asian American students are enrolled at many of California’s top schools in numbers far greater than their proportion of the state’s population. Critics of Hernandez’s plan worry that qualified students would be dismissed simply because of their ethnicity.

The ensuing debate has reopened an old fissure over the role of race in college admissions, divided Democrats along racial lines, and created an opportunity for the California GOP. California voters were the first in the nation to ban the use of affirmative action in university admissions in 1996. Hernandez’s proposal was his fourth attempt to undo that action, which he says harms black and Latino students.

A similar voter-approved ban in Michigan was upheld by the nation’s highest court in April, but that ruling is not expected to change the discussion in California, where the prohibition is likely to remain in place independent of the court decision.

Hernandez’s proposal sailed through the state Senate in January on a Democratic Party-line vote. Legislative leaders, however, pulled the bill before it could be debated in the Assembly after the harsh reaction.

The controversy highlights the complexity of racial politics in California, where the public school system has struggled for decades to improve achievement. Critics of the affirmative action ban say it’s part of a school system that fails black and Latino students.

Blacks and Latinos are more likely to attend the state’s lowest-performing schools than their white or Asian counterparts, affecting their ability to be accepted into four-year

universities, where they are underrepresented.

Rather than debate Hernandez’s proposal, lawmakers now plan to hold hearings about affirmative action and other aspects of campus equality.

The state’s governing party has split along racial lines. Three Asian American senators, all Democrats who were seeking higher office at the time, withdrew their support of the bill after being bombarded by public criticism.

Six black and Latino lawmakers have since withdrawn their endorsements of Sen. Ted Lieu, who is Chinese American, in a Los Angeles-area congressional race where he faces another Democrat in the primary. And some black and Latino Assembly members this month withheld votes from unrelated legislation about the state’s carpool program

by Assemblyman Al Muratsutchi, D-Torrance, who is Japanese American.

The Senate’s Democratic leader, President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, acknowledged the animosity. He said that he wanted “a serious and sober examination” of affirmative action, adding “I am deeply concerned anytime one ethnic group turns on another.”

In recent statistics, the University of California system said 36 percent of its in-state freshman admissions offers for fall 2014 are to Asian American students, 29 percent are for Latino students, 27 percent are for white students, and 4 percent of offers are to black students.

At some campuses, including UC San Diego and UC Irvine, Asian American students accounted for more than 45 percent of admitted freshmen last year. Hispanics have slightly overtaken whites as the largest ethnic group in California, although both groups represent about 39 percent of the population.

Asian Americans — a population that includes Filipinos, Chinese, Indians, Japanese, Vietnamese, Laotians, and others — comprise about 13 percent. Blacks are less than 6 percent.

Hernandez said nothing in his proposal would impose quotas based on ethnicity, which

{API cont’d from page 8}

Nationally speaking

On the national scene, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI) will kick off Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at the U.S. Department of the Interior, celebrating the community’s contributions to the country. During the ceremony, members of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders will be ceremonially sworn in.

The theme for this year’s Heritage Month is “I Am Beyond,” according to the White House, signifying “a spirit of overcoming obstacles and achieving goals.

“With AAPIs on the rise across the country and emerging fast in an increasingly more diverse America, officials will announce their plans for AAPIs to ‘go beyond’ with the help of the new commissioners,

TAITUNG

have been ruled unconstitutional. He said race, ethnicity, and gender would be added to a list of factors that college admissions officers already consider, such as extracurricular activities and family income.

“Rather than create a wedge, my idea is to have a real public debate about this,” he said.

“What’s wrong with talking about race?”

Asian voters are a rising political force in California, said Karthick Ramakrishnan, a political science professor at the University of California, Riverside and director of the National Asian American Survey.

While they typically lean Democratic, the voting bloc is not strongly loyal to either party, meaning “if you’re trying to either win or defeat a statewide proposition, you ignore Asian American voters at your peril,” Ramakrishnan said.

Republicans have struggled to attract younger and non-white voters since 1994, when Republican Gov. Pete Wilson supported Proposition 187, a proposal that banned immigrants in the country illegally from access to most social services, and the constitutional amendment that prohibited the use of racial considerations in education, state hiring, and contracting, Proposition 209 in 1996. Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and Washington subsequently adopted similar bans.

Republicans are now capitalizing on the controversy by targeting upwardly mobile Asian Americans. Peter Kuo, a Republican candidate for state Senate, has been outspoken on the issue during his campaign for an eastern San Francisco Bay Area district that is 40 percent Asian American.

