VOL 33 NO 41 | OCTOBER 4 – OCTOBER 10, 2014 by Northwest Asian Weekly

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VOL 33 NO 41 OCTOBER 4 – OCTOBER 10, 2014

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32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Meet the new neighbors

FILM Japanese Girls at the Harbor » P. 8

HK activists start bigger protest amid standoff

Photo by Jason Liu/NWAW

Nickelsville homeless camp moves to the ID

Activists gather in Hong Kong Photos by Laura Ohata/NWAW

By Joanna Chiu and Kelvin Chan Associated Press

(L) Minimum-wage worker is afraid of work-place discrimination against the homeless (R) The new Nickelsville home camp

By Laura Ohata Northwest Asian Weekly I walk down a deserted street toward the Nickelsville homeless camp. I am a small woman, I am wearing a large camera, and I am alone. Surrounded by a chain-link fence, 20 tents and 12

tiny wooden structures cling to a hillside at the foot of the I-5 and I-90 highways. Nickelsville moved to the temporary Dearborn Street location at the edge of the International District (ID) three weeks ago. While I wait at the security gate, a well-dressed, {see NICKELSVILLE cont’d on page 15}

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong activists kicked off a long-threatened mass civil disobedience protest Sunday to challenge Beijing over restrictions on voting reforms, escalating the battle for democracy in the former British colony after police arrested dozens of student demonstrators. The announcement by civil leaders came after a big crowd of tens of thousands turned out around midnight Saturday to support the student protesters who

stormed into a courtyard of the government complex and scuffled with police wielding pepper spray. Police arrested at least 74 people, including some in their teens. The night passed peacefully as more than 1,000 exhausted and weary protesters — most of them students — remained on the streets outside government headquarters. They slept wearing face masks and makeshift protective gear of Saran-wrapped arms, cheap plastic raincoats, and goggles, as tired-looking riot police looked {see HONG KONG cont’d on page 12}

Diversity at the top: Mary Knell By Nina Huang Northwest Asian Weekly

Hardworking. Persistent. Collaborative. These are just some of the adjectives that describe Mary Knell. Knell is the Chief Executive Officer of Wells Fargo’s Washington and Western Canada Commercial Banking teams, and has held this position since 2011. Before her impressive career in banking, Knell thought about being a teacher. One of the influential mentors in her life was her grandfather. He was a teacher and principal of a school in China and had always been a strong influence in her and her siblings’ lives. He always encouraged them to work hard and do well in school. A strong work ethic ran in the family. Her parents instilled persistence and hard work on Knell and her three siblings growing up. As a first generation Chinese American born in the United States, Knell feels blessed to have many of her extended family members close by in Seattle.

Having family in the vicinity helps Knell balance her personal and work life. She’s also had the same housekeeper for the last 25 years, so that helps, too. Like many other successful people, Knell is an early riser. Up by 5 a.m. to start her day, Knell gets ready and then takes her daughter to school. She’s usually in the office by 8 a.m. As the CEO, her role is to support all the businesses in the market. Whether she’s out meeting with customers and prospects, attending board and other meetings, retaining and recruiting the best talent, Knell helps her team and customers meet their objectives and succeed financially. When juggling her active schedule, Knell thinks about what is important and how to delegate at work and at home. “Life is busy, you just have to find what works best,” she said. But before her banking career, Knell worked a variety of jobs that included running a paper route, babysitting gigs, and stints at the Bon Marché and {see KNELL cont’d on page 12}

Mary Knell

The Inside Story NAMES People in the news » P. 2

■

SPORTS Li Na retires » P. 4

TRAVEL Returning to Cambodia » P. 6

PUBLISHER’S BLOG Nadella speaks? » P. 10

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asianweekly northwest

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS UW Wall of Recognition

laine I. Ko, Micki Flowers, Seattle City Council member Jean Godden, Eddie Pasatiempo, Dept. Chair David Domke

On September 9, the Department of Communication invited Alumni Hall of Fame members and Early Career Award recipients to the unveiling of a Wall of Recognition housed in the Communications Building at UW. In addition to the 77 Alumni Hall of Fame and five Early Career Award names, the wall displays the four columns of Sylvan Grove –which represents loyalty, industry, faith, and efficiency (LIFE). There are nine Asians in the Hall of Fame. They are: Rita Brogan, Ronald Chew, Randy Hirokawa, Evelyn Keiko Iritani, Elaine Ikoma Ko, Lori Matsukawa, Assunta Ng, Dolores Sibonga, Mayumi Tsutakawa. 

