PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA
VOL 33 NO 26
JUNE 21 – JUNE 27, 2014
FREE
SPORTS Asian countries in the World Cup » P. 5
32 YEARS YOUR VOICE
Franchisees sue Seattle over $15 wage By Jason Cruz Northwest Asian Weekly
and adversaries of the law.
A lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court of Western Washington earlier this month challenges the recent passage of an ordinance in the City of Seattle that would raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. Asian businesses have joined the lawsuit, which requires franchised businesses to increase the wages it pays its hourly workers to $15 per hour within 3 years. According to some franchisees, the economic ramifications could devastate their businesses, which operate as small businesses.
The International Franchise Association (IFA), a Washington D.C. trade group, and five local franchised business owners filed a lawsuit in Western Washington District Court on June 11, seeking to block the city ordinance. The complaint alleges the new law illegally discriminates against franchisees and improperly treats them as large companies. “Hundreds of small, locally-owned businesses and thousands of their employees are unfairly threatened by Seattle’s new law. We are not seeking special treatment for franchisees. We are just seeking equal treatment. The city’s minimum wage statute arbitrarily and illegally discriminates against franchisees and significantly increases their labor costs in ways that will harm their businesses, employees, consumers, and Seattle’s economy,” said Steve Caldeira, IFA president and CEO. “We hope the court will block the ordinance to save jobs and prevent Seattle from unfairly singling out one type of business — a franchise — for punitive treatment.” {see LAWSUIT cont’d on page 11}
Filipino mayor: Typhoon was ‘something we never imagined’
Photo by James Tabafunda/NWAW
By James Tabafunda Northwest Asian Weekly
Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez talks to reporters in downtown Seattle.
Typhoons are a normal, generally accepted part of life in the Philippines, except for one. Alfred Romualdez, the mayor of Tacloban, of Leyte province in central Philippines, has seen dozens of typhoons over the years, ranging from 87 to 106 miles per hour. He said Typhoon Haiyan reached 235 miles per hour and was “something we never imagined would happen.” He and his wife, Cristina GonzalesRomualdez, visited Seattle as guests of
the humanitarian aid provider Medical Teams International (MTI) for its annual fundraising event on June 7 at Safeco Field. Before the event, he described what it was like to experience first hand the 24th tropical storm of 2013 to arrive in his country. On Nov. 8, Typhoon Haiyan (or “Yolanda,” as it’s called by the Filipinos) hit the Philippines with such force that more than 6,000 people died, and about 4 million people lost their homes. Haiyan’s record number of deaths makes it the country’s deadliest storm in history. “Out of the 2,900 dead (in Tacloban alone), 520 are children,” Romualdez said. Typhoon Haiyan struck with heavy rains. Its winds blew three tsunami-like surges onto Tacloban, the largest being a 16- to 26-foot tall wave that remained on land for two hours before receding. “The strength of this storm officially was 378 kilometers per hour (235 mph),” Romualdez said. “We talk of typhoons that strong now — maybe the new normal.” {see TACLOBAN cont’d on page 12}
From left, Joseph Cheng, Subway owner; Steve Caldeira, president and CEO of the International Franchise Association; Kathy Lyons, owner of BrightStar Care; and Chuck Stempler, owner of two AlphaGraphics print shops.
It’s graduation time!
UW commencement speaker Steve Ballmer (on the screen), speaking to 45,000 people (including 5,300 graduating students).
By Jamie Sun Northwest Asian Weekly It’s that Pomp and Circumstance time of year, and in addition to the myriad of graduating APIs around the country, several successful Asian Americans were invited to speak at university commencement ceremonies. Among them, former U.S. Ambassador Gary Locke, Mindy Kaling, and Howard Koh. “The purpose of education is not to lead a more comfortable life,” Locke told graduates at Western Washington University on June 14, “but a more useful and meaningful one.” On May 17, at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Dr. Howard Koh
addressed graduates during the commencement ceremony. Koh has been the assistant secretary for health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) since 2009. Koh’s parents journeyed to America from Korea a generation ago to search for the American Dream. “In doing so, they sacrificed and they persevered, for a better life for their children and their children’s children,” said Koh. “They told us kids how lucky we were to be born in this country, how fortunate we were to enjoy the rights and freedom, and how it was our duty and our destiny to live a life of higher purpose, and make something of {see GRADUATION cont’d on page 12]
The Inside Story NAMES Awards, honors, and more » P. 2
■
APOP! The nuance of ‘Fresh Off the Boat’ » P. 7
Photo courtesy of Ashley Bach
The ordinance passed the Seattle City Council on June 2, and was signed by Mayor Ed Murray the next day. Essentially, the ordinance will phase in the $15 hourly minimum wage according to various schedules, and distinguishes the phasing-in process according to the number of employees each business has at the time. The initial minimum wage increase begins April 1, 2015. Businesses within Seattle will need to increase what it pays its hourly workers. The issue has been a hotly contested one, drawing the passions of both proponents
Photo by Chi-Heng Patrick Pan
The ordinance
The lawsuit
MUSIC Indian kirtan singer Krishna Das » P. 8
BLOG Thank you, Ken Colling! » P. 10
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asianweekly northwest
■ NAMES IN THE NEWS
Susan Han
Norm Ohashi
Kyle Iboshi
Kiyomi Taguchi
Aaron Levine
Tracy Wong
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded Emmys to Norm Ohashi, Kyle Iboshi, Kiyomi Taguchi, Susan Han, Tracy Wong, and Aaron Levine on June 7 in its Northwest Regional ceremony at the Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center. Ohashi, executive producer at KING, received an Emmy for the station’s evening news program. Iboshi, from KGW in Portland, was awarded for his work as a reporter, writer, and producer on the news special “Washed Away.” Videographer Taguchi took awards for continuing coverage of KOMO’s “Pontoon Problems” and “What’s Happening Consumer Tech” in business/consumer news. Seattle’s Han was awarded for her work as co-producer on “Seattle Speaks: Wage Worries.” Wong, executive creative director at the Seattle ad agency office of Wongdoody, took an award for the “Never the Same: Sloth Bear Cubs” commercial. KCPQ sports anchor Aaron Levine was awarded for “Aaron Levine Composite.”
API student scholars honored Several outstanding API student scholarship recipients were recognized at the 44th annual “Celebration, Fête, and Honors,” held May 22 at the University of Washington. The scholars included Adrian M. Cepeda (Bank of America), Ha Doan (Educational Opportunity Program Celebration),
Siyu Lu (Gary D. Kimura Family), and Elizabeth Pring (Educational Opportunity Program Celebration). The event raised over $300,000 to help ben- Adrian Cepeda Ha Doan efit student scholarships. Denny Hurtado received the University of Washington’s Charles E. Odegaard Award. Other recognition scholars were Ashley Andelian, Fa- Siyu Lu Elizabeth Pring biola Arroyo, Taylor Boyd, DiAndre Campbell, Lorina Crain, Damon J. Cunningham, Sharayah LaneAlonso Ponce-Moran, Ibette Valle, and Richard Vansiclen.
Three win UW scholarships
Students explore careers
KAC-WA President Cheryl Lee talks about KAC and the importance of community service.
On May 1, more than 80 students gathered at the University of Washington’s HUB for “Explore the Fields,” a career mentoring night held jointly with the Korean Student Association, Korean Student Union, and Korean American Coalition-WA. Representatives from the Korean American Health Professionals Association and Korean American Bar Association also participated. Next week, the NW Asian Weekly will report on the naming of the UW Korean Studies Program after Sen. Paull Shin.
Blood drive to honor Ed Wong Photo by Kelsey Ingram
And the Emmy goes to….
Photo courtesy of KAC
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JUNE 21 – JUNE 27, 2014
Megan Kimiko Ingram, Nicole Mitsuko Ichinaga, and Hannah Fumiko Russ
Megan Kimiko Ingram, Nicole Mitsuko Ichinaga, and Hannah Fumiko Russ were recently awarded the Puyallup Valley JACL scholarships and will be attending the University of Washington with honors. The scholarship dinner was followed by a program by the “Camp Harmony Committee” and the installation of new JACL officers Elsie Taniguchi, president; Eileen Yamada Lamphere, vice president; Dudley Yamane, treasurer; and Liz Dunbar, secretary.
An upcoming API blood drive & bone marrow registration at Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church on July 26 will be held in honor of the late Edwin Wong, who passed away on April 17. Kin On Health Care Center, which is sponsoring the blood drive along with the church, Puget Sound Blood Center, National Edwin Wong Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) Seattle, and the Chinese Baptist Church, is recognizing Mr. Wong for his dedication to blood donation awareness. He and his wife founded the drive after the death of their son, Kirby, to encourage people of Asian descent to contribute to the community blood supply. The Blaine Memorial church is at 3001 24th Ave. S., Seattle. The blood drive is from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. More information is at 206-721-3630 ext. 158.
32 YEARS YOUR VOICE
■ community news
JUNE 21 – JUNE 27, 2014
3
NONPERMANENT RESIDENTS (Part 3)
Photo courtesy of Rithy Yin
Local Cambodian men facing deportation for crimes committed when young
Rithy Yin and his wife, Mary Jacqueline Yin (both in white), their son Jacob, Rithy’s parents, right, and Mary’s parents, left.
