VOL 36 NO 41 | OCTOBER 7 – OCTOBER 13, 2017

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

VOL 36 NO 41

OCTOBER 7 – OCTOBER 13, 2017

FREE

35 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Race to decide if West Coast keeps its only GOP-led chamber NAMES IN THE NEWS Who’s doing what in the Asian community. »2

CONGRATULATIONS Hyeok Kim expecting a baby »3

PICTORIAL Meet your 2017 political candidates. »8

COMMENTARY Asian American kids in the military. » 11

Jinyoung Englund with supporters at a Fourth of July parade.

Manka Dhingra with supporters.

By RACHEL LA CORTE ASSOCIATED PRESS

are seeking to serve the last year of a four-year term left vacant by the death of Republican Sen. Andy Hill.

Republicans, with the help of a Democrat who caucuses with them, currently control the Senate by a single seat. But Democrats hope the district — which includes Redmond, Woodinville, and Sammamish — will vote as it did in last year’s presidential, U.S. Senate, and gubernatorial elections: Democrat.

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington state Senate is the only Republican-led legislative chamber on the West Coast, and a special election in Seattle’s wealthy eastern suburbs has drawn millions of dollars and national attention to two political newcomers vying for the seat in November.

Democrat Manka Dhingra and Republican Jinyoung Lee Englund

see RACE on 15

Asian American woman killed in Las Vegas massacre

ID, Little Saigon community on Navigation Center: We expected more

By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Michelle Vo, 32, was among the casualties in the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

Diane Hawkins, Vo’s sister who lives in Washington state, said in a post on Facebook that Vo “had an infectious smile.”

Vo is one of 59 people killed

“We deserve honesty, transparency, competency, and legal accountability … regarding [the Navigation Center].”

Patty Fong lives near Little Saigon and has been following the Navigation Center saga.

On Sept. 26, the City of Seattle hosted a follow-up meeting for the community to discuss the 24-

see VO on 14

Michelle Vo

hour shelter for the homeless. It has been a sore topic for the local Vietnamese and Asian American community. They have said the decision to site the center on the edge of the city’s Chinatown International District was reached without getting their feedback.

Fong was at the Sept. 26 meeting, as well as seniors and parents of children who attend Sierra Summit Alternative see LITTLE SAIGON on 12

Poll: Asian millennials troubled by Trump Eight months into Donald Trump’s presidency, 78 percent of Asian American millennials disapprove of the way that he is handling his job.

Those are the results of an NBC News/ GenForward Survey released on Sept. 27.

The survey of more than 1,800 adults was conducted Aug. 31-Sept. 16, around the time Trump was still reeling and doubling-down on his responses to the violent protests in Charlottesville, Va. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.

■

Among some of the other key findings:

• An overwhelming 88 percent of Asian American millennials said they believe the country is more divided since Trump took office.

• Around 2 in 5 Asian American millennials plan to vote neither for the Democratic or Republican candidate in the 2018 congressional elections or said they were not sure.

• Nearly 1 in 3 Asian American millennials did see TRUMP on 6

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2

35 YEARS

OCTOBER 7 – OCTOBER 13, 2017

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS WACCC Civic Leadership Forum

More than 100 people attended the Centennial Celebration of the Chinese Institute of Engineers (CIE) on Sept. 9.

The event, at the Bellevue Westin, included two sessions with panels.

It was an opportunity for Asian American Pacific Islander engineers in the region to meet and network.

Former governor Gary Locke and Bellevue City Councilman Conrad Lee were speakers at the event.

Several students received scholarships. ■

of Art Education from the University of Washington.

His awards included Asian Artist of the Year from the Wing Luke Asian Museum, and the Bellevue Arts Commission recognized him with their Outstanding Achievement in the Arts. ■

KIRO’s Chen joined CNN

Ho named in President Trump’s eighth wave of judicial candidates From left: Janice Zahn, Dr. Yenyun Wi, Benson Wong, Lili Yin, Sheree Wen, Phillip Yin.

The Washington State Chinese Community Coalition (WACCC) held a Civic Leadership Forum on Sept. 23 — to encourage more Asian American participation and engagement in public and political affairs.

Approximately 60 people attended the event at the Microsoft Conference Center.

Participants included many Chinese American business and civic leaders in Seattle and Bellevue areas, and officials from around the country. ■

CIE/USA-SEA 2017 Annual Convention

On Sept. 28, President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate nine individuals to federal judgeships, including James C. Ho of Texas.

If confirmed, Ho will serve as a Circuit Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He is currently a James Ho partner in the Dallas office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. Before joining the firm, Ho served as Solicitor General of Texas in the Office of the Attorney General of Texas, and as a law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

Ho earned a B.A. in Public Policy from Stanford University and a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School. ■

Artist Ron Ho passes

Gary Locke (5th from right) with scholarship recipients.

Ronald Ho died peacefully in his Seattle home on Sept. 7, after a battle with prostate cancer. He was a worldrenowned jewelry artist and celebrated teacher whose work has been shown and collected by major museums Ronald Ho nationally and internationally.

Ho grew up in Hawaii, received his undergraduate degree from Pacific Lutheran University, and received his Masters

Natasha Chen

Natasha Chen has joined CNN from Seattle’s KIRO7, where she was a general assignment reporter. Fluent in Mandarin, Chen is a member of the Asian American Journalists Association. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University, and received her M.A. in broadcast journalism from the University of Southern California. ■

EDI fundraiser

EDI Executive Director, Marci Nakano, and EDI Co-Presidents Chad Oishi and Char Grinolds celebrate another fun EDI event.

The Executive Development Institute (EDI) held its annual benefit dinner and auction on Sept. 28 at The Foundry.

The event, called Inclusion Fusion, raised more than $120,000 — the money will help grow EDI’s programs and empower the next generation of leaders.

Close to 200 people attended the event.

Established in 1994, EDI is a nonprofit committed to building a community of diverse global leaders. Today, over 900 alumni are contributing in leadership positions throughout the Pacific Northwest. ■

REGISTER

Celebrating 35 years!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2017  6–9 PM

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

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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.

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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

YOUR VOICE

OCTOBER 7 – OCTOBER 13, 2017

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

3

DACA enrollees eligible for application fee assistance OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Gov. Jay Inslee has announced that Washington state residents currently enrolled in a federal program for young immigrants will soon be able to apply for financial assistance to pay the application fee for an extension of their status.

Inslee said last week that those in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program — young immigrants who were brought into the country illegally as children — can apply for scholarships to help pay the $495 fee for the two-year extension of their status in the United States.

Inslee says that nearly 18,000 people in the state are part of the program. No state funds will be used for the application fees, instead, they will be covered by private donation and administered through the Mission Asset Fund in San Francisco. ■

2nd lawsuit says Hyeok Kim leaving big detention City Hall Oct. 13 center must pay minimum wage SEATTLE (AP) — A second lawsuit is challenging the failure of one of the nation’s largest private immigration jails to pay detainees minimum wage for the work they perform.

Former detainee Chao Chen filed the class-action federal lawsuit on Sept. 26 against The GEO Group, the for-profit company that operates the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma.

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson sued the company in state court earlier this month, alleging violations of Washington’s minimum

wage law.