Sakurako Fisher, appointed General Trustee of JFK Center for the Performing Arts

Fisher, President of the San Francisco Symphony, has been a member of the San Francisco Symphony’s Board of Governors since 1992, and was formerly the Vice President of the Symphony’s Board of Governors and Chair Sakurako Fisher of the Development Steering Committee. Fisher serves as the Chairman of the National Board of the Smithsonian Institution and is a member of the U.S. advisory board of the Union Centrale des Arts Decoratifs. She is an advisory board member of the Department of Humanities and Sciences and the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University. 

Shari Song fundraiser successful

Tommy Chong, fancy footwork Tommy Chong, infamous for being part of the duo of Cheech & Chong, is now on ABC Television’s Dancing with the Stars. So far, he has fared well, and will be continuing on to the next round. The award-winning comedian is partnered with Peta Murgatroyd. This previous week, on Sept. 29th, he was ranked third place. Tommy Chong

Shari Song (center, in blue) with current and former government officials

Song is running for State Senate, District 30. Over 120 people attended the fundraiser, including Ambassador

Gary Locke, and raised approximately $15,000. The event was held at New Hong Kong Restaurant in the ID, Sept. 22. 

Kollaboration alumni reunite Multi award-winning spoken word poet, Troy Osaki, and singer-songwriter and guitarist, Christian Kang joined forces to host their debut solo Troy Osaki Christian Kang showcase featuring an all Asian-American lineup, with special guest, singersongwriter Brenda Xu, on September 26, 2014 at Q Café in Seattle. Osaki and Kang are both Kollaboration Seattle alumni. Kollaboration, an organization that supports and empowers Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders in arts and entertainment. Although Osaki and Kang met as competitors at the 2013 Seattle show, their mutual passion for the arts made them fast friends. 

Photos by Amy Kim

OCTOBER 4 – OCTOBER 10, 2014

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

OCTOBER 4 – OCTOBER 10, 2014

asianweekly northwest

OCTOBER 4 – OCTOBER 10, 2014

■ WORLD NEWS China tells Taiwan: Retiring Li Na has “no regrets” about Reunifying will retiring end antagonism AP Wire Service

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping said reunifying the mainland and Taiwan is about ending political antagonism, rather than about rebuilding territories and sovereignty, state media reported Friday. Xi’s remarks to a delegation of proreunification groups from Taiwan come as sentiments are rising among the Taiwanese public for independence. China’s communist government has long sought to claim Taiwan, which it considers a renegade province. The nationalist government of the Republic of China retreated to the island in 1949 as its last foothold after losing a civil war to the Communists. The nationalist government’s ambitions to reclaim the mainland later fizzled, and the island has become a de facto sovereign state, although there is no formal declaration of independence. Animosity toward the mainland’s

government has lingered in democratic Taiwan, which remains cautious about Beijing’s authoritarian government. Polls also have shown more people are favoring independence. Xi warned against Taiwan independence, saying it would be unfeasible and hurt the relationship between the mainland and the island. “No secessionist act will be tolerated,’’ the Chinese president said. Xi said Beijing seeks peaceful reunification and will use the principle of “one country, two systems’’ for Taiwan, as it has done for the former British colony Hong Kong. Xi said Beijing would “fully take in opinions and suggestions from all walks of life from both sides’’ and would “make arrangements that fully take care of the interests of Taiwan compatriots.’’ “The national reunification we advocate is not merely unification in form, but more importantly, a spiritual connection between the two sides,’’ Xi said, as quoted in state media. 