By Stacy Nguyen Northwest Asian Weekly Rithy Yin, 33, pointed toward his church, Victory Outreach Church, from the kitchen of his sister and brother-in-law’s townhouse, where he lives with his new wife, Jackie, and stepson, Jacob. “We go to the streets and we minister to people — to the homeless or to the youth out there. We mentor these kids, talk them away from stuff like that. Share our stories so that they don’t make the same mistakes we made. I tell them, ‘We made them so you don’t have to.’ … There are a lot of kids who don’t want to go down that route, who don’t want to join gangs or do drugs — and we try to help them stay away. Because, you know, it’s a path of destruction.” Yin immigrated to the United States from Cambodia as a refugee with his family when he was almost 2 years old. He held up a convenience store at gunpoint when he was 18. He was caught and was sentenced to an 11-year prison term. In prison, Yin passed his high school GED test, took victim’s awareness, stress, and anger management, building maintenance, and took information technology classes. He joined the church ministry and found that he had a talent for helping inmates who struggled adjusting to
institutionalization. It’s been a little more than five years since Yin’s release from prison in 2008. In that time, he’s acquired a full-time job as a machine operator in Kent, got married, and has not had any run-ins with the law. “When I first got out, they didn’t make it easy,” Yin said. “It was a lot — a lot — of paper work. Even after you get your papers, the hardest part is finding a job, finding someone who will give you a chance. My brother helped me find a job as soon as I finished this program called Greenlight Project.” Yin acknowledged that his life postincarceration would have been considerably more difficult without his family’s connections and support. He will eventually be deported back to Cambodia because he is an aggravated felon.
Detained
Last month, about 40 former Cambodian refugees from across the West Coast were temporarily held at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma. The center is the first stop on the way back to Cambodia for those detained. Most were released for now, but they will {see CAMBODIAN cont’d on page 15}
Chinese law student seeks to help others By Jason Cruz Northwest Asian Weekly Emilia Liu has found her calling. “I’m really focused on social justice,” said the student of Seattle University School of Law. Her 2014 summer externship (like an internship, but she Emilia Liu works outside the office) at the Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA) finds her helping those seeking U.S. citizenship. ReWA is a Washington nonprofit that offers a broad range of services to refugees and immigrants in 37 languages. According to ReWA, 58 percent of the people seeking help are Vietnamese, 22 percent are Somali, and the remaining 20 percent are from a variety of other ethnic groups. Founded in 1985, ReWA also provides a legal assistance program. Liu was born and raised in southwest China, in Chongqiang. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in law at Southwest University and decided to attend law school in the United States. She chose Seattle University because of its social justice program, she said. The law school has an Access to Justice Institute. Liu’s parents are government workers in China. “They are very happy that I have found something that I feel passionate about,” she said. Liu has not seen her parents since leaving for school last August, but she stays in touch with them via Facetime,” she said. Andre Olivie, ReWA staff attorney, has been impressed with Liu’s work so far. “I was interested in her background,” said Olivie, particularly, he pointed out, in regards to her previous work with immigration issues,
as well as her language proficiency in the Chinese dialect of Mandarin. “She can relate to clients not familiar with the legal system.” This summer, Liu will help advise clients on eligibility requirements for becoming a U.S. citizen, help them prepare them for interviews with immigration officials, and assist them with legal research. While moving across the world in pursuit of a passion would be daunting to some, Liu seemed nonplussed about it, stating that China is similar to Seattle — Starbucks is still a constant in her life, she noted. The move was “not like a culture shock,” she
said, adding that she knew English and feels that a lot of things in America are similar in China. Liu said that studying abroad is very popular among Chinese students, although not many travel to other countries to study law. She indicated that the big difference between Chinese law and U.S. law is that Chinese law is based on codes, while much of U.S. law is based on cases. While she described law school as “challenging,” she likes the school. “My professors have been really helpful academically and spiritually,” she said, adding that they have also been
helpful in providing guidance in her career interests and in life. Her favorite classes include torts, criminal law, and legal writing. Liu likes her externship because she feels that she is helping people from different countries navigate the process of becoming naturalized. She realizes it may seem curious to some for a non-citizen to play that role, but says it gives her a unique perspective into helping others to become U.S. citizens. Jason Cruz can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.
asianweekly northwest
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JUNE 21 – JUNE 27, 2014
■ world news
North Korea says it’s holding a third American prisoner By Hyung-Jin Kim Associated Press
North Korea said on June 6 it has detained an American tourist for committing an unspecified crime, the third U.S. citizen being held there. The Korean Central News Agency said authorities were investigating him for committing acts that were inconsistent with the purpose of a tourist visit. It did not give details. “American citizen Jeffrey Edward Fowle entered the DPRK as a tourist on April 29 and acted in violation of the DPRK law, contrary to the purpose of tourism during his stay,” KCNA reported, referring to the country’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Two other Americans are being held in North Korea. A man was detained in April for alleged improper behavior while entering the country. North Korea identified
Now, world’s oldest people are Japanese By Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) – The world’s oldest man, a retired chemist and parapsychologist, has died in New York City. Alexander Imich was 111. His niece says Imich died on June 8 at his home in Manhattan, after his health deteriorated in the past two weeks. Imich was born in 1903 in a town in Poland that was Alexander Imich then part of Russia. He and his wife fled after the Nazis invaded in 1939. They eventually moved to the United States in 1951. His wife died in 1986. In news reports, Imich said his good genes and a general healthy lifestyle contributed to his longevity. Guinness is investigating the claim that 111-year-old Sakari Momoi of Japan is now the world’s oldest man. Momoi, 111, was born on Feb. 5, 1903, just one day after Imich. In September 2013, in an interview on Respect for the Aged Day, Momoi told reporters, “I want to live for two more years.” The world’s oldest person is a Japanese woman, 116-yearold Misao Okawa. According to Wikipedia, Okawa, 116, was born on March 5, 1898, the fourth daughter of a draper in the Tenma district (present-day Kita-ku) of Osaka, and now lives at a nursing home in Higashisumiyoshi-ku, Osaka . She married Yukio Okawa in 1919 and had three children, two of whom are still alive. Her husband died in1931. She has four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. When she was 102, she was found doing leg squats “to keep her body in shape.” She was able to walk until she was 110, when she began using a wheelchair, which she propels herself. She has been the world’s oldest living woman since the death of 115-year-old Japanese woman Koto Okubo on Jan. 12, 2013. On Feb. 27, 2013, a few days before her 115th birthday, Misao Okawa was officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest living woman in the world, and was presented with a certificate at her nursing home in Osaka. Okawa is the second oldest verified Japanese person ever (behind Tane Ikai) and the ninth oldest verified person ever. She is also the 30th verified person to reach the age of 115 and the 10th verified person to reach the age of 116.
him as 24-year-old Miller Matthew Todd — possibly putting his surname first. It said he entered the country on April 10 with a tourist visa, but tore it up and shouted that he wanted to seek asylum. The brief report said he chose the North “as a shelter.” North Korea has been holding a Korean American missionary, Kenneth Bae, since November 2012. Bae was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for what the North says were hostile acts against the state. He is a former resident of Lynnwood, where he still has family. North Korea has been pushing to promote tourism as part of efforts to earn badly needed foreign currency, but the country is also extremely sensitive about how visitors act while in the country. Friday’s announcement came as tension on the Korean Peninsula remains high with North Korea keeping up rhetoric against the United States and South Korea
following its series of missile and rocket launches earlier this year. The North’s state media have also unleashed racist and sexist slurs against U.S. and South Korean leaders. The peninsula is still in a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea to deter potential aggression from North Korea. The United States and North Korea do not have diplomatic relations, but Sweden, which has an embassy in Pyongyang, oversees consular issues for the United States there. In March, North Korea deported an Australian missionary detained for spreading Christianity in the country after he apologized for anti-state religious acts and requested forgiveness.
China government executes 13 over terrorism, violent crimes BEIJING (AP) – China executed 13 people on June 15 over terrorism and violent crimes in the far western region of Xinjiang, including three men accused in an attack that left at least 34 people dead, state media said. The executions took place on the same day that a Xinjiang court sentenced three other people to death for planning a deadly car ramming at Beijing’s Tiananmen Gate last year that killed five people. The government has been waging a harsh crackdown after a series of deadly attacks blamed on Muslim separatists in the Xinjiang region. The official Xinhua News Agency said the 13 executed people were convicted of crimes such as organizing, leading, and participating in terrorism groups, arson, murder, burglary, and illegal manufacturing, storage, and transporting of explosives. The government says it faces grave terrorist threats from people seeking independence for Xinjiang, home to the Muslim Uighur ethnic minority, and has vowed severe punishments. Among those executed, three men organized an assault that killed 24 people last June in the town of Lukqun, Xinhua said. It said the attack targeted the local police station, a SWAT team, a government office building and the living quarters for officials and their families, a housing construction site, a business administration office, as well as a hair salon and a hotel. Xinhua earlier reported that police had killed at least 10 of the attackers and that the three men were sentenced to death last September in a one-day trial. Xinhua said a fourth person who was executed had detonated an explosive device at an illegal preaching site in June 2012, killing a child. It did not provide any details of the remaining nine people. Simmering ethnic tensions in Xinjiang have escalated in the past year, as assailants have begun to strike outside the region and at civilians, a departure from their previous targets of government offices, police stations or other symbols of rule by the ethnic Han Chinese majority. Beijing says unrest among Uighurs is caused by extremist groups with ties to Islamic terror groups abroad, but has provided little direct evidence.
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Uighur activists say public resentment against Beijing is fueled by an influx of Han settlers in the region, economic disenfranchisement and onerous restrictions on Uighur religious and cultural practices. Dilxat Raxit, spokesman for the German-based group World Uyghur Congress, said Beijing has unjustly labeled disgruntled Uighurs as terrorists. “China’s policy has caused extreme acts, and it is the only fight Uighur people in desperation are willing to wage with their lives,” Dilxat Raxit said. A court in the Xinjiang regional capital of Urumqi sentenced three other people to death on June 16 for planning the deadly car ramming, the first attack to strike Beijing in recent years. The three were accused of providing funds to carry out the Oct. 28 attack, in which a car plowed through tourists and ended up in a fiery crash in the heart of Beijing. It killed a Chinese visitor and a tourist from the Philippines, along with the vehicle’s driver, his wife and mother-in-law, according to Chinese authorities. Five other people were given prison sentences, with four receiving terms of five to 20 years and one getting a life sentence, Xinhua said. They had traveled to Beijing on Oct. 7, 2013, to deliver money to buy a jeep, gasoline, knives, and other materials related to the attack, Xinhua said. The eight were arrested within days of the incident. Dilxat Raxit said the speedy trials were politically motivated and deprived the defendants of their legal rights. The Tiananmen Gate attack was followed by similar incidents, including one on May 22 in which men driving off-road vehicles and throwing explosives plowed through a crowded market in Urumqi, killing 39 people. Police said four suspects were killed at the scene and a fifth was caught that evening in an area about 250 kilometers (150 miles) south of Urumqi. Death sentences in China are automatically forwarded to the Supreme People’s Court for appeal but are rarely overturned. While official figures are not released, China is believed to execute more prisoners than the rest of the world combined.
