VOL 36 NO 27 | JULY 1 – JULY 7, 2017

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

VOL 36 NO 27

JULY 1 – JULY 7, 2017

FREE 35 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Fourth of July

With Fourth of July just around the corner, we asked: What values are important to you on this holiday, in a Trump presidential era?

“For me, America represents the freedom to achieve your own happiness to whatever extent you can. We are the only country founded on the moral principle that your life does not belong to a king, a bureaucrat, or a neighbor — that your life belongs to you. That’s what brought my parents here decades ago to this melting pot: the opportunity to achieve prosperity on their own merit regardless of their background.

That’s what the American Dream means to me and what I will be celebrating this Independence Day — with a hot dog in one hand and a cold beverage in another!”

— Don Tian, Software Engineer

“I think the 4th of July, in any era, is a good time to reflect on where we stand in the world. How do we fare in economics, education, technology, and opportunity?

However, to me, it’s not necessarily a celebration of where we are as a country, but a celebration of the ideals we constantly strive for as a country.

Ideals written in our Declaration of Independence: “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Ideals written on the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free.” Only through the constant pursuit of these ideals can we uphold our American values to be a welcoming, inclusive, and diverse land of opportunity for all people.”

— Quyen Dang, NAAAP President

See QUOTES on 12.

“These are what I value most during Trump’s time as president: Freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. President Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke of them in his State of the Union Address in 1941. Presently, we find these four freedoms threatened by Trump’s presidency, and thus as a community, we must stand up and resist.”

—Frank Irigon, comunity leader

See PICTORIAL on 9.

From left: Nikkita Oliver, James Norton, Gary Brose, Mike McGinn, Jessyn Farrell, Cary Moon, Tiniell Cato, Jenny Durkan, Bob Hasegawa, and Larry Oberto.

By James Tabafunda NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The cheers and jeers at the Mayoral Candidate Forum were just some of the many sounds that could be heard at the pre-election, public event at the Nagomi Tea House.

Ten candidates for the chief executive’s job in Seattle attended a forum on June 22 specifically for the city’s Asian American voters. Many of the most familiar and prominent community organizations cohosted the event with API Candidates and Issues Forum – King County.

Cue cards with time countdowns forced all of the candidates to give only brief but

■

relevant answers in their allotted time limits.

A familiar sound appeared several times during the event for violators.

Owner of Jump Start and moderator Maria Batayola said, “We hope that we don’t have to use the train whistle to stop you because talking beyond your time is considered rude.”

Along with each candidate’s answers, Cantonese and Vietnamese interpreters — furnished by Asian Counseling and Referral Service and Friends of Little Saigon, respectively — could also be heard.

“For the next hour, we will learn about the candidates running for mayor as to who can best lead our Asian Pacific Islander community,” Batayola said.

“We invited 21 mayoral candidates to participate, and 10 of them completed the questionnaire and responded on time.”

Nikkita Oliver, James Norton, Gary Brose, Mike McGinn, Jessyn Farrell, Cary Moon, Tiniell Cato, Jenny Durkan, Bob Hasegawa, and Larry Oberto took the opportunity to speak about five subject areas in an effort to gain voter support. Their questionnaire answers are posted on the API Candidate Forum’s Facebook page and in last week’s issue of the Northwest Asian Weekly.

Batayola spoke clearly and slowly, encouraging each candidate to do the same.

“Our goal is to ask questions that are important to us. We’ll give the candidates equal time,”

she said.

The first question: Please tell us about yourself. Why are you the best person for our Asian Pacific Islander community?

“I always love coming to the International District. I see many friends in the audience,” Durkan said. “You see homelessness and the affordability crisis. I’d like to fix it. Thank you.”

Three rounds of questions then followed, including six yes or no questions, two “very special” questions, and three “one-word” questions.

One “very special” question concerned see MAYORAL FORUM on 13

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Forum for mayoral candidates provides needed answers for API community

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35 YEARS

JULY 1 – JULY 7, 2017

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS ACRS Walk for Rice

Qiao, Yuan receive medals at UW Bothell commencement

Lingling Yuan

Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos gestures to the crowd to cheer louder. King Co. Executive Dow Constantine (far right).

The annual Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) Walk for Rice raised $170,000 on June 24. Hundreds turned up at Seward Park to help the ACRS Food Bank continue to feed families, friends, and neighbors.

ACRS provides ethnic foods to its mostly Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) clients. It also helps AAPI immigrants, refugees, and others feed their loved ones, find jobs, gain English language and work skills, and become American citizens. ■

China contributed to half of Boeing’s 571 orders won at Paris Air Show

Boeing broke the record at the recent Paris Air Show by landing 571 orders and commitments, with a total value of $74.8 billion, compared with Airbus’ 326 orders at $18.5 billion.

Boeing’s newly launched 737 Max 10 won 361 of those orders from 16 global customers. Of the total 571 orders, Chinese companies (Xiamen Airlines, Ruili Airlines, China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., China Aircraft Leasing Group, and Tibet Financial Leasing) ordered 275 planes. ■

Erica Qiao

A team from Vulcan Inc. came out in full force for the International District clean-up as part of World Oceans Week in early June.

Lingling Yuan received the President’s Medal and Erica Qiao received the Chancellor’s Medal at the University of Washington Bothell’s June 13 commencement ceremony.

After everyone finished the 13.1-mile trek, they got ready Yuan, who is graduating with summa cum laude honors with a degree in interdisciplinary arts, was recognized with for the ceremony and reception.

Tse and Hughes first met eight years ago while training for the most distinguished academic record, while Qiao, who led a spring food drive that collected 700 pounds of soup, pasta, and the New York City Marathon. ■ other non-perishables for the Hungry Huskies Food Pantry, Tacoma welcomes Sister City was recognized for her commitment to learning.

Chancellor Wolf Yeigh said Yuan and Qiao “represent delegations from Japan and China what’s best at UW Bothell.” ■

Couple runs half marathon on wedding day

Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland (3rd from left) with panelists at the Global Engagement and State of Trade luncheon on June 16.

Joel Tse and Amanda Hughes run the 2017 Brooklyn Half Marathon on their wedding day.

On May 20, Brooklyn, N.Y.-based couple Amanda Hughes and Joel Tse got married doing what they love: running. The newlyweds, both avid runners, decided to spend their big day running the 2017 Airbnb Brooklyn Half Marathon, from Prospect Park to Coney Island.

And they invited their wedding guests to run the race with them — nearly 60 did.

Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland served as master of ceremonies for the Global Engagement and State of Trade luncheon on June 16 at the Hotel Murano. The event was hosted in partnership with the World Trade Center and the Sister Cities Council, and featured a panel of dignitaries from Tacoma’s sister cities Fuzhou, China and Kitakyushu, Japan.

The visiting delegations were in Tacoma for the Festival of Sail.

Tacoma has held sister city relationships with Fuzhou since 1994 and Kitakyushu since 1959.

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JULY 1 – JULY 7, 2017

■ COMMUNITY NEWS New study of Seattle’s $15 minimum wage says it costs jobs SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle’s $15-an-hour minimum wage law has cost the city jobs, according to a study released on June 26 that contradicted another new study published last week.

A University of Washington team studying the law’s effects found that the law has boosted pay in low-wage jobs since it took effect in 2015, but that it also caused a 9 percent reduction in hours worked, The Seattle Times reported. For an average low-wage Seattle worker, that’s a loss of about $125 per month, the study said.

