VOL 36 NO 37 | SEPTEMBER 9 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2017 by Northwest Asian Weekly

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VOL 36 NO 37

SEPTEMBER 9 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

FREE 35 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Trump rescinds DACA program Hookah protecting young immigrants bar in ID closes

By Jill Colvin and Sadie Gurman ASSOCIATED PRESS

President Donald Trump on

Sept. 5 began dismantling the government program protecting hundreds of thousands of young immigrants who were brought into the country illegally as children.

Attorney General Jeﬀ Sessions declared the Obama administration’s program “an unconstitutional exercise of authority” that must be revoked.

New applications will be halted for President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood [see DACA on 15]

Up-and-coming cellist from Redmond the next Yo-Yo Ma? Xiaohang Li

The now empty building on 700 S. Dearborn St.

Photos provided by Audrey Chen

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Left: Audrey Chen with the Ravos Quartet. Right: Audrey Chen

It’s not everyday that Yo-Yo Ma wants to meet your family. But for Harvard student and Tanglewood Music Center (TMC) fellow Audrey Chen, that actually happened. Taiwanese American and native of Redmond, Chen had the rare opportunity to meet and perform with Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble in China. Goofy and personable was how she described him. The prestigious TMC is the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s

summer academy for advanced musical study. Chen is also a rising senior at Harvard University. Chen started playing the cello in the 4th grade when her older sister’s violin-playing inspired her to pick orchestra. She’s had two teachers during her time with the cello, and they’ve been huge inﬂuences in her life. Her ﬁrst teacher, Kai Chen, taught her everything she knew before she went to college. Chen’s current teacher, Lauren Lesser, has expanded her horizons in terms of how to present

HISTORIC City Council says yes to Filipino Town

■

her music and what genres to explore. “He reminds me that using my voice is a great teaching tool for my playing, and that I should strive to get the best quality sound for every note,” she said. Lately, Chen has been more exposed to music written by contemporary composers. Through creative music workshops, she experimented with improvisational music and has enjoyed the diﬀerent opportunities to mix up her repertoire. Chen admitted fearing the unknown about the diﬀerent music

genres, but has enjoyed experimentation. Chen’s proudest accomplishment is knowing that she wants to pursue music. “It’s an accumulation of everything that I’ve done, you realize there will be ups and downs, but I know that I want to do music. It’s what I am passionate about, and I love playing and performing,” she said. Chen explained that it’s always been a challenge for her to play at the level and quality that she wants. [see CHEN on 16]

By Staﬀ NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The Seattle City Council voted 8-0 on Sept. 5 to mention historic Filipino Town — alongside Chinatown, Japantown, and Little Saigon — in a resolution recognizing the history of the International District (ID), in conjunction with an upzone of the neighborhood. [see FILIPINO on 15]

[see HOOKAH on 5]

INSIDE Tax troubles Facing East restaurant pleads guilty to tax theft 3

Layup Drill Photo by Ruth Bayang/NWAW

By Nina Huang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Medina Private Club, one of two hookah bars in Chinatown, closed recently. The new business will be an art gallery of Chinese antiques, opening this month, the property owner told the Northwest Asian Weekly. Two years ago, Donnie Chin, a community hero and unoﬃcial patrolman of the Chinatown International District, was caught in a crossﬁre between rival gangs on South Lane Street in the middle of the night, close to both King’s Hookah Lounge and Medina Private Club. He died from his wounds.

Amazing high school students in tennis and baseball 9

Publisher’s blog Count your blessings; luck is everywhere!  10

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

asianweekly northwest

35 YEARS

SEPTEMBER 9 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Photo by Assunta Ng/NWAW

Mike Fong farewell

MAP Bridging the Gap Breakfast

Lori Matsukawa

First Black Indian crowned Miss India America 2017

Stephen Sumida

More than 100 people attended a farewell party for Mike Fong — who resigned as Seattle Mayor Ed Murray’s chief of staff to join the King County executive office. The gathering took place on Aug. 29 at Fadó Irish Pub in Pioneer Square. Murray said in a statement, “We will miss the steady leadership and wit Mike has brought to this office and to the city.” Fred Kiga, chief of staff for former governor Gary Locke, replaced Fong on Sept. 5. ■

Kawabe SummerFest!

Lori Matsukawa, Dr. Stephen Sumida, and Dr. Jean Hernandez will be recognized at the University of Washington (UW)’s annual MAP Bridging the Gap Breakfast on Oct. 28. Founded in 1994, the Multicultural Alumni Partnership (MAP) is dedicated to promoting Jean Hernandez diversity at the UW and in the UW alumni community. The annual breakfast celebration recognizes the recipients of the MAP scholarship and the service of alumni and friends who have made a diﬀerence for diversity at the UW. Matsukawa will receive the Dr. Samuel E. Kelly award, while Sumida and Hernandez will each receive a Distinguished Alumni Award. ■

Photo by George Liu/NWAW

Rajeev Varma part of Pride and Prejudice cast

From left: King Lee, Tomio Moriguchi, Matt Kohler, and Kazumi Iwata.

Kawabe Memorial House hosted its annual SummerFest on Aug. 27. Participants enjoyed live entertainment, dancing, a raﬄe with fantastic prizes, kids’ activities, and lots of food. For the ﬁrst time, MaxMobile, the Seattle Humane Society’s adoption truck, was set up for community members to meet furry friends, and possibly their new pet. ■

Seattle Repertory Theatre announced this week the full ensemble cast of its highly anticipated stage adaptation of the Jane Austen novel, Pride and Prejudice. Rajeev Varma has been cast as Mr. Bennet/Charlotte Lucas. He can currently be seen as Hasmukh in Rajeev Varma the comedy series “Brown Nation” on Netﬂix. He appeared in Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of Indian Ink by Tom Stoppard, as The Maharajah of Jummapur. Varma created New Zealand’s ﬁrst IndoAsian theatre company, The Untouchables Collective. Pride and Prejudice runs from Sept. 29 through Oct. 29. ■

Photo by Ryan Castro

From left: Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, Ben Nobel, Mike Fong, Jan Drago

India LaRoda

India LaRoda was crowned Miss India America 2017 at the 25th anniversary gala in Los Angeles last month. Laroda has a Black father and a South Asian mother. She is 22 and a pre-med student. LaRoda declared, “I’m honored to be crowned Miss India America 2017! It’s a blessing to be part of history as the ﬁrst African American and [South Asian] to win this title in 25 years.” ■

WE LOVE COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS! PLEASE SEND US A PHOTO AND DETAILS TO: EDITOR@NWASIANWEEKLY.COM.

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SEPTEMBER 9 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

■ COMMUNITY NEWS Owner of Taiwanese restaurant pleads guilty to tax theft BELLEVUE, Wash. (AP) — A Bellevue restaurant owner has pleaded guilty to using software that deleted transactions and allowed her to steal nearly $400,000 in sales taxes. The Seattle Times reported on Aug. 31 that Yu-Ling Wong, the owner of Taiwanese restaurant

Facing East, has agreed to pay $300,000 in restitution to the Department of Revenue. An Everett man who sold her the software pleaded guilty in December. Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson says the prosecution was the ﬁrst in the

United States for the use of sales suppression software. The missing taxes became apparent when auditors looking at the restaurant's tax returns found a smaller than normal amount of cash sales and that cash tips on some days exceeded the restaurant’s total cash sales. ■

■ ANNOUNCEMENT Volunteers needed, get involved in community and pay it forward Volunteers are needed for the 8th Annual Ethnic Media Candidates Meet and Greet on Thursday, Sept. 14th, 5-7 p.m. at Na-

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

gomi Tea House on 519 6th Ave, Suite 200, Seattle. For more information on the event or to volunteer, contact

juliephamnv@gmail.com or call 206-334-5200. ■

HAVE AN EVENT TO PROMOTE OR NEWS TO ANNOUNCE? SEND US THE DETAILS TO EDITOR@NWASIANWEEKLY.COM.