GEO says the center has a volunteer work program and minimum wages rates and standards specified exclusively by the federal government under standards set for detainees in 2011.

The company pays $1 per day to detainees for kitchen, cleaning, and janitorial tasks at the 1,500-bed facility. Chen, a Chinese citizen who was detained from 2014 to 2016, is a legal permanent resident of the United States and lives in Renton. ■

Seattle Mayor Tim Burgess expressed his appreciation and gratitude for Deputy Mayor Hyeok Kim on Oct 2., after she announced her planned departure from City government on Oct. 13th to prepare for the expansion of her family.

In a statement, Burgess said, “Over these last four years, Hyeok’s passion and commitment to vulnerable and underrepresented communities in our City has set a standard in engagement and inclusion. As an immigrant, herself, she relentlessly advocated for members of the immigrant and refugee community.”

Kim is the first Asian American woman to serve as deputy mayor in Seattle’s history.

Burgess also said, “Hyeok’s community engagement helped bring City Hall closer to the people, and her efforts on education, public safety, and homelessness have directly affected people’s lives for the better.” ■

Photo by John Liu/NWAW

By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Hyeok Kim

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4

OCTOBER 7 – OCTOBER 13, 2017

35 YEARS

■ NATIONAL NEWS

2 Syracuse men get jail time in death of Chinese student SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Two Syracuse men convicted in the shooting death of a Syracuse University student from China are headed to prison.

Twenty-four-year-old Cameron Isaac was sentenced on Sept. 25 in State Supreme Court to life in prison without parole for killing Yuan Xiaopeng a year ago. Isaac’s 20-year-old nephew, Ninimbe Mitchell, was sentenced to 15

years in prison for his role in the killing.

Prosecutors said Yuan’s death occurred during a drug deal at a suburban apartment complex.

Authorities said Isaac stole two pounds of marijuana from Yuan and then shot the 23-yearold man when he began chasing him.

The victim was enrolled at Syracuse University at the time. ■

NEW YORK (AP) — The holiday of Diwali is starting to light up mainstream America.

Diwali, a festival of lights celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and others in India and other countries, has long been observed in immigrant communities around the U.S. But now public celebrations of the holiday are starting to pop up in places ranging from Disneyland and Times Square to parks and

The State Board of Education will make the final decision in November about which textbooks comply with state curriculum standards and earn the state’s recommendation for use in kindergarten through eighth grade classrooms.

To earn the state’s recommendation, books must comply with a see TEXTBOOK on 15

see MARRIAGE LAW on 13

museums.

The Times Square event is the brainchild of Neeta Bhasin, who says that while many Indian immigrants have found great success in the U.S., “still people don’t know much about India. I felt it’s about time that we should take India to mainstream America and showcase India’s rich culture, heritage, arts and diversity to the world. And I couldn’t find a better place than the center of the universe: Times Square.”

Bhasin, who came to the United States from India 40 years ago, is see DIWALI on 13

California board approves textbook changes, after accusations of ‘biased’ portrayal of Hindus SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A California education panel on Sept. 28 recommended that 10 families of textbooks receive the state’s blessing after incorporating dozens of changes requested by LGBT groups and Hindus.

The Instructional Quality Commission rejected two textbook families, saying the publisher submitted more than 1,000 pages of changes during a process that should include only include minor edits.

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received for C01207C17 Environmental Lab Fume Hood Replacement (Rebid); by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 1:30 PM on October 13, 2017. Late bids will not be accepted.

Brief Scope: The work is to remove and replace multiple existing fume hoods and upgrade mechanical systems.

Estimated contract price: $4.2 million Pre-Bid: October 4, 2017, 1:00 p.m. at 322 W Ewing Street Seattle WA 98119.

There is a 10% minimum Apprentice Utilization Requirement on this contract.

There is a 12% 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

By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A team of attorneys is seeking nearly $400,000 in fees and costs after successfully challenging a Louisiana law that blocked foreign-born U.S. citizens from getting married if they couldn’t produce a birth certificate.

In a court filing on Sept. 26, the attorneys asked a federal judge in New Orleans to award them nearly $387,000 in fees and $11,804 in costs for their work on the case.

Lawyers for the state and three parish clerks didn’t immediately respond to the request.

The plaintiffs’ attorneys represented Lafayette resident Viet Anh Vo, who sued last October after he and his U.S.-born fiancee had their application for a marriage license rejected two weeks before their wedding.

Last month, U.S. District Judge Ivan Lemelle permanently blocked the state law that prevented Vo and others from obtaining marriage licenses.

State Rep. Valarie Hodges, a Republican who sponsored the 2016 law, has said it was designed deter foreigners from gaining visas and citizenship through sham marriages.

Diwali festivals grow in US, from Disney to Times Square

By BETH J. HARPAZ AP TRAVEL EDITOR

Lawyers seek $400K court award for challenging marriage law

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

■ WORLD NEWS

OCTOBER 7 – OCTOBER 13, 2017

5

3-year-old girl Vietnam resumes becomes Nepal’s controversial water new living goddess buffalo fighting

By BINAJ GURUBACHARYA ASSOCIATED PRESS KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — A 3-year-old girl became Nepal’s new living goddess on Sept. 28, revered by both Hindus and Buddhists in the Himalayan nation.

Trishna Shakya was carried in a religious ceremony to a temple palace in the heart of the Nepalese capital where she is to live until just before puberty.

She was among four finalists from the Shakya clan for the position of living goddess, called “Kumari.”

A panel of Hindu priests took days to select her after checking her horoscope and searching for physical imperfections. As a goddess she should not have any physical flaws.

“It is our tradition that after the living goddess reaches age 12 we have to find a new one and the search begins. We have to make sure that the goddess is suitable to bring good fortune for the country,” said Gautam Shakya, a priest in the panel.

“We have found our new Kumari,” he

said.

Hundreds of followers and devotees lined up to get a glimpse of the girl, dressed in a red dress and covered with flower garlands.

Before she left her house in Kathmandu, people lined up to give her chocolates, eggs, sweets and fruits.

The head priest came in a car and took her to the temple palace, where she was carried in after a visiting surrounding temples.

Her family said they were emotional that their daughter was leaving but also proud.

“She is going to be the living goddess.

She is just not our daughter but the living goddess of the whole country,” said Bijaya Ratna Shakya, her father. “I am happy but at the same time I feel like crying.”

Soon after Trishna’s arrival at the temple palace, her predecessor, 12-year-old Matina Shakya, left from a rear entrance on a palanquin carried by her family and supporters.

The ceremony took place on the eighth day of the two-week-long Dasain festival, the main festival in Nepal. ■

By HAU DINH ASSOCIATED PRESS DO SON, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam’s annual water buffalo fighting festival resumed on Sept. 28 despite calls for an end to the traditional event because of its violence.

The tournament was halted temporarily three months ago after a buffalo killed its owner on the fighting field. It was the first human fatality, although buffaloes have died in fights before.

More safety measures, including reenforced fences and tests of buffaloes for stimulants, have been put in place since then.

About 20,000 people crowded the stadium on Sept. 28 in the resort town of Do Son in Hai Phong to watch the finals, in which 16 buffaloes were pit against each other.

“I’m really happy and proud,” said Luu Dinh Toi, whose buffalo was the winner.