“If you’re a low-skilled worker with one of those jobs, $125 a month is a sizable amount of money,” said Mark Long, one of the authors. “It can be the difference between being able to pay your rent and not being able to pay your rent.”

There would be about 5,000 more low-wage jobs in the city without the law, the study estimated.

Seattle was one of the first U.S. cities to adopt a $15 minimum wage law, and its experience is being closely watched as other cities have followed suit

and as advocates push for a higher federal minimum wage.

The city’s law is raising the minimum to $15 for all businesses by 2021.

In the years covered by the study, 2015 and 2016, the minimum wage was at most $13, depending on business size, worker benefits and tips.

The current minimum wage in Seattle ranges from $11 to $15, and unemployment is at a historically low 2.6 percent, thanks in part to the booming tech sector. Seattle has added about 40,000 jobs overall in the last few years.

Last week, a review by University of California at Berkeley economists found the law raised pay without hurting jobs in the restaurant industry. An author of that report, Michael Reich, criticized the University of Washington team’s methodology.

The University of Washington effort compared economic data from Seattle with economic data from other parts of Washington state — a statistical model see MINIMUM WAGE on 14

Shop owner gets eight years in fatal shooting of suspected thief SPANAWAY, Wash. (AP) — A Spanaway convenience store owner has been sentenced to eight years in prison for fatally shooting a man he suspected of shoplifting.

KOMO-TV reports Min Kim told the judge on June 23 he accepted responsibility for his actions that led to the death of 21-year-old Jakeel Mason in March 2016.

Mason was fleeing from the store when Kim shot him in the back.

The shooting came a month after Kim’s wife was shot and wounded during a robbery at the store.

Kim said in court he didn’t have the right to “take Mr. Mason's life or anyone else’s life” and asked the judge for permission to write a letter of apology to Mason’s family. ■

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South Korean national, 23, likely drowned in Lake Chelan CHELAN, Wash. (AP) — Authorities say a 23-year-old University of Washington student has likely drowned in Lake Chelan in north-central Washington.

The Chelan County Sheriff ’s Office identified him on June 21 as Donghoon Lee of Seattle.

Crews were working to recover his body from the lake.

Donghoon and others had rented a boat and were swimming in Lake Chelan on June 20 when he had trouble in

the water. Others in the group tried to throw him a personal flotation device, but he went under.

Sheriff ’s deputies in boats and rescue swimmers searched, but were unable to find him. He is believed to have drowned.

The sheriff ’s office says Donghoon was a South Korean national on a student visa to study at the University of Washington. It says it worked with the South Korean consulate to notify his family. 

Washington granted REAL ID extension through Oct. 10 OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington state has been granted another temporary extension from the enforcement of federal requirements for state driver’s licenses and ID cards.

The federal government informed the state last week that it would receive the extension through Oct. 10, at which point the state will be reconsidered for another extension from enforcement of the law. The federal law requires state

driver’s licenses and ID cards to have security enhancements and to be issued to people who can prove they are legally in the United States. It was passed after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to strengthen rules for identification needed at airports and federal facilities.

Washington state lawmakers passed a measure this year creating a two-tiered licensing system that was signed into law

by Gov. Jay Inslee in May. 

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JULY 1 – JULY 7, 2017

35 YEARS

■ WORLD NEWS

Tokyo’s governor decides to keep famous Tsukiji fish market

By YURI KAGEYAMA AP BUSINESS WRITER

TOKYO (AP) — Tokyo’s giant Tsukiji fish market, popular with tourists, won’t be destroyed, although it will be closed for up to five years while it is modernized and turned into a “food theme park,” the capital’s governor said.

The market will move to a state-of-the-art $6 billion facility in Toyosu on the eastern outskirts of Tokyo while

Tsukiji is rebuilt. After that, Tokyo will have two wholesale fish markets, Gov. Yuriko Koike said.

Koike had halted the planned move to Toyosu last August, just months before the new market’s scheduled opening, after food safety concerns were raised. Toxins have been found in soil and groundwater at Toyosu, which was previously the site of a gas plant.

The initial plan was to sell the bayside Tsukiji property after the move, possibly for a shopping mall or casino.

But Koike said she is opposed to such a one-time cash gain for the capital. Tsukiji is a valuable brand and landmark, she said at a news conference.

“Our country has always valued tradition,” she said.

Koike declined to give an exact timeline, stressing she was just announcing a basic plan that still requires approval by the city legislature.

Toyosu will also need to be cleaned up to ensure its water systems and soil meet safety standards. The city faces a challenge in calming public fears about the toxins at Toyosu, which have drawn widespread media coverage.

The massive new complex, loaded with huge refrigeration units, requires large amounts of money just to maintain.

Hong Kong’s mini apartments boom as property prices soar

Meanwhile, Tsukiji, famous the world over for its tuna auctions and quaint sushi joints, has hobbled along and is still busy with tourists.

Koike said she wants to turn Tsukiji into a “food theme park,” rebuilding its antiquated buildings and adding the latest earthquake-resistant technology. Japan is among the most quake-prone nations in the world.

She believes Toyosu’s high-tech distribution systems and its proximity to airports will help make it a bustling market that can co-exist with Tsukiji.

Some were skeptical.

Hiroyuki Doko, proprietor of Doko Shoten, a wholesale seafood store in Tsukiji, questioned whether businesses will be able to make the same profit in Koike’s theme-park plan.

But Yu Takahashi, manager of a sushi restaurant in Tsukiji, said he welcomes the decision to keep Tsukiji.

“This is where all the fish from Japan, the best fish, come together in one place. The decision will be a good thing for Japan and Tokyo,” he said. 

Dried lizard penises from India sold as good luck charms

By NIRMALA GEORGE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW DELHI (AP) — Wildlife investigators from India and Britain said last week they have uncovered an international fraud in which dried penises of endangered monitor lizards are being sold as a plant root regarded as a good luck charm and used in religious rituals.

The London-based group World Animal Protection (WAP) said the dried penises of Bengal monitor lizards and yellow see LIZARD on 13

By KELVIN CHAN AP BUSINESS WRITER HONG KON.G (AP) — With its marbleclad lobby, sweeping balcony views and sleek, modern decor, Donny Chan’s apartment building would seem the kind of upscale tower most young Hong Kong professionals aspire to live in.

But not for Chan, 39, who avoids spending time in his 19th-floor apartment because it measures just 193 square feet (about 14 feet by 14 feet or 18 square meters). His parking space-sized studio in the grandly named High One building is part of a growing trend for so-called micro apartments that are diminutive even by the standards of space-starved and densely built Hong Kong.

“Every time that I step back into this (apartment) I kind of feel like a cat squeezed into a box,” said Chan, an art director at a medical equipment maker.

To avoid returning to his cramped and claustrophobic apartment before bedtime he plays basketball or badminton, goes to the movies or karaoke bars, and gets

together with friends and family.

“I go walking in shopping malls until the last minute when they close,” he said.

Hong Kong’s property developers are scaling down, way down, for younger, middle-class buyers, offering micro-sized upscale apartments with eye-popping price tags. The apartments, dubbed “mosquito-size units” or “gnat flats” in Chinese, are drawing online ridicule and underscore worries over the Asian financial hub’s overheated real estate market and widening inequality.