■ NATIONAL NEWS Police arrest man accused of attacking Asian women SAN FRANCISCO — Police last week arrested a 19-year-old man who they believe is responsible for a series of attacks against Asian women. San Francisco resident Agustin Garcia lived near the areas where several attacks took place. According to the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD), officers last month launched an investigation into what they called “brutal assaults.” During one incident, police said the victim’s nose was fractured. She also had a large laceration that required seven stitches. In another incident, the victim’s tooth was broken. “All of Garcia’s victims were Asian females,” police said, “with every attack made unprovoked.” Garcia reportedly followed several of his victims off of Muni buses. Some victims told investigators that they had seen him several times on Muni before they

“All of Garcia’s victims were Asian females, with every attack made unprovoked.” — SAN FRANCISCO POLICE were attacked. Police believe that he has committed more assaults that have not been reported, especially as victims say he was wearing sunglasses during some of his attacks. They released a video on Sept. 2 in hopes that more victims will come forward. Garcia was arrested and charged on felony charges of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury, battery with serious injuries, terrorist threats, attempted kidnapping, and a hate crime allegation. ■

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asianweekly northwest

SEPTEMBER 9 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

35 YEARS

■ NATIONAL NEWS Chinese migrants lead U.S. agents to border tunnel in San Diego By Julie Watson ASSOCIATED PRESS SAN DIEGO (AP) — Dozens of migrants fleeing from Border Patrol agents led authorities to a surprising discovery late last month: A tunnel under the US-Mexico

Chinese eatery shuts after word of owner’s gift to ex-KKK leader leaks SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — A Chinese restaurant open in Santa Cruz for almost four decades has closed its doors after a boycott and online backlash against the owner’s 2016 campaign donation to former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. The Santa Cruz Sentinel reports that O’mei Szechuan Chinese Restaurant closed, perhaps permanently, after a news site revealed that owner Roger Grigsby donated $500 to Duke’s unsuccessful 2016 U.S. Senate campaign in Louisiana. Grigsby told the newspaper last week that he’s been dealing with “political terror” and an “attack” on his business as word of his donation has spread online. He defended his support of Duke’s campaign, saying Duke is unfairly characterized by the news media as a “hate caricature.” ■

border in San Diego used to bring Chinese nationals illegally into the United States. Drug cartels have built hundreds of tunnels to move drugs into California. But it’s unusual to find such a large group of foreigners, especial-

ly from as far away as China, come out of an illegal border tunnel, Border Patrol agent Eduardo Olmos said. Agents detained 23 Chinese nationals and seven Mexicans. “To say the least, this is definitely a significant event because of the amount of people,” Olmos said.

Agents first spotted a large group of men and women on a San Diego street near the Otay Mesa border crossing at about 1 a.m. on Aug. 26. When agents headed toward them, the migrants ran toward a hole in the ground near a border fence. The hole was covered with

a few branches and a wooden ladder led down to an underground passageway to Mexico. Olmos said he did not know the tunnel’s length or dimensions. Agents captured 30 migrants, he [see MIGRANTS on 12]

U.S. ban on travel North Korea kicks in, with few exceptions By Josh Lederman ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. ban on Americans traveling to North Korea took effect on Sept. 1 amid concerns about the fate of those who have been detained there in the past. The U.S. said its citizens can start applying

for exceptions, but few will be granted. The ban, announced by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in July after the death of American student Otto Warmbier following his release from North Korea, makes U.S. passports invalid for travel to the North. Americans who have a valid

reason to travel to the North can still go under “extremely limited” circumstances, the State Department said, adding that applicants must prove their trip is in the U.S. national interest. Professional journalists assigned to collect information for public consumption about North Korea might be eligible, along with Red Cross repre-

sentatives on officially sponsored missions. Humanitarian workers also could receive exemptions. In new details released about the exemption process, the State Department said applicants must email or mail a statement explaining why their trip serves [see BAN on 12]

Jobless are rates up across racial groups in August THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON (AP) — Unemployment rates rose for all major racial and ethnic groups in August as well as for the prime age group of 25-to-54-year-olds. Black Americans’ jobless rate

Lake View Cemetery Seattle’s Pioneer Cemetery Est. 1872

rose from 7.4 percent to 7.7 percent as the number of unemployed climbed. The unemployment rate for Asians was also higher, though for positive reasons: More people began actively seeking work and were counted as unemployed if they didn’t immediately ﬁnd a job.

At the same time, recent veterans found jobs last month. The unemployment rate for those who have served in the armed forces anytime since September 2001 dropped to 4.2 percent, the lowest level since May 2016. All told, employers added

156,000 jobs in August. The overall unemployment rate ticked up to 4.4 percent from 4.3 percent in July. The data for demographic groups came from a survey of households that is part of the Labor Department’s monthly jobs report. ■

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asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

SEPTEMBER 9 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

■ WORLD NEWS Survivor of Nagasaki bomb who campaigned to ban nukes dies By Mari Yamaguchi ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sumiteru Taniguchi

TOKYO (AP) — Sumiteru Taniguchi, who devoted his life to seeking to abolish nuclear weapons after he was burned severely in the 1945 atomic bomb attack on his hometown of Nagasaki, died on Aug. 30 of cancer. He

was 88. Taniguchi died at a hospital in Nagasaki of cancer of the duodenal papilla, the point where the pancreatic and bile ducts meet, according to the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations. Taniguchi was 16 and was on the job delivering mail on Aug. 9,

1945, when a U.S. atomic bomb was dropped on the city. The blast, which was a mile away, threw him from his bicycle, almost killing him. The Nagasaki attack killed more than 70,000 people. The bombing of Hiroshima three days earlier killed an estimated 140,000. He could only lie on his stom-

China law threatens 15 days jail for use of anthem improperly By Christopher Bodeen ASSOCIATED PRESS BEIJING (AP) — A proposed Chinese law threatens those making inappropriate use of the country’s national anthem with up to 15 days in jail, state media [HOOKAH from 1] Chin’s case has not been solved. The gunmen (or gunman) are still at large. In August 2015, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray linked hookah lounges to violent crime, including the Chin shooting. More recently, on Labor Day, two men were injured in a shooting at a Renton hookah bar. “Finding Donnie Chin’s killers is still our community's priority,” said Teresita Batayola, president and

reported, amid a surge in statepromoted patriotism under President Xi Jinping. The draft legislation would make it illegal to play the anthem at funerals and on other “improper” occasions, as well as to “maliciously” modify its wording or CEO of International Community Health Services. “But it is a relief a hookah bar that served as painful reminder of Donnie’s murder is gone.” Property owner Xiaohang Li said he had to end the Medina lease, even though it doesn’t expire until 2018. He told the Asian Weekly that he was under a lot of community pressure since Chin’s murder. Li visited the club, on 700 South Dearborn Street, a few days before it closed on July 12. “The club had great business. It was packed with

SYDNEY (AP) — A woman died on Sept. 1 after police say a Chinese tourist with no Australian medical license gave her an anesthetic during a procedure at a Sydney beauty clinic. Jean Huang had been hospitalized in critical condition since undergoing a breast procedure at Sydney’s Medi Beauty Laser and Contour Clinic on Aug. 30. She

[see ANTHEM on 12]

was going to be a hookah bar,” he said. “The man showed me a valid business license.” Li thought his property would be used as an oﬃce. Li said the Medina business owner was sad to leave. “He had tears in his eyes when I told him the news. He said Medina had the highest sales for hookah bars in Seattle. If I renewed his lease, he could sell his business. I told him that the club had a negative impact on the community.” Li said the space was infested with smoke. He remodeled the

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ach for nearly two years as he was treated for the burns that exposed flesh and bones. He later formed a survivors group and had since led a national effort against nuclear proliferation. In an interview with The Associated Press two years ago, [see NAGASAKI on 14]

Chinese tourist dies after botched breast job at Sydney clinic

present it in a “distorted or disrespectful” way, the Xinhua News Agency said. Settings at which the anthem can be played include political gatherings, award ceremonies,

70-80 people inside. When there wasn’t enough room, the customers stood outside the door.” The whole room was ﬁlled with thick smoke, recalled Li, and the paint was dark, so you couldn’t see the smoke stains on the wall. Li said he didn’t know what type of business Medina was in when someone approached him seven years ago to lease the 3,600-squarefoot space. The rent was $5,600 a month. “I had absolutely no clue that it

died two days later, New South Wales police said in a statement. Shao Jie, a 33-year-old Chinese woman, was charged before Huang’s death with causing reckless grievous bodily harm and using poison to endanger a person’s life. A prosecutor said that if Huang died, Shao would face [see TOURIST on 14] whole room from top to bottom and installed a new ventilation system, and put up new drywall and ceiling. Li came from China and lived in Seattle for a while. Then, he returned to China for his business ventures. Recently, he returned to Seattle and plans to open the antique business for exhibition, consignment, and auction. Li bought the property in 1994. ■ Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

asianweekly northwest

SEPTEMBER 9 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

35 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR SEPT

ciemail@cie-sea.org cie-sea.org SEATTLE THAI FESTIVAL 2017 North Seattle College 9500 College Way N., Seattle 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

FREE FIRST THURSDAY, WING LUKE MUSEUM Wing Luke Museum, Seattle Chinatown/ID Free during museum hours wingluke.org

8 DOZER’S WAREHOUSE ON BEACON HILL ART SHOW Beacon Arts Community Space 2507 Beacon Ave. S., Seattle 5–10 p.m. PING PONG POP-UP: HING HAY PARK Hing Hay Park, International District, Seattle 2–5 p.m.