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AP Wire Service

BEIJING (AP) — Two days after announcing the end of her momentous tennis career in an open letter to friends and fans, Li Na entered her farewell news conference with the appearance of somebody who had been crying. It didn’t take long for the two-time Grand Slam champion to shed tears, again, as she explained her decision to retire in the wake of a fourth knee operation. “I feel this is the best time for me to retire. I don’t feel sorry or have any regrets about retiring,” she told a packed news conference Sunday at the National Tennis Centre in Beijing. “When I was making this decision, I asked myself, `If I retire, will I regret it?’ My heart told me I wouldn’t, because I’ve done my best.” The 32-year-old Li won the French Open in 2011 to become Asia’s first Grand Slam titlist. She won her second major in January, finally claiming the Australian Open title in her third trip to the final at Melbourne Park. She only entered seven tournaments after that, and hasn’t played since a third-round defeat at Wimbledon. She withdrew from three tournaments in August, including the U.S. Open, citing a knee injury. “After the surgery in July, I tried very

hard to recover, hoping I can make it to participate in tennis matches in China” Li said. “However, this is my fourth big surgery, and with my age and physical state, it is hard for me.This is a tough decision to make for me, even harder than playing the Grand Slam matches. “What I really want to do now is try to set up a tennis school of my own and do basic things to help build up the base for Chinese tennis,” Li said. 

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32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

OCTOBER 4 – OCTOBER 10, 2014

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OCTOBER 4 – OCTOBER 10, 2014

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR THU 10/2

WED 10/8

WHAT: The 4th Annual Building Bridges Across the Nations Award WHERE: The Westin, 600 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue WHEN: 6:30 p.m. RSVP: info@wasitrac.org

WHAT: Vote Shari Song for State Senate District 30, hosted by Herb & Bobbe Bridge WHERE: Continental Place, 2125 1st Ave. 5th Floor, Seattle WHEN: 5:30-7:30 p.m. CONTRIBUTION LEVELS: $950/cohost, $500/friend, $250/individual, $100/ supporter RSVP: alex@votesharisong.com, 253459-3332

FRI 10/3 WHAT: API Issues & Candidates Forum WHERE: ACRS, 3639 MLK Jr. Way S., Seattle WHEN: 5:30-8 p.m. WHAT: “Top Restaurants’ Secrets of Success” by the three panelists Din Tai Fung owner David Wasielewski, Anthony’s Restaurant VP of Marketing Lane Hoss, and Tamarind Tree owner Tam Nguyen WHERE: New Hong Kong, 900 S. Jackson St. #203, Seattle WHEN: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. COST: $15/member, $20/at the door INFO: luncheon@seattlechinesechamber. org, 206-552-0818

SAT 10/4 WHAT: Asia Pacific Cultural Center Tea Celebration featuring Chinese Tea WHERE: APCC, 4851 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma WHEN: 10 a.m. COST: $5/APCC members, $10/nonmembers

SUN 10/5 WHAT: Concert for the 10th Anniversary of Confucius Institute WHERE: Shoreline Community College, Shoreline WHEN: 4-5:30 p.m. INFO: shoreline.edu/international

SUN 10/12 WHAT: Seattle Children’s Festival produced by Northwest Folklife WHERE: Seattle Center, Fisher Pavilion WHERE: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. INFO: nwfolklife.org/ seattlechildrenfestival

MON 10/13 WHAT: UW Japan Studies Program for a lecture given by Donald C. Hellmann WHERE: UW Kane Hall 225, Seattle Campus WHEN: 7 p.m. RSVP: https://catalyst.uw.edu/webq/ survey/japan/240672

WED 10/15 THRU SUN 12/7 WHAT: The NAPCA Helpline help reviewing and enrolling in prescription drug plans ENGLISH LINE: 800-336-2722 CHINESE LINE: 800-582-4218 KOREAN LINE: 800-582-4259 VIETNAMESE LINE: 800-582-4336

FRI 10/17 WHAT: KAC-WA Awards Gala “Empower and Enhance” WHERE: Hyatt Regency Bellevue WHEN: 6 p.m. REGISTRATION: rsvp@ kacwashington.org COST: $150 INFO: info@kacwashington.org