“The Democratic Party is the party using the name of equality and diversity to lower the standard and preventing us from going into higher education,” said Kuo, who came with his family from Taiwan when he was 14.

“I can’t go and tell my kids, ‘Hey, because you’re Asian, you can’t get into the school you want,’” he said. 

said the White House. “The Commission is charged with working to improve the quality of life for AAPIs through increased participation in and access to federal programs. The members will advise the president on innovative ways to engage AAPIs across the country and to improve their health, education, environment, and wellbeing.”

The commissioners participating in the ceremony are Chris Lu, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor; Sri Srinivasan, United States Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit; Rhea Suh, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management, and Budget, U.S. Department of the Interior; Kiran Ahuja, Executive Director, White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; Konrad Ng, Director, Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center; and Gautam Raghavan, Adviser, White House Office of Public Engagement. 

www.buckleylaw.net

R E S TA U R A N T

Established in 1935

• Catering • Cocktails • Valet parking • Banquet facilities Hours Sun.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m. - 1:30 a.m.

655 S. King St. Seattle 206-622-7714 or 622-7372

Seattle Office 675 S. Lane St. Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98104 Office: (206) 622-1100 Toll free: (800) 404-6200 Fax: (206) 622-0688

Tacoma Office Wells Fargo Plaza Suite 1400 Tacoma, WA 98402 (appointment only)

Our law firm has recovered over $180 million for clients

Our Attorneys & Staff Proudly Serving the Community

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ astrology

MAY 3 – MAY 9, 2014

13

For the week of May 3–May 9, 2014

By Sun Lee Chang Rat — Confused by the recent actions of a loved one? Keep the lines of communication open and eventually the reason will become clear.

Dragon — A difference of opinion can happen even between the best of friends. Sometimes, you just have to agree to disagree.

Monkey — Feeling a little older than you actually are today? Try a fun activity that has no age limit, like blowing bubbles at the park.

Ox — You are off to a good start. Carry that momentum forward by sticking to the plan that you have laid out.

Snake — There are many different routes to get where you want to go. Choose the one that suits you.

Rooster — Are you worried about how your latest idea will be received? Think it through before presenting it to the group.

Tiger — If you collect without organizing, you could wind up with a mess. Figure out a system that allows you to see at a glance what you have.

Rabbit — Don’t be in such a hurry to move from one activity to the next. You may miss something in your haste.

Horse — Are you having a hard time articulating what you want? Perhaps it is because you are not yet sure what it is.

Goat — You may have more resources than you think. Ask yourself if you are harnessing the full potential of what you have now.

Dog — Good things are in store for you today, as long as you are receptive to them.

Pig — Avoid changing your look too much for an upcoming event. Letting your true self shine through is the style to strive for.

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 Monkey 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004 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 cont’d from page 8} While the investigation brings him across the border, Puri also learns that he has a much closer connection to the case than he’d ever imagined. But in order to solve the case, the private investigator has to bite the bullet and work with the one person he swore never to work with, his Mummy-ji. After all, private detectives are not mummies.

Equal parts intrigue and amusement, “Butter Chicken” will have readers eagerly turning pages — whether it’s to find out who the killer is or to see more of Mummy-ji’s antics. I especially enjoyed seeing how Puri is constantly underestimating his mother, despite the fact that her knowledge and past experiences prove vital on the case. As clever as our protagonist is, it’s clear that he came by it honestly and can still learn a thing or two from Mummy-ji.

As with previous Vish Puri mysteries, there is more than what meets the eye and you never know what leads an individual to become the person they are and to do the things they do. Hall constantly keeps readers guessing who the killer is, as any good mystery writer should.

A Nail Through the Heart

By Timothy Hallinan Harper, 2008

After writing a series of travel books about various countries in Southeast Asia, Poke Rafferty decides to settle in Bangkok after falling in love with the city. He has also fallen in love with two females, including Rose, a former go-go dancer he wants to

景墓園

View Cemetery

雅圖 首 創 墓園☆

年起服務西北岸社區 非營利獨立協會

統式紀念碑

地下室 •骨灰靈位 、紀念碑 •土葬福地

6-322-1582

h Ave East (North Capitol Hill)

marry, and Miaow, a former street child he wants to adopt.

Things seem to be going great until Poke — nice guy that he is — agrees to help a few people. First, he takes in Superman, a troubled young boy who had taken Miaow under his wing when she was still living on the streets. The only problem is that Poke is constantly warned about how dangerous Superman is by those who know of him and of his reputation. Second, Poke agrees to help an Australian woman look for her missing uncle. His only lead is the uncle’s new maid, who has also gone missing. This leads Poke to his third agreement in finding a thief set on blackmailing the woman he stole from — a woman who happens to strike fear in the hearts of everyone she knows.