“I was the one who cut grass to feed my buffalo and stay with him overnight over the past year,” he said. “Today, my buffalo rewarded me for my care.”

In accordance with tradition, all losing buffaloes were slaughtered right after the end of the tournament. The winning buffalo will be killed the next day as a tribute to God. “I’m very sad that my buffalo will be

slaughtered for God tomorrow,” Toi said. “I feel like I’m losing something, but that’s the tradition left behind by our ancestors.”

The death in early July sparked a heated debate over whether to continue the festival.

Nguyen Tam Thanh of the animal welfare group Animals Asia in Vietnam said his group is opposed to events where animals are maltreated or used to entertain people.

“This year’s festival is very disappointing,” he said. “Our group had hoped that the deadly incident would serve as a warning ... but regrettably, the festival still went ahead and the community’s ideas were not respected.”

Buffalo fighting was halted during the Vietnam War and resumed in the late 1980s. ■

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asianweekly northwest

6

OCTOBER 7 – OCTOBER 13, 2017

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR OCT

THROUGH DECEMBER 15

EXHIBIT ON JAPANESE AMERICAN INTERNMENT, “UNSETTLED/ RESETTLED: SEATTLE’S HUNT HOTEL” Highline College Library, 2400 S. 240th St., Building 25, 4th Floor, Des Moines

5 POKE MAKING CLASS W Seattle, 1112 4th Ave., Seattle 6 p.m.

FREE KOMBUCHA MAKING CLASS Trilogy Chiropractic, 3933 Stone Way N., Seattle 6:30 p.m.

Free class, bring your own jars or glass containers RSVP to 206-588-0014

6 DIANA MORITA COLE WILL READ FROM HER BOOK, “SIDEWAYS: MEMOIR OF A MISFIT” The Panama Hotel, 605 S. Main St., Seattle 3 p.m.

206-223-9242 “PROPOSED WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURES” WITH STATE REP. SHARON TOMIKO SANTOS 11:30 a.m.

China Harbor Restaurant, 2040 Westlake Ave N., Seattle $20

2017 SCIDPDA ANNUAL FUNDRAISER Pacific Tower, 1200 12th Ave. S., 8th Floor, Seattle 5:30 p.m.

206-838-8238, joseph@scidpda.org SEATTLE CHINESE POST’S 35TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION China Harbor Restaurant, 2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle 5:30 p.m.

206-223-5559 “SOUNDS OF TAIKO,” BELLEVUE WORLD TAIKO FESTIVAL Carlson Theatre, Bellevue College 7 p.m. worldtaikofestival.brownpapertickets. com SEATTLE FOOD FESTIVAL Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St., Seattle 6 p.m. goldstar.com

6 – 15 TASVEER SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL Films will be shown in Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Renton, and Bothell sumathi@tasveer.org tasveer.org

JAPAN WEEK AT BELLEVUE COLLEGE Bellevue College, 3000 Landerholm Circle SE, Bellevue 10 a.m.

not cast ballots in the 2016 election. Around half said they voted for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, 13 percent Trump, and 5 percent someone else.

• 69 percent of Asian American millennials disapproved of the job Congress is doing.

• 68 percent have a favorable view of the Democratic Party,

Free admission japanweek@bellevuecollege.edu

299 W. Mercer St., Seattle 10 a.m.

HOMESTEAD’S HOME GAMES TRIVIA NIGHT Pyramid Ale House, 1201 First Ave. S., Seattle 6 p.m. homesteadclt.org

8

A CULINARY JOURNEY HOSTED BY ACRS The Westin Bellevue, 600 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue 5 p.m. acrs.ejoinme.org DEFEND DACA RALLY AND CANDLELIGHT VIGIL 12525 Aurora Ave. N., Seattle 5 p.m.

HELLO KITTY CAFE TRUCK WEST Westfield Southcenter, 2800 Southcenter Mall, Seattle 10 a.m.

4TH ANNUAL PINK PARTY 2017 Royal Esquire Club, 5016 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle 8 p.m.

GLOW IN THE PARK HOSTED BY NAAAP SEATTLE Green Lake, Seattle 5:30 p.m. shs.convio.net

7&8

7

TRUMP from 1

35 YEARS

BRICKCON 2017 PUBLIC EXHIBITION, “SEATTLE’S LARGEST LEGO FAN” Seattle Center Exhibition Hall

as they have an unfavorable view of the GOP. Health care, racism, and education were identified as the three most important problems facing the country today.

Democrats and Republicans have worked to push more Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) — a bloc that roughly accounts for 5 percent of voters nationwide and has historically seen low voter turnout — to head to

HURRICANE RELIEF FUND La Isla Cuisine 2320 N.W. Market St., Seattle 12 p.m.

9 SEATTLE: NATIONAL WEEK OF ACTION ON IMMIGRATION HOSTED

BY ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER COALITION ACRS, 3639 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S., Seattle 10 a.m.

10 AUTHOR M. EVELINA GALANG WILL DISCUSS HER FIRST NONFICTION BOOK, “LOLAS’ HOUSE” Central Library 1000 Fourth Ave., Level 1, Microsoft Auditorium, Seattle 7 p.m.

206-386-4636

12 API CANDIDATES FORUM Nagomi Tea House 519 6th Ave. S., Seattle 5:30 p.m.

the polls.

Those efforts, particularly with younger AAPIs, may be yielding results. According to the Census, the percentage of registered voters between ages 18 and 24 who said they were of Asian descent increased from around 44.5 percent in 2012 to 48.9 percent in 2016, while those who voted rose from 33.1 percent to 40.1 percent. ■

View the solution on page 14

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YOUR VOICE

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OCTOBER 7 – OCTOBER 13, 2017

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asianweekly northwest

35 YEARS

OCTOBER 7 – OCTOBER 13, 2017

■ PICTORIAL

2017 ETHNIC MEDIA CANDIDATES’ MEET-N-GREET

UZMA BUTTE

Candidate for Council Position No. 7, City of Kirkland

BENSON WONG

Candidate for Council Position No. 6, City of Mercer Island

EDEN MACK

Candidate for Director District No. 4, Seattle School District No. 1

PETER HOLMES

Candidate for Seattle City Attorney

JENNY DURKAN

Candidate for Mayor, City of Seattle

MANKA DHINGRA

Candidate for State Senator, Legislative District No. 45

MITZI JOHANKNECHT

Candidate for King County Sheriff

TERESA MOSQUEDA

Candidate for Council Position No. 8, City of Seattle

BETTY PATU,

HOANG TRAN (RIGHT) Candidate for Federal Way City Council, & KIM PHAM

JANICE ZAHN (LEFT),

CONRAD LEE

Candidate for Seattle School Board

STEPHANIE BOWMAN

Candidate for Port of Seattle Commissioner Position No. 3

Candidate for Bellevue City Council,

Candidate for Bellevue City Council

AND JOANNE LEE

& CAMPAIGN MANAGER

& RICHARD FINLEY

JUDGE MARIANE SPEARMAN & JUDGE MICHAEL SPEARMAN,

WA State Court of Appeals, Division 1, Position 2

PETER STEINBRUECK,

Candidate for Port of Seattle Commissioner Position No. 1, & CONRAD LEE

OMAR VASQUEZ (CENTER),

Candidate for Director District No. 5

AND SUPPORTERS

FROM LEFT: FLORA YBARRA, OMAR VASQUEZ, JIMMIE MATTA, PAT MURAKAMI, Candidate for Seattle City Council, AND QUEEN PEARL

SUSAN CHANG (CENTER)

Council Position No. 5, City of Shoreline

WITH GEI CHAN & MATT CHAN

55 candidates and over 30 ethnic media representatives attended the 2017 Ethnic Media Candidates’ Meet -nGreet on September 14 at the Nagomi Tea House.