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32 YEARS YOUR VOICE
■ SPORTS
Russia draws 1-1 with South Korea in World Cup By Steve Douglas Associated Press
CUIABA, Brazil (AP) – Blundering Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was bailed out by teammate Alexander Kerzhakov in a 1-1 draw with South Korea in the World Cup on June 17 that exposed both teams’ deficiencies. Akinfeev had already looked suspect in dealing with longrange shots before spilling Lee Lee Keun-ho Keun-ho’s speculative effort into his own net in the 68th minute, gifting South Korea the lead at the Arena Pantanal. Kerzhakov, though, came to Akinfeev’s rescue by turning in a shot from close range six minutes later — just three minutes after coming on as a substitute — to earn Russia a point from a poor-quality Group H match. Akinfeev stayed on the ground inside his own net, head in his hands, after making his error, clearly embarrassed after dropping what was a routine save from a shot from about 30 yards. He was consoled by a couple of teammates, who patted him on the back. “He is a great goalkeeper,” Russia coach Fabio Capello said of Akinfeev. “There can be mistakes, of course — some can
get a penalty wrong ... and it’s logical for a goalkeeper to make a mistake as well. “We were able to make up for that and we can accept a mistake by a great keeper like Akinfeev.” The explosive six-minute spell that featured both goals was not in keeping with the rest of a fairly mundane game characterized by slow buildup play, poor passing and wayward finishing. A point leaves both teams behind Belgium, which beat Algeria 2-1 earlier, but the group appears wide open based on the opening two fixtures. Having lost four of its last five games heading to Brazil, the South Koreans came into their eighth straight World Cup with concerns over their flimsy defense and a lack of goal threat. A 4-0 thrashing by Ghana in a warm-up in Miami last week highlighted those worrying deficiencies perfectly. There was no hiding their toothless attack here, either, with the experienced Park Chu-young starting as the lone striker {see SOUTH KOREA cont’d on page 14}
JUNE 21 – JUNE 27, 2014
5
For Japan, attack is key to World Cup revival By Joji Sakurai Associated Press ITU, Brazil (AP) – Shinji Kagawa had a tormented, sleepless night after Japan was beaten by Ivory Coast under a torrential Brazilian downpour. He knows now that there’s only one way to get back into the World Cup: Attack. Shinji Kagawa “We just have to go for it,” the Manchester United star said last week, after a practice session. As he greeted reporters at the team’s base camp in Itu, Kagawa admitted with a sheepish grin: “Didn’t sleep last night ... The next match was on my mind but it was really yesterday that weighed. I
was miserable to my heart’s content. But just need to snap out of that ... and go for the win.” Under Italian coach Alberto Zaccheroni, Japan has chiseled a style based on relentless pressure and precision play-making to force opponents onto the defensive. Aside from a moment of first-half brilliance — in which the Europebased star trio of Kagawa, Yuto Nagatomo, and Keisuke Honda clicked to choreograph a classic Honda strike — there was little of that to be seen in Japan’s 2-1 defeat to {see JAPAN cont’d on page 12}
Thai military to ‘return happiness’ with World Cup By Thanyarat Doksone Associated Press BANGKOK (AP) – Thailand’s military junta, which promised to “return happiness to the people” after last month’s coup, asked regulatory officials to find a way to allow the country’s many soccer fans to watch the entire World Cup for free. The junta contacted the chairman of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, the country’s broadcast regulator, and asked him “to seek ways to return happiness to the people through viewing all of the 64 World Cup matches on free-to-air channels.” Earlier, the Supreme Administrative Court ruled that the company holding the broadcast rights could restrict more than half of the 64 matches to satellite and cable TV. The rights holder, RS International Broadcasting and Sport Management Plc., planned to allow just 22 games to be broadcast for free.
The court’s decision overturned an order by the NBTC that had required the company to air every game of the World Cup on freeto-air channels, saying the order came out after RS had already won the broadcast rights from FIFA, the world’s soccer body, in 2005. “The NBTC office will seek measures to compensate RS somehow,” Takorn said. Since taking power on May 22, the junta has launched a series of activities — from free concerts to free haircuts — as part of a campaign to boost its popularity and “return happiness” to the Southeast Asian nation, which has been plagued by political upheaval over the past decade. The junta, however, has tightly restricted freedom of expression, and said new elections will take at least a year after political reforms occur. A late-night curfew in most parts of the country is likely to force many people to watch the games at home.
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The only weekly English-language newspaper serving Washington’s Asian community. The NW Asian Weekly has one simple goal: “To empower the Asian community.” The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject any advertisement, letter or article. Subscriptions cost $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
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JUNE 21 – JUNE 27, 2014
■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR THU 6/12 WHAT: Neighborhood cookery celebration WHERE: Danny Woo Community Garden, 620 S. Main St., Seattle WHEN: 4–7:30 p.m. INFO: tim@interimicda.org
SAT 6/14 WHAT: Guzheng Music in the Seattle Chinese Garden with recital by Shirley Wang and students of Seattle Guzheng Studio WHERE: Seattle Chinese Garden, 6000 16th Ave. S.W., Seattle (north entrance to South Seattle College) WHEN: 4:30 p.m. COST: $5 suggested donation INFO: 206-934-5219, info@ seattlechinesegarden.org
THU 6/19 WHAT: Jamfest WHERE: Wing Luke, 719 S. King St., Seattle WHEN: 5:30 p.m. COST: $8/general, $6/students & seniors, $5/members
SAT 6/21 WHAT: Pride Asia celebration WHERE: Hing Hay Park, 423 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle INFO: www.prideasia.com
WHAT: Family Fun Day WHERE: Wing Luke, 719 S. King St., Seattle WHEN: 1-3 p.m. COST: Free WHAT: Book Reading & Performance of Community activist Michelle Myers WHERE: Wing Luke, 719 S. King St., Seattle WHEN: 4 p.m. WHAT: “Relief to Rebuild” Auction Fundraiser for Survivors of Typhoon Haiyan WHERE: Museum of Glass, 1801 Dock St, Tacoma WHEN: 7 p.m. COST: $40 INFO: 253-921-5788, zencs@ comcast.net
MON 6/23 THRU FRI 7/11 WHAT: Asia Pacific Summer Camp WHERE: Asia Pacific Cultural Center, 4851 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma WHEN: 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. COST: $100/week INFO: asiapacificculturalcenter. org
SAT 6/28
SUN 6/22
WHAT: Join Lead Pencil Studio duo Annie Han and Daniel Mihalyo for an exclusive tour of transit in half-light WHERE: Wing Luke, 719 S. King St., Seattle WHEN: 1:30-2:30 p.m. COST: $10/general, $8/members INFO: 206-623-5124
WHAT: Pride Asia WHERE: Hing Hay Park, 423 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle WHEN: 12-6 p.m. INFO: www.prideasiaseattle.com
WHAT: Seattle Iranian Festival WHERE: Seattle Center Armory COST: Free INFO: 206-684-7200 or iacaseattle.org
SUN 6/22 THRU FRI 6/27 WHAT: Chinese Language Camp for Families WHERE: NWLA Cultural Center, Langley REGISTER: www. nwlanguageacademy.com/camps/ chinese.php
WHERE: Seattle Center, Fisher Pavilion WHEN: 11 a.m. COST: Free INFO: ethnicheritagecouncil.org or 206-684-7200
WHAT: “Soups On” to elect Pramila Jayapal to the State Senate WHERE: 7340 Bowlyn Place S., Seattle WHEN: 2-4 p.m. SUGGESTED DONATION: $100 RSVP: lauren@oldmixonhill. com, 206-264-5466 INFO: electpramila.com
2nd & 4th TUES OF MONTH
SAT 6/28 & SUN 6/29
EVERY TUE
WHAT: 2nd South Asian International Documentary Film Festival WHERE: Wing Luke, 719 S. King St., Seattle TICKETS: wingluke.org INFO: www.tasveer.org
WHAT: Asian Counseling and Referral Services Employment Program Orientation WHERE: ACRS, 3639 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S., Seattle WHEN: 3–4:30 p.m. INFO: 206-695-7527, employmentprogram@ acrs.org, acrs.org/services/ employmentandtraining
MON 6/30
WHAT: Walk for Rice to raise money for Asian Counseling and Referral Service food bank WHERE: Seward Park, 5895 Lake Washington Blvd. S., Seattle WHEN: 8 a.m. – noon INFO: 206-695-7551
WHAT: Book reading and signing by Sarah Bird, author of “Above the East China Sea: WHERE: Elliot Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle INFO: 206-624-6600
WHAT: China Pearls dinner and performance
WHAT: Naturalization Ceremony
■ briefly
$2.9 million will go to Japanese American confinement sites
Last week, National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis announced 21 grants totaling more than $2.9 million to help preserve and interpret the World War II confinement sites of Japanese Americans. More than 120,000 Japanese Americans, two-thirds of whom were American citizens, were imprisoned by the U.S. government following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. “As America’s storyteller, the National Park Service is committed to sharing this tragic episode of our nation’s past and what it teaches us about the fragility of our constitutional rights,” Jarvis said. “These grants fund projects to help us gain a better understanding of the past, engage new audiences, and build new partnerships in the preservation of these historic sites and lessons they hold.” Projects selected include the stabilization of the historic elementary school at the former Poston site in Arizona; an educational training program for 600 teachers across California on the local and national stories about the forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II; and an exhibition exploring the significance of the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to Japanese American veterans of World War II who served in the military while their families lived behind barbed wire. The grants include $209,982 to Densho in
WHERE: Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, 565 Camano Ave., Langley WHEN: 5:30 – 9 p.m. COST: $35–$70 INFO: 360-321-2101
Seattle for an online repository for editing confinement sites video testimonies, and $33,419 to Earshot Jazz Society of Seattle for a Panama Hotel jazz education and performance extension at Bainbridge Island, the Seattle Temporary Detention Facility, and the Puyallup Assembly Center. The Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant Program will support projects in seven states and the District of Columbia. The grants total $2,905,000 and bring the program’s total awards to more than $15 million since Congress established the grant program in 2006. A total of $38 million in grant funds was authorized for the life of the program. Funds from the Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant program can go to the 10 War Relocation Authority centers established in 1942 or to more than 40 other confinement sites. The goal of the program is to teach present and future generations about the injustice of the World War II confinement and inspire a commitment to equal justice under the law. For more details about these projects, visit http://www.nps.gov/hps/hpg/JACS/. For further information, contact Kara Miyagishima, program manager for the Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant Program, at 303-969-2885 or kara_ miyagishima@nps.gov.