Hong Kong is often ranked the world’s costliest housing market.

Its micro-flat boom parallels tiny house and minimalist living trends seen in the U.S. and other developed countries. The difference is that in Hong Kong, few make the choice willingly. Chan moved in last year after splitting up with his wife. He viewed 20 other apartments over three weeks but they were all more expensive, in worse condition or farther from his job.

When they first appeared, micro-flats see– MINI APARTMENTS on 13

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JULY 1 – JULY 7, 2017

■ NATIONAL NEWS ACLU accuses Minnesota officers of brutalizing suspect MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union is accusing law enforcement officers in Minnesota of a brutal attack on an assault suspect.

The group’s Minnesota chapter released squad car video on June 22 that it says shows excessive force during the arrest in Worthington last July of 22-yearold Anthony Promvongsa. It shows a drug task force agent pulling over the suspect’s vehicle, then kneeing and punching the belted-in motorist before pulling him down to the street and handcuffing him.

Police and prosecutors issued a statement cautioning the video shows only a short segment of an incident that began earlier.

The criminal complaint alleges Promvongsa had taken aggressive actions toward the cars of two officers, including swerving at them and tailgating one.

The charges include assault with a motor vehicle. 

Hmong-American doctor inspired by heritage MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Hmong-American who recently received his medical degree plans to return to Madison, Wisconsin to pursue research on using stem cells to treat chronic pain.

Yeng Her became interested in helping people regain function after spending much of his childhood at Hmong refugee camps in Thailand surrounded by people injured during the Vietnam War, the Wisconsin State Journal Yeng Her reported.

“I felt powerless,” he said. “That lit a fire inside of me to go into medicine and try to bridge these gaps.”

The 33-year-old received his M.D. and Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology in May at Mayo

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The M.D.-Ph.D. program takes eight years to complete. It starts and ends with two years of medical school and has four years of graduate school in between.

Her and his family recently moved to Fresno, California, where he’ll spend a year at a medical internship. Then he’ll start a three-year residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at University of Wisconsin-Madison Health.

He is considering opening up a clinic in Laos, where his parents grew up, and hopes to promote higher education among Hmong-Americans.

“This is the reason we’re here in the United States, that we have this opportunity,” Her said. “Education is the key.”

Her hopes telling his immigrant story will inspire others.

“Opening the door for people like myself to achieve the American dream, that’s something we should do,” he said. ■

Sister of sailor killed at sea says brother was ‘selfless’ HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The sister of a U.S. Navy sailor who grew up in Connecticut and was killed in a collision between a destroyer and a container ship off Japan is describing her brother as “selfless.”

Twenty-five-year-old Ngoc T Truong Huynh was one of seven sailors killed aboard the USS Fitzgerald on June 17.

Lan Huynh told WVIT-TV family is coping as best they can.

She says they moved to Connecticut was Huynh was in eighth grade.

She and her brother graduated from Watertown High School. He also attended Naugatuck Valley Community College before joining the Navy in 2014. The family moved to Oklahoma a short time later.

Lan Huynh says her brother always “had the brightest smile.”

Connecticut’s governor has ordered flags to fly at half-staff in Huynh’s honor. 

Experts: Takata bankruptcy means air bag victims get less

By TOM KRISHER AP AUTO WRITER DETROIT (AP) — Legal experts say a bankruptcy filing

by Japanese air bag maker Takata will leave little money for dozens of people who sued the company over deaths and injuries caused by exploding air bag inflators.

A person briefed on the matter says Takata and its U.S. operations were expected to seek bankruptcy protection in a deal that would sell its assets to Key Safety Systems Inc. The person didn’t want to be identified because talks are

ongoing. Takata says no decision has been made.

Takata inflators can explode with too much force and spew shrapnel. At least 16 people have died worldwide.

One lawyer says victims will get 5 to 10 cents on the dollar compared with what they would get by suing a healthy company. 

KING COUNTY NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received for C01170C17, Evans Creek Detention Vaults; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 1:30 PM on July 18, 2017. Late bids will not be accepted.

Brief Scope: This project provides for the improvement of conveyance systems near 20508 NE 78th Street and 20620 NE 76th Place in King County by installing

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detention vaults and appurtenances, and other work, all in accordance with the attached Plans, these Special Provisions, the Standard Specifications, the KCRDCS, and the APWA/WSDOT Standard Plans for Road, Bridge, and Municipal Construction.

Estimated contract price: $320,000 Pre-Bid Conference: June 30, 2017 @ 10:30 a.m., Redmond Regional Library, Regional Conference Room. No site tour is scheduled for this procurement.

There is a Voluntary Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Goal: 10% of the Contract Price.

There is a Voluntary Women Business Enterprise (WBE) Goal: 6% of the Contract Price.

Complete Invitation to Bid Documents, including all project details, specifications, and contact information are available on our web page at: https://procurement. kingcounty.gov/procurement_ovr/default. aspx

asianweekly northwest

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JULY 1 – JULY 7, 2017

35 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR JUNE 29

BEACH THEMED MAHJONG NIGHT COHOSTED BY NAAAP-SEATTLE Kin On 4416 S. Brandon St., Seattle 7:15 p.m.

30 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 10

YAYOI KUSAMA: INFINITY MIRRORS SAM, 1300 1st Ave., Seattle 10 a.m.

206-654-3210 kusama.site.seattleartmuseum.org

JULY 7

LOCAL EVENT WITH AUTHOR LISA KO OF, “THE LEAVERS” Elliott Bay Book Company, 1521 Tenth Ave., Seattle 7 p.m. michael@algonquin.com 212-614-5639

7&8 JYUN JYUN AND MISSTANGQ BRING TO SEATTLE A TESTAMENT OF TRANSNATIONAL MIGRATION AND CULTURAL INTERCHANGE July 7 at Duwamish Waterway Park,

7900 10th Ave. S., Seattle July 8 at Cal Anderson Park 1635 11th Ave., Seattle 8:30 p.m.

Free and family-friendly

8 7TH ANNUAL SAMOA CULTURAL DAY Clover Park High Harry Lang Stadium 8 a.m.

253-383-3900 apcc96.org NATSU MATSURI OUTDOOR SUMMER FESTIVAL Uwajimaya, 600 5th Ave. S., Seattle 11 a.m.

8&9 JAPAN FAIR 2017 Meydenbauer Center, 11100 N.E. 6th St., Bellevue 7/8, 11 a.m.

7/9, 10 a.m.

Free japanfairus.org

9 ASIAN ARTS LEADERS RESPOND TO MADAME BUTTERFLY SIFF Cinema Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave. N., Seattle 2 p.m. seattleopera.org

10–28

YOUTHCAN, “FIND YOUR VOICE” Wing Luke Museum 12 p.m.