■ travel The Village Report Returning to Cambodia

By Dipika Kohli Northwest Asian Weekly Today is the second day back in Cambodia, after six weeks in California. I go to a small side street just off Khan Chamkarmon to look for a quick and warm lunch. A dusty road with a cluster of young men together applying an air pressure tube to a motorcycle seems to be a good bet that something will come along that could work for a simple meal. Wondering how I’d forgotten not to wear my new suede boots, I step around scruffy puddles and try not to get caught in the pinks and blues within greyish stray rubbish that’s also pretty much a guarantee to be flattened into the uneven blotches of dirt road. It’s warm and humid, especially compared to the Bay Area. The moisture presses up against one’s skin and even ventures inside the body, making tracks toward the higher pressure spots inside to offset... something. Could it be stress? Not out of the question. I sense my heart rate slowing, and even the arrival of the all-Khmer menu at the spot I’ve picked---there are solid wooden chairs with full backs and a table that reminds me of my parents’ home when I was a kid in the suburbs of Detroit--doesn’t wrack me as it might have even just a few days back. Foreignness is relative, after all. There’s a sense about this place that wasn’t easy to capture in a neat phrase when people in San Francisco and Oakland had asked me about life in Cambodia. How to describe this particular quality of space in modern Indochina that’s updated in surprising ways from the things you might read or see in movies? A kind of repose. A sort of splendor. But most introductory exchanges with American people I’d meet over there stayed on the surface, of course. Yes, I live in Phnom Penh. Yes, it took me a week to learn how to spell it, and two to discover how to pronounce it. Yes, I’ll be there for a while. I have committed. My son has started school. The same young woman who’d just brought the laminated menu wears a green

baseball cap that’s worn in. I can’t help but compare it to the crisp new black hats fans of the San Francisco Giants would be wearing when you saw them on the trains right after games. Six weeks in that place and you notice patterns. Distracted, I almost don’t notice that she’s caught me in the stunned space, and when I focus, I see she’s got a question without words. Need help? she says with greater patience than I’ve seen in recent days, a hint of a smile that’s like a sister’s, and soft eyes. Another young lady appears, and then a more vocal dialogue can begin. “Noodles?” I ask, less tentatively than my first week in town, straight off the bus from Chiang Mai and wondering what on earth I was doing in Cambodia. A few lucky landings, a few dots getting connected, and six months go by. A new base. The summer in California was good---got a gig out that way, generated from new contacts here in Phnom Penh. “Yes.” “With--” “Pork, chicken?” “Vegetables.” “Yes.” Within nine minutes, I’d get a plateful of Asian food of quality I didn’t find in San Francisco, because when you put fancy names to simple dishes, things start to feel a little pretentious. Space opens. I feel calm. Time for people-watching. A man in a button-down blue shirt and cropped dark hair at the next table seems to {see TRAVEL REPORT cont’d on page 13}

KING COUNTY INVITATION TO BID Project: Road Services Division Work Order Contract for Electrical Construction Services 20142015, C00930C14 Sealed Bid Time/Date Due: 1:30 p.m., October 14, 2014. Sealed Bid Location: King County Procurement & Contract Services Section, Contracts Counter, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104 Engineer’s Estimate: $300,000. Scope of Work: The work under this Contract consists of Work Orders to be issued for the King County Road Services Division Maintenance and Operations Facilities and includes furnishing all labor, materials, and equipment necessary to perform electrical maintenance and repair services. The work includes but is not limited to diagnosis of systems to determine extent of damages; repairs and/or replacement from low voltage system to 480 volt primary distribution cabling; and permitting. Work sites: potentially any of the facilities operated or served by Road Services Division in King County, Washington. The work performed under this Contract shall not exceed $300,000.00 and the initial Contract Time shall not exceed 365 calendar days from the date of Contract execution by the County. The County does

not guarantee any minimum amount of work or that the dollar amount of the Work Orders issued will total $300,000.00 during the duration of this Contract. At the County’s sole discretion, this Contract may be extended for one additional year or until the Not to Exceed Contract Price is reached, whichever occurs first. In no event shall the Contract Time be greater than two years from the date of Contract execution by the County. Contact Information: Mark Hoge, Contract Specialist, 206-263-9325, TTY Relay: 711, Fax: 206296-7675, or mark.hoge@kingcounty.gov. A bidder may be asked to put a question in writing. No verbal answers by any County personnel or its agents and consultants will be binding on the County. Pre-Bid Conference: 11:00 a.m., October 7, 2014, 3rd Floor Dahlia Room, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104. No site tour. Subcontracting Opportunities: low voltage electrical installation; trenching; and fiber-optics splicing and termination. Apprenticeship Requirements: No minimum Apprentice Utilization Requirement. SCS Utilization Requirements. No minimum Small Contractors & Suppliers Utilization Requirement. Bid Guaranty: Not less than five percent (5%) of the