SPONSORED BY THE CANDIDATES

8

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

OCTOBER 7 – OCTOBER 13, 2017

■ AT THE MOVIES

9

LEGO NINJA ...

GO HOME! YOU'RE DRUNK.

By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Filmmaker Mickey Lemle first started filming the Dalai Lama in 1991, for a documentary he called “Compassion In Exile.” He’s back now with a new film studying the changes in the world, the changes in the Dalai Lama, and the leader’s pondering of his own end, and beyond.

Unfortunately, the subject proves too great for a 90-minute running time. I was left with a renewed sense of awe and wonder, of possibility. And a lot of loose ends.

Not everything in the film disappoints.

We follow long, meticulous preparations for celebrating the Dalai Lama’s long life, much detail given to the pageantry. But when the Dalai Lama himself shows up, he smiles and nods, and jokes and laughs, much as he’s always done. He isn’t afraid to be a great teacher, a great inspiration.

But he loves humor. He acknowledges his belief that he’s reincarnated from a long line of religious leaders. But, with a smile and a chuckle, he says he got his sense of

humor from his mother and he’s lucky it offsets the temper he got from his father.

I had not realized that the Dalai Lama’s flight from Chinese-overrun Tibet in 1959 meant upheaval and chaos, and sometimes worse, for his loved ones. We meet his brothers, and a sister, who remember barely escaping. We meet some of this most beloved and trusted advisers, not so lucky. We watch their creased faces, as they recall decades in Chinese prisons.

We watch the Dalai Lama with children, as part of a program to teach compassion and mutual respect. He seems very much at ease with the kids. Some of them are nervous and some of them call him “sir,” instead of the standard “Your Holiness.”

He doesn’t mind. The kids aren’t polished speakers and aren’t expected to be. He does what he does with anyone of any age. He leans in, focusing intently on what the other person says. That may or may not have come naturally to him, but he’s been at it a long time. We see pictures of see DALAI LAMA on 14

By John Liu NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Just like my headline, the jokes in Ninjago try to be witty, but they just aren’t.

What the heck is Ninjago and how do I pronounce it? That was my first question as I looked up Ninjago. Turns out it can go either way. It’s pronounced Nin-jawgo when referring to Ninjago City, but pronounced Ninja-go when used in the battle cry, “Go Ninjago!” It’s confusing, but I’m sure kids do not care. In 2010, Lego developed a new line of Legos called Ninjago, which now has over 100 sets

and their own TV show. Coming off the success of Lego Movie released in 2014, co-writers Dan and Kevin Hageman gave a shot at bringing the world of Ninjago to life. There was already a Lego Batman movie this year released only six months ago — its performance at the box office was mediocre. The original Lego Movie was innovative, fun, and really took advantage of the Lego World with witty humor and catchy one-liners. It was definitely fun for the whole family. However, Ninjago doesn’t offer anything new and seemed see NINJAGO on 12

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asianweekly northwest

10

35 YEARS

OCTOBER 7 – OCTOBER 13, 2017

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

OPINION

My weapons for battling crises

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY None of my journalism classes prepared me to deal with crises during my 35 years of publishing, including a lawsuit, a protest, troubled employees, US-China-Taiwan diplomacy problems, unethical competitors, threats from community members, and more.

While many stories are unprintable, I will share with you some of the traumas I faced over the years.

My employees contributed to some of the unexpected crises. How would you react if your own staff steals from you? What do you do when an employee is experiencing a miscarriage right in the office? What do you do when someone threatens your employee?

Sometimes, these challenges had to do with life and death. Once, a former employee shouted in distress, “Assunta, I am bleeding.” When I looked at the floor, there was so much blood, like a red carpet, spreading all over it.

And it smelled horrible. I had never seen that much blood up close in my life. It’s one of the reasons I respect nurses and doctors. I called 911, then this woman’s husband. When everything calmed down, I wiped the blood off the floor.

My late mother-in-law heard what had happened, and she said, “You shouldn’t have cleaned the dirty stuff (blood).

That’s bad luck. You have to ask your staff for a red envelope (to get rid of bad luck).”

What kind of logic was that? I never told my staff member what my mother-in-law said. If I didn’t do it, who would? I

didn’t have an extra person in my office to clean. My team is part of our family. Sometimes, we just have to do what we have to do to take care of one another.

Another staff member never disclosed that he was diabetic. After working for me for six months, he had a seizure. That was scary, too. He kept saying, “sugar, sugar…” We didn’t know what to do. Suddenly, another staff member remembered his relative had the same illness — and that putting a little sugar in the patient’s mouth was the solution. We gave him some Coca-Cola. It worked like magic. He got up like the incident never happened. I scolded him for not telling us about his condition, for he could have died. Being a boss is like being a parent. We have to say things which employees don’t want to hear.

A few years ago, one of my staff members called late in the evening and asked for $10,000 in bail money. She was weeping like a baby in pain.

“It’s not for me, it’s for my boyfriend,” she explained. The drunken boyfriend was screaming so loud in the apartment, like he was hitting her, and the next door neighbor called the police, she said.

“If we don’t have the bail money, he will be in jail,” she begged us. “He will lose his job if he’s going to jail. Please, help me. I don’t want him to be in jail.”

“Did he hit you?” We just wanted to make sure that she would be safe with him. “No, he didn’t,” she reassured us.

“Tell him that he has to promise not to drink again,” I said sternly.

I was not in a crisis, she was. I treated her like my

Photo by Ann-Marie Stillion/NWAW

PART 2

daughter. I didn’t want her to feel that she was alone. We were there for her when she needed us. My husband knew I wanted to help.

“But if the boyfriend gets in trouble again, we will lose the bail money,” my husband warned me.

I realized the risk I was taking. I did it for her, even though it benefitted him. Fortunately, the boyfriend behaved. There were no more incidents after that. see BLOG on 13

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asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

OCTOBER 7 – OCTOBER 13, 2017

■ COMMENTARY

11

OPINION

Proud military mom

By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

I never had a burning desire to have children. When I was childless, I tolerated kids. I felt uncomfortable around them, and I didn’t know what to do with them.

Late last month, the younger of my two children flew the coop.

Jordan took his final oath at a swear-in ceremony at the Seattle MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station), before getting shipped off to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego for 13 weeks.

Four weeks prior to that, my daughter did the exact same thing, except she chose to join the U.S. Navy.

It was my son, Jordan, who was the first of my children, to decide he wanted to enlist in the armed forces. He had just turned 17 and was entering his senior year in high school. I was stunned … and a little disappointed. Joining the Marine Corps seemed like a step backward for my intelligent and talented son. I was of the misguided mindset that people with options don’t join the military. Still, I signed the forms allowing him to enlist, but I did it with trepidation, fearing he was throwing his future away.