14-19 years old wingluke.org/youthcan Deadline to apply is June 30

12

AUG 3

BAMBOO CIRCLE CELEBRATION Seattle Chinese Garden 6:30 p.m. seattlechinesegarden.org

THROUGH AUGUST 31

SUMMER AT SAM RETURNS Olympic Sculpture Park Every Thursday and Saturday visitsam.org/summer

5–19

14 & 15 42ND ANNUAL PIG ROAST HOSTED

BY INTERIMCDA Danny Woo Community Garden, 620 S. Main St., Seattle 6 p.m. on July 14 12 p.m. on July 15 dannywoogarden.org

15 MCDONALD’S PRESENTS DRAGON FEST 2017 Seattle’s Chinatown-International District 6 p.m.

NWAW’S TRASHION FASHION SHOW Northwest Asian Weekly office 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle 1:30 p.m. nwasianweekly.com

ASIAN AMERICAN PARTNERS INSPIRE NEW UNDERSTANDING OF MADAME BUTTERFLY 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. $25 seattleopera.org 206-389-7676

12 SEATTLE CENTER FESTÁL: IRANIAN FESTIVAL Seattle Center, Armory Free admission iaca-seattle.org

26&27 SEATTLE CENTER FESTÁL: TIBET FEST Seattle Center, Armory and Fisher Rooftop Free admission washingtontibet.org

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

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

Subscriptions cost $40 for 52 weeks of the NW Asian Weekly and $30 for 52 weeks of the Seattle Chinese Post. The NW Asian Weekly owns the copyright for all its content. All rights reserved. No part of this paper may be reprinted without permission.

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JULY 1 – JULY 7, 2017

■ FOOD

7

LOCAL PUBLISHER ‘READERS TO EATERS’ DEBUT CHILDREN’S BOOK

“Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix”

By Tiffany Ran NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY It’s never too early to introduce food literacy to children and families. At least that is the unofficial motto behind the Bellevue-based publisher and popup bookstore Readers to Eaters, founded in 2009 by husband and wife team Philip and June Jo Lee to help families explore food culture through reading.

“If you think about Gen V, the next generation after the millennials, they are so diverse.

We were also thinking about the children who would be reading this book and their parents. It’s not even just one ethnic identity within the larger identity. So many kids today are multiethnic,” said June Jo Lee. “My husband’s former company was Lee & Low [Multicultural Book Publishers] and they focused on not just stories of diversity, but they featured a lot of authors and illustrators who were also diverse.

It was their stories to tell. The way we brought about Readers to Eaters

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JULY 1 – JULY 7, 2017

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

35 YEARS

Study: Films with diverse casting perform better at the box office

By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY A more diverse cast brings a more diverse audience, which brings in more money.

That’s according to a study released on June 21 by the Creative Artists Agency (CAA).

The study examined 413 theatrical films released between January 2014 through December 2016, and found that for many of the highest-grossing movies in 2016 and 2015, non-white moviegoers made up nearly half of the opening weekend audience.

It also found that opening weekend box office for “truly diverse” films — defined as having a cast that is at least 30 percent nonwhite — outperforms releases that are not truly diverse. The best-performing movie out of all those evaluated was “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which had a roughly 40 percent diverse cast and a 38 percent diverse audience.

Richard Lovett, president of CAA, told the Los Angeles Times, “The hope is that seeing real numbers attached to the success of the inclusion of more voices and diverse casts will be further motivation for studios, networks, and others to be really conscious of the opportunity.”

Christy Haubegger, who heads up CAA’s multicultural development group, said the data is proof that “people want to see a world that looks like theirs.”

The study also included some interesting information about the types of films members of different ethnic groups flock to. Latinos, for instance, go more for horror and animation, Asians for fantasy and animation, Black moviegoers tend to see biopics and thrillers, while whites are more likely to buy tickets to drama or romance films. The casts of horror and fantasy films are more largely white, while comedies and thrillers are more diverse.  Staff can be reached nwasianweekly.com.

at

Richard Lovett

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ORGANIZERS

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API MAYORAL CANDIDATE FORUM 2017

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YOUR VOICE

asianweekly northwest

10

35 YEARS

JULY 1 – JULY 7, 2017

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

OPINION

What Seattle restaurants can learn from New York’s

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

From Indian Accent: complimentary starter with pumpkin shorba (soup) and mini naan with blue cheese stuffing served with Dhokla

tongue. In my opinion, restaurants in the Big Apple have set a gold standard. I don’t refer to my phone or use Yelp or other reviews.

Mostly, my husband and I ate close to our hotel, following my instinct by looking inside the restaurant, reading the menu, and

From Indian Accent: sweet picked ribs, smoked eggplant, duck, and chicken trio.

From Indian Accent: Baked sea bass served with rice and roasted lamb pancakes.

observing what the diners were eating. And seldom do I listen to the hotel concierge’s recommendations.

Every single restaurant we dined at had something for Seattle restaurants to emulate.

one mid-course, and one side dish (naan and wild mushrooms with chicken) for sharing.

The dinner was so exquisitely prepared. I wish I could find such a wonderful Indian restaurant in Seattle.

My husband and I accidentally walked by it, and made a reservation for the next day.

Oh, they were so popular that they didn’t have tables until 10 p.m. The only option we had was to sit at the bar.

“Is it okay if we don’t drink?” I inquired hopefully.

“No problem,” the bartender replied.

When we sat down at the bar, we knew we found the right place. The presence of young Indian professionals dining there made my confidence soar.

Indian Accent

Whenever I venture into a Seattle Indian restaurant without my Indian friends’ guidance, it could spell disaster. I could easily get the “wrong” dishes on the table due to inexperience!

Not at Indian Accent Restaurant.

We ordered everything without the waitress’ help. The mistake most Asian restaurants make is the menu has too many items. For non-Asian customers, it takes too much time to digest what exactly is on the menu and too much effort to decide what to eat.

But the Accent menu with fusion dishes was organized, simple, and short. The one-page menu consists of five categories — appetizers, mid courses, main courses, accompaniments (side dishes), and dessert.

Every category has only five to six items. So I picked two appetizers, two main courses,

Rue 57

A restaurant across from Central Park charged us $12 for two fried eggs not being listed on the menu. You see, it served only eggs benedict, not fried eggs.

The bill was almost $50, including a coconut pancake, tea, coffee, and juice.

What a rip-off! Perhaps, we shouldn’t order see BLOG on 15

Photos by Assunta Ng/NWAW

I had no idea that New York dining would have such a drastic impact on me. After my recent trip, I lost my appetite for a week.

Those once-appealing Seattle restaurants seemed to be missing something. My taste buds changed after my last trip.

Some of the finest restaurants I’ve ever dined in were in New York. One friend asked if I visited this or that famous restaurant.

None were nationally renowned. We just happened to be in the neighborhood. From pho to ramen noodles, Chinese to Indian, American to Italian, we had the most amazing dining experience there.

I can usually smell my way to great meals.

Call it my gift of developing a marvelous

From Rue57: Smoked salmon and almond croissant served with cream cheese sauce (left) and eggs florentine.

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

JULY 1 – JULY 7, 2017

11

OPINION

■ LETTER

An open letter to the U.S. Supreme Court Dear Justices,

When I became an American citizen, it was because I believed in the values that the United States represents: freedom, opportunity, and equality.

As a girl growing up in India, my family gave me whatever they could. However, in order to thrive and live a Preeti Shridhar life with those basic rights, I moved halfway around the world to Minnesota to seek my American Dream.

I found a community that welcomed me and showed me that all I had heard about my adopted country was true.

It was a place where I could learn and grow, eventually giving back over 25 years of public service. I love America, and the hundreds of people who take the oath of citizenship each year are all becoming Americans for the same reasons I did: freedom, opportunity, and equality.