FRI 7/4
WHAT: International District Special Review Board meeting WHERE: Bush Asia Center, 409 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle WHEN: 4:30 p.m. INFO: 206-684-0226, seattle. gov/neighborhoods/preservation/ historic_districts.htm
EVERY WED WHAT: Seattle University School of Law Citizenship Project WHERE: Yesler Community Center Computer Lab, 917 E. Yesler Way, Seattle WHEN: 5–6:30 p.m. COST: Free INFO: 206-386-1245
32 YEARS YOUR VOICE
JUNE 21 – JUNE 27, 2014
■ arts & entertainment A closer look at ‘Fresh Off the Boat’
7
Finding the nuance in the taboo
By Vivian Nguyen Northwest Asian Weekly This month, I want to discuss the use of racial slurs in the media. In my last column, I highlighted how ABC picked up the sitcom “Fresh Off the Boat” for a mid-season premiere. This will be the first show in 20 years to star an allAsian cast since comedian Margaret Cho’s long-defunct sitcom “All American Family” in the 1990s. “Fresh Off the Boat” is based on celebrity chef and restaurateur Eddie Huang’s book, “Fresh Off the Boat: A Memoir,” which explores Huang’s adolescent life in the 1990s, after his family relocates to a Caucasian suburb of Orlando, Fla. The show promises cultural, comedic, and hip hop hijinks from the perspective of a Taiwanese and Chinese American family.
A growing debate over the use of “fresh off the boat” Though Asian Americans are mostly optimistic about the show’s pick up, critics are upset about the use of “Fresh Off the Boat” as the show’s chosen title. Some people argue that its use will normalize the term for non-Asians, giving them a “safe” entryway into Asian culture. Others claim that the title sets Asian Americans back,
as “fresh off the boat” is a derogatory term used to describe Asian immigrants as being less acculturated to American culture. It is most common to hear the phrase used within Asian circles. But there is something interesting happening with the show’s title here. Huang, who is a producer for the show, actually fought to keep the sitcom title. For
■ FEATURE
Photo by George Liu/NWAW
Nonstop to Hong Kong
Delta Airlines ceremoniously launches its inaugural nonstop flight to Hong Kong.
D
elta Airlines celebrated the launch of its new nonstop service from Seattle to Hong Kong on June 16, with a ribbon-cutting, water cannon salute, and traditional dragon dance at its Sea-Tac Airport gate. Soon after, the inaugural flight took off. Attending the ceremony were Mike Medeiros, vice president of Delta in Seattle; Tay Yoshitani, Port of Seattle CEO; Courtney Gregoire, Port of Seattle Commission co-president; Mark Reis, managing director at Sea-Tac Airport; Sabrina Chow, director at Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office; Benjamin Lee, president emeritus at Hong Kong Association of Washington; and Tom Norwalk, president and CEO at Visit Seattle. According to Delta, there were 51,505 travelers from China to Seattle in 2012. That number increased by 46 percent in 2013, for a total of 75,244 travelers. By comparison, the number of travelers from Japan to Seattle has remained fairly steady, going from 74,544 in 2012 to 79,459 in 2013.
him, the use of “Fresh Off the Boat” is his way of reclaiming the term. He argues that the phrase is only pejorative if its use and context is negative. Instead, he sees the term as a source of pride, and a way to express his reverence and connection to his ancestral roots. Huang is also quick to point out that its use on the show is representative of his unique experiences
as a Taiwanese and Chinese American. He does not claim to speak for anyone else. Mostly, he dislikes it when people tell him what he can’t do or can’t be. The pilot also reveals that his young protagonist equivalent, played by newcomer Harrison Yang, encounters racial bullying at school, such as being called a chink. Some people were surprised by the casual use of racial slurs on the show. But Huang also stands by this decision. “If you’re going to be real and have a real discussion about [race and racism], then you have to use it,” said Huang in a video interview with TIME.com about the show’s various controversies. “If dominant culture is going to misunderstand it and use it, I can’t control that,” Huang said. “But I know that my intention is very honest, it has integrity and it means a lot to me to reclaim the word. … I grew up with people who just got [to America] and that experience is very special to me. And it’s also an experience that dominant culture tried to shame me for.”
Thinking critically about the show’s impact for the future With such few shows representing Asians on television, it’s easy to place a lot of faith {see A-POP cont’d on page 13}
asianweekly northwest
8
JUNE 21 – JUNE 27, 2014
■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Krishna Das: Traditional singing to the ‘Soul of All’ By Andrew Hamlin Northwest Asian Weekly
Krishna Das: I felt that all the beauty and love in the universe were wrapped up in his blanket. NWAW: How have you gone about choosing variations on the Hanuman Chalisa to play and sing? Krishna Das: I don’t choose. The melodies just come to me somehow. NWAW: How has your performance changed over the years? Krishna Das: It gets deeper all the time for me. I am more and more able to be undistracted and able to sing from a deeper place in my being.
Krishna Das
One of the best-known singers in the Indian kirtan tradition — a Hindi devotional tradition involving call-and-response between the singer and the audience — is Krishna Das, originally known as Jeffrey Kagel. After studies in India with the Hindu guru Neem Karoli Baba (also known as Maharaj-ji), the singer took up singing variations on the Hanuman Chalisa, a devotional to the Hindu deity Hanuman. He brings his warmly intense, devotional singing to Seattle on June 28, at the Center for Spiritual Living. Last week, Krishna Das answered some questions over e-mail. NWAW: Who were your earliest inspirations in singing? Krishna Das: My mother used to sing me to sleep every night. I used to watch the “Singing Cowboys” in movies and on TV. It was amazing to see them roaming around without a care in the world on their horses through the beautiful countryside, kind of like what I do now… without the horse. NWAW: What do you think those early inspirations taught you? Krishna Das: That singing is a very powerful tool. NWAW: What were your thoughts and impressions on your very first visit to India, before meeting Maharaj-ji? Krishna Das: I had met Maharaj-ji internally before I went to India, the first time I met Ram Dass. So I already knew he was my guru before I went to meet him physically. NWAW: What were your very first impressions of Maharaj-ji?
NWAW: Have you played in Seattle before? If so, where, and what kind of reception did you get? Krishna Das: I have done kirtan in Seattle many times. My old friends who own Samadhi Yoga brought me there many years ago in the late ’90s and I have been coming ever since. It’s always been wonderful. NWAW: What would you say are the biggest struggles of following Maharajji’s path, and how have you responded to those challenges? Krisha Das: Maharaj-ji was not a teacher. He didn’t tell us what to do…he made us find our way by learning to listen to our hearts. He is the Antaryamin…the Indwelling Presence within. NWAW: Have you ever faced down an audience that resisted your energy? Krishna Das: There is never any issue with the “audience.” I simply go and share my practice with whoever happens to be there. I am not singing for an audience. I am singing to the Soul of All. NWAW: Which collaborators do you have with you and how does each add to the overall energy? Krishna Das: Everyone I sing with is a “collaborator” in a way. Without the people who come to sing with me, I would just be at home watching TV. NWAW: How have your recordings varied over the years? Krishna Das: I don’t think they have changed. NWAW: Which recording are you happiest with, and why? Krishna Das: The most fun I had in the studio was making “All One” [from 2005]. We were in there for three days and it became
"One Track Heart" is a film about the life of Krishna Das
like an ashram. No one wanted to leave. NWAW: You recently had a documentary, “One Track Heart,” released about your life. Was there anything missing from the film you would have liked to include? Krishna Das: There is so much in a person’s life. It can’t fit into a short film. I thought it was a good representation of what my life is like. Maybe a little too serious. NWAW: Which English language songs do you include in your repertoire and why? Krishna Das: I have written a few songs
with English in them, and I often sing a gospel song, “Jesus On The Mainline.” NWAW: What are your plans for the future, after this tour? Krishna Das: Keep touring as long as I can. Krishna Das performs June 28, at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., at the Center for Spiritual Living, 5801 Sand Point Way N.E. in Seattle. For information, call 206-527-8801. Andrew Hamlin can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.
■ sports By Associated Press
PINEHURST, N.C. (AP) – With pigtails and plenty of giggles, Lucy Li just wants to have fun like any 11-yearold girl. Except that she’s playing the biggest event in women’s golf. The sixth-grader from California is the youngest qualifier in the history of the U.S. Women’s Open. She
played nine holes of practice on June 17 at Pinehurst No. 2 and is looking forward to a course where Martin Kaymer won a U.S. Open title two days earlier. Li won her age division in the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship just two months ago. That means she gets to compete at Augusta National and Pinehurst No. 2 in the same year. Li says her friends back home couldn’t believe it and will be watching when the tournament starts Thursday, June 19.