Jordan Stoffel taking the final oath at Seattle MEPS on Sept. 29.

Shana Shafiza (left) takes the final oath at Seattle MEPS on Aug. 28.

I developed a newfound respect for him after chatting with his recruiter. Jordan didn’t enlist because he needed a job or money for college. He was looking for a purpose, for something bigger than himself.

It’s not the path I would have chosen for him. But now I understood why, and I couldn’t help but respect it.

Over the past year, I watched my son transform. He used to groan about doing chores and would make excuses to put them off. One day, I said, “Please do the dishes.”

He stopped what he was doing, I saw a split second of hesitation, and he said, “Okay.” I

could see it in his eyes as he was about to utter an excuse, then remembered: honor, courage, and commitment — the core values of the Marines.

I watched him juggle being a full-time Running Start student, holding down a part-time job, doing PT (physical training) three or four times a week, maintaining a relationship with his girlfriend, plus all the chores he was responsible for at home.

He changed his diet — gave up some of his favorite foods including pizza — and gave up drinking juice and soda. He drank a gallon of water, which he used to hate,

every day. His bedroom was still a mess, but in the two months before he left for bootcamp, that got cleaned up as well. I watched him interact with adults my age, and he would say, “Yes, ma’am. No, sir.”

When my daughter told me of her decision to join the Navy, I was already at peace with my son’s choice, so her announcement was a lot easier to accept.

But never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would have both my children in the service. Especially being Asian. It’s just not an Asian thing.

Now, as I get to know other parents of Marines, sailors, and recruits, my heart is bursting with pride.

My second-generation American children are saying to their peers, “I’ll take the watch while you live your life. I’ll serve our country so you may enjoy your freedom.”

I may have never wanted to be a mother decades ago. Now, I am prouder than ever to call myself, “mom” — especially to my amazing children. ■ Ruth can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

■ LETTER

The sanitization process of our names

My community coordinator called me into his office, and he said, “You will need to tell the patron not to write his name in Chinese characters, on our sign-in sheet!” I felt confused and upset. Inside, I was steaming, and thought, “Aren’t you Chinese, can’t you read the characters? Go tell that to the customer yourself, you are being rude.” Instead, I said, OK, and shared with the customer that our policy at the International District Chinatown Community Center requires that names are written in English. The Black man in his mid 30s in front of me wrote Wu De Long. He did not look very happy. It was a very uncomfortable moment between two strangers. The stranger and I later became friends. Wu De Long is someone who has a crazy past, and his closest Chinese friend was given a new name to start over. How could my boss, a Chinese American, ask someone to do such an insulting thing? Was it racism because he wanted the non-native Chinese to feel rejected? Later that day, I asked my boss how he came to write his name in English.

According to him, when a Chinese person goes through immigration, they would speak their name and immigration officers spell it out phonetically.

In 1993, when my family arrived in Seattle through the Humanitarian program, my first white ESL teacher at Tops Elementary School wrote my name as “The-Anh.” I’ve been suffering for the past 34 years with people calling me The End, Duh Anh, and ThiAnh. For many years after our arrival, I gave up correcting people. I was satisfied with whatever they wanted to call me, as long as it was close enough. I was also known as Tee, Tay, and Tee Tee. Now, being older, I really wish I would have corrected everyone along the way, and make them pronounce my name the right way — to show me respect, instead

Nguyen, The Anh, in my Viet Namese accent — my last name first and followed by my first name. This is how we do it traditionally. So far, the experience has been mostly positive and people have shown me respect. One of the first people to acknowledge me as a Viet Namese person is my naturopathic doctor, a Muslim American, who has been married to a Viet Namese woman for 17 years. He asked how to pronounce my name when he saw me

Nguyễn Thế Anh

of me being accommodating. It is painful not to be able to honor my namesake. My father chose a very nice name for me, but people butcher it. When I hear another Viet Namese person say my name, I feel satisfied and loved.

Decades after the Viet Nam War, Americans still cannot pronounce the last name “Nguyen” correctly. For many of us, if they show some effort, it is good enough.

Others have decided to give up and change to Anglo names, such as John and Cindy.

As for the Viet Namese who are born here and barely speak the language, it’s a shame that they don’t take the time to learn it and share it with the world. My hope is this letter would inspire them to make a serious effort to pronounce their names the way it should be.

Two months ago, I finally had enough with the way my name has been written or published. For now, I will spare some people who can’t pronounce my name correctly, but soon that privilege will expire. When my name is written without all the accent marks, it looks sterile, there is no acknowledgement or trace of my ancestors. I now write my name with all the accent marks, as if I am in Viet Nam. And I introduce myself as

write it down on a form. I felt joyous that day.

Standing up for ourselves and fighting to preserve our culture begins with educating people about who we are, and the proper way to write and say our names. ■ Sincerely, — Nguyễn Thế Anh

asianweekly northwest

12

OCTOBER 7 – OCTOBER 13, 2017

35 YEARS

■ WORLD NEWS Innovative Cambodian architect Vann Molyvann dies PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodian architect Vann Molyvann, whose innovative modernist style was admired by colleagues the world over, died Sept. 28 at age 90.

An assistant to Vann Molyvann, Chuong Cheurn, said he died of ailments related to old age at his home in Siem Reap in northwestern Cambodia, site of the famous Angkor archaeological complex.

Vann Molyvann, who studied architecture in Paris, designed many public buildings and monuments in the

NINJAGO from 9 like quite a step down.

Ninjago doesn’t even start out as a Lego movie. In fact, the beginning is live action, as the audience sees a little kid walk into a Chinese store with ancient artifacts. Of course, the shopkeeper just so happens to be Jackie Chan, who plays Mr. Liu. The kid gets clumsy and accidentally knocks some cups into the air, just so Jackie Chan could show off some of his trademark reflexes. Nice!

Mr. Liu brings out a Lego guy with a missing arm and transforms him into the Green Ninja. Then he begins to tell the story of Ninjago. This mythical land is protected by Lloyd and his school friends, who all lead double lives as a secret ninja force, led by Master Wu. Lord Garmadon constantly attacks Ninjago City and is thwarted by Lloyd and his friends. Just about everyone in Lloyd’s life hates him because Lord Garmadon is his father. To defeat Garmadon, Master Wu tells Lloyd about an Ultimate Weapon, but forbids Lloyd to use it. Lloyd ends up finding the Ultimate Weapon and unleashes an evil monster. Now Lloyd must venture out to find the Ultimate Ultimate Weapon to defeat the monster terrorizing the city. At this point, you probably feel like you’re watching Lego Power Rangers.

Jackie Chan helped choreograph the animated fight scenes, and they look great. I could feel Chan’s fighting technique gracefully incorporated into

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capital, Phnom Penh, from the 1950s until civil war with the communist Khmer Rouge broke out in 1970. The country's then-leader, Prince Norodom Sihanouk, was his patron, and appointed him head of public works and state architect.

He sheltered in Switzerland after the war started, working with the U.N.'s housing and urban development agency, before returning to his homeland in 1991.

His best-known structures included Phnom Penh's National Sports Complex, Chaktomuk Conference Hall,

the Lego figures. Sadly, this is wasted talent on a movie with such a dull script.