9 K-NIGHT: KPOP AND KHIPHOP DANCE PARTY Stage, 172 S. Washington St., Seattle 10 p.m.–2 a.m. RSVP for free before 11 p.m. Entry fee at door SHAOLIN KUNG FU PERFORMANCE, TO RAISE MONEY FOR HURRICANE HARVEY RELIEF Theatre at Meydenbauer Center 11100 Northeast 6th St., Bellevue 7 p.m. $38–$98 seattleshaolinkungfu.com 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHINESE INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERS/USA Westin Hotel Bellevue 1–9:30 p.m.

TASTE OF ASIA WITH TEA, COOKING CLASS — GUAM Asia Paciﬁc Cultural Center, Tacoma 11 a.m.–12 p.m. $20 RSVP 253-383-3900 asiapaciﬁcculturalcenter.org/tasteofasia 14TH ANNUAL SUSTAINABLE BALLARD FESTIVAL Ballard Commons Park 11 a.m. CHINATOWN-ID NIGHT MARKET Seattle’s Chinatown-International District 4 p.m.–midnight “THE FINDING CLEVELAND EXPERIENCE,” DOCUMENTARY SCREENING ABOUT EARLY CHINESE IMMIGRANTS Seattle Chinese Baptist Church 7 p.m. Free admission Info via registration@cacaseattle.org

10 LIVE ALOHA HAWAIIAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL Seattle Center Armory, Mural Amphitheatre and Fisher Roof 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Free admission seattlelivealohafestival.com

12 AWAKE LIFESTYLE EVENT, FEMALE EMPOWERMENT AND NETWORKING Nordstrom, 500 Pine St, Seattle 6–9 p.m. $15–$20 awakewomen.net

14 2017 8TH ANNUAL ETHNIC MEDIA MEET & GREET Nagomi Tea House, 519 6th Ave. S., Seattle Free

15 ‘FIRST THEY KILLED MY FATHER’ KHMER FILM SCREENING Asian Counseling and Referral Service, Safeco Activity Center, 3639 Martin Luther King Jr Way S, Seattle Free OFF THE WALLS: REMEMBERING AND CREATING ART & DANCE OF INDIA Seattle Art Museum 7–10 p.m. Free with RSVP seattleartmuseum.org

5895 Lake Washington Blvd 3–5 p.m. Free–$15 info@kacwashington.org

19 WSCRC U.S. ASIA ECONOMIC POLICY: VIEW FROM U.S. CONGRESS SEMINAR K&L Gates 925 4th Ave #2900, Seattle 4–5:30 p.m. $10–$30 info@wscrc.org “CHIBI SAMURAI” BOOK SIGNING AND CRAFT EVENT WITH SANAE ISHIDA Kinokuniya Bookstore 525 S. Weller St., Seattle 2 p.m. 206-587-2477 ebseattle@kinokunya.com

OFF THE WALLS: AFTER DARK Seattle Art Museum 7–10 p.m. Free with RSVP seattleartmuseum.org

RENTON MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL Carco Theatre 1717 SE Maple Valley Highway, Renton 7–10 p.m. Free admission rentonwa.gov/rentonfestival

WEDGWOOD COMMUNITY PICNIC Hunter Tree Farm 7744 35th Ave. N.E., Seattle 3 p.m.

SEA MAR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS’ FIESTAS PATRIAS, “LET’S WALK TOGETHER” South Park & Seattle Center 11 a.m.

17 KAC-WA ANNUAL KOREAN BBQ COOKOFF Seward Park, Seattle, Shelter #3

RENTON MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL Renton Pavilion Event Center and Piazza Park 233 Burnett Ave. S., Renton 3–7 p.m. Free admission rentonwa.gov/rentonfestival KOREAN CHUSEOK FESTIVAL 4851 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Free admission apcc96.org

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asianweekly northwest

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

SEPTEMBER 9 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

FROM KOREA AND CHINA TO ‘AN AMERICAN DREAM’

Photo from yeonjilee.com

YOUR VOICE

Yeonji Lee, performing

By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY “I just love singing,” enthused Korean soprano Yeonji Lee, making her debut with Seattle Opera in the new production, “An American Dream.” “Singing

makes me feel alive. Singing makes my heart beat. Particularly, I like singing because I’m using my whole body to create music.” Ao Li, also making his Seattle Opera debut with “An American Dream,” had much the same to say about lifelong enthusiasm for singing. His parents, recalled the

Chinese bass-baritone, did not play instruments, but loved to lift their voices. “Chinese (Mandarin) pop music was the most powerful music when I was young,” remembers Li. “There is a Taiwan pop star whose name is Zhou Jielun (Jay Chou). He is my idol. I could sing

almost all of his songs when I was in middle school.” Yeonji Lee, unlike Li, actually began performing professionally as a child in her native Busan. She performed children’s songs in public, starting at age 5. Her ﬁrst opera performance was in Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,”

playing the daughter of Papageno and Papagena. Bass-baritone Li sang ﬁrst in the tenor range, until his voice dropped around age 13. “My voice is very low and dark,” said Li. Losing his own higher range [see DREAM on 12]

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asianweekly northwest

35 YEARS

SEPTEMBER 9 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT AUTHOR KEVIN KWAN: By ANGELA CHEN ASSOCIATED PRESS HONG KONG (AP) — Kevin Kwan believes that America will embrace the “Crazy Rich Asians” movie, which is based on his bestselling novel of the same name. The Singaporean novelist was in Hong Kong recently to promote “Rich People Problems,” the third and last book in his “Crazy Rich” trilogy. His first book, “Crazy Rich Asians,” released in 2013, is the story of an Asian-American girl, Rachel, accompanying her boyfriend, Nick, to Singapore for a wedding, only to learn about Nick’s family wealth and power after stepping off the plane. The book provides a glimpse into the decadent and opulent lives of Asia’s ultra-rich. Its popularity gave birth to a sequel, “China Rich Girlfriends.” It didn’t take long for Hollywood to notice the success of Kwan’s books and buy the rights to make “Crazy Rich Asians” into a film. Kwan served as an executive producer on the “Crazy Rich Asians” movie, and said it was a long time coming for Hollywood

AMERICANS WILL EMBRACE ‘CRAZY RICH ASIANS’ MOVIE HENRY GOLD ING

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to make a romantic comedy with an allAsian cast. “I think it’s huge,” he said. “It’s really the ﬁrst time. ... I’m sorry it hasn’t happened earlier.” “People are really eager to see if Hollywood keeps its promise and rolls out this movie the way we want it to,” he said. Hollywood came under heavy criticism

for so-called “whitewashing” last year when Tilda Swinton was cast as a character that was originally Tibetan in “Doctor Strange” and Scarlett Johansson played the cyborg protagonist in the Japanese anime remake “Ghost in the Shell.” More [see RICH ASIANS on 15]

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M A Z O 3 P O N P PI A Z , R E N T & ES NT RE NTE R ET T AV RN CE 2 33

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asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

SEPTEMBER 9 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

■ SPORTS

APIs IN SPORTS MOVIN’ ON UP

TEEN TENNIS PHENOM MUST MAKE A CHOICE Southern California native Claire Liu made waves this summer when she became the ﬁrst U.S. junior to win at Wimbledon in 25 years. The 17-year-old faces a decision as to whether to turn pro or go to college. As the number

[see LAYUP on 13]

KENJI

CL A I R

S UZ U K

E LI U

Photos by David Suzuki

Welcome to another edition of The Layup Drill. This month, we look at two teens on their way up and a basketball numbers guy on the way to the Bay Area.