Photo from USGA
11-year-old golfer Lucy Li just wants to have fun
Lucy Li
32 YEARS YOUR VOICE
JUNE 21 – JUNE 27, 2014
9
■ community news Daughter recalls father’s stories of war By Andrew Hamlin Northwest Asian Weekly Roy Matsumoto, a Japanese American Nisei originally from California, went from the internment camps during WWII to honor on the battlefield, with the famous “Merrill’s Marauders” jungle warfare unit in Burma. A longtime resident of San Juan Island, Matsumoto died in April, just a month short of his 101st birthday. “Honor & Sacrifice,” a documentary about Matsumoto’s life, directed by Lucy Ostrander and Don Sellers, made the rounds on PBS channels recently. The documentary will be shown at the Bellevue Aki Matsuri Festival over Labor Day. Matsumoto’s daughter Karen took some time from her teaching schedule recently to answer some questions over e-mail. NWAW: What were your earliest impressions of your father, and how did your impressions change over time? Karen Matsumoto: My earliest impressions of Roy were that he was just my “Dad,” and he was a very quiet, unassuming person. He had a love for fishing and nature, which was a great influence in my life. NWAW: What are your favorite memories of you and your father together? Matsumoto: Going fishing on the pier in Virginia Beach and in Berkeley. Going on a two-month cross-country trip from Virginia to California, car camping along the way, and visiting all the tourist spots across the United States! Visiting my family in Hiroshima and visiting the Hiroshima Peace Museum. Accompanying my father at various Merrill’s Marauders and other veterans events, as well as receiving the Congressional Gold Medal with other Nisei WWII veterans. The premiere screening of “Honor & Sacrifice!” NWAW: What was your father’s attitude toward his wartime experiences, from the camps to his active duty? Was he forthcoming about those experiences, or did people have to draw him out?
1997. He moved there to be near his grandchildren, but he also fell in love with the islands. It’s a beautiful place. His house was on a beach, and he loved watching the ferry go by every day and seeing marine life, including orcas swim by his house! He walked the beach every day, picking up driftwood, and one of his hobbies was woodworking. He loved creating things from driftwood to give to his friends.
Matsumoto: He never talked about his wartime experiences or the concentration camps until after the redress and apology by President Reagan in 1988. It was a watershed experience for him, and he really expressed a feeling of vindication. He still never talked much about his wartime experiences except with his Merrill’s Marauder buddies. He started talking in detail after his oral history with Densho (an oral history project concerning the internment camps), and after that, with the making of the film. NWAW: Did you ever see him alongside the men he fought with? Matsumoto: Yes! I attended several Merrill’s Marauders reunions, and he was the “hero of the day” at these events. Many of his fellow Marauders feel he was responsible for most of them surviving the war. It was pretty shocking for me the first time I heard this, as he never talked about his experiences with me. I had no idea of his bravery and exploits. NWAW: How long had your father lived on San Juan Island? What led him to live there, and what were his favorite things about it? Matsumoto: My parents moved to San Juan Island in
NWAW: What were the last days of your father’s remarkable life like? Matsumoto: Easter marked the 70th anniversary of the siege of Nphum Ga, where they shouted commands in Japanese [to confuse the opposing Japanese troops], and one of his foxhole buddies from that day called him. He also had friends from the Nisei Veterans Committee in Seattle come visit, so he had a wonderful day. We celebrated with fried chicken. The Marauders were surrounded for a week or more, and they had no food or fresh water to drink. When the Japanese were defeated, due to my dad’s actions, they were air-dropped their first meal in days, and had fried chicken! He said it was the best meal he had in his life! We celebrate every Easter with fried chicken. He had a wonderful day, and passed away in his sleep the next morning. I think he felt that through the film, he was able to tell the story of the MIS experience through his personal experiences, and was very pleased to be able to put a human face to war. It also enabled him to present both sides of the war, including the devastation of Hiroshima, the town where he grew up and loved. He was in a home hospice since the beginning of April, and was able to look out the window at his beloved ocean view, and watch the hummingbirds at the feeders! He enjoyed life, his friends, and family, and he said he had no regrets when he passed away. For more information, visit http://stourwater.com/films/ honor-sacrifice. Andrew Hamlin can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com.
Northwest Asian Weekly / Seattle Chinese Post presents
Children’s Recycling Fashion Contest
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Children’s Parade Competition Schedule: • 1 PM — Lining up • 1:20 PM — Judging begins • 1:40 PM — Parade begins • 2 PM — Contestants appear on stage • 2:45 PM — Results announced and presentation of awards • Contestants must be present at the announcement of finalists (1:50 PM). • Finalists will be lined up in numerical order. • All contestants will receive a fortune cookie. • Everyone is welcome to come to Northwest Asian Weekly’s office to pick up old copies of the papers for free. Registration/Sign-Up: • You may pre-register for the contest by filling out this application and sending it in, or sign up on the day of the contest (Saturday, July 12) before 1:15 PM at the registration table located in front of Seattle Chinese Post/ Northwest Asian Weekly – 412 Maynard Ave. S. • Contestants are chosen on a first-come-first-serve basis. • Contestants must sign in at the registration table 15 minutes prior to parade. Rules/Guidelines: • Children ages 12 and under can participate in the contest. • Parents are welcome to accompany their children during the parade. • Children will be given a contestant number for order of parade lineup. • Recyclable materials must be used in contestants’ outfits. (Materials are listed online.) Judging: • All contestants will be judged by the provided judging criteria. • Prizes will be awarded to first ($100), second ($50), and third ($25) place winners, plus there will be many other prizes. • All decisions made by competition judges are final.
Sponsors: Cathay Post 186
Please submit completed application through one of the following methods: Mail: Northwest Asian Weekly Children’s Parade Contest 412 Maynard Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98104
Name: ________________________________________________________
Phone: ________________________________________________________
E-mail: ________________________________________________________
Contestants must adhere to all rules and regulations. Contest officials will remove any contestant failing to cooperate with officials or failing to comply with the rules and regulations. If you have any questions, please contact Northwest Asian Weekly at 206.223.5559 or via email at rsvp@nwasianweekly.com.
asianweekly northwest
10
JUNE 21 – JUNE 27, 2014
OPINION
■ publisher’s blog
BG Nabors-Glass waves a Ken-face flag, saying she is a ‘big fan’ of Ken Colling.
Goodwill President Ken Colling is known for his fancy ties. What touches his friends and colleagues aren’t his ties, but his heart. At Ken’s retirement reception on June 6, about 200 people gathered at the Goodwill administration center, on Dearborn Avenue, to thank him for his 10 years of service at Goodwill. How would Ken like to be remembered? “A human being,” Ken responded when I asked what he would like for me to say when I introduced him at his party. No need to talk about his Goodwill work, he added. Ken worked hard to change Goodwill’s culture and board, which had previously been made up of white males. Wayne Lau, executive director of Rainier Valley Fund
Ken receives a standing ovation from an appreciative crowd.
Partnership, was a former board chair. The current chair is Markee Foster, an African American. Ken has assembled “a talented and committed team” of men and women to contribute to Goodwill’s success, according to Scott Missall, a board member. Under Ken’s leadership, Goodwill has more than doubled 11 stores (during the first 80 years) to 24, and enrollees for training programs increased six-fold to over 8,500 a year. Donations have also doubled for retail stores, and revenue increased to 278 percent, thus raising the national ranking among Goodwill stores from 21st to 9th. Also, its donors jumped from over 700,000 to 2.3 million. Now, Seattle Goodwill is the
All sale lasts from Friday 6/20 to Thursday 6/26
1221 S. King St., Seattle ∙ 206-720-0969 Monday—Sunday: 8:30 a.m.—8 p.m. lamsseafood.com Jin Jin Fruit Jelly Pudding 1.5kg $4.49/jar Bing Cherry $1.99/lb
$1.79 lb Ong Choy $1.69/lb
$1.39 lb Quang Tri Rice Vermicelli 32oz $2.79
$2.29 Coconut Tree Dried Onion 11oz $4.99
$3.99
Jackfruit $1.29/lb
$1.99 lb
Lime $19.99/cs of 175 counts
$1 five
Shimeiji Brown Mushrrom $0.99/ea
Totole Chicken Soup Base Mix 1lb $3.99
$0.69 ea
Lily Dried Bean Curd Sticks 6oz $1.69
$1.39
Taste Nirvana Thai Tea Bottle 9.5oz $1.19
Vinacafe 3-in-1 Instant Coffee (20 bags) $3.19
$30.99
$4.39 lb Pork Spareribs $2.59/lb
$2.39 lb
Bristol Hot&Spicy Luncheon Loaf 12oz $2.19
$2.79
Lam’s Seafood Jasmine Rice 50lb 2014 $34.99
New York Steak $4.59/lb
$2.39
Lu French Butter Biscuit $3.29
$0.99
$3.49
7-Fish Fish Sauce 24oz $2.79
$3.99
Florida Guava $2.49/lb
$0.99 lb
$2.99 Chicken Leg Quarter $1.19/lb
$0.99 lb Chicken Wings $2.29/lb
$1.99 lb
$1.89
Red Lantern Fried Conger Pike Maw 3oz $8.99
Live Crab special $5.99/lb
$4.99 lb
$7.99
Offer only good while supplies last. We reserve the right to correct all printed errors.
Fz Swai Headless fish cut & uncut $2.19/lb
$1.89 lb
Frozen King Mackerel $5.99/lb Dried Croaker Fish $4.99/lb
$3.99 lb
$4.99 lb
Photos by George Liu/NWAW
Ken Colling spreads Good will around
Whole Periwinkle $3.99/lb
$3.29 lb
30/40 IQF Shrimp Head-on
$6.29 lb $14.99/2lb $12.49 2lb $7.29/lb
No. 1 store in the nation for annual sales. Ken’s Goodwill record is not easy to achieve as Edie Hilliard said at his retirement party, since Goodwill has many competitors, most of which sell junk goods and rely on donated merchandise.