Total Bid Price. Bid Documents Electronic copies of the plans, specifications, reference documents, and any addenda for this solicitation are available on the King County Procurement website shown below. Printed documents may be ordered from United Reprographics at 206-382-1177. Copies of documents are not available for purchase from King County, but are available for review 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., M thru F, at the Contracts Counter: Chinook Bldg, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue Seattle, WA 98104. To receive email notifications of addenda or other important information concerning this solicitation, you must register to be a planholder under the “Solicitations” tab at the following internet link: Website: http://www.kingcounty.gov/procurement/ solicitations This information is available in alternate formats for individuals with disabilities upon advance request by calling 206-263-9400, TTY Relay: 711. Notes: Bids received after Sealed Bid Time will not be considered. Bidders accept all risks of late delivery, regardless of fault. King County is not responsible for any costs incurred in response to this Invitation to Bid.

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ community news

OCTOBER 4 – OCTOBER 10, 2014

Washington Place groundbreaking

Photo by George Liu/NWAW

Washington Place, a 19-story construction in Tukwila, broke ground Sept. 25. The $120 million tower will be one of the largest in South King County. The project has been in development since October 2010. It will be in the former Circuit City property at 224 Andover Park E. The developers are Omar and Christine Lee, who funded approximately $60 million for the project. Other funding will come from the federal EB-5 Visa program, which offers foreign nationals the opportunity to obtain a U.S. green card by investing in a commercial enterprise in the United States. The Lees have been residential and commercial developers since 1980. They developed the Great Wall Shopping Mall in Kent that includes restaurants, shops and a grocery store. The building will include apartment units, a restaurant, and a hotel. “We are so excited to bring such a distinctive development to Tukwila,” said Omar Lee in a news release. “The project will be unique to the area as it will be close to walking and biking trails, restaurants, and shopping.” The construction is expected to be completed in 2017. 

Omar Lee (second from left) and Christine Lee (fourth from right) with Honorable Gary Locke (third from left) and city of Tukwila mayor and members of city council

Seattle to fine residents for not composting SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle residents who fail to separate food waste from trash will be fined. The City Council voted Sept. 22 to impose the fines for not composting. When the ordinance goes into effect next year, homeowners found with food scraps in their trash will be fined $1 for each violation, KING reported Tuesday. The fine is up to $50 for a business or apartment complex. Seattle Public Utilities estimates that about a third to one-half of what now goes in the trash should be recycled or put in compost bins. The new law is aimed at helping Seattle reach its goal of

having a recycling rate of 60 percent by 2015. The change is expected to generate an additional 38,000 tons of compost material every year. San Francisco also has a mandatory composting ordinance. Currently, residents of single-family homes in Seattle are encouraged, but not required, to dispose of food waste and some paper products in compost bins, The Seattle Times reported. Apartment buildings must have compost bins available, but residents of apartment buildings aren’t required to use them. Businesses aren’t subject to any composting requirements.

The Ethnic Media would like to thank sponsors for supporting the candidates’ meet-and-greet on September 11. SPONSORS:

Sun Ya Restaurant Sound Publishing King’s BBQ Dim Sum King Ocean City Duk Li Eastern Cafe Yummy House

Under the new rules, collectors will take a look when they dump trash into a garbage truck. If they see that more than 10 percent of the trash should be composted, they’ll enter the violation into a computer and leave a ticket on the bin that says expect a $1 fine on the next garbage bill. Collectors will begin tagging garbage bins with warnings Jan. 1. Fines start until July 1. Seattle Public Utilities asked the council to consider the ordinance because the agency is falling short of its recycling and composting goals. The council vote was 9-to-0. No public hearing was required. 