Now we have seen you undercut these values by reinstating parts of the Trump Administration’s travel ban on people from six predominantly Muslim countries, sending thousands into another round of legal limbo. Where is freedom if people from certain countries are deprived of the right to travel to America? Where is opportunity if refugees, those who need our help the most, are one of the groups not allowed to come to the “land of the free”? And where is equality if only citizens of Muslim countries are banned?

Washington State has already declared that such discrimination threatens the rights and proper privileges

that people here hold dear. It harms the public welfare and hurts our economy. King County has always strongly opposed excluding anyone based on religion or country of origin; the path of inclusion has been my pledge and promise.

As we grapple with this new plot twist in the ongoing saga of immigration policies, I urge you to deeply consider the titles of the positions you hold – justices. We must make sure that justice is upheld for those who need justice and compassion the most. Stay true to our American Dream and show those who look to our country for guidance that we haven’t lost our way. ■ Sincerely, — Preeti Shridhar American Citizen Since 2000

KING COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION – AIRPORT DIVISION FEDERAL FISCAL YEARS 2017-2018 ADJUSTED DBE GOAL

NOTICE

King County hereby gives notice of an adjustment to its approved Triennial DBE goal for utilizing Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) adjusted for the Federal Fiscal Years 2017 and 2018, pursuant to 49 CFR, Part 26, United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Regulations.

Triennial Adjusted DBE Goal of 3% The goal will apply to all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assisted contracts awarded by King County in Federal Fiscal Years (FFY) 2017, and 2018. King County is now soliciting comments from the public on its proposed 3% Triennial DBE Goal for

FAA assisted projects.

King County’s Triennial DBE Goal for the period FFY 2017 through 2018, and the rationale for the proposed goal percentage are available for inspection at the following location: King County Chinook Building Third Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104.

These documents are available for review during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.) for a period of thirty (30) days following the date of this notice.

The Business Development and Contract Compliance Section will accept public comments on the proposed triennial 3%

Overall DBE Utilization Goal for forty (45) days after the date of this notice.

Address written comments to: King County Business Development and Contract Compliance 401 Fifth Avenue, Third Floor CNK-ES-0350 Seattle, WA 98104-1818 Written comments may also be directed to the Federal Aviation Administration, Civil Rights Office, AWP-9, 15000 Aviation Blvd., Hawthorne, CA 90261.

Attn: Director, Western Pacific Region & DBE Compliance.

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JULY 1 – JULY 7, 2017

35 YEARS

Illustrations by Man One. Courtesy of Readers to Eaters.

12

CHOI from 7 was to build on that kind of diversity to represent what America really is today and how diverse we are. Our mission is to incorporate food culture into our stories and beautiful art to express where we come from and what we eat. We try not to be didactic, not like a ‘this is what healthy is’ or ‘this is how you should eat.’ We try to tell good food stories,” said Lee about Readers to Eaters.

Last month, Readers to Eaters published the third installment in the Food Heroes series, “Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix,” a tribute to the Los Angeles-based Korean American chef and founder of the Korean tacos peddling Kogi truck. This is also the first book by June Jo Lee, who authored this children’s book, alongside the Food Heroes series writer Jacqueline Briggs Martin.

“We always look for diversity in our Food Heroes series. We did Will Allen and we did the first female chef to win the James Beard Award, Alice Waters. We wanted to do an Asian chef. Roy Choi we really liked because we were following his work with Locol (a socially conscious fast-food brand).

It was because of his work with Locol that we thought that this would be a great story,” said Lee. “Roy Choi” and Lee’s work with Readers to Eaters ties in with Lee’s work as a selfproclaimed “food ethnographer,” conducting research on food culture and food-related user experiences, and working with companies to provide storytelling, products, and services to better the food system. Through her work, Lee has kept her finger on the pulse of food trends, cultures, and behaviors and uses this data to develop insight for products, program, services, and messaging. It’s a unique career that has led her to work with companies like Kraft, Colgate, Seventh Generation, Whole Foods, and more. While researching Choi’s story for this book, Lee found a few parallels between herself and the “street cook” chef.

“I’m Korean, Roy Choi is Korean. We were both born the same year in Korea. So much of his immigrant story was my immigrant story and so much of our experiences were similar.

Except I didn’t have the dark days that he did with the drugs and gambling thing. We kind of glossed over that part. It is an immigrant story. It’s a celebration of Los Angeles and

QUOTES from 1

“Integrity and accountability, particularly in a leadership position, as your actions affect so many others.

You should be willing to stand up and be transparent about why you chose a particular path and be responsible for the impact of those choices.

Watching the conduct of the Trump administration over the past several months has left me distressed about the erosion of these critical leadership qualities, even more so when this is occurring in the most powerful position in the country. Add to that an inability to own up to one’s mistakes, we have someone who is not willing to take a critical look at his judgment in a cogent manner, but instead cast the blame onto someone else. I can see this taking us down the path to a dishonest, authoritarian style of governing.

As an American-born citizen who has seen a fair share of discrimination and ugly behavior in this country over the years, this is the first time that I can tangibly feel why people who grew up in an authoritarian regime exhibit such a fear about speaking out.”

— Dorothy Wong, CISC executive director “On Independence Day, we celebrate our freedoms and honor the brave men and women who fight to preserve them. This is also a time to celebrate that America’s diversity is our greatest strength, and reflect on the importance of liberty and justice for all.”

— Rep. Adam Smith

that whole mixing of food culture that I think represents America today,” said Lee. In “Roy Choi,” a young Korean American boy grows up in Los Angeles and struggles to find his identity until he discovers his love for food and cooking. After his food truck business Kogi Truck takes off in Los Angeles, he opens a brick and mortar restaurant Locol with Chef Daniel Patterson (“Chef DP” as he’s known in the book) to provide quality food and opportunity for inner city youth. Choi was not involved in the writing of the book.

Lee and Martin developed the narrative from a library of Choi’s work, including his speech at the MAD Symposium, online articles, and Roy Choi’s own cookbook “L.A. Son: My Life, My City, My Food.”

Sohn-maash is the “flavors in our fingertips, the love and cooking talent that Korean mothers and grandmothers mix into their handmade foods,” it says in “Chef Roy Choi and Street Food Remix.”

“Roy calls himself a ‘street cook.’ He wants outsiders, lowriders, kids, teens, shufflers, and skateboarders to have food cooked with care, with love, with sohn-maash,” the book continues.

“Washington state welcomes people of all faiths, all nationalities, and all orientations. Equal opportunity and tolerance are core values protected by our state’s anti-discrimination laws and the Constitution. We all must do our part to uphold these values and freedoms by supporting our most vulnerable and speaking out against mean-spirited policies that divide us.”

— Gov. Jay Inslee “Two values that are important to me during this time of my life are diversity and inclusion. The current administration has made some very regressive actions towards people of certain ethnicities and religions, which I find to be very un-American.

Instead, we should be opening our arms to people who are different because that’s what makes this country great. I try to celebrate diversity on a daily basis by interacting with people who are different from me. When it comes time to take a stance on a larger issue, I want to be inclusive and make sure that all voices are heard.”