Dream not fulfilled
Even with a great report card for Goodwill, Ken has one dream that hasn’t been fulfilled — turning its old headquarters into an enterprise of housing units, retail shops, and Goodwill offices and training centers. Unfortunately, some community activists had protested the project. One reason was that they wanted to get a free Vietnamese community center from Goodwill. The politics destroyed Ken’s dream and instantly changed Goodwill’s fate. He had every right to be furious. But he wasn’t. He chose to forgive, and even collaborated with people who protested his project. Bob Santos, one of the protesters, said after the party, “Ken always came over to see if we were OK. He’s professional and gracious. He never took it personally. We didn’t agree, but I always liked him. He always calls to wish me a happy birthday every year. He’s very caring.” There’s not a streak of meanness in Ken’s blood. He has an immense capacity to love his neighbors from the International and Central districts, to Rainier Valley and Little Saigon. He supported their events, including Tabor 100 and Urban League, and attended many of them. He partnered with the Center for Career Alternatives (now closed) for job training. He encourages his staff to engage in their communities.
Why Ken values Goodwill
At Goodwill, Ken has learned about “the
A sample of colorful neckties Ken has collected since the mid-1980s.
strength of the human spirit.” He witnessed how their “students have endured and overcome hardships, which most of us cannot even imagine.” He believes in Goodwill’s mission — providing “individual support and teaching of job skills,” which “can help so many people help themselves. “I learned how helping a student, in turn, helps a whole family and friends have lives they feel proud of.”
Why funky ties
Yep, Ken has a collection of funky, as well as stylish, ties. Sometimes, he wears as many as four neckties a day, hopping to different events. Director and actor Woody Allen once said, “Eighty percent of success is showing up.” Ken’s love affair with ties is never about vanity. By wearing something groovy, it creates an ambiance and sets him apart from other people. It helps him to win friends and reconnect with old acquaintances. It’s his way of reaching out to strangers, stimulating conversation. Simultaneously, it satisfies his love for adventure and sense of humor. Soon, people get to know his positive energy, compassion, generosity, sensitivity, and graciousness. That’s how his friendship begins with many people of color over the years. How many ties does Ken own? He wouldn’t say. He has over 100 and he intends to have more. Ken will retire on June 30.
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.
32 YEARS YOUR VOICE
■ editorial
JUNE 21 – JUNE 27, 2014
11
OPINION
Congratulations to the class of 2014 It’s the season of high school and college graduations. Graduating high school is like the end of childhood, and finishing college is like the beginning of adulthood. That makes those years between, spent in college, a sort of transitional time — you’re not a child, and not yet a grownup. To the class of 2014 college graduates, welcome to your new, independent, responsible life. The future is bright when you’re a young adult. Until now, everything has always been all about you — educating you, nurturing you, protecting you, facilitating you. And now you’re ready to join or even conquer the big world and
■ commentary
make your way. Few people are more grateful for and aware of the bounty that results from a college education than those in the immigrant community, many of whom come from much less bountiful parts of the world, brought or sent here by parents and relatives who sacrificed a lot for them. There is much to be said for pursuing your dreams and becoming successful. It’s what everybody wants for you. Still, you are not the end product in this cycle of life — more people are always coming up after you, hoping for the same chances that you got. It is never too soon in your
young life to use your gifts and talents to start giving back to your community. This is an act of gratitude — when the things you do serve in some small or big way to benefit somebody less fortunate than you, or to make the world better for future generations. Congratulations to the class of 2014. The fact that you put in the years of hard work and earned your diploma is an act of gratitude in itself. Don’t stop there. You have achieved the means to survive, live well, and do great things, and time is on your side. It might just be that your most rewarding use of it will be in service to others.
Hire local workers on City of Seattle public works projects now By Michael Woo, Got Green
Jobs that should be given to Seattle residents are being given to others. The City of Seattle spends hundreds of millions of dollars annually on public works projects building and repairing city-owned properties, such as streets, parks, community centers, and the like. These projects Michael Woo create thousands of construction jobs, but according to a recent study commissioned by the Seattle City Council, only 6 percent of all workers on Seattle city-funded construction projects were Seattle residents, and a mere 1 percent were Asian Americans. Not only are qualified Seattle construction workers not getting employed on these jobs, those nonSeattle workers are spending their paychecks outside the city. The City of Seattle can and should address this economic injustice by passing a Target Local Hire Law, which would require contractors to employ a percentage of skilled and qualified workers from communities in Seattle-King County hardest hit by the recent recession. The use of funds on construction and public works projects should not only improve the community’s infrastructure, but {LAWSUIT cont’d from page 1} “Seattle’s new minimum wage law unconstitutionally discriminates against franchisees by categorizing them as big businesses, even when they are small and independently owned. A single hotel or restaurant can be treated as if it employs more than 500 people, even when it actually employs only 15 people,” said Paul D. Clement, a partner at the law firm Bancroft PLLC and a former U.S. Solicitor General. “We’re asking the federal court to stop this unfair attack on small business owners who happen to be franchisees.” Two of the named franchisees are Asian businesses. Michael Park is the owner of a Comfort Inn in Seattle and president of the Korean American Hotel Owners Association (KAHOA), whose 56 members own and operate about 100 hotels in Washington and Oregon. Another party to the suit, Ronald Oh, owns a Holiday Inn Express in Seattle. Officially, the lawsuit names the City of Seattle and the director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services.
The effect on franchisees
The basic argument, which is the basis for the lawsuit, is that the ordinance treats “large” employers and franchisees differently from “small” employers, expressly and substantially favoring “small” non-franchised employers, according to the complaint. There is a benchmark of 500 employees in distinguishing large employers from small employers. However, according to the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, the ordinance identifies “all franchisees associated with a franchisor or network of franchises” as the same as a large employer. This means a small business owner not affiliated with a franchise would have a more gradual wage increase. According to the ordinance, small business owners would not have to pay the $15 minimum wage until 2021. Conversely,
should also strengthen our local community by reducing local unemployment and supporting local businesses. Unemployment and the lack of access to living wage jobs remain key challenges for workers living in economically distressed communities. In order to put these communities back to work, we need policies that prioritize lifting local residents out of poverty by giving them access to construction careers. In turn, this will strengthen the local economy because local workers from economically marginalized communities employed under a Targeted Local Hire policy will likely spend their wages at local businesses. San Francisco enacted a similar law in 2011 that was supported by a board coalition, including the Brightline Defense Project, Inner City Youth, and the Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA). The San Francisco law is expected to inject $177 million into San Francisco’s general fund over 10 years. The law, in just three years, raised the percentage of San Francisco residents hired on their publicly funded construction projects from 10 percent to over 30 percent. Additionally, targeted local hire allows people to work where they live. This fits in with Seattle’s desire to protect the environment and address climate change. Transportation accounts for 40 percent of Seattle’s climate pollution. The pollution resulting from daily commutes in cars and trucks to Seattle from outside King County also
results in increased air pollution, making it harmful for our children and elders to breathe. Last summer, in front of a packed hearing hall, the Seattle City Council unanimously voted to address disparities in City public works construction hiring by a forming committee to recommend policy options, including the Target Local Hire policy. The committee’s recommendations are now being considered by the mayor and City Council as they draft an ordinance aimed at increasing the percentage of Seattle residents hired on public works projects — prioritizing residents living in zip codes that have a high percentage of unemployed persons living in poverty and without college degrees. That would include Southeast Seattle. Now is the time to ensure that we pass a law that does not support the status quo. Tell City leaders that we must be bold and implement a law that requires contractors hired with Seattle taxpayer dollars to provide work opportunities to residents of economically struggling neighborhoods in King County. A Target Local Hire policy is good for our environment, our economy, and our communities. Target Local Hire is a win-win-win!
owners of a franchise would have to increase wages at the same rates as large companies. This would occur despite the fact that the franchisees are run as a small business with many businesses having small profit margins. Although not a named party in the lawsuit, Subway sandwich franchise owner Joseph Cheng said he would feel the financial pinch earlier than other smaller businesses. Cheng owns three Subway businesses in the Seattle area. Cheng uses the current minimum wage as a “training wage” for his employees. After they are familiar with their job, their wage goes up. Cheng states that workers who stay over a year make more than $10 per hour. When he first came to America from Taiwan, his wife was a waitress and Cheng was a busboy earning minimum wage ($4.50 per hour at the time). “We had $35 saved between us at the end of the month,” Cheng said. He eventually found a job in the technology industry, working his way to run his own business. After 18 years in the tech industry, Cheng used his life savings to invest in a Subway franchise. Now in his 11th year as a franchise owner, he owns three Subways in the Seattle area. Cheng says the new ordinance has caused him sleepless nights, as he tried to determine how to balance his business with an upcoming 17 percent increase in employee payroll. Currently, he employs 8 to 10 employees at each Subway. With the raise to $11 per hour next year and $15 the year after, Cheng says that his already slim profit margins might actually mean he will operate at a loss once the $15 minimum wage goes into effect. With the wage increase, Cheng said he would have no other option but to raise prices at his stores, which could affect the frequency that his customers come in. “I am not against raising wages,” explained Cheng, “[b] ut when they say your business is a large business, it really bothers me.” Cheng believes raising the wages within three
years is too soon for small businesses like his, and would rather it be more gradual an increase. Cheng offered an alternative to the city’s ordinance, which would define the size of a business. “The city needs to reconsider and figure out how many people we hire and how much volume [we do].” Cheng wants the city to evaluate the number of employees each individual business employs and then look at how much each business does in sales, which he says can be easily determined based on the reported sales volume to the city.
For more information contact Got Green at 206-290-5136 or www.gotgreenseattle.org.