asianweekly northwest

OCTOBER 4 – OCTOBER 10, 2014

■ AT THE MOVIES

Adding music to silence: “Japanese Girls at the Harbor” gets a soundtrack

By Andrew Hamlin Northwest Asian Weekly Seattle’s musical/performance art troupe Aono Jikken Ensemble brings its musical and performing expertise to two performances of the classic Japanese silent film “Japanese Girls at the Harbor.” The first performance will be on Saturday, Oct. 4th at the Northwest Film Forum. The second performance will be on Sunday, Oct. 5th at the Seattle Asian Art Museum. Ensemble founder William Satake Blauvelt took some questions over e-mail. NWAW: How did Aono Jikken Ensemble become aware of the film? William Satake Blauvelt: We became aware of the film when Criterion released a box set of the director’s work. Hiroshi Shimizu, the director, was a name that I was familiar with as a writer on some of Yasujiro Ozu’s early films, but I didn’t know he was also a director. He was almost completely unknown in the West until fairly recently, but was a successful and prolific director in Japan having made around 160 films over a 40-year career. “Japanese Girls at the Harbor” was a revelation in that here was a film and director, who although unknown here, were on the same level as the acknowledged greats like Ozu and Mizoguchi. NWAW: What attracted the ensemble to the film? Blauvelt: The film’s style, subject matter, and setting were unusual and very intriguing. The film has a very modernist style and although it is very Japanese at its core, there is very little of the usual traditional Japanese look of other films of the period. The setting is the port city of Yokohama, which has a strong international flavor reflected in the film. Also, the director uses a number of experimental techniques in areas like editing to create psychological depth

Michiko Oikawa (right) stars in Hiroshi Shimizu’s “Japanese Girls at the Harbor”

Ureo Egawa (left) and Michiko Oikawa

in the characters. Then there’s the characters themselves -three of the four main characters are Eurasian, played by mostly mixed race actors. The presentation and depiction of these characters is very matter-of-fact and doesn’t include the usual baggage of the tragedy of mixing blood and other nonsense typical of old films. The characters are sometimes selfish, sometimes noble-- in short, imperfectly human.

Blauvelt: Everything we do onstage is live from the music, to the sound score, to the benshi. The music is made with a variety of Asian, Western, and world instruments that play original music we create, adaptations of traditional Japanese music, recreations of popular songs of the era. For “Japanese Girls at the Harbor,” aside from Japanese influences, there are elements of tango, flamenco, gamelan, and chanson incorporated. The sound score includes creating an ambient sound world that represents things like the harbor atmosphere prevalent in the film, so the sound of ships, water, etc. are created through foley (sound effects). Other things like a rain storm will be done with a combination of instruments and foley sound devices. Also some of the instruments are sometimes processed electronically to alter their sound. This can do things like help create a more intense psychological atmosphere for certain scenes.

NWAW: How many players will the ensemble have and who plays which instruments? Blauvelt: There are six of us: William Satake Blauvelt (taiko, drum set, percussion, foley, prepared string instruments -hammered dulcimer and autoharp)Michael Shannon (guitar, cello, harmonium, percussion)Naho Shioya (benshi, vocals) Esther Sugai (flute, melodica, accordian, percussion)Marcia Takamura (koto, percussion, foley)Special guest David Stanford (guitar, saxophone, percussion, live electronic processing) NWAW: How does the live music differ from the “sound score”?

NWAW: Who will provide the narration and how was it written? What is the benshi tradition and how does this {see JAPANESE GIRLS cont’d on page 14}

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32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

OCTOBER 4 – OCTOBER 10, 2014

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OPINION

■ PUBLISHER'S BLOG

Satya Nadella speaks, but doesn’t reveal

Photo by George Liu/NWAW

Gary Locke’s new hairstyle?