“Nail” takes Poke and readers through the dark side of Bangkok, a world filled with corrupted cops, sex trade, and more.

Hallinan doesn’t sugarcoat things and reminds us that danger can be lurking around any corner. But on the other side of things, Hallinan also shows readers the everyday life of a new family trying to find its way — something any of us could relate to. With Rose reluctant to give up her newfound independence and Miaow slowly beginning to trust Poke more and more, it is nice to see a touch of normalcy in a world that seems to have gone mad. 

Lake View Cemetery Seattle’s Pioneer Cemetery Est. 1872 An Independent, NonProfit Association

Featuring

Traditional SidebySide Monument Properties

206-322-1582

1554 15th Ave East (North Capitol Hill)

KING COUNTY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ADVERTISEMENT King County is requesting Proposals from qualified firms interested in providing structural engineering services and bridge design for a variety of King County Road Services Division transportation projects on a Work Order basis.

The Request for Proposals, all addenda and current document holder’s list are available on the internet at http://www.kingcounty.gov/procurement. The County will not mail, ship or fax RFPs and addenda.

Interested firms must register with the County at time of download and ensure that a valid contact email address is given. Notification of addenda will be sent to the registered email address. Failure to register will result in the Proposer not being notified of any addenda, which may result in rejection of the proposal.

The County may award up to one (1) contract with a maximum price of $350,000. The contract will have an initial period of performance of one (1) year. The County reserves the right to amend the contract duration in one (1) year increments up to a maximum of three (3) years, if funds remain.

Contract Title: Work Order Bridge and Structural Engineering and Design (FHWA) Number: E00323E14 Proposals due: May 30, 2014 Time: 5:00 p.m.

Pre-proposal Meeting: May 6, 2014 Time: 9:00 a.m.

Location: King Street Center, 201 S Jackson Street, 3rd Floor, Seattle WA 98104, Conference Room 3E SUMMARY OF WORK: This work is funded, in part, by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and applicable federal requirements apply.

The selected consultant will provide structural engineering and bridge design services on a work order basis for a variety of transportation projects, such as conceptual, preliminary, and final designs for bridge seismic retrofit; rehabilitation, load upgrade, scour, and repair, structural designs for new bridge, culvert, and retaining wall; bridge load rating analysis and report; bridge condition inspection, and related engineering and environmental services.

TITLE VI COMPLIANCE: King County in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, subtitle A, Office of the Secretary, Part 21, nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs of the Department of Transportation issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all proposers that it will affirmatively insure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit proposals in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color or national origin in consideration for an award.

SUBCONSULTANT OPPORTUNITIES: Provided for informational purposes only, following are subconsulting opportunities that may be available on this Contract: geotechnical engineering; traffic engineering; hydraulic engineering; environmental engineering; land surveying; bridge condition inspection; and public involvement services.

WMBE/DBE PARTICIPATION: There is no minimum goal for Women Minority Business Enterprise (WMBE)/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation for this federally-funded project. King County encourages disadvantaged, minority, and women-owned consultant firms to respond.

QUESTIONS: Questions concerning this solicitation should be directed to Mary Lee, Contract Specialist at 206-263-9381, email: mary.lee@ kingcounty.gov, TTY Relay: 711. The Proposer may be requested to submit the question in writing. No verbal answers by County personnel will be binding on the County.

This information is available in alternate formats for individuals with disabilities upon advance request by calling 206-263-9400, TTY Relay: 711.

asianweekly northwest

14

MAY 3 – MAY 9, 2014

{UMANOS cont’d from page 5} be complete by the end of the year.

So far this year, at least 21 foreign civilians have been killed in attacks in Afghanistan, while 18 NATO troops have been killed, according to an Associated Press tally. Afghan civilians still suffer the most, with 2,959 killed in 2013, according to the U.N.

“Afghanistan is definitely in the top five of dangerous countries for aid workers,” said Larissa Fast, an academic at Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, who has written a book about risks for humanitarian workers.

The U.S. Embassy called those killed at Cure Hospital “humanitarian workers dedicated to improving the lives of Afghans by providing a full range of medical

Service Directory

The American Legion Cathay Post 186

Serving the community since 1946

cathaypost@hotmail.com SUCCESS SECRETS REVEALED! Selecting ONLY a few pre-qualified people to receive SPECIALIZED success training. For a FREE CD, and to find out if you have what it takes, please call 206-349-2808. English speaking is a must.