— Justin Laem, Office Manager “The values that are most important to me are reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights passed in 1948 that applies to all members of the human race and are the basis for freedom, justice, and

Graffiti artist Man One brought vibrancy to the book with colorful, dream-like illustrations of the Los Angeles landscape and diverse representation of characters in the book. He paints Choi as a DJ on one page, who goes on to remix food on the next. Each page of the book bears different textures of strokes, lines, paint splatters, shadows, and colors.

“Roy’s story, like this city, is another great inspiration,” said Man One, who wrote about his love for Los Angeles in the book’s illustrator notes.

“Finding your passion and doing something you love is a great way to reach success, but the real reward comes when you start giving back to your community. There are not enough words to express the happiness that it can bring you.” ■ “Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix” is available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other major book retailers.

Tiffany can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

peace in the world. The declaration affirms that all people have a range of rights spanning education, right to work, freedom of movement, freedom from slavery, freedom of assembly, freedom of thought, and many other rights that we have been deprived or are being threatened to lose under this administration. I hope people will commit to protecting these values as this is what true democracy is about.”

— Cindy Domingo, community leader “I am an MBA student at Seattle University. I am from Pakistan and arrived in the USA in December 2015 to start graduate school. I was very aware of the labels that I carried — woman, colored, Muslim, and I am from Pakistan. I was very particular about blending in. I was not going to say or do anything that would make me stand out. I would not give anyone any reason to point any fingers at me. I would not do anything that would cause anyone to ask questions or I would be required to explain myself. But I found incredible warmth in the USA. My small world here consists of just school, in addition to my family. I found that I didn’t have to assimilate to integrate. I was accepted as myself. I didn’t have to be someone different to be acceptable.

At Seattle University, I realized I was carrying my own set of prejudices. I categorized people as anti-Muslim and antiPakistani and was able to confront my own baggage. I was able to realize that though racism and prejudice are very ugly and very valid truths, becoming a victim is a choice. I can take up these moments as teaching opportunities and try and educate people about my religion, my country, and my culture, instead of being offended by their ‘ignorant’ remarks and gestures.”

— Syeda Iram Fatima Jafry, student

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

JULY 1 – JULY 7, 2017

■ ASTROLOGY

13

Predictions and advice for the week of July 1–July 7, 2017

By Sun Lee Chang

Rat — Despite distractions in the background, try not to lose sight of something that is right in front of you.

Dragon — Are you at odds over what to do next?

There is room for compromise, but you will have to give up something in order to get everyone on board.

Monkey — Are you debating whether you need to get involved? Luckily, you may be able to get by with nothing more than a gentle nudge.

Ox — Your inclination is to protect, but there are times when the experience is worth the vulnerability.

Snake — If something has needed fixing for quite a while, then repair it before it becomes a bigger problem.

Tiger — Control at this stage might just be an illusion. See what you can do to ensure that you have a say going forward.

Horse — Too much plotting could complicate things more than you are comfortable with. Go with the simpler approach, if possible.

Rooster — Unsure whether you have what it takes to go the distance? You are already on the road, so focus your energies on reaching the goal ahead.

Rabbit — Learning to react differently won’t happen overnight. Build in reminders and allow yourself enough time to make adjustments.

Goat — Rough terrain could appear intimidating from a distance. However, upon closer inspection, there are some manageable openings for you to traverse.

Dog — Do you suspect that not all is as it seems?

There is likely something to your hunch, which will soon be revealed.

Pig — Just when you thought you had it figured out, a new wrinkle adds a twist that is sure to catch your interest.

What’s your animal sign?

Rat 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 Ox 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 Tiger 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Rabbit 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 Dragon 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 Snake 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 Horse 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 Goat 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 Monkey 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 Rooster 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 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.

MAYORAL FORUM from 1 the murder of Donnie Chin. How would you improve police services and the relationship between the Seattle Police Department and our community?

Seattle Police Officer Norton said there is a lack of understanding. “Before I became a police officer, I was not a fan of the police,” he said. “And so, I decided I wanted to become a part of the change and make our system better, our police department better.”

Hasegawa said, “We need to move policing from a militaristic force that it is now, to a more community-based effort.”

Batayola asked the first of three questions, limiting each candidate to a one-word or one-phrase answer. She said, “Name one program you would implement to make housing affordable to renters and first-time homebuyers.”

Cato said, “I’m about equal opportunity policy.”

“My proposed solution is community land trust,” said

MINI APARTMENTS from 4 were mostly snapped up by investors renting them for above-average returns. The government has moved to cool such speculation, and most demand now comes from people needing a place to live, said Ingred Cheh, research manager at Jones Lang Lasalle.

Even so, their extravagant prices mean the young buyers who can afford the prison cell or parking lot sized units already are privileged by Hong Kong standards, said Edward Yiu, a lawmaker representing architects and surveyors.

Transaction records show Chan’s landlord bought the unit from developer Henderson Land for about $500,000 in 2015. Chan’s rent is $1,300 a month, or a third of his monthly salary. He said he’d never consider buying such a small place to live. The down payment on a bigger apartment, if he were to buy, would mean “I’ll be saving until the day I die.”

Last year, developer MT Sisters’ AVA 55 project sold units as small as 166 square feet for as much as $500,000.

Blueprints showed the builder was eliminating separate

LIZARD from 4 monitor lizards look similar to a rare plant root sought by people who believe it brings good luck.

Wildlife authorities conducted raids in five Indian states in May and some raids are continuing, said Neil D’Cruze of WAP. While the plant has all but disappeared from the Indian countryside, wildlife traffickers have been buying the dried lizard penises and fraudulently selling them online, said the Wildlife Trust of India in New Delhi.

Moon. Farrell agreed and added, “I think the benefit is that allows people to actually get ownership interest in our city.”

Brose recommended “very selective” upzoning to create more affordable housing.

Oliver said, “My answer is public housing and a public land trust. I say public because the city has over 300 properties that we could leverage to start building publicly-owned housing now, but also have land trusts.”

Regarding a new revenue source for the city, McGinn said, “I support an income tax, but I also know right now, we can tax big corporations, raise the rate on them, exempt lower, smaller businesses.”

Oberto began a dialogue with the audience by asking them questions. He then said, “No new taxes unless I can clearly show you where all department business money goes and you feel comfortable getting the goods and services you’re already paying for.”

Each candidate then gave a one-minute closing statement.

Rick Polintan assessed the candidates’ performances. He said, “You could tell that some of them really understand our community and some don’t, which is very concerning that up to now, some of them don’t know who we are.”

Bea Kiyohara told the Northwest Asian Weekly, “I know who I am not voting for.”

Barbara Gangwer also said after the event, “I have never been more proud to see and hear a group of people — the candidates yes, but more so our community. From the planning to executing the event, I heard and saw our values, identity, and vision in action.”

“We didn’t agree on a candidate, but I believe we can agree that we were heard by the mayoral candidates.” 

shower stalls, including them in the toilets, to save space, an arrangement usually only found in older buildings.

It took decades for the government to provide housing for the city’s hundreds of thousands of refugees from mainland China, and personal living space has always been at a premium. But apartments are indeed shrinking.

Last year, developers built 206 apartments smaller than 215 square feet, and none in 2012. This year, 30 percent of the 17,122 apartments set to be completed will be smaller than 430 square feet. That ratio will rise to 43 percent in 2018.