This was probably the only highlight of the film. The jokes generally fall flat and are not funny. Garmadon constantly calls his son Le-Loyd. That’s supposed to be a running joke, by pronouncing the two L’s in Lloyd’s name. You wonder if Garmadon will ever get his son’s name right. Well, you will have to watch the movie to find out. I’ll save you the misery — the answer is no.

Garmadon and Lloyd end up joining forces, and the movie shoehorns in some father-son bonding time. For example, Lloyd loses an arm, and Garmadon just so happens to have four arms. I thought, well that’s kind of touching if he gives his own arm to Lloyd. I know that’s a little dark, but at least it has some Lego creativity. Instead, what happens is Garadon finds Lloyd’s arm on the ground and pops it back into Lloyd. This film never really pushes the boundaries of the Lego World. A sequel to the original Lego Movie is planned for 2018, and hopefully it will be more entertaining.  This film is flopping at local theaters near you. If you absolutely must get your Lego fi x, I suggest you skip this movie and take your family to BrickCon at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall this weekend instead.

John can be reached at john@nwasianweekly.com.

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LITTLE SAIGON from 1 School, where the meeting was held.

“They expressed latent anger at being snubbed by the city, as well as concerns about safety for their kids and seniors,” said Fong.

She cited a September article in The Seattle Weekly in which Human Services Department (HSD) spokesperson Meg Olberding said the 60-day deadline for moving Navigation Center participants into permanent housing isn’t “hard and fast.”

“The Navigation Center isn’t supposed to be a permanent shelter and I felt like they (the city) were moving the goalposts,” said Fong.

“Pressing the city and Downtown Emergency Services Center (DESC) further about the lack of housing before the Center even opened elicited no response. At best, one city person said some people had transitioned into housing ‘with family.’ How do you open a center that is supposed to transition people into housing when you know beforehand there isn’t any?” asked Fong.

According to a Sept. 22 report by HSD Director Catherine Lester, the Navigation Center has served 105 people since it opened in July. Of these, 32 (30 percent) have exited the program in the first 45 days of full operation. Nearly half of the clients who have left have refused to disclose or didn’t know where they were exiting to.

The report goes on to say that the city and DESC — which manages the Center — have been evaluating the intake process and program to ensure there is a fit with the clients entering the Center.

Fong wondered about the vetting process.

“Do people who are admitted have … records of violence — gun, domestic abuse, substance

abuse, and addiction? Many parents voiced their concerns about their children’s safety and proximity to new unknown neighbors.”

According to the city, the majority of Navigation Center clients (64 guests or 60 percent) have been unsheltered for over a year and many fit the definition of chronically homeless (57 guests or 54 percent). Most have chronic health conditions that make it difficult to stay in a traditional shelter. Originally, the city planned to refer people to the Navigation Center based upon their length of time of being homeless. However, the lack of low-barrier shelter in Seattle has kept many unsheltered, so the city determined that it was more effective to refer people to the Navigation Center based on the barriers they face to traditional shelter, rather than solely basing off length of time of being homeless.

“I will not accept that a project like the Navigation Center — a social experiment. It does not seem to be operating in good faith, even as it is funded with public money and is in the center of a community that has a lot of ... homelessness and displaced persons,” said Fong. “Moreover, this lack of preparation dismisses the communities of Little Saigon and the International District once again. We expected more.”

Recently, the city granted Little Saigon $50,000. “The community needs support and investment, and the city provided this funding as mitigation for the lack of engagement,” said Quynh Pham, the executive director of Friends of Little Saigon. Pham said the money would go towards capacity building and organizing for the community, not the city. ■ Ruth can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

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Independence Monument and the National Theater, but he also designed housing developments. His style was dubbed New Khmer Architecture.

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asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

OCTOBER 7 – OCTOBER 13, 2017

■ ASTROLOGY

13

Predictions and advice for the week of October 7–13, 2017

By Sun Lee Chang

Rat — Make time to take stock of what you have. If not, you run the risk of missing out on the true value of what you are holding.

Dragon — Are you at odds with what you see versus what you think you know? An open mind will help you to find the answers faster.

Monkey — With a new understanding comes a responsibility to do better. You are more than ready for the challenge ahead.

Ox — As you seek harmony, there are those who hit a sour note. Be patient as you get everyone on the same page.

Snake — Reserve your endorsement until you are comfortable with the choices. Backtracking is far less agreeable than proceeding cautiously from the get-go.

Rooster — Don’t let fear of the unknown keep you from finding out what is around the corner. Best to move forward than to be held back.

Tiger — As you rush against the clock, remember the beauty of self-imposed deadlines is that you can push it out if you need to.

Horse — It is harder to change course as you gain momentum. That in itself is not reason enough to keep going, unless it is the right direction for you.

Dog — The delight of discovery is just the beginning.

As you delve deeper, there are even greater rewards to be revealed.

Rabbit — Be direct about what you want. The hints you have been dropping simply haven’t sufficed in getting your message across.

Goat — Estimates can be quite helpful, but where precision or accuracy is required, you will need more than a guess.

Pig — While a temporary solution is working for now, it is to your advantage to come up with a permanent one soon.

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.

DIWALI from 4 president of ASB Communications, the marketing firm behind Diwali at Times Square. The event, now in its fourth year, has drawn tens of thousands of people in the past. It’s scheduled for Oct. 7 with dance performances, Bollywood singers, a bazaar of food, saris and other goods, and a lighting ceremony.

While Diwali celebrations are held throughout the fall, the holiday’s actual date is Oct. 19. Also called Deepavali, it’s an autumn harvest festival held just before the Hindu new year. Celebrations include lighting oil lamps or candles called diyas to symbolize “a victory of knowledge MARRIAGE LAW from 4 In June, lawmakers passed legislation allowing judicial waivers for marriage license applicants who can’t produce a birth certificate. But Lemelle said the new law preserved other unconstitutional provisions, such as passport and visa requirements, that apply only to foreignborn citizens.

Vo was born in an Indonesian refugee camp after his parents fled Vietnam.

Neither country’s government recognized his birth. Vo has lived in Louisiana since he was 3 months old and became a U.S. citizen when he was 8.

Vo and his fiancee, Heather Pham, spent thousands of dollars and invited 350 guests to their wedding in February 2016 before their application for a marriage license was

BLOG from 10

The dishonest

Many years ago, an over 40-year-old employee enrolled at a community college. He didn’t buy a book required for class. Instead, he used our new copier to copy the book.

Since he copied hundreds of pages, the machine broke down. What was disappointing was not just that he used the copier without asking for permission. We allowed him to start work an hour earlier (which meant paying him one hour more each day) because he had to drive his wife to work early.

Immigrant employees

over ignorance, light over darkness, good over evil,” said Bhasin.

The Diwali celebration at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California, includes performances of traditional Indian dances and a Bollywood dance party for guests. It’s part of a festival of holidays at the theme park reflecting cultural traditions from around the world. The Disney festival begins Nov. 10 and runs through Jan. 7.

San Antonio, Texas, has one of the nation’s largest citysponsored celebrations of Diwali, drawing more than 15,000 people each year. The 2017 event, scheduled for Nov. 4 at La Villita, a historic arts village, will be its ninth annual Diwali celebration with Indian dance, entertainment, food,

Many of our Chinese Post employees are immigrants.