PS-ask about a FREE CRUISE.

206-625-9104

www.herrmannscholbe.com

» Personal Injury » Airline Disasters » Bicycle Accidents

» Wrongful Death » Dog Bites » Pedestrian Accidents

Mandarin, Cantonese & Korean Interpreter available

services, including reconstructive surgery to children with physical disabilities, and pre- and postnatal care for mothers.”

Jan Schuitema, Umanos’ wife, said in Chicago that he always wanted to work with children and became fascinated with Afghanistan when visiting in 2006.

“What he would really want people who care about this to know is that he really did love Afghanistan and the Afghan people,” said Schuitema, a teacher who also spent time teaching in Afghanistan.

She added that while violence in the country was “a reality,” the couple did not live in fear.

Ahmad said the hospital had temporarily stopped taking in new patients, but continued to treat those still there — about 100, including 30 children who were Umanos’ patients.

“We are just so, so sorry. I can’t get it out of my mind,” Ahmad said. “He trained more than 50 Afghan doctors. He was just like our brother.”

Cure’s CEO Dale Brantner wrote on the charity’s website, “Dr. Jerry Umanos, had faithfully served the Afghan people as a pediatrician at the hospital for more than seven years, caring for the most vulnerable members of society — children and premature infants — and helping them survive the harsh realities of childbirth in Afghanistan. We may never know the number of future doctors, teachers, or law enforcement officers who were given the chance to live full and healthy lives because of the work of the CURE International Hospital staff and the service and sacrifice of Jerry and his family.”  Associated Press writer Amir Shah in Kabul contributed to this report.

MAY 3 – MAY 9, 2014

15

Photos by George Liu/NWAW

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

When the mayor finally was ready to announce the $15 recommendation, there was nothing to announce. Behind him, opposing sides of the issue held signs that announced their opinions clearly.

{BLOG cont’d from page 10} members’ inability to compromise. Murray said he would like to have a super majority on the proposal. If the committee cannot compromise, he will come up with his proposal in a few weeks.

Did the mayor ignore the minority small businesses’ concerns?

“I believe the mayor is totally ignoring our community needs and concerns by stating the $15 is going to happen for sure without obstacles,” said David Leong, owner of Aquabar Restaurant and Northwest Kung Fu and Fitness.

“He then said the CPI (consumer price index) will determine the following increases. I asked the mayor, “Why isn’t the CPI used now to determine the wage increase? Why only after $15? He basically shut me down by saying, “This is only a press conference” and bypassed my question, another example of [how he is] ignoring our community.”

Yen Lam, owner of Lam’s Seafood, said, “The mayor didn’t take into consideration the devastating impact [the $15/hour minimum wage] has on minority businesses and immigrants’ jobs.”

I-Min Liu, owner of Oasis, said he was disappointed that Murray said ‘no’ to what the Asian community had proposed, such as a lower wage during training periods and a longer phase-in period for $15 wage. In everything the City proposes, “there should be a compromise,” he said.

Liu continues, “The City offers no compromise, and just

Several opponents to the $15 wage snuck into Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant’s press conference after the mayor spoke, including sign-holders Susanna Tran and David Leong.

wants to push $15 wage through. The City is going to get more revenue out of increases from payroll tax (with $15 wage) and sales tax (due to merchants raising prices to cover the $15 wage).”

Liu said the Asian community should push for the City to give minority businesses some tax relief and assistance.

Leo Chan, owner of Jade Garden Restaurant, said, “City officials said we could raise prices to cover our increased payroll. Not true. Recently, our restaurant raised 10 cents in our dim sum items, and all of our customers noticed immediately and complained.”

Taylor Hoang, owner of Pho Cyclo Café, said she was also disappointed that Murray has completely left immigrants out of his proposal. “Maybe we are not important enough.

He came to the International District to meet with us (on April 15). It was more like a courtesy. Our voice is not being heard.”

Sawant undermined the mayor

Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant, a proponent of $15 wage, also scheduled a press conference immediately following the mayor’s conference inside City Hall.

That’s convenient to us media. We just moved five flights down after the mayor’s conference. But what signal is she sending? That she can go over the mayor’s head anytime she wants. That she could manipulate the media and rebuke the mayor’s words, right under his roof, just minutes apart.

One elected official said Sawant is being ungracious

Supporting Small Business It has always been important for business owners, large and small, to get the word out about their businesses.