Honorable Gary Locke speaks at the Washington Place groundbreaking ceremony

The former ambassador has only returned to Washington state for a few months after serving for three years as the first Chinese American U.S. ambassador to China. He’s in demand—everyone wants to use his name, have him speak, fundraise, and be a public figure. His name instantly draws traffic. In one week, he was making as many as four to five public appearances. People just love to see him, shake his hand, and take pictures with him like old days as governor. However, not everyone recognizes Locke at first. At a few occasions, people actually asked me, “Where’s Gary?” Does he really look that different other than the missing white hair? It’s more than

that—a shaved white head. I don’t know why folks are so surprised by Locke’s look. Why can’t people just accept their favorite son ages just like everybody else? His haircut was once the subject of media attention when he was Washington state governor in the 1990s. His boyish face might change, but he’s still the same old Gary Locke. At 64, he has experienced more than many of us in the other Washington (when he’s U.S. Cabinet Secretary of Commerce) and of course, China. “White hair just means wisdom,” said Mei Young, an entrepreneur. “Why need to disguise that (white hair)?” Simply stated—be yourself. 

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bragged when I came home that I had been in the same hotel. I could have been riding the water taxis next to his, witnessing all the frenzy of the paparazzi and Hollywood glamour, and taken photos for my readers to enjoy. Some consolations for me though, I could have wasted hours just to catch a quick moment of him. Or I could use my time last year efficiently, toured a big part of Venice, and then off to a cruise in the Balkan Islands. No, no, no, I still want to see George Clooney! 

Lights, camera, action in Chinatown

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When I heard movie star George Clooney got married in Venice last week, I sighed. Not because I was crazy about him, but because I was in Venice the same time last year. I was there a year too early. Does it matter? No, not really, because I wasn’t there. And I would not have been invited to his wedding, whether it was a year before or a year later. But if I was there, in Venice, at that same time, I could have witnessed the riot of fans waiting on the bridges and gathering on gondolas. I could have breathed in the frenzy of Clooney air, visited his wedding site the next day, and

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Satya so calm is perhaps, he has three children and one of them has special needs. That’s how he learned about patience, compassion, and understanding rather than yelling, slighting, and being arrogant. I didn’t learn much after the program. But I am still proud of the man, an immigrant from India, who is now leader of Microsoft. This was unimaginable a decade ago, and even five years ago, at Microsoft. 

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Satya Nadella gave an interview to the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 15 at the Westin Hotel. I was thrilled to see the first Asian American being the keynote speaker for the Chamber. The program was more symbolic than substance. My friend also said she didn’t really get much out of it. I agreed. I didn’t learn anything new either after listening to his talk for half an hour. So far, Satya has given one interview to the New York Times and none to the local media. However, a Microsoft manager said he is very engaged inside the company. He writes long memos to his people and interacts with them often. Outside his company, he doesn’t really do much in public relations locally. The Chamber interview was his first time in our state. Over 1,000 people showed up to see him. A colleague who knows Satya said he is always calm. He doesn’t shout like his predecessors, Steve Balmer, or show disdain immediately like Bill Gates toward staff’s impractical ideas. What makes

Photo by John Liu/NWAW

OCTOBER 4 – OCTOBER 10, 2014

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Chinatown was transformed into World War II scenes in Chinatown recently. On the 600 block of S. King St., you would find Chinese dressing in Japanese kimonos, street closed down, Massive Monkees studio turned into the filming sight, Canton Alley filled with drama. What's going on? You wondered. That's Amazon's television production pilot, “The Man in the High Castle,” based on Hugo Award winning novel written by Philip K. Dick.

In the long run, it will be great publicity for Chinatown. In the short run, Chinatown merchants were not happy because of the short notice. “There's no notice,” said Richard Chang, owner of Kau Kau Restaurant. He said business is down 30 percent due to blockage of cars coming in to pick up food to go. He wished he received way in advance so he could prepare for the occasion. “Now, it looked like they are here and we have no room and time for negotiation.” 

Want to get the inside scoop on the latest happenings of Seattle’s Asian American community? Follow Publisher Assunta Ng’s blog at nwasianweekly.com under the Opinion section.

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

OCTOBER 4 – OCTOBER 10, 2014

OPINION

■ editorial

Testing, testing, testing Let’s present this hypothetical:

Directive: You have approximately 30 minutes to answer a question and develop it into an essay. Your response will see if you qualify to attend the academic institution of your choice or have the prerequisites for the job you are applying for. (For the purposes of this editorial, we will only use the introductory sentence for scoring. All content is abbreviated.) Prompt/ Test Question: Are standardized tests for language fair? Please use standard American English. (Essay responses in no particular order, except hierarchical.) Essay 1: Tests, fair?! Score: 0

Rater comments: No attempt to answer the question.