1 junior in the world, the choice will be tough. Liu has excelled in tennis at a young age. Her parents had never seen tennis prior to coming to the United States from China. They participated in a recreational league and brought Liu along. She did not begin taking tennis lessons until she was 5 years old. Less than 10 years later at age 14, she won a Pro Circuit title to be the youngest woman to win a pro tournament since Anna Kournikova. At 15, she made the ﬁnal round of qualifying for the U.S. Open. Still a teen, it’s clear that Liu would have no problem

SI DH U

Photo by robbiesaurus/Flickr

By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

PABAI L

Photo from University of Washington

THE LAYUP DRILL

Celebrating 35 years!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2017  6–9 PM

$100 per seat / $1,000 for an individual or corporate table of 10. After Oct. 6, the price increases $125/$1250. Space is limited To purchase tickets, call us at 206-223-0623 or email rsvp@nwasianweekly.com. To reserve space, fax a copy of this form to 206-223-0626 or send a check by Oct. 6 to Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation, Attn: 35 years, PO Box 3468, Seattle WA 98114. Name Title/Org Address

China Harbor Restaurant Get your tickets online at: 2040 Westlake Ave. N. 35nwawf.bpt.me Seattle, WA 98109 rsvp@nwasianweekly.com 206-286-1688 206-223-5559 Festive Attire recommended

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PROCEEDS FROM THIS EVENT WILL GO TOWARDS TWO NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENTS FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON STUDYING EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATIONS. THESE SCHOLARSHIPS WILL BENEFIT STUDENTS OF COLOR WHO HAVE A FINANCIAL NEED AND/OR FIRST IN THEIR FAMILY TO ATTEND COLLEGE.

asianweekly northwest

35 YEARS

SEPTEMBER 9 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

OPINION

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

ARE YOU LUCKY OR ARE YOU UNLUCKY?

NO ! WAY

THINK AGAIN!

I WON?

Photos by George Liu/NWAW

Assunta Ng was surprised to her hear name announced as the winner of the 2017 Cultural Ambassador - Individual award on Aug. 31.

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY A woman recently won $758 million, the biggest grand prize of a single lottery ticket in U.S. history. Some lottery losers wonder if they will ever be that lucky! If you think of luck in terms of dollars, you are missing the point. Most people like me, who haven’t and will never win the lottery, are in fact quite lucky, without knowing it. Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist, called it “ignorance luck.” Last year, I witnessed a hit-and-run accident on South King Street. The victim could have been me. The real victim, who used a walker, was on the other side of the road. She and I were crossing the road in the

opposite direction, simultaneously. When she sped up (and the car sped too and hit her), I suddenly slowed down and gazed at her for no particular reason. That delay of a few seconds saved me from being run over by the car. The victim was crying in pain, but suﬀered no major physical injuries. We were both lucky. If she didn’t have a walker, the car might have caused a more serious injury. If you often pray in church and temples, asking God’s favor to make you rich, get a good job, get a promotion, get that business deal or that favorable stock trade, you are similar to those praying to win the lotto. The attempt is to advance your ﬁnancial wellbeing. Why not give thanks to God for the [see LUCKY on 16]

SUCCESS FOR EACH CHILD & ELIMINATE THE OPPORTUNITY GAP BY LEADING WITH RACIAL EQUITY.

! d r a o B Get on

Puget Sound Educational Service District Board of Directors Elections August 25 - September 16. Apply now!

www.psesd.org/boardelections

TOP

From left: Kathy Hsieh, Office of Arts & Culture, Rita Meher, Tasveer co-founder, and Hyeok Kim, Seattle deputy mayor

BOTTOM:

From left: Vivian Philips, Seattle Arts Commission chair, Nao Yamamoto, glass artist, and Randy Engstrom, Office of Arts & Culture director

NAO YAMAMOTO The Seattle Arts Commission hired Nao Yamamoto to create the glass awards that were handed out at the 2017 Mayor’s Arts Awards. Publisher Assunta Ng’s award was inspired by Lake Union. The others were inspired by Green Lake, Golden Gardens Park, and Lake Washington. A Seattle resident who was born in Japan, Yamamoto is only 29. She said each piece took her two weeks to create. She received a Masters of Fine Arts from California State University, San Bernardino, and her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Tama Art University, in Tokyo, specializing in glass art.

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

SEPTEMBER 9 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

OPINION

■ EDITORIAL

DACA dismantled, kids shouldn’t inherit sins of the father, mother “DACA recipients have lived in fear since last November when a man with an anti-immigrant, racist agenda was elected as president. Despite false promises earlier this summer that Dreamers would continue to be protected, Trump has ended one of the most important immigration policies for our communities.” That was the statement from Sung Yeon Choimorrow, the executive director of the National Asian Paciﬁc American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF), in response to the president’s decision on Sept. 5 to dismantle the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that provides over 800,000 young undocumented immigrants with work permits and deportation relief. Members of the Washington congressional delegation, including Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, and Representatives Pramila Jayapal, Adam Smith, Rick Larsen, Suzan DelBene, Denny Heck, and

The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project estimates that here in Washington, 40,000 youth stand to be directly impacted. Derek Kilmer, wrote a letter to Trump, calling his decision “an unconscionable mistake.” They urged Trump to reconsider his decision and make sure that Dreamers’ application information is not used for immigration enforcement. “Elimination of this critical program will cost Washington state an estimated $1.1 billion in annual gross domestic product (GDP). Nationally, the cruel end of this program will cost $460.3 billion in GDP over the next 10 years,” the letter read. The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project estimates that here in Washington, 40,000 youth stand to be directly impacted. On Sept. 5, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray announced that

he is committing $150,000 of new funds to community organizations to help with outreach and legal assistance for individuals who already have DACA, so they may know their rights and properly ﬁle for renewal. The Washington Attorney General has already taken action. On Sept. 6, Bob Ferguson ﬁled a multi-state lawsuit co-led by Washington, New York and Massachusetts, seeking to halt Trump’s decision to end DACA. The lawsuit alleges that the President’s decision not only causes immediate harm to hundreds of thousands nationwide, it also directly injures colleges and universities, employers and state economies by removing the protections that allowed Dream-

ers to study and work legally. Trump campaigned on a promise to crack down on illegal immigration, saying he would “immediately terminate” DACA if elected. But since taking office, he had voiced more sympathy toward Dreamers. At a news conference in February, Trump said, “The DACA situation is a very very, it’s a very difficult thing for me because you know, I love these kids … I love kids. I have kids and grandkids and I find it very, very hard doing what the law says exactly to do.” Many Republicans have said President Obama overstepped his authority by creating DACA. Whether or not that’s true, DACA recipients should not have to suffer or be punished for the sins of their fathers and mothers who chose to break the law and smuggle them into the country illegally. Write to your lawmakers and urge them to take up and pass legislation to help DACA beneficiaries once and for all. ■

■ COMMENTARY

Setting the record straight: Chinatown and ID businesses not opposed to plans for hotel development By Nora Chan FOR NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Contrary to recent articles written by the Chinatown Inter national District Coalition (CID Coalition), most businesses are Nora Chan not opposed to plans for the development of a SpringHill Suites by Marriott Hotel at 8th and Lane. During the days leading up to the annual Dragon Fest in July, InterimCDA began posting “emergency notices” throughout Chinatown’s light posts and community message boards, specifically targeted Chinatown’s elderly. The posters, written in Chinese read: “Emergency Notice. We should not be forced to move,” caused such an alarm and uneasiness among seniors who thought they were in jeopardy of losing their homes, as a result of the city’s decision to upzone areas of Chinatown. On the afternoon of July 18, seniors gathered together in Chinatown waiting for pre-arranged buses to transport them to the community meeting at the Nisei Veterans Memorial Hall. Many of the seniors thought the purpose of the meeting was to protest the Navigation Center. When they arrived, they were asked to sign in. The seniors did not understand that they

were signing a petition to oppose the city’s plans for upzoning and/or the plans for the development of a Marriott Hotel. No low income housing is being displaced by the proposed Marriott development. To imply that the project would result in the displacement of housing for Chinatown’s seniors is not only misleading, it is extremely insensitive and callous to provoke such unfounded fear. An English version of the poster was also prominently displaced throughout Chinatown with the same look and font as Executive Order 9066, which authorized the displacement of over 17,000 people of Japanese descent to relocation camps throughout the West Coast. It is very hard to believe what was going through the minds of the individual who designed the poster. No one has said anything about the displacement of Chinatown’s low income seniors other than InterimCDA and the recently formed CID Coalition. Although rent rates have increased significantly over the years in Chinatown, the increases have no bearing on the cost of living of the seniors in low income housing. The biggest threat to the future of Seattle’s Chinatown is a stagnant business environment. Throughout our nation’s Chinatowns, we have seen a rapid decline of what were once thriving centers of commerce, social and cultural activities, professional services, and of course exceptional Asian cuisine. With most likely the lowest margins of any business around, businesses in Chinatown cannot

survive without a steady flow of customers from business workers, residents, families, and visitors. To imply that the first new hotel proposed for the Chinatown International District would displace elderly low income

residents is tantamount to saying that a thriving business climate in Chinatown will displace the elderly. If we are not receptive to [see HOTEL on 13]

asianweekly northwest

SEPTEMBER 9 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

[BAN from 4]