Most Hong Kongers have a fraction of the space seen in other advanced economies, where average living space ranges from 40 to 50 square meters per person, or in mainland Chinese cities, where it measures 30 square meters. Residents of Hong Kong’s numerous public housing estates, meanwhile, get less than 13 square meters.

Life in a micro apartment has forced Chan to downsize across the board.

When he moved in, he estimates he sold off or threw out 40 percent of his possessions — suits, basketball shoes, comic books, model cars and planes — because they

wouldn’t fit. He stores the rest of his stuff at his parents’ place or in boxes supporting his single mattress. There’s a narrow wardrobe, a pint-sized loveseat and an undersized coffee table, but no space for a TV. Parties are out of the question: there’s only enough space for one or two visitors.

The apartment’s minuscule open kitchen includes a space-saving sink that converts to countertop. There are six cans of soda in his half-size fridge: Chan says he never cooks.

“Once you cook, the smell will last for days,” he complained.

Chan plans to move to Hong Kong’s semi-rural suburbs when his lease is up, where he might get twice as much space but face a lengthy commute. Even after his ex-wife bought out his share of their home, he has little hope of buying property again.

“I can’t even find the door to enter the market,” he said.

“I can’t imagine how young people can afford their own houses in such circumstances.” ■

The two lizard species are on India’s list of endangered animals, said Jose Louies, who investigates wildlife crime control at WTI. During raids in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, several dozen hemipenis, or paired male reproductive organs of the lizards, were recovered, he said.

“The dried lizard hemipenis looks like two hands joined in prayer and is similar to the “hatha jodi”root that people believe can ward off evil,”Louies said. “There is a widespread belief that it saves you from court cases.’’

For more information about the Mayoral Candidate Forum, go to facebook.com/APIcandidatesforum.

James can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

Scientists at Manchester Metropolitan University in England have confirmed that various specimens of the “magical”root were actually the dried hemipenis of monitor lizards, WAP said in a statement.

“These lizards are being illegally poached from the wild, caught in traps and snares. Some will have their throats slit or skulls smashed in before their genitals are removed,”it said.

Wildlife activists said the volume of the item being sold online was huge.

“We were shocked at the sheer audacity and scale of the illegal wildlife

trade,”D’Cruze said. “Deceitful traders claiming to sell holy plant root labeled as `hatha jodi’ are in fact peddling dried lizard penis to their unwitting customers.’’

Tribal people in remote forests in central and eastern India used to hunt and eat the large-sized lizards, with most of them unaware that killing or possessing the animal is a crime punishable by seven years’ imprisonment, said Aniruddha Mookerjee, a researcher who was part of the investigation. ■

asianweekly northwest

14

JULY 1 – JULY 7, 2017

MINIMUM WAGE from 3 referred to as “synthetic Seattle” — for which economic trend lines were previously similar to Seattle. By comparing the “synthetic Seattle” where no minimum wage increase took effect with Seattle itself, the researchers tried to figure out the minimum wage law’s effect on Seattle’s economy.

But Reich took issue with how University of Washington team compiled its “synthetic Seattle.” It was based on areas that “do not at all resemble Seattle,” Reich warned in a letter to the city.

By contrast, the Berkeley study compared Seattle to a statistical model based on areas around the country — not just within the state — and was thus a “more

35 YEARS

representative” comparison, he said.

The University of Washington report excludes “multisite businesses,” such as large corporations, restaurants and retail stores that own their branches directly.

Single-site businesses, though — which are counted in the report — could include franchise locations that are owned separately from their corporate headquarters.

Reich said multisite businesses employ a large percentage of Seattle’s lowpaid workers. That meant workers who left single-site businesses to work at multisite businesses were counted as job losses, not job gains in the UW study, he said.

Jacob Vigdor, a public policy professor and one of the authors of the new

report, stood by the team’s findings. He noted that his team’s study actually corroborated Berkeley’s conclusion, finding zero impact from the minimum-wage law on restaurant employment — when taking into account jobs at all wage levels within the restaurant industry.

But for low-wage restaurant workers, the law cost them work hours, the new report said. If the minimum wage law hadn’t been in effect, those workers would have seen an 11 percent increase in their hours, the report said.

“When we perform the exact same analysis as the Berkeley team, we match their results, which is inconsistent with the notion that our methods create bias,” he said. ■

SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 6.

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YOUR VOICE

JULY 1 – JULY 7, 2017

15

“The Northwest Asian Weekly is a premiere community newspaper that does a great job of chronicling the Asian American experience. Congratulations and thanks for your first 35 years of providing news to and for our community that cannot be found in the mainstream media.”

— Douglas Chin “My immigrant Chinese parents have been avid readers of the Seattle Chinese Post since its debut. I read the Englishversion. Since I knew that my parents can read only in Chinese, I was excited to write two features for the Seattle Chinese Post, one on Heni Chaw, retired acrobat from China, and James Mar, longtime community advocate.

It started as a small operation and as circulation increased, in 1983, Assunta started the Northwest Asian Weekly to expand beyond the Chinese American population. Reflecting on both papers and its founder, I always appreciate Assunta for giving me an opportunity to write, and most of all, for her dedication to our Asian American and Pacific Islander American community.”

— Connie C. So, PhD, Principal Lecturer, American Ethnic Studies, University of Washington

BLOG from 10 items off the menu!

Then a world of difference just one block behind — Rue 57. That restaurant served two fried eggs and grilled tomatoes for just $8. The total bill was $20, including an almond croissant, chocolate croissant, tea, steamed milk and latte. The food was great. The reasonable price enticed us to dine there the next day for Sunday brunch.

I was about to order salmon and bagel with cream sauce. But I hate bagels and that thick piece of dough.

“Can I have your almond croissant instead?” I asked.

“I’ll see what I can do,” replied the waitress. Off she went and I expected her to come back, and say “no substitute” unless I was willing to pay extra. And I would have been glad to do so. She never came back with the answer, though.

Brunch arrived, and the plate was exactly what I wanted — salmon with the big almond croissant attractively displayed on top. Yummy it was. What’s more surprising was the bill — there was no additional charge for the croissant. We left the restaurant feeling satisfied and wished we could return for dinner.

I cannot count how many times I’ve encountered stubborn, lazy, and rigid chefs who would not give the customers what they want simply because it’s not on the menu. Or the wait staff that just won’t bother to make the request.

Rue 57’s motto was to make the customers happy, and do whatever you needed to do to make the customers happy.

Shanghainese lunch

From Shanghai Restaurant: stir-fried baby bok choy, salty chicken drumstick, sesame cake, and crab with steamed dumplings

When we were at Flushing, the parking attendant recommended a Shanghai restaurant. One glance from the outside of that restaurant, and I shook my head. The setting didn’t look comfortable.

We walked down the street and found another Shanghai restaurant. There were only three tables, with two or three diners dressed in China’s airline uniforms. Well,

Send in your thoughts to editor@nwasianweekly.com.

Join us for our 35th Anniversary Celebration dinner on Oct. 21 at China Harbor restaurant. For tickets, please go to http://35nwawf.bpt.me, or email rsvp@nwasianweekly.com, or call 206-2230623. To sponsor the event, contact Assunta Ng at assunta@nwasianweekly.com. For more info, visit nwasianweekly.com/35years.

if picky Chinese from China eat there, we couldn’t go wrong. The chefs were Shanghainese. Yes, I can distinguish between Cantonese and Shanghainese.