The challenge for us is that many have the need to take long vacations to visit their families and friends in their native land. And they like to take one or two months off to go back to Asia. Their jobs cannot be replaced by temporary workers. Our solution is to cross train many staff members.

Two months out of the year, we are so short staffed and have to work so hard to fill in, that we don’t even have time to breathe.

“You shouldn’t let them leave for so long,” my friends said.

Do we have any choice? We don’t pay our people the best. It’s not like we are a nonprofit where we can borrow

crafts, fireworks and the release of lighted candles into the San Antonio River along the city’s River Walk.

Bhasin said Diwali’s message is particularly timely now.

“It is extremely important to be together and showcase to the world, not only Indians, but the entire immigrant community, to be together with Americans and to show the world we are one, we are all the same human beings,” she said. ■ The Seattle Center is holding a Diwali celebration on Oct. 21.

rejected last year by court clerks in Iberia, Vermilion and Lafayette parishes. The couple went ahead with the ceremony, but couldn’t make their marriage official until Lemelle ruled in their favor.

Vo was represented by attorneys from New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice and the National Immigration Law Center in Los Angeles. They said in the filing that their request for fees and costs is

managers from other agencies or get government funding to make ends meet. Besides, it’s not easy to train people in our field.

Another stressor is the turnover of our employees. We hire high school and college students. Once they graduate, they leave. Still, it’s exciting to see them grow. One former employee said, “When I came in, I didn’t know anything.

I didn’t realize I was that bad until I looked back and saw how much I learned.”

How the U.S. Post Office impacts us

In 2015, the U.S. Postal Service seriously pondered ending its Saturday mail delivery due to a big budget deficit. When I heard the news, we called an emergency staff meeting. If the Postal Service shut down its Saturday delivery, it would be the end for us, too.

Our primary bread winner, Seattle Chinese Post, relies on Saturday delivery service for its second class mail.

Our newspaper is the only connection to the outside world for many of our readers, from Port Townsend, Tukwila, Bellevue, Kirkland, Renton, Seattle and other cities.

Without getting their copy of the Chinese Post by Saturday, readers would cancel their subscriptions. Many loyal immigrant readers don’t visit the Chinatown International District because of the lack of transportation and time. Yet, those are the folks who need the Seattle Chinese Post most.

Thanks to a gridlock in Congress, the Postal Service’s

“reasonable and warranted.”

“Defendants could have avoided many of these costs and fees had they simply stipulated to the relief sought, but instead, they mounted numerous procedural challenges, wasting the time and resources of the Court and the parties, and continued to litigate the case,” Vo’s lawyers wrote. ■

proposal didn’t go through.

The minimum wage law

Two years ago, the City of Seattle implemented the $15 minimum wage law. Small ethnic businesses, already operating with a narrow profit margin, couldn’t afford such an increase in labor costs. News operation is labor-intensive and depends on human capital. It’s not like a factory where we can buy more machines to replace workers.

For our media business, making a profit is out of the question. We’re very thankful just to break even. With this new law, it will put us out of business sooner than we expected. The solution to this law is that both me and my husband have to be retired from the payroll — and work for free. Ironically, we are volunteering for a supposedly forprofit organization. What it proves is, our commitment to the community. Even without pay, my passion for the Asian Weekly has not diminished.

When I reflect on all these crises, many are hard to relive, and yet, I relish them. I wouldn’t trade them for anything. Those experiences were valuable life lessons, which deepen my appreciation and gratitude to work with the community.  Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

Have a story idea that you think would fit perfectly in Northwest Asian Weekly?

We want to know about it. Send it to us at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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14

EMPLOYMENT

Community Living Connections Specialist I – Vietnamese-speaking Responsible for providing culturally competent and linguistically accessible information and assistance services to limited English-speaking Asian American and Pacific Islander elderly and adults living with disabilities. Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in social work or social/behavioral science; or Associate’s degree or equivalent in social work or social/behavioral science + 3 years of social services experience. Must be fluent in Vietnamese language and English.

For more information, visit https:// acrs.org/careers/current-openings/.

Send resume & cover letter to: hr@acrs.org.

OCTOBER 7 – OCTOBER 13, 2017

35 YEARS

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VO from 1 by 64-year-old gunman Stephen Paddock on the night of Oct. 1, during a performance by country music star Jason Aldean at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas. The gunman hammered out a window at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino and began firing with a cache of weapons.

Authorities who stormed Paddock’s room found that he had killed himself.

Vo’s mother emigrated from Vietnam after the fall of Saigon, bringing along two daughters. Michelle Vo was born in the United States and grew up in San Jose, Calif.

Her Vietnamese name is “My,” which according to her sister, means “America.”

Vo held a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis, and she received several awards during her career at New York Life Insurance Company.

One of Vo's high school friends wrote on Facebook, “She was wicked smart, kind, beautiful.”

Another wrote, “I’m very saddened to have found my childhood friend Michelle Vo was amongst the victims …

Rest easy Michelle.”

Hawkins told SFGATE that her sister was as devoted to her family as she was to her work. When she would visit, Vo would often bond with her sister’s 8-year-old daughter, and her sister lamented that Vo will never be able to start a family of her own.

Vo hadn’t always loved country music until fairly recently, when a family member introduced her to the genre, the Washington Post reported. Vo decided to attend her first country music festival, traveling alone last week to Las Vegas.

The motive for the attack remained a mystery, and authorities believe Paddock acted alone.

Paddock had 23 guns — some with scopes — in his hotel room, authorities said. They found two gun stocks that allowed the shooter to replicate fully automatic fire, and are investigating whether weapons used in the massacre

DALAI LAMA from 9 him alongside Mao Zedong, back when he thought he could negotiate Tibet’s freedom, or at least his autonomy. He admits with a headshake how that didn’t work out real well.

The Dalai Lama functions as a spiritual leader, political leader, cultural advocate, and, somewhat against his will, a celebrity in the shallower sense of the word. No 90-minute film could possibly follow him through all of that, and Lemle doesn’t try. But by trying to cover many bases, he leaves a hole in the middle of his film.

We meet a pair of doctors who present what they called an “Atlas of Emotions.” The Dalai Lama lends them support, and their findings look impressive enough. But we don’t learn nearly enough about their scientific research, and what determined their findings. One of the scientists admits that they sometimes prioritize helping people over the scientific method. Which is understandable in terms of wanting to help people, but doesn’t sound scientific. How did they determine that their results will help people?

The Dalai Lama makes some strange friends. George W. Bush makes an appearance, discussing his portrait of the Dalai Lama. With his staunchly conservative stances, he seems an unlikely bedfellow. And yet he was the first president to meet publicly with the Dalai Lama.

In the end, the 82-year-old man ponders what’s changed, and

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had those modifications, according to a U.S. official briefed by law enforcement who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is still unfolding.

At Paddock’s home, authorities found 19 more guns, explosives, and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Also, several pounds of ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer that can be turned into explosives such as those used in the 1995 Oklahoma bombing, were in his car, Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said.

The FBI said it found nothing so far to suggest the attack was connected to international terrorism, despite a claim of responsibility from the Islamic State group.

While Paddock appeared to have no criminal history, his father was a bank robber who was on the FBI’s mostwanted list in the 1960s.  Staff can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

what hasn’t. Asked if he hates the Chinese leaders, he replies that he hates them only in weak moments, never in his more common strong ones. He allows that his focus on not hating the Chinese might have done more for himself, than for the Chinese.