[MIGRANTS from 4]

the national interest, along with documentation to substantiate it. Applicants must also send a copy of their identification and contact information. The State Department will notify applicants whether they’ve been deemed eligible or not. Those granted exceptions will receive a letter they can use to obtain a Special Validation Passport for a single trip to North Korea. For those denied, there is no appeal. The ban comes amid heightened tensions over North Korea’s recent provocations, including unprecedented intercontinental ballistic missile tests and other launches. The Trump administration and Kim Jong Un’s government have been trading angry words and threats of military action, though tensions have calmed slightly in the past few weeks. Under the law, Americans who violate the ban could face a fine and up to 10 years in prison for a first offense. The State Department has emphasized the possibility that those who violate the ban would have their passports revoked. ■

said, but he did not know how many of those detained were grabbed while getting into the hole or whether any of them made it back into the tunnel and returned to Mexico. Cartels have been sneaking drugs under the border for decades, especially after security was increased following the 9/11 attacks. Many tunnels found by agents in San Diego have had lighting, ventilation and even railroadtype tracks so the drug cartels could efficiently move their loads into California. In Arizona, smugglers used to move migrants through storm drainage pipes that lie under the U.S.-Mexico border. Smugglers in San Diego occasionally moved a few people through narrow, quickly excavated tunnels that authorities call “gopher holes.” It was unclear how long the newest tunnel found had been there and how many may people have used it, but officials said it may have been built as an extension of a previously discovered incomplete tunnel found by Mexican authorities. Most human smugglers have avoided building elaborate tunnels to move people because the trade was not as lucrative as smuggling

[DREAM from 7] frustrated and saddened him until he heard Ferruccio Furlanetto, the famous Italian bass, singing in Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro.” He studied under Wei Fanjian at the Shandong Normal University Music College in Jinan City, Shandong Province. Yeonji Lee studied opera mostly in New York City’s Manhattan School of Music, where she earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. She credits Donna D. Vaughn, the school’s Artistic Director of Opera, for convincing her that she could sing opera. Another crucial teacher was the voice coach, actor, and singer Ron Raines. “Learning how to sing is often really metaphysical, because you can’t see how muscles are working,” commented Lee on her

work with Raines. “But he made me see what I couldn’t see. And I learned the way to ﬁnd my own voice.” “An American Dream,” written by composer Jack Perla with a libretto by Jessica Murphy Moo, unfolds in the Puget Sound against the background of the internment program forced on Japanese Americans during World War II. The action switches back and forth from a Japanese American lady forced to leave her home for a relocation camp, and a German Jewish lady, wondering and worrying about relatives left behind in Europe. To portray the character of Makoto Kobayashi, Ao Li related, he had to learn some Japanese, a language he had not previously studied. He also had to stake out the emotional territory of a man who lives with fear, but struggles to hide that fear from his family.

drugs, said Mike Unzueta, the former head of investigations at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in San Diego. Smugglers also wanted to avoid having their cargo — the people they were moving — expose their routes, like they did on Aug. 26. But the event may indicate it has become profitable enough for them do so because Chinese nationals can pay up to $20,000 a person to be brought from their homeland to the United States, Unzueta said. “You’re making a higher profit margin with Chinese nationals versus Mexican nationals,” Unzueta said. Detentions of Chinese nationals crossing the border in the San Diego area has jumped from just four in 2013 to 48 in 2015 to 861 last year, Olmos said. So far 193 have been arrested since July 31 in the sector, including those apprehended last month. They are being held at a detention center while authorities review their cases, Olmos said. It was not known if a smuggler was among those detained. U.S. authorities plan to seal the tunnel with cement but will first map it to determine its path between the countries. ■

35 YEARS

[ANTHEM from 5] flag-raising ceremonies, important diplomatic occasions and major sport events, Xinhua said. The draft was given a second hearing on Aug. 28 by the standing committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s legislature. Passage in a third hearing is required for it to become law. “The legislation governing the use of the national anthem is feasible, necessary and of great significance to foster and practice socialist core values and to promote the patriotism-centered spirit of the nation,” Xinhua quoted Zhang Haiyang, deputy head of the legislature’s Law Committee, as saying. Xi, China’s strongest leader in decades, has appealed to resurgent nationalism among the public by pursuing a strong military, the vigorous expansion of the world’s second largest economy and a muscular foreign policy that frequently seeks to confront the U.S. and other major powers. China recently established its first overseas military base in the Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti and Chinese companies have been scooping up overseas assets

Yeonji Lee

Ao Li

For her character, Setsuko, Ms. Lee mused how “Setsuko is almost forced to become an adult in a very short period of time through multiple signiﬁcant life events… Sadly, she had no choice but become an adult forcefully.” “And I tried to depict her change, from child to grown-up, through the singing… And I hope we can cry together with Setsuko,

remembering great survivors of that time.” Neither singer is ethnically Japanese, yet both sing Japanese American characters. Ms. Lee opined, “Most times, the language of art is universal, so it does not necessarily need to be restricted on an artist’s ethnic background unless it is critically deﬁ ned by composer/ librettist. Personally, I believe

such as New York’s famed Waldorf Astoria hotel. Xi, who has also led the ruling Communist Party since 2012, has established a growing cult of personality that leans heavily on his image as a patriotic leader who brooks no slight to national dignity. China’s entirely state-controlled media relentlessly promote a view of China as morally superior to the West, and popular culture has been increasingly leveraged to stir patriotism among the younger generation for whom communism as a system has little meaning. The film “Wolf Warrior II” offering a bare-knuckled take on Chinese nationalism became the country’s all-time box office champion this summer, taking advantage of a two-month blackout period during which foreign films cannot be shown in Chinese cinemas. China’s national anthem, titled “March of the Volunteers,” was originally featured in a patriotic play that ran during the nearly 15year struggle against Japan that lasted through the end of World War II. Lyrics include “Arise, ye who refuse to be slaves, with our flesh and blood let us build our new Great Wall.” ■

I’m a Soprano ﬁ rst, before being an Asian female.” “I like this beautiful city,” Ao Li concluded about Seattle. “I hope I can come back again soon.” And Ms. Lee, who lives in Bellevue, looks forward to more trips across the 520 Floating Bridge. “As an artist, Seattle is a good environment for me to focus on my artistry,” she ﬁnished. “I really love the scent of coming rain, it’s inspirational!” ■ “An American Dream” performance dates are Sept. 7, 8, 10, 14, 15, and 17. For more information or to buy tickets, visit seattleopera.org/on-stage/2017american-dream. Andrew can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

KING COUNTY — NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received for C01184C17, Alki Wet Weather Treatment Facility Sodium Hypochlorite Pump Replacements; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 1:30 PM on September 28, 2017. Late bids will not be accepted. The Work under this Contract consists of replacing the sodium hypochlorite pumping system. Work includes, but is not limited to, demolishing, furnishing and installing chemical metering pumps, variable frequency drives, associated plumbing. Estimated contract price: $225,000.00 Pre-Bid/Site Tour: 1:00 PM on September 14, 2017 at the Alki Wet Weather Treatment Facility, 3350 Beach Drive SW, Seattle WA 98116. There is a 5% minimum Apprentice Utilization Requirement on this contract. There is a 5% minimum requirement for King County Certiﬁed Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS) on this contract. 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

YOUR VOICE

SEPTEMBER 9 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

■ ASTROLOGY

Predictions and advice for the week of September 9–15, 2017 By Sun Lee Chang Rat — You have come full circle from where you started. What you have learned should enable you to begin anew in the best direction.

Dragon — Are you looking to recapture what was once lost? A more rewarding endeavor would be to build something for the future instead.

Monkey — A special occasion is not a reason to suspend your usual good sense. Being on your game should actually enhance the celebration.