Port of Seattle’s Small Business Program helps promote awareness and increased access for small businesses, helping minority, women, and disadvantaged firms achieve greater success. It’s easy and free to apply online to be listed on the port’s business rosters. www.portseattle.org/About/Organization/Pages/Small_Business Office of Social Responsibility osr@portseattle.org www.portseattle.org

in her gesture. How she got to the Seattle City seat is the opposite of being gracious, the official explained.

A crisis unites the ethnic business community “How this $15 wage thing brought all the ethnic small businesses together was the most amazing sight (on April 23 at the New Hong Kong Restaurant),” said Hoang. “I have never seen anything like that before. We [minority businesses] were disconnected, we don’t see eye to eye [many times], but we came together, sat together, and banded together, as a community all bound by a common threat.

“We should stand together, we need to come together, be stronger, and make our voices louder about how much the immigrant and minority business community have added to the vibrancy of Seattle. The loss of the immigrant community will have a huge effect on Seattle.”

Even though many complain that the mayor doesn’t listen or care about small businesses dead or alive, minority businesses cannot be silenced.

The mayor’s proposal still has to go through the City Council. Sally Clark, council president, will play an important role.

Minority businesses have to get organized, and be ready when the council is going to act.

Don’t give up hope. It’s still not done yet. Learn from Sawant. Silence is not a strategy. Everywhere Sawant goes, she raises hell. People perceive that all the other City officials are afraid of her!!! How about that! 

asianweekly northwest

16

MAY 3 – MAY 9, 2014

{$15/HOUR cont’d from page 1} statements — in some cases — to the city’s elected officials.

“I’ve been in the restaurant business for 58 years,” said Faye Hong, owner of Hong’s Garden in Renton. “I worked from being a busboy to a business owner.” Hong said raising the minimum wage from $9.32 to $15 an hour would have “a disastrous effect on our community.” While the proposed $15 minimum wage for Seattle would not apply to his restaurant, Hong said if it did, he would close his restaurant within one month.

Hong and other small business owners say the $15 minimum wage represents a higher labor cost that, when paired together with their low profits, can lead to their businesses closing down. Raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour would, they say, have a less harmful effect on large businesses in downtown Seattle with much higher profits.

David Leong, second vice president of the Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce, spoke about the $15 minimum wage and local economics. He said, “The world has been in a three-to-five year recession. Has the economy, the GDP gone up 50, 60 percent? I don’t think so.”

“The numbers, in my opinion, don’t really add up, and I think a lot of people will agree with me,” he added. “But, the world is still struggling. The restaurants are struggling down here.”

{CAPAA cont’d from page 1} SeaTac. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.

The program will feature former directors Mitch Matsudaira and Vivian Luna and former commissioners Sulja Warnick, Lua Pritchard, and Jagdish Sharma.

According to Michael Itti, executive director of CAPAA, more than 100 community members have volunteered to serve as commissioners since 1974. Through the work of commissioners and staff, CAPAA has made state government more responsive to the needs of APA’s diverse communities.

The history

On Feb. 26, 1974, the 43rd Washington State Legislature formally created the Washington State Commission on Asian American Affairs as a state agency. Due to pervasive discrimination and barriers in accessing government services, a group of local API community members met with the governor in 1971 to examine a broad range of issues facing the API population in the areas of employment, education, social services, community development, immigration, and civil rights.

In January 1972, Governor Evans created the Governor’s Asian Advisory Council by executive order.

On Feb. 26, 1974, the 43rd Washington State Legislature formally created the State of Washington Commission on Asian American Affairs as a state agency.

Former acting executive director of CAPAA Brian Lock feels that the 40th anniversary of CAPAA shows that the Washington State Legislature and past and current governors have recognized the importance of the API voice in key legislative and budget decisions.

Lock explained that there were a number of times that the legislature had pushed for the reduction or elimination of not just CAPAA, but other ethnic state commissions. However, he said, “CAPAA has endured and provided opportunities for the API community and business leaders to serve on the commission and provide input into the direction of some capital budget decisions, minority contracting, workforce diversity, health care access, recognition of API veterans, bilingual education, and helping build race relations and tolerance.”

Notable API community leader Alan Sugiyama, who played a role in creating the initial council, said, “The community always rallied to continue the work of the commission… it was successful only because the community stepped up to say it should continue as a separate entity.”

A look at some milestones

Former director Vivian Luna joined the

Clark later said, “We had a noon-time session that was all restaurant-focused about two weeks ago.”

