PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA
VOL 35 NO 39
SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2016
FREE
34 YEARS YOUR VOICE
Asian American and Pacific Islander voters:
Awakening the sleeping giant for the November election By Arlene Kiyomi Dennistoun NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
see AAPI on 16
Photo by Arlene Dennistoun/NWAW
In a show of force, about 2,000 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) gathered in Tacoma on Sept. 15 in what was likely the largest unity and civic engagement event held in the nation. To mobilize AAPI voters, the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) brought in busloads from eastern Washington. The Asian Counseling and Referral Services (ACRS) organized translators to remind the community of the power of their vote in 27 different languages and dialects. Gubernatorial candidates, Gov. Jay Inslee and Bill Bryant, discussed issues in a forum moderated by a long-time political reporter, Robert Mak. Before the summit, Inslee and Bryant provided statements to the Northwest Asian Weekly. Inslee said, “The last four years, I’ve worked hard to build a stronger economy and better future for every Washington family, and I look forward to sharing my record and positive vision for Washington state at the Asian Pacific American Statewide Civic Engagement Summit, put on by the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition.” Bryant said, “The Asian American and Pacific Islander community is an important part of the fabric that makes Washington special. From the cultural influences that give us our unique identity, to the investments in our API summit-goers filled the Tacoma Dome hall in organized groups to hear translators.
Siren dating app triggers questions and accolades
see SIREN on 13
From left: Susie Lee and Katrina Hess.
GRAND OPENING IN THE ID
Photo by George Liu/NWAW
The rousing end of a chapter for empowerment luncheon series
Photo by Ken Lambert
“When was the last time you experienced joy?” “What’s a great book to give as a gift?” “What’s a thing that everyone you know adores, but you just don’t get it?” These are some of the questions of the
day if you are a subscriber to Siren, a dating app that was awarded App of the Year by GeekWire in 2015. Siren was the brainchild of Susie Lee, the Chief Executive Officer, and was cofounded and developed with Katrina Hess, who serves as the Chief Operations
See article on page 3.
Back row, from left: Vivian Lee, Sandra Madrid, Claudia Kauffman, Dr. Sheila Edwards Lange, Rosa Melendez, Ellen Ferguson, and Penny Fukui. Front row, from left: Phyllis G. Kenney, Mary Yu, Karen Donohue, and Stella Leong
By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY “We celebrate the end of a chapter, but this is a book. And somebody else has to write the next chapter, and you may be in
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this room.” Those were the comments from Washington State Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu at the final Women of Color Empowered (WoCE) luncheon on Sept. 16. see WOC on 14
crappy video games There’s a whole industry out there. » see 5
ROSE PAK DIES
ON WHEELS
She was an influential leader in San Francisco. » see 6
Bringing SE Asian flavors to the masses in Seattle. » see 8
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Photo by Ric Brewer/Bartell Drugs
By Peggy Chapman Northwest Asian Weekly