Ox — An uncomfortable question has you thinking about an old issue, which you may ﬁnally be able to put to rest.

Snake — Is there meaning behind what you are giving away? Your actions could be speaking to something you are hesitant to say out loud.

Rooster — As you move slowly toward a more regimented schedule, you may ﬁnd your level of eﬃciency rising as well.

Tiger — Although you are a stickler for doing things the right way, there are times where the rules just don’t apply.

Horse — You are no novice when it comes to matters of art. Follow your instincts when embarking on a creative project.

Dog — Are you growing tired of someone else’s drama? Don’t put yourself in the middle of it, if you have a choice.

Rabbit — The countdown has been in motion for a while. It will soon be time for you to meet the challenge before you.

Goat — Although you aren’t quite as comfortable as you would like to be, your conﬁdence will grow as you pass the tests along the way.

Pig — Instead of trying to keep up with someone else measure by measure, shift the focus to where you need to go.

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.

[LAYUP from 9]

imposing ﬁgure on the court. Yet, her grounded nature seems to allude to the fact that she is her own person and will make the best decision for her future.

coaches and already has a college choice even before he has a driver’s license.

playing against other professional competitors of any age. While she may be seen as a tennis FORMER UW prodigy, her ascension is nothing like HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL most young tennis players. She was SOPHOMORE LANDS ANALYTICS HEAD not sent away to play tennis or go to a tennis academy. In fact, she still COLLEGE BASEBALL MOVES TO BAY AREA lives with her parents. She grew up in SCHOLARSHIP Thousand Oaks, Calif. and trains at Pabail Sidhu did not make his name the United States Tennis Association Eastside Catholic High School’s on the court, but with numbers. The in Carson. Despite being over 50 miles Kenji Suzuki has verbally committed former basketball analytics guru for away from her to play base- the University of Washington (UW), home, Liu’s mom ball at Clemson Sidhu has landed a position doing drives her back University in sports statistics with the NBA World and forth to train South Carolina. Champions Golden State Warriors. At 5 feet 6 inches tall, Liu daily. Just an incomNot only do coaches evaluate is not an imposing figure on ing sophomore athlete talent, they now are seeking Liu’s path to tennis stardom is the court. Yet, her grounded in high school, statistical analysis from people like not a traditional Suzuki is an in- Sidhu. Many professional teams have nature seems to allude to one. Her parents fielder for the adopted to evaluating statistics and do not have an the fact that she is her own Crusaders. Since numbers in order to make their teams athletic backSuzuki is not a better on the court. Sidhu was the first person and will make the ground — they senior yet, he hire in collegiate athletics to do sports are both chemists. best decision for her future. can give only a analytics and data analysis on a fullShe is not repreverbal commit- time basis. sented by an agent ment and cannot Sidhu crunched numbers during or accompanied file the neces- Husky men’s basketball games and by handlers when she plays in tour- sary paperwork to make it official. He provided real-time analytics to help the naments. Her family values educa- called Clemson his “dream school.” coaching staff during games. tion and Liu admits to thinking about Sidhu is admittedly a basketball Suzuki garnered nationwide atcollege. But her improvement on the tention playing in club games and junkie. A graduate of the UW, he first court has made going to college a di- appearing in Perfect Game amateur worked with the UW Athletic Derection to go after a career in tennis. tournaments. This partment, but Many of the young players with whom past summer, he his passion for she competes and trains with have al- was a standout at basketball led ready turned pro, and a choice to head the Perfect Game him to become At age 16, Suzuki has to college may stave off competition 15U World Series the Director made an impression with for a while. It would also take away in Cartersville, of Basketball from her earnings potential as a tennis Ga. The tour- college baseball coaches and Strategies for player. nament praised Coach Lorenzo already has a college choice Romar. HoldHowever, coaches noted her gift Suzuki, “The and tennis acumen at a young age. She 6-foot, 180-pound even before he has a driver’s ing that post for also honed her knowledge of the sport Washington nafive years, Sidhu license. by reading a lot of books authored tive showed qualmoves to the Bay by tennis legends like Pete Sampras, ity actions out at Area to work Tracy Austin, and Michael Chang. The shortstop with with the likes family has become friends with Carl smoothness to his hands and the ability of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Chang, the brother and former coach to range to both sides well. He made a Sidhu will work in the front office and of Michael. couple of twitchy plays that highlight- focus on long-term projects centered In late August, Liu lost in an early ed his athleticism and warrants more around player and team evaluations. round singles match against Duan looks at the position.” He told the Tacoma News Tribune, Yingying of China in the U.S. Open While he may not be heading to “I’ll kind of be creating my own work during the first week of the tournament college until 2020, Suzuki received as I go.” He started his job in late June in New York. She also lost in the round interest in schools all over the country, working with the Warriors in preparof 64 in doubles competition. With including TCU, Arizona, Arizona ing for the 2017 NBA draft. ■ the losses, this might cause Liu to State, Virginia, North Carolina, reconsider once again whether to go to Southern Cal, LSU, and Oregon State. Jason can be reached at college or turn pro. At age 16, Suzuki has made an info@nwasianweekly.com. At 5 feet 6 inches tall, Liu is not an impression with college baseball

[HOTEL from 11] new businesses, they will most certainly go elsewhere. As the area’s economic health declines, so to will all other aspects of the neighborhood including public safety, desirability, livability, and viability for new business ventures. Seattle’s Chinatown already has an extremely high percentage of low income housing in a relatively small area. In order for businesses to survive in Chinatown, there must be a balance and diversity of socioeconomic activity. If our urban planning policies are too restrictive, then business development will not happen and will go elsewhere. With the decline of the business environment we will more than likely experience an increase in the amount of crime, aban-

donment of properties by businesses and landlords, avoidance of Chinatown by our families, business people, tourists, and investors. We have had more than our share of challenges with the area’s homelessness, gangs, lack of parking, and trash left by trespassers. The last thing we should be doing is keeping an internationally well-respected hotel chain like the Marriott from bringing more business and validation to Chinatown. What we should be most fearful of are the unfounded and misleading threats which instill a false sense of insecurity in the minds and hearts of our seniors. ■ Nora Chan is founder of Seniors in Action, a property owner, business owner, and Chinatown resident.

HIRING TEACHERS! El Centro de la Raza is hiring Mandarinspeaking toddler and preschool teachers at Hirabayashi Place! For more information, contact Shannon Armstrong: sarmstrong@elcentrodelaraza.org 206-957-4626

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asianweekly northwest

EMPLOYMENT

SEPTEMBER 9 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

EMPLOYMENT

35 YEARS

EMPLOYMENT

Managing Director, Northwest Folklife, Seattle

METROPOLITAN KING COUNTY COUNCIL CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL

The Chief Legal Counsel is a senior level professional position and supervises the work of the Senior Deputy Legal Counsel. This position operates with considerable latitude in providing legal advice and proposed solutions for consideration by decision makers to support the Council in fulfilling its mission.

Northwest Folklife seeks a Managing Director to partner with the Board, the Executive Artistic Director and the community to envision a bold, exciting and attainable future. They seek a Managing Director who will be a key player in creating operating plans in support of that vision and who can implement those plans as realities evolve. Go to: http://www.nwfolklife.org/jobsinternships/ for full position profile and how to apply

The most competitive candidates will have an in-depth knowledge of County government and the theories and practices of civil and administrative law as they relate to local government. This is an exciting opportunity to join the King County Council staff and help provide excellent regional services to county residents. The position requires effective collaboration with Councilmembers, staff, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney the County Executive and departments, other units of governments, and members of the public.

Subscribe to the Northwest Asian Weekly 206223-0623.

Closes: September 11, 2017 at 11:59 pm Salary Range: $150,301 - $202,139 (DOQ) The Metropolitan King County Council is seeking an experienced, enthusiastic attorney with a passion for Public Policy, Leadership and Professionalism to join our team. The Chief Legal Counsel serves as a legal advisor to the Council and staff on a variety of matters dealing with public policy, legislation, and Council actions. The ideal candidate will be adept at municipal law, and the powers and duties of public officials and agencies.

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A King County application is required to be considered for this opportunity. Interested applicants must complete the supplemental questions and submit a resume and letter of interest with your application.