The city’s position
Reacting to the lawsuit, Mayor Ed Murray issued a statement explaining the city’s position. “Franchises have resources that a small business in the Rainier Valley or a small sandwich shop on Capitol Hill does not have. Franchise restaurants have menus that are developed by a corporate national entity, training provided by a corporate national entity, and advertising provided by a corporate national entity,” Murray stated. “They are not the same as a local sandwich shop that opens up or a new local restaurant that opens up in the city. Our process for reaching $15 an hour in Seattle recognizes that difference.” While Cheng has received training from his franchisor, he indicates he receives no financial assistance from them. Cheng has spoken with Subway franchise representatives and Subway is looking at the minimum wage issue situation in Seattle closely as it is the first of its kind in the nation. The City of Seattle seems unlikely to back down. “We believe Seattle’s minimum wage ordinance is constitutional, and we intend to vigorously defend it in court,” stated City of Seattle spokesperson John Schochet. Jason Cruz can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com.
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JUNE 21 – JUNE 27, 2014
{TACLOBAN cont’d from page 1} Haiyan’s strength surpassed the previous Philippines’ record holder, Typhoon Reming, which blew gusts of 199 mph in 2006. In November 1991, Typhoon Thelma (or “Uring” among Filipino citizens), the previous deadliest storm, hit Ormoc City, which is 30 miles west of Tacloban. Flash floods killed an estimated 5,100 people. Romualdez said, “It’s like standing beside a jet engine before takeoff. My men, we were two or three feet away (from each other), and we were shouting at each other. We just couldn’t hear each other.” “I saw a car hit the second floor of our police station,” he added. “The visibility was only 10 feet because when you’re in the coastal area, all of the sand gets blown. We have a lot of coconut trees, and all of the coconuts were falling. If you get hit by that, [they’ll] knock you out.” Almost 1.5 million acres of farmland were destroyed. Although advance warnings helped 800,000 people evacuate the area before the storm, Typhoon Haiyan’s unexpected pummeling proved to be too much. “Two months from now, we’re expecting the rainy season again, and my problem here is I have to relocate 14,000 families,” Romualdez said. “When the media broadcasted the whole thing — they {GRADUATION cont’d from page 1] ourselves in this land of opportunity.” On May 28, Kaling, an actress, comedian, writer, and producer, was invited to speak at the 2014 Harvard Law commencement. She caught the crowd’s attention and laughter with her jokes about Harvard Law School, as well as jokes about herself as a Hollywood star. Kaling is an American of Indian Mindy Kaling origin whose parents were raised in India. Her parents met in Africa, and immigrated to America. Now, she is the star and the creator of her own network television program. During her speech, she recalled what her parents taught her about America. “My parents believed that their children could aspire and succeed to levels that could never happen anywhere else in the world.”
On being Asian at UW
On June 14, 5,300 students attended the University of Washington’s 139th commencement at Husky Stadium. The speaker, Steve Ballmer, former Microsoft CEO, said, “You will need to put in long-term effort and be hard core in order to seize the opportunities that are in front of you.” Dada Wu, a 2014 grad from Taiwan, graduated from the communications department and earned her bachelor’s degree. She plans to pursue a master’s in urban planning or landscape architecture. “At UW, being an Asian is not much different than being other races because there are many Asians on
got the news out right away — we expected Medical Teams International to be there,” he said. MTI is a Christian relief organization that serves people affected by disaster, conflict, and poverty around the world. Based in Portland, Ore., with an office in Redmond, Wash., it provided vital medicines, medical supplies, and volunteers to help 10,000 people impacted by the typhoon. In addition to the Philippines, MTI has also provided aid to such countries as Cambodia, Indonesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, and North Korea. MTI president and CEO Jeff Pinneo said, “Given what we do, it’s just our great privilege to respond wherever the needs exist and where they are the deepest, any part of the world, any group of people, and to show up with compassion and professional expertise and effective impact to address the need.” The organization quickly sent its first-responder teams (paramedics, nurses, incident commanders) to the Philippines just 72 hours after Haiyan made landfall. Pinneo said they were able to hit the ground and become effective right away. “This experience has enriched us through our interactions, not only with the Filipino people in Tacloban and the surrounding regions, but the support of the Filipino community here in the United States, particularly in the Northwest, who came to us and said, ‘How can we help?’
and we were able to be a conduit for that,” he added. International support came quickly. President Obama said the United States would provide $20 million in humanitarian assistance, including critical relief supplies and emergency food aid. The United Nations provided $25 million from its emergency relief fund for emergency food aid and emergency household items and shelter. Australian Foreign Minister Julia Bishop and Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera traveled to Tacloban last December to offer continuing aid to survivors of Typhoon Haiyan. Today, 90 percent of the debris in Tacloban has been cleared and most of the city’s utilities are fully restored. “We’re building a resilient city. That’s our target now,” Romualdez said. “I’d like to let them know, first of all, thanks to all the Filipinos (in the United States) who helped us with donations and for all the help that they’ve given. Look at it not as an expenditure,” he said. “You are investing in our people.” For more information about Tacloban, Philippines, go to tacloban.gov.ph. For more information about Medical Teams International, go to www.medicalteams.org. James Tabafunda can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.
campus,” said Wu. “There are TOSA and TSA school clubs, and other kinds of events, and I get to meet people with the same background as me. That makes me feel comfortable being an Asian.” Kei-sing Yiu graduated with a master’s in the landscape architecture program at UW. His short-term plan after graduation is to look for a job in America, where, he said, “everyone is nice and friendly.” Yiu said his professors were very helpful and “not too picky” about his grammar problems. Ting Ting Chu majored in journalism. She is from Hong Kong and said she is job hunting outside of Seattle because she feels like she should try and go explore a little bit more. “Right now, I am looking for jobs mostly in Los Angeles and New York City,” she said. Chu said she never tried blending in with non-Asian communities. “I didn’t even bother to because I knew we were from entirely different cultural backgrounds,” she said. “It’s not our languages, it’s just about our ethnic backgrounds. It’s weird, because sometimes, there are people who naturally feel like talking to and befriending. They don’t look like they are Asian, but turns out they are half Asian. With that said, I am feeling great being an Asian at UW because I don’t feel lonely at all. I can still get to know friends.” Chu said she sometimes felt nervous about being judged because she’s not a native English speaker. “I thought I wouldn’t survive and started feeling like I shouldn’t be a journalist because I don’t write well like my classmates who are native English speakers,” said Chu. “But my professor, Caley Cook, spent so much time and effort guiding me through. She made me realize what I am good at and what I should improve on.” Jamie Sun can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
{JAPAN cont’d from page 5} Ivory Coast. Japan appeared to be spooked by the power and pace of “Les Elephants,” hesitant to go all out for goal as they have done so many times in the past. To be sure, Japan’s trademark attacking style has often left them vulnerable in defense. But as they strive to regroup, there’s agreement in the Japan camp that the only way forward is to abandon fear. Shinji Okazaki, who scored 15 goals last season for Bundesliga team Mainz, conceded that Japan were too tentative against the African team, afraid to take risks. “We kept back,” Okazaki said. “Then when we tried to go forward, we screwed up. “We’re a team that attacks, and we just need to create more chances.” Kagawa seemed particularly wooden and listless — and he admitted that he felt the pressure of being at his first World Cup. Japan captain Makoto Haseba echoed the view that the Blue Samurai have to go back to being themselves — no matter what the dangers of an attack-focused style. “We’ve prepared well to express our soccer style, but we showed our inexperience in not being able to express it tonight.” Veteran striker Yoshito Okubo had a somewhat more damning assessment after the loss: “We were behind anyway so you might as well go for it. ... We were panicking.”
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32 YEARS YOUR VOICE
■ astrology
JUNE 21 – JUNE 27, 2014
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For the week of June 21–June 27, 2014 By Sun Lee Chang Rat — If you have something on your mind, there is little to be gained by waiting until the last minute to share it. Early notice will allow the news to sink in.
Dragon — Are you not quite operating at your usual level? Take care of yourself, so that you can feel better faster.
Monkey — Don’t be in such a hurry to go from one activity to the next. Schedule some transition time, so that you can ease into whatever that follows.
Ox — A gift made and given with love will be received in kind. There is no guarantee that a pricier one could top it.
Snake — A tradition is easily started if you make a commitment to keep it going. Over time, your efforts will turn into something you can be proud of.
Rooster — Appearances are not always what they seem. Just because someone seems to have it all together doesn’t mean that is the reality.
Tiger — Do you feel trapped in a web of drama spun by another? You must set some boundaries, so someone else’s issues don’t become your own.
Horse — It can be difficult to understand why some people do what they do. Try putting yourself in their shoes and it could give you a new perspective.
Dog — Every once in a while, mix things up and keep everyone guessing. It will keep you from becoming too predictable.
Rabbit — Your actions speak louder than words. Consistency in what you say and do will go a long way in bolstering your credibility.
Goat — In spite of what you may have heard, there is still some room to make an impact. Choose an area that hasn’t already received much attention.
Pig — Whether you choose a pretty color or pleasant scent, infuse your surroundings with something that makes you happy.
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.
{A-POP cont’d from page 7} and expectations onto this sitcom. I know I’m guilty of this. Many of us are starved for accurate or relatable media representation that it’s easy to criticize Huang for not being a paragon of political correctness. But does Huang have a responsibility to represent all Asian Americans with this show? Some people think so. Personally, I do think there is some responsibility. He should think broadly of the people he’s depicting in a primetime sitcom, in addition to the audience that will view and interpret the content. But what I like slightly more is how Huang offers a
different and fresh perspective on Asian American identity, despite the controversy that comes with it. It adds to the growing diversity of Asian American voices and
representations in the media. Will the title “Fresh Off the Boat” help or harm the show’s success? It’s too early to tell. But I feel cautiously optimistic for
the show’s potential to change the media landscape for Asians. I am not sure if I fully agree with Huang’s use of the phrase, but I do respect and understand his decision to keep it. If anything, I like what the show’s title is doing for Asian American identity — it’s fostering critical discussion for more complex, diverse, and multilayered definitions of self-identity in the media. Identity is fluid and dynamic, and that’s what I see happening here, in Huang’s attempt to reclaim the phrase. Vivian Nguyen can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.