“One of the things we didn’t talk about in that conversation was what else the employer has to do based on the pay scale. That came in some e-mails later on …

So, that was really helpful for me to be reminded about the FICA, the Social Security, all of Medicare, all of that that is predicated on what you’re paying.”

After hearing the thoughts of a few more small business owners, Godden mentioned one alternative to the $15 minimum wage. She said, “People are looking at a possible phase-in (of 10 years starting at $10.35 an hour, an ECC proposal) and also there is a possibility that we would separate small businesses from large businesses, so that we would not hurt the small businesses.”

Another ECC proposal is a business and occupation tax credit for small businesses with 75 employees or less.

Godden assured the audience that “we do hear you, and we will do our very best to make sure that you have a survivable business.”

Many small business owners pointed out that the people that would be most affected by the $15 minimum wage would be those with little or no work experience.

Yen Lam, owner of Lam’s Seafood Market, told the city councilmembers, “We’re the ones that employ the immigrants. We’re the ones that employ entry-level (immigrants). We welcome them to our doors. We teach them skills, and they move on to different things, and a lot

commission because it was an opportunity to affect change from a legislative standpoint.

“Joining the commission opened up a whole door of opportunities to look at things from a global perspective, and see how it was affecting folks in the state,” she said.

During her tenure on the commission, Luna worked with the census bureau to understand the demographic profiles of the API communities for the state of Washington. She also helped organize a conference on Asian stereotypes in the media to hold a public discussion.

In 1995, Governor Mike Lowry signed a bill to change the Commission’s name to the State of Washington Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, to include Pacific Islanders. Lock was acting director at the time from 1990 to 1994, and worked with David Della, then a deputy staff member under Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, to change the name.

“CAPAA has endured and adjusted to the changing issues impacting API communities quite well over the past four decades… I also feel CAPAA has helped build bridges in state government that has allowed APIs to come in and succeed in management and administrative positions, as well as cabinet-level positions,” Lock said.

The creation and inclusion of the Commission validated the work and effort of the Asian Americans, Sugiyama added.

Current executive director of CAPAA Michael Itti first got involved with the organization three years ago on a grant project led by commissioner Frieda Takamura and Sili Savusa to raise the voices of APIs around addressing the educational opportunity gaps.

“At CAPAA, I’m able to continue working on improving education for APIs, but also address health and economic disparities by working with commissioners and community leaders across the state,” he said.

“CAPAA is a voice for our API communities in Olympia. We advocate for policies to make government more culturally competent and accessible to all. We are working to achieve goals in Governor Inslee’s Results Washington initiative that will reduce underage drinking and marijuana use, increase state utilization of minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses, and address health disparities,” Itti said.

Looking ahead

“I hope that CAPAA is successful in mobilizing API youth in public service

of them stick with us for 10, 15 years.”

In an April 15 petition entitled “Seattle’s Minimum Wage Increase and the Adverse Affect on Immigrant Communities,” several minority business owners agree with Lam’s point, adding, “…to maximize our bottom line, efficiency, and economy of scale, we will opt to hire the more experienced individuals. If survival of the fittest prevails with this minimum wage increase, where will the unhired go?”

Leong asked the city councilmembers, “What if 50,000 more people decide to go on unemployment? How is that going to benefit the city?”

The Seattle City Council will likely take action on the proposed $15 minimum wage either by the end of May or mid-June, according to Clark.

The ECC is made up of the Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the Korean American Chamber of Commerce-Washington State, the Greater Seattle Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce, and the King County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. 

For more information about the Ethnic Community Coalition, go to https://www.facebook.com/pages/EthnicCommunity-Coalition/629971780418977.

James Tabafunda can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.

and civic engagement. Government is still underrepresented by APIs at all levels, whether it is state, federal, or local,” Lock said.

“I’d like to see the Commission take an aggressive stance to unifying Asian communities throughout the state of Washington,” Sugiyama said.

Sugiyama added that he’d like to see a statewide API summit held every five years to bring individuals throughout the state together for the purpose of developing strategic plans.

“The fact that it’s come this far means the issues are still alive and well. There is an ongoing need for the Commission to be

an information clearinghouse, to continue consulting and advocating. I just think that the community throughout the state should really be proud that there is this commission that has been able to achieve so much in the 40 years,” Luna said.

Itti encouraged community members to contact them for assistance in navigating state government programs and services.

CAPAA holds five public board meetings per year where they address issues of concern to the API community. Visit their website at www.capaa.wa.gov to learn more.  Nina Huang can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.