We ordered crab with steamed dumplings, salty chicken drumstick, and stir-fried bok choy and sesame cake. Everything was delicious, especially the dumplings. They are so much better than Seattle’s in quality — thin wrapping, juicy tasty sauce inside the dumpling, and real crab powder. The bill was only $30. In Seattle, it would have been double the amount. This restaurant should open a branch in Seattle, and there would be lines, I guarantee.

Food hall vs. food court

From Quality Italian Restaurant: bread and virgin oil

Ipads for food ordering at Newark Airport

suckers for virgin olive oil not only because it tastes fantastic, it also lowers the risk of Alzheimer’s.

You can see the restaurant’s big Chinese characters about dumplings from afar.

It gave you the impression or it was my assumption that Asians were at work. Yet, not a single Asian was doing the cooking in the open kitchen or waiting tables.

The employees were Latinos and Blacks.

“Could there be Asian dishwashers inside?”

I wondered.

Photos by Assunta Ng/NWAW

The only weekly English-edition newspaper serving the Asian community in the state of Washington for 35 years.

From Quality Italian Restaurant: salad and soft shell crab From Food Hall: ramen (upper left) and pho (lower right)

In New York, an Asian lady we met at the hotel told us about Food Hall at the Plaza Hotel. “It’s much nicer than a food court,” she said. It was actually much, much nicer and cozier, and is operated by Chinese owners.

The night we arrived in New York, we were hungry, so we didn’t care where we dined.

Some of the Food Hall’s eateries had tablecloths. Each restaurant occupies a small section of the basement. Prices were not low.

We had seaweed salad, a bowl of pho, and ramen inside the food hall. It was about $14 a bowl. I was happy to find Asian noodles within a short distance of our hotel, and the food was pretty decent. The bill was $44.

Attention: Entrepreneurs, invest in food halls, not food courts. This would appeal not only to millennials, but my generation as well.

Italian restaurant

Its name was Quality Italian Restaurant on the second floor. My love affair began with its rolls — so palatable — that looked fabulous. (Many Seattle restaurants now charge for the bread). I ate two. The waiter offered us more, but we declined. We needed to save room for the entrées.

One thing nice about dining in an Italian place is that olive oil is in abundance, along with good spices and herbs. Yes, we were greedy, pouring tons on our bread. We are

Our food choices were ordinary Italian dishes, but the presentation and flavors were extraordinary. On our table, we had salad, soft crab, pork shank, and baked oysters.

From Quality Italian Restaurant: pork shank and baked oysters

We couldn’t finish the pork, so I cut it into small pieces and packed it to eat on the flight home to Seattle the next day. You would think the pork would be dry the next day. It was not, and it was still delicious.

Being customer-oriented, the restaurant emailed us a survey asking for our feedback afterwards.

What Sea-Tac Airport can learn from Newark

We flew back to Seattle through Newark Airport. Every restaurant at the airport has an iPad on each seat of each table, including a Chinese restaurant called Little Purse Dumplings. You can order and read the news through the iPad. That’s progressive.

Little Purse Dumplings

Food is just one touch away on the screen with menus, labels, descriptions, and pricing of every item. The dumplings and noodles were good, and dessert was fair. I would prefer Asian food to a sandwich or hamburger at the airport.

Even though mistakes were made when customers shared tables on where the food should be delivered, it was an impressive and efficient operation. While other restaurants had empty tables, the Little Purse was packed with both Asian and nonAsian diners.

A question for the Port of Seattle: When are we going to implement those iPads at our airport’s restaurants? What about more varieties of Asian food?

My editor warned me that I might get some flak for suggesting New York restaurants are better than Seattle’s. Yes, it’s my opinion. And I would add that not every New York restaurant is superb, I just happen to be a lucky soul. Good food finds me wherever I travel. ■ Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

asianweekly northwest

16

35 YEARS

JULY 1 – JULY 7, 2017

KING COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL FISCAL YEARS 2018, 2019, AND 2020 PROPOSED AMENDED TRIENNIAL DBE GOAL NOTICE

WEEKLY SPECIALS June 28 - July 4, 2017

SEAFOOD

GROCERY

King County hereby gives notice of its proposed amended Triennial DBE goal for utilizing Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) for the Federal Fiscal Years 2018, 2019, and 2020, pursuant to 49 CFR, Part 26, and United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Regulations.

FTA Triennial DBE Goal of 12% The goal will apply to all Federal Transit Administration (FTA) assisted contracts awarded by King County in Federal Fiscal Years (FFY) 2018, 2019, and 2020. King County is now soliciting comments from the public on its proposed 12% Triennial DBE Goal for FTA assisted projects.

King County’s Triennial DBE Goal for the period FFY 2018 through 2020, and the rationale for the proposed goal percentage are available for inspection at the following location: King County Chinook Building Third Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104.

These documents are available for review during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.) for a period of thirty (30) days following the date of this notice. The Business Development and Contract Compliance Section will accept public comments on the proposed Triennial 12% Overall DBE Utilization Goal for forty (45) days after the date of this notice.

Address written comments to: King County Business Development and Contract Compliance 401 Fifth Avenue, Third Floor CNK-ES-0350 Seattle, WA 98104-1818 Comments can also be sent to the Regional Civil Rights Officer, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Regional Office, 915 Second Avenue, Suite 3142, Seattle WA 98174.

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trashion fashion

$250 and more in prizes Please fill out all the fields below: Name: ___________________________________

NWAW’s 2017 FASHION DESIGN CONTEST

THE OBJECTIVE: Design a wearable outfit or garment that incorporates recycled materials and/or NWAW/Seattle Chinese Post newspapers.

_________________________________________ Address: _________________________________ _________________________________________ Phone: ___________________________________ E-mail: ___________________________________ _________________________________________ Brief description of your design: _______________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ ________________________________________ Designer: _________________________________ Model: ___________________________________

TITLE SPONSOR

COMMUNITY SPONSOR

CO-CHAIR: Gei Chan PLANNING COMMITTEE: Belinda Louie, Matt Chan, Andrea Chow, Max Chan, Stacy Nguyen, John Liu, and Assunta Ng

Entries due {JULY 3} Trashion Show {JULY 15} TO ENTER, SEND: — Your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address.

— Up to to 3 photographs of your design — A brief description of your work Entries can be directed to RSVP@NWASIANWEEKLY.COM or mailed to: Northwest Asian Weekly Attn: Trashion Fashion 412 Maynard South Seattle, WA 98104 (Multiple entries and all ages welcomed!)

Finalists will be announced in the NWAW’s {JULY 9} issue. *Finalists must be available to showcase their designs on {JULY 15} at Chinatown/International District Dragon Fest to be eligible for prizes. Arrival/rehearsal at 11 a.m. Show at 1:30 p.m.

Rain or shine.

PRIZES: First Place: $250 + goodies + announcement in NWAW/SCP Second Place: $150 + goodies + announcement in NWAW/SCP Third Place: $100 + goodies + announcement in NWAW/SCP Honorable Mentions: Announcements in NWAW/SCP *If you need newsprint for your design, please come to the Asian Weekly’s office at 412 Maynard Avenue South to pick up back issues.

2015 1st place winner julie stone & Karissa Lew ► bit.ly/23vQmIK

2016 1st place winner rebecca bartenetti ► vimeo.com/175177387