Superior Court of Washington County of King In re: Sui Man (Simon) Tse Petitioner and Kathryn L Blauser Tse Respondent No. 17-3-04364-1SEA Summons By Publication To the Respondent: Sui Man (Simon) Tse, The petitioner has started an action in the above court requesting that your marriage be dissolved. You must respond to this summons by serving a copy of your written response on the person signing this summons and by filing the original with the clerk of the court. If you do not serve your written response within 60 days after the first publication of this summons (60 days after 3 day of August, 2017), the court may enter an order of default against you, and the court may, without further notice to you, enter a decree and approve or provide for other relief requested in this summons. In case of a dissolution, the court will not enter the final decree until at least 90 days after service and filing. If you serve a notice of appearance on the undersigned person, you are entitled to notice before an order of default or a decree may be entered. Your written response to the summons and petition must be form WPF DR 01.0300 (Response to Petition (Marriage). Information about how to get this form may be obtained by contacting the clerk of the court, by contacting the Administrative Office of the Courts at (360) 705-5328, or from the Internet at the Washington State Courts homepage: http://www.courts.wa.gov/forms If you wish to seek the advice of an attorney in this matter, you should do so promptly so that your written response, if any, may be served on time. This summons if issued pursuant to RCW 4.28.100 and Superior Court Civil Rule 4.1 of the State of Washington. Dated 7/20/2017, Sui Man (Simon) Tse File Original of Your Response with the Clerk of the Court at: Office of the Superior Court Clerk 516 Third Avenue, Room E609 Seattle, WA 98104 Serve a Copy of Your Response on: Sui Man (Simon) Tse 6511 29th Avenue S Seattle, WA 98108.

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Taniguchi peeled his undershirt off to show his scars, to describe his painful past and tell the world the tragedy should never be repeated. He said he wanted no one else to have to suffer the pain of nuclear weapons. His health declined in the last few years from age and illnesses. In his video message in July, Taniguchi welcomed the U.N. nuclear weapons prohibition treaty, but expressed concerns about the declining population of the survivors, known in Japan as hibakusha. “I wonder what the world will be like when it loses the last atomic bombing survivor.” ■

more serious charges. Police said they were considering taking further legal action against Shao. Court documents allege Shao administered “an intoxicating substance,” tramadol and Lidocaine to Huang during the procedure. Lidocaine is a numbing agent, and tramadol is a painkiller. Shao’s lawyer, Mary Underwood, said that her client was a graduate of a Chinese medical university and had arrived in Australia several days earlier on a tourist visa. The Health Care Complaints Commission is investigating. ■

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YOUR VOICE

SEPTEMBER 9 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

“Editor, publisher, founder, fundraiser, mother, wife, daughter, mentor and friend. I am truly in awe of the impact [Assunta] and the Northwest Asian Weekly have had on so many lives, including my own. My sincere congratulations on 35 spectacular years!” — Penny Fukui, Vice President, Woodburn Company

“Congratulations to you and the Seattle Chinese Post. Amazing, it’s already been 35 years. I can still remember your opening day at the lower level of the Bush hotel. Time ﬂies. I wish the SCP many more anniversaries to come. Thank you for your relentless contribution to the greater Seattle community.” — Faye Dow, reader

[RICH ASIANS from 8] recently, British actor Ed Skrein was cast as a Japanese-American character in a reboot of “Hellboy.” After a backlash, Skrein announced that he had withdrawn from the film. Kwan said that for “Crazy Rich Asians,” he and the film’s director, Jon M. Chu, insisted on an allAsian cast. “It’s really been a dream come true, you know,” Kwan said. “Be[DACA from 1] Arrivals program, which has provided nearly 800,000 young immigrants a reprieve from deportation and the ability to work legally in the U.S. in the form of two-year, renewable work permits. The administration is giving Congress six months to come up with a legislative fix — “should it choose to,” Sessions said — before the government stops renewing permits for people already covered by the program. According to Department of Homeland Security officials, people with permits whose renewals are set to expire between now and March 5, 2018, will be able to re-apply — so long as their applications are submitted by Oct. 5, 2017. No permits will be revoked before their existing expiration dates, and applications already in the pipeline will be processed, they said. Trump, in a statement, said the change would be “a gradual process, not a sudden phase out.” “Thus, in effect, I am not going to just cut DACA off, but rather provide a window of opportunity for Congress to finally act,” he said. He said he did not favor punishing children for the actions of their parents. At the same time, though, “we must also recognize that we are a nation of opportunity because we are a nation of law” and “young Americans have dreams, too.” His action drew swift criticism from many immigration advocates and Democratic lawmakers. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi called Trump’s decision “a deeply shameful act of political cowardice and a despicable assault on innocent young people in communities across America.” Some Republicans objected, too.

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, email rsvp@nwasianweekly.com, or call 206-223-0623. To sponsor the event, contact Assunta Ng at assunta@nwasianweekly.com. For more info, visit nwasianweekly.com/35years.

cause even from the very start, when Hollywood was ﬁrst interested in adopting it, I was thinking, Michelle Yeoh would be perfect, Constance Wu would be perfect. All these people, the fact that the dream sort of all came together.” Wu, the breakout star from the sitcom “Fresh oﬀ the Boat,” plays the unassuming Rachel, while Yeoh plays her boyfriend’s disapproving mother. The dashing, rich Nick is played by newcomer Hen-

ry Golding. Others in the cast include “Hangover” star Ken Jeong and Harry Shum Jr. from “Glee.” With racial tensions on the rise in the United States, Kwan said he remains conﬁdent that Americans will embrace “Crazy Rich Asians.” “They have a history of multiculturalism in the industry, but over the last few years, it’s really, I think, the corporatization of Hollywood, the fact that it’s owned by these big huge corpora-

Sen. John McCain of Arizona said Trump was taking “the wrong approach,” and he added: “The federal government has a responsibility to defend and secure our borders, but we must do so in a way that upholds all that is decent and exceptional about our nation.” Trump’s announcement came the same day as a deadline set by a group of Republican state officials who said they would challenge DACA in court unless the Trump administration rescinded the program. Trump has spent months wrestling with what to do with DACA, which he slammed during his campaign as illegal “amnesty.” Many of his closest advisers, including Sessions, policy adviser Stephen Miller, and former chief strategist Steve Bannon argue that the program is unconstitutional and have urged Trump to follow through on his campaign promise to end it. But Trump has repeatedly expressed sympathy for the young people protected by the program. “I think the Dreamers are terrific,” Trump said last week, using a term popularized by supporters of the program, which was created in 2012 as a stopgap as the Obama administration pushed unsuccessfully for a broader immigration overhaul in Congress. His approach — essentially kicking the can down the road and letting Congress deal with it— is fraught with potential peril for his own party. Trump’s decision to take a harder line on young immigrants unless Congress intervenes threatens to emphasize deep divisions among Republicans who have long struggled with the issue. House Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement he hoped the “House and Senate, with the president’s leadership, will be able to find consensus

on a permanent legislative solution that includes ensuring that those who have done nothing wrong can still contribute as a valued part of this great country.” Congress has repeatedly tried — and failed — to come together on immigration overhaul legislation, and it remains uncertain whether the House would succeed in passing anything on the divisive topic. White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders, however, dismissed concerns that Congress would not be able to act and said the president was looking to sign “responsible immigration reform,” not just a bill legalizing Dreamers’ status. “If they can’t, then they should get out of the way and let somebody else take their job that can actually get something done,” she said. Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio appealed to the White House for more clarity about what Trump is willing to sign. “We have no time to waste on ideas that do not have the votes to pass or that the president won’t sign,” Rubio said. Trump’s expected move has sparked protests, phone banks, letter-writing campaigns, and other efforts across the country urging him not to act. Mario H. Lopez, the president of the conservative Hispanic Leadership Fund, said that while he disagreed with the way Obama went about DACA, he worried that six months wasn’t enough to come up with a better plan. “It just doesn’t seem like there’s a great window to get this done, and we’re concerned that the president didn’t really commit to any kind of Dream Act,” he said. “He just sort of dropped it in Congress’ lap.” ■

tions, where they just want to see profit, profit, profit,” Kwan said. “They take a lot less risks and a lot less artistic risks. But I think that’s changing, it really is, because the audience is demanding it, not just the Asian audience, the American, white audience is demanding it.” When asked if his “Crazy Rich” trilogy glorifies the lives of the top 1 percent in Asia, Kwan’s answer was a definitive “No.” “My books are satires, you

know, they are really comedies of manners,” he said. “So I think most of my readers, when they read it, I don’t think they’re really seeing this world through these rosy lenses. They’re seeing the problems these rich people have. In a way, that’s why I named the third book ‘Rich People Problems.”’ “Rich People Problems” is available at bookstores now, and the “Crazy Rich Asians” movie is in post-production and slated for release in 2018. ■

[FILIPINO from 1]

Photos by John Liu/NWAW

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

Supporters of Filipino Town, from left: Devin Cabanilla, Jamie Lee, Frank Irigon, and David Della

Devin Cabanilla addresses the city council.