He wants love to grow from within, and he wants everyone’s love to sprout upwards, then grow together until it subsumes hate. Whatever Mao Zedong meant by “Let a hundred flowers blossom,” he wants far more than that, from every living person on earth, giving love to persons, animals, and even insects.

A wonderful vision. And yet, he wonders if he’ll reincarnate to further it along. He wonders if he’ll ever get to return home, in any reincarnation. He wonders if the Chinese will claim him, claim they’ve got the next reincarnation, in a geopolitical shell game where their Lama will “proclaim” whatever the Chinese want. Lemle doesn’t get all of this, and his film suffers from its lack of focus. Then again, to get everything, you’d need to watch a lot more than any single film. And for the implications of what happens next, you need a lifetime of study. ■

SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 6.

“The Last Dalai Lama?” opens Oct. 6 and runs through Oct. 9 at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian Theatre, 805 East Pine Street in Seattle. For prices, showtimes, and other information, visit siff.net/year-round-cinema/the-last-dalai-lama.

Andrew can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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YOUR VOICE

OCTOBER 7 – OCTOBER 13, 2017

15

“When I immigrated to Seattle four decades ago, there was no Chinese newspaper.

I was miserable because I loved to read newspapers. I didn’t know what was happening in the world. I felt like a fool living in the desert. The inaugural issue of Seattle Chinese Post gave me so much joy. I might not agree with everything in the Post. But if I miss an issue, I feel like I’ve missed something. With other papers, I read only the headlines. However, I read everything in the Post, including the classified ads, as it gives me an idea about the job market and new businesses.”

— Hoy Ping Yee Chan, long-time reader “For decades, the Northwest Asian Weekly has been a voice for, and a window into, the diverse Asian Pacific Islander community — a ‘must read’ for any politician in our region. Your coverage of local groups, community leaders, state history, political issues, and international events reminds us of the importance of thinking globally and acting locally. Thank you for serving as not only a quality news outlet, but as an invaluable platform to promote community and civic engagement as well. Congratulations on a successful 35 years!”

— Rep. Tana Senn

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

RACE from 1 If the Washington Senate flips, the state will join Oregon and California with Democratic one-party rule in both legislative chambers and the governor’s office.

“We’d love to see a blue wall of Democratic legislatures in the West,” said Jessica Post, executive director of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, which works to get Democrats elected to statehouses across the U.nited States.

Republicans note Hill was elected twice during a time that the district also twice voted strongly in favor of former President Barack Obama.

Washington voters are independentminded and will make their decision “based on keeping balance in Olympia,” said Justin Richards, the Republican State Leadership Committee’s vice president of political affairs and communications.

While Democrats hope one-party control will break the gridlock over the state budget that has led to numerous overtime sessions in recent years, Republicans see it as a green light for new taxes sought by Gov. Jay Inslee, including a carbon tax and capital gains tax. Also part of the narrative is the potential impact of the national political landscape — most pointedly President Donald Trump — on the race.

“If I was a Democratic strategist, every Republican candidate’s middle name would be Trump,” independent pollster Stuart Elway said.

Dhingra, a 43-year-old senior deputy prosecuting attorney with the King County Prosecutor’s Office, had a 10-point lead over Englund in August’s top-two primary, as both advanced to the November ballot. Dhingra was born in India, and her family moved to the United States when she was a teen. She oversees therapeutic alternative courts for the mentally ill and veterans and founded a nonprofit to address domestic violence in the area’s South Asian community. She cites Trump’s election as the catalyst for her desire to run.

“I never thought an election could impact me the way it did,” she said.

A month later, she walked into her first Democratic Party district meeting.

“It was really interesting to me because when I walked into this room —

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.

it was really packed — 75 percent of the room was women,” she said. After that meeting and conversations with friends and family, “I knew that I wanted to do something where I could have statewide impact.”

Englund, 33, recently moved back to her home state from Japan, where her husband is still stationed with the Marines. She has been criticized for moving into the district just one month before announcing her candidacy, but she argues she returned to Washington to be closer to her aging parents.

Englund said Republican state Sen. Dino Rossi, who was appointed to the seat after Hill’s death, reached out to her once he learned she was in the district.

“This was not on my radar,” she said.

“For him to believe I could do it was a big thing.”

Englund, who is Korean American, said her experience working as a staffer for U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, as well as for The Bitcoin Foundation, a digital currency advocacy group, and on projects for the military gives her a broader perspective on legislating at the state level. But she said she knows her opponents will try to tie her to Trump, as the campaign picks up in the coming weeks.

“To assume that all Republicans are the same, or to assume all Democrats are the same, is a wrong assumption,” Englund said, noting she didn’t vote for either Trump or Clinton, but wrote in an alternate candidate.

Other states including Virginia and New Jersey have legislative races this year, but the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee considers Washington’s the most important, Post said.

The money follows that sentiment, with more than $4 million spent so far by both sides, though most of that has been from outside groups.

Ballots for the Nov. 7 general election will be mailed to voters Oct. 20. The winner will need to run again in 2018. ■ Seattle CityClub and KIRO 7 will present a luncheon debate between Manka Dhingra and Jinyoung Lee Englund on Oct. 10, 12 p.m.—1:30 p.m. (doors open at 11:30 a.m.) at Microsoft Conference Center in Redmond. The debate will be livestreamed by KIRO 7.

Thank you for recycling this newspaper!

TEXTBOOK from 4 detailed framework published last summer, which reflects a 2011 state law that requires teaching about the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.

LGBT groups had said several textbooks should be rejected because they didn’t do enough to incorporate LGBT people and their accomplishments.

Renata Moreira of the LGBT advocacy group Our Family Coalition said publishers agreed to changes that improve the textbooks, but some still lack depictions of LGBT families. “We are pleased to have

worked with the publishers, most of whom collaborated in the edits and were very much interested in doing the right things,’’ Moreira said.

Many of the changes approved by the panel centered on depictions of Hindus.

More than 100 Hindus said some of the textbooks perpetuated stereotypes about their religion and India, in part by focusing too much on poverty and India’s caste system.

The books should include Hindus’ positive contributions to world history and culture, such as yoga, they said. ■

asianweekly northwest

16

OCTOBER 7 – OCTOBER 13, 2017

35 YEARS

Shared Joy is Double Joy Introducing Aegis Living’s newest senior housing community for Asian seniors in Newcastle, Washington. Opening Fall 2017.

Every day is a celebration of Chinese culture in harmony with our peaceful surroundings, only 20 minutes from downtown Seattle. Our commitment is to create a unique community with amenities and authentic cuisine that will bring joy and support to our residents during their golden years.

• Fluent Chinese care staff • Full-time nursing • Authentic Mandarin and Cantonese cuisine • Peking duck oven & noodle bar • Cultural center for local community events • Traditional tea rooms • Mahjong parlor • Saltwater therapy pool • Private family dining room • Massage & acupuncture spa • Meditation rooms • Hair salon & barbershop • Luxury private apartments

Family owned since 1997.

Learn more about Aegis Gardens today.

425-786-0143 www.aegisgardenswa.com

An Assisted Living Community.