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JUNE 21 – JUNE 27, 2014
{SOUTH KOREA cont’d from page 5} but justifying fears that he has lost his way after three ineffective years with Arsenal in the English Premier League. He was substituted in the 56th and his replacement, Lee, scored South Korea’s goal. Russia, led by former England coach Fabio Capello, was just as lifeless in attack — at least until Kerzhakov and Alan Dzagoev came off the bench — and too functional in midfield. A dire first half was marked by the large contingent of Brazilian fans in the crowd doing slow hand clapping but South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo was
satisfied by what he saw. “In such a tournament, the first match is the most difficult,” Hong, who captained the nation to the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup, said through a translator. “There is a lot of pressure on it so I thought the players played very well.” Save for a shot by Son Heung-min that flew over the bar in the 39th when the forward was free at the edge of the area, there was barely a chance created in the first half. Capello stood with his hands on his hips in the technical area throughout the first 45 minutes, looking distinctly unimpressed.
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There was a major improvement after the break, although it required the mistake by Akinfeev to really get the game going. However, South Korea couldn’t hold on and when Dzagoev’s cross-shot was spilled out by goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong and defender Hwang Seok-ho’s clearance went straight at Andrei Yeshchenko, Kerzhakov was on hand to bundle home from inside the six-yard box. “I thanked them for their reaction,” said Capello, who turns 68 on Wednesday. “It was the greatest birthday present I could receive.”
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32 YEARS YOUR VOICE
{CAMBODIAN cont’d from page 3} eventually be deported. About six people remain in detention. The Cambodian government will issue travel documents for these people so that they can be repatriated back to Cambodia. One of the men still held at the Northwest Detention Center and slated for deportation is Touch Hak, according to a KPLU report. Activists are trying to get Hak’s deportation delayed for a time because his brother, Puthy, has a failing kidney and needs a transplant. The brothers are a perfect match and Hak is keen on donating a kidney to save his brother’s life. But the process of delaying deportation is complicated. When the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA), which instated stricter immigration laws, went into effect — Cambodia wasn’t accepting returnees and wouldn’t until 2002, when, due to U.S. pressure, it signed a memorandum of understanding with the United States, agreeing to allow repatriation. “Cambodia has historically issued a limited number of travel documents to Cambodian nationals ordered removed from the U.S,” said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Public Affairs Officer Andrew Munoz. “These documents are necessary for the U.S. government to effect a deportation. Given this limited number, it is U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) priority to first seek the removal of criminal aliens with the most serious criminal histories.” Since 2002, about 450 people have been sent back to Cambodia. Roughly about 1,500 to 2,000 people are waiting for their travel documents to be issued by the Cambodian government. “It is quite a backlog. It results in a really unusual situation for the people who are on the list,” said Assistant Federal Public Defender Jay Stansell. “There’s this looming dark cloud in their future, but it’s a dark cloud that, after some years go by, is pretty easy to
after it closed for the day, when he was 16. It was his first crime and when the police arrived, his friends ran. “I was the only one caught,” said Son. “My friends took off and I got caught, and I wasn’t snitching on anybody. If I did the crime, I needed to do the time. I wasn’t trying to put that on anyone else.” Son’s decision to not reveal his friends’ names to authorities actually spared them from the deportation that he currently faces. Because he was incarcerated for two and a half years, he is an aggravated felon. IIRIRA and the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA) resulted in stricter immigration policies. Aggravated felons will be removed from the United States and do not qualify for deportation waivers. According to Munoz, in addition to Son’s 1996 felony convictions, he was convicted in 2003 and 2004 for driving under the influence, when he was in his mid-20s. Since then, there have been no other incidences.
Convictions
The numbers
Ram Son, 39, sometimes struggles in recounting his immigration story. Talking about it to the press is awkward for him — he’s unsure of where to start and prefers to stick to broad strokes. He was 7 years old when his family fled the Khmer Rouge and Cambodia. His family, which included his mother, sister, brother, and stepfather, landed in Alabama after being granted amnesty and relocated to the United States due to their status as refugees — Alabama because that was where their sponsors lived. Son said they only met their sponsors once, maybe. Today, his parents aren’t together anymore. He said his stepdad is the only father he knows. “He raised me when I was little, since I was little. I don’t know my real dad. I don’t know if he’s dead or alive.” It’s easier for Son to talk about his crime. He and some friends broke into a gas station
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JUNE 21 – JUNE 27, 2014
forget about. … A lot of folks understandably go back to life, get married, have children. … I will say that the folks that I know who have been on this list since 1999 have had the great benefit of living life and maturing. Many of them were quite young and unskilled when they were incarcerated — no job skills or maturity. Many of these people have had the chance to fully rehabilitate.” “My personal view is that people who have committed crimes when they were younger, [it’s not] guaranteed that they are a threat to society,” said Yoon Joo Han, Behavioral Health Program Director at Asian Counseling and Referral Service. “We all know many people who did something stupid when they were young, but learned their lessons and grew up to be constructive members of society. I am sure [many of the detained Cambodians] paid the price for their crimes, just like anyone else. I don’t think it is fair for them to pay [a higher] price — deportation — than anyone else in the country. … This is not humane.”
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In April, the New York Times conducted an analysis of internal government records, in which Ginger Thompson and Sarah Cohen reported that since President Barack Obama took office, “two-thirds of the nearly 2 million deportation cases involve people who had committed minor infractions, including traffic violations, or had no criminal record at all. Twenty percent — or about 394,000 — of the cases involved people convicted of serious crimes, including drug-related offenses, the records show.” Obama has been under fire from many immigrant rights advocates for the high number of “deportations” under his administration. Shifts in contemporary politics and changed terminology can obscure what may actually be happening, though. For one, deportation is a bit of a legally obsolete term. Post-IIRIRA, in 1996, deportation and exclusion — the process of denying would-be immigrants entrance into the United States — was rolled into one blanket term: removal. There is another term, “return,” which refers to the action of preventing people from illegally entering the United States at the border. Removals carry harsher consequences than returns. Those who are removed cannot re-enter the United States legally. Those who are returned, however, can apply for legal reentry. The immigration numbers in reports may combine both return and removal numbers, or exclusively use removal numbers, to conflate or de-emphasize immigration enforcement policies under Obama’s administration. It should be noted that Obama’s administration is set to surpass George W. Bush’s 2 million removals. It should also be noted that most of the removals under Obama have occurred along the U.S.–Mexico border and that interior removals have dropped, comparatively, under his administration. According to the Yearbook of Immigration Statistics, put out by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in fiscal year 1986, the INS removed 1,978 aliens for criminal violations. The numbers increased massively in 1997, once IIRIRA went into effect. In 2012, a total of 199,445 people were removed for criminal violations, 80 of whom were Cambodians. 151,018 were Mexican. “The Cambodian situation is really poignant and really tragic,” said Stansell. “But it’s not altogether worse than being impoverished in a violence-prone place in Mexico — or Guatemala or El Salvador — and having your child who’s been here since 2 to be deported to a place that he has no idea how to survive in. There are hundreds of thousands of people getting deported every year — hundreds of thousands of families are being torn apart by, now, a Democrat president. And it’s not necessary. And nobody can say that it is.” “The president needs to get out in front on
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this. The president has talked about how the government has put too many people in jail for too-long sentences because of a failed policy on the drug war,” added Stansell. “So I have no idea why there’s no dialogue going on about why we’re deporting people so often. … [Deporting people in such high numbers] serves no purpose. It doesn’t change the global inequality of wealth. It doesn’t fix trauma. It’s just blind enforcement.”
Immigration reform
Next month, Yin is undergoing training in Washington, D.C., through the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC). “I want to do more mentoring,” he said. “The training is to learn to be a leader and advocate, to spread awareness about what’s going on with the deportations of Southeast Asians.” Son, more so than Yin, is sensitive to the criticisms directed at him once people learn he was incarcerated. In some ways, he’d prefer to live his life in anonymity. But, he said it’s also important to him to talk about it publicly. There’s no silver bullet in terms of reprieve for Yin, Son, and others like them. There is currently no legislation significantly far down the pipeline that would temper the strictness of IIRIRA and AEDPA. “People need to agitate with their congressional and senate representative, to change the laws,” said Stansell. “These laws are connected to our cruel criminal justice system. … There haven’t been progressive, compassionate changes to any of these laws for decades and decades.” “We need leaders to be brave enough to stand up for the rights of people like Rithy and Ram to present their stories in front of a judge, who can decide if deportation is really the best and fairest course of action, so that fewer children end up losing their parents or parents their children because of these rigid laws,” said Mari Quenemoen, SEARAC Policy Manager. “We need people to start talking, with their friends, neighbors, and their elected officials, about why due process and a fair shot at a second chance is better for our families and our communities.” “It’s all interconnected and no one can help the Cambodians without also talking about the Mexicans and everyone else,” said Stansell. “We have to not be afraid of talking about convicted criminals. We need to point out that it is not a crazy liberal thing to do and to say that each one of these guys deserves to talk to an immigration judge and say, ‘Give me a second chance.’ Believe me, judges used to routinely deny second chances, but at least people had the chance to ask for them.” Stansell also thinks that there’s a strong argument to be made to at least not deport former refugees. “They have a special place in this country. They fled horrific things. A lot of the times, they fled horrific things that were part of the geopolitical forces that included U.S. wars.”
The future
Naturally, Son and Yin have talked about their eventual deportation with their families. Yin laughed it off and said his wife is coming with him to start anew in Cambodia. He joked that that is what she tells him, and that is what she has supposedly agreed to. Son is more pensive. He said he will leave by himself. “I wouldn’t want them to come with me. It’s a new territory. What are my children going to do there? What is there, over there, to offer them?” For more information about SEARAC, visit www.searac.org. Questions related to court decisions should be direct to Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. This is the final part of a three-part story. Parts one and two are on nwasianweekly.com. Stacy Nguyen can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.
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Photos from Ken’s retirement party on June 6, where $32,000 was raised from individuals in his honor to support digital literacy.
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JUNE 21 – JUNE 27, 2014