“This edited resolution has gone a long way in making our Filipino community whole again,” said Frank Irigon. “Once again, we feel welcomed, rather than unwelcomed and our presence denied.” The words “historic Manilatown” were removed from a sentence in the original resolution — raising the ire of Filipinos in the ID. They expressed their outrage at a Aug. 7 council meeting and urged council members to bring back the language recognizing Filipinos’ presence and history in the ID. Council President Bruce Harrell expressed regret and called the omission a mistake. “A heartfelt ‘Salamat Po’ (thank you) for the Resolution 31754 amendment,” said Maria Batayola. “The sentiments are true and close to our hearts and reﬂective of our

collective Filipino contributions in Chinatown-International District.” “Shakespeare wrote that ‘A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,’” said Irigon. “But a Chinatown-International District, without historic Filipino Town, would not have been the same. Names are markers. Identifiers. They defined a neighborhood. And this revised resolution will once again reinstate that historic Filipino Town was part and parcel of Chinatown-International District’s neighborhood, culture, and history. Once again, Chinatown-International District will have the smell of the sweetly scented fragrance of the Philippine national flower, the Sampaguita!” ■

David Della

Staﬀ can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

asianweekly northwest

35 YEARS

SEPTEMBER 9 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

[CHEN from 1] “We have a lot of guidance from teachers, but it’s also finding your own personal belief of what you’re doing. It’s always been a challenge, but it’s becoming more important,” she said. She also appreciates feedback from her peers because they aren’t afraid to be blunt. They often push her to see what she’s capable of, to go beyond what she thought she could do and not to settle for anything less than what she wants to achieve with her sounds, bracing, and colors. “You want to find a purpose for your music, you have to work for your audiences, you have to fight for the art that you’re doing and make it convincing so that people understand that classical music is necessary for human development and the wellbeing of society,” Chen said. Classical music makes the world a better place and Chen wants others to love it as much as she does. Chen admires the Silk Road Ensemble because of how it incorporates arrangements from various cultures. There’s a piece that features wedding music from Damascus, Syria and there’s also a piece that commemorates a river in China. “Their work is so extraordinary that it brings cultures together, and we need this more and more in this current political climate,” she said. Chen’s experience playing in China with Ma has brought her closer to what it means to be Chinese and Taiwanese. “I never really had that connection between my racial identity and classical music before, but I realized that everyone can experience music and there are things that mean more to us because of where we’re from,” she explained. While music is her love and passion, Chen wanted to study something in math and sciences at Harvard so that she could learn technical skills. She is majoring in molecular and cell biology, and hopes to carry those concrete

and problem solving skills with her beyond her musical career. In addition, Chen is a founding member of the Boston-based Ravos Quartet that was started last year at the Taos School of Music with two violinists and one violist. She described the experience as life changing. The group practices several times a week, motivating each other while playing music. The quartet has played at various venues in the city and they already have more gigs lined up for this semester. Chen’s dream would be to work with Meryl Streep on something related to music and theater. At Tanglewood, one of the Boston Symphony Orchestra cellists told them in a master class that they should all take acting classes at some point in their lives. She hopes to take classes on improvisational comedy or public speaking in her senior year before she graduates. As Chen approaches the end of college life, her biggest challenge is deciding and understanding what it is she wants to do with her music and what kind of impact she wants to make. “It’s coming to terms with the fact that when you go into music, you can be amazing, but that’s not enough to just be good at playing. You have to be a good person, you need to know what you want outside of the music, what kind of message you want to give, what you want to present, and what impact you want to have,” she explained. Her future is still unclear. She could be auditioning for orchestras, touring with an ensemble, or teaching or preparing for competitions. It’s all up in the air for Chen, and that’s totally ﬁne. “It’s funny how much diﬀerence one month or one year can make within the trajectory of a pre-professional musician’s life, but the one constant is that I’m still playing,” she said. ■ Nina can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

[LUCKY from 10] blessings He has given you, not necessarily in the ﬁnancial sense, but in other things, such as a new baby, health, and happiness? Stop comparing yourself to the lotto jackpot winner or your friends who won airplane tickets, a lump sum of cash, or big prizes like television sets through raﬄe drawings. I used to say my aunt is lucky, as she usually wins at mahjong. Is she? What good will it do when her legs get weaker due to long hours of sitting during the game? We have all been guilty of taking life fortunes for granted. It’s time to appreciate the blessings already present in your life.

How do you recognize luck? Timing is a critical factor in luck. Take my recent vacation to Europe. We had no idea that Seattle would suffer recordbreaking heat. Nor did we know that it would be the perfect time to visit the British Parliament, Buckingham Palace, and Big Ben. My husband and I left Seattle without sufficient planning because we were too busy. I was working on the Asian Weekly and Chinese Post’s 35th anniversary dinner celebrations. As soon as we returned to Seattle, it was announced that Big Ben would be shut down for four years for repairs. How lucky we were to hear the clock bells toll several times as we stayed across the other side of the river. How amazing that we even picked the right location for our hotel! Before we arrived, the weather forecast called for rain in all our destinations: London, Norway, and Hamburg. To our delight, it rained for only two days of our 17-day trip. The rain fell in the morning, before we ventured outside. There was thunder and pouring rain while we dined inside a restaurant. By the time we finished dinner, the rain stopped as if we had waved a magic wand for it to cease. And one more unexpected tale. In London, I was almost a victim of pickpocketing. A young girl unzipped my backpack and dipped her hand into it, while we were strolling on the crowded River Thames. Luckily, my husband caught her in time. She couldn’t steal anything that quickly because my two wallets with credit cards and ID cards were under a notepad and book, which I normally don’t carry. I threw them in the last minute! Luck, I guess. Sure, the money and the lost items could be replaced, but still, such an episode could spoil anyone’s vacation. Sheryl Sandberg, author, activist, and Facebook’s chief operating officer, said, “Happiness is made of small moments of joy” each day. My point is, examine your life and the people around you. Observe even the little things which can enhance your day, make you smile, and be thankful. Choose to experience joy. If you are able to acknowledge that life is good, even in the face of adversity, you are blessed with a remarkable gift.

Can you grow your luck? Luck is deﬁned as preparation meeting opportunity. After publishing the Asian Weekly for 35 years with dedication and passion, I am just waiting for opportunities. Fate intervenes again and again, and luck keeps appearing, not always in cash, but in opportunities to serve and give back,

Photo by Assunta Ng/NWAW

Big Ben

and open doors for other people. In the past two years, interesting events have occurred. When something transpires, it rewards me with unexpected benefits. Then, there are people I’ve encountered, whom I would never imagine meeting. Luck always finds me, through thick and thin, pain and joy. For instance, I won the “Cultural Ambassador - Individual” category in the 2017 Mayor’s Arts Awards, beating a big name, Maestro Ludovic Morlot of Seattle Symphony Orchestra on Aug. 31. His contribution is several times more powerful than mine, and his name is globally-known. I am a nobody — a little publisher of a small media company — I am not an artist. And I am a fan of Morlot. I was so sure I wouldn’t win that I didn’t even prepare a speech. I told very few people and requested them not to bring flowers. You can understand how shocked I was when Cassie Chin, Wing Luke Asian Museum deputy director and a member of the Seattle Arts Commission, announced my name as the winner. Luck made others see my qualifications differently. One supporter said, “You have been doing the Asian Weekly for 35 years,” meaning our history impressed the judges. “The printed word is the oldest form of written art,” said Kwan Wong, who was present at the awards ceremony at the Seattle Center. Did I program my luck? Yes, anyone can. I am not smart, but my team and I earn it through very hard work. I don’t really have a long-term plan, but I have a goal. For us, it’s week after week for 35 years straight. We give you our best — bringing you the relevant stories and what’s going on in the community. Nobody, including myself, could predict that I would be in the news business for so long. And that is my special fortune. May you receive life’s meaningful fortune — many sweet little blessings and magical moments, even in days of unbearable hardship. ■ Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

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