Essay 2: Tests can be fair or not fair. Score: 1 Rater comments: Attempted to answer the question, but clearly just reworked the prompt. Essay 3: Standardized tests: Are they fair or not fair? Score: 2 Rater comments: An attempt at development. “Standardized test” is established. Essay 4: There is an issue that concerns standardized testing, and whether it is fare. It is not fare.

Rater comments: Focuses on development, spelling inaccuracies confuse meaning. Borderline 3/4. Essay 5: Standardized tests may be unfair; however, we need them to gauge whether we can speak, write, and convey our message properly. Rater comments: 4/5 line.

Editorial comments: We wish we could congratulate everyone. You got into your school. You got your job. When it comes to language, we all translate and relate what we are trying to communicate in different ways. How does one score or judge meaning in the sentences we write? On a scale of one to five, that would probably qualify as a zero, depending on who is rating this. 

■ health

Awareness about stomach cancer

By Suzanne Pak For Northwest Asian Weekly

On Aug. 22nd, Cornerstone Medical Services hosted the first stomach cancer summit in Washington state’s history. A hundred health, human service, and community leaders gathered at the Clarion Hotel in Federal Way to hear Dr. Joo Ha Hwang (chief of gastroenterology at Harborview Medical Center) explain how to detect stomach cancer and the health disparities surrounding screening, treatment, and mortality rate of stomach cancer. Cornerstone Medical Services discussed how California and Texas are raising awareness around stomach cancer through their Cancer Facts & Figures reports. The discussion focused on possible reasons why

someone is three times more likely to die from stomach cancer in the United States than in some other countries. Dr. Vicky Taylor of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center provided best practices from a successful liver cancer prevention program

launched 15 years ago. The participants shared their insights on what cancer messages, programs, and facts were the most compelling and memorable – and what we can do over the next five years to launch a successful stomach cancer prevention program. In fact, many of the participants proactively mentioned that they are going to encourage their family and friends to get tested for stomach cancer right away - and wanted us to post this information in all the grocery stores in Federal Way! Rep. Cindy Ryu, Ken Taylor (CEO of Valley Cities), Dorothy Wong (executive director of Chinese Information & Service Center), Dr. Marguerite Ro (chief of Assessment, Policy Development & Evaluation of Seattle King County Public Health), and Michael Itti (executive director of WA Commission on Asian Pacific

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American Affairs) facilitated these group discussions. Finally, Jeanne Burbidge (deputy mayor of Federal Way) and Michael Park (former mayor of Federal Way) expressed thanks for hosting this summit in Federal Way and hopes that this could serve as a launching point for exciting new medical advances in South King County. Suzanne Pak will apply for continued funding from Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to design a research project allowing the community partners to conduct education and outreach around stomach cancer prevention.  Suzanne Pak can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.

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{HONG KONG cont’d from page 1} on. More students anxiously hurried to join them Sunday morning, some saying they didn’t want to leave their friends in fear that police would crack down. Leaders of Occupy Central with Love and Peace, a broader movement fighting for democratic reform, said they were starting their mass protest by continuing the sit-in begun earlier by a separate group of student demonstrators. The Occupy Central movement had originally planned to paralyze the Asian financial hub’s central business district on Wednesday, but organizers moved up the start of their protest and changed the location in an apparent bid to harness momentum from the student rally outside the government complex in the southern Chinese city. Democracy supporters are demanding that China’s Communist leaders allow fully democratic elections in 2017. China, which took control of the former British colony in 1997, has promised that Hong Kong’s top leader can be chosen through universal suffrage. But tensions over Hong Kong’s political future boiled over after China’s legislature last month ruled out letting the public nominate candidates, instead insisting they be screened by a committee of Beijing loyalists similar to the one that currently picks the city’s leader. Hong Kong’s young people have been among the most vocal supporters of full democracy in recent years, fueled by anger over widening inequality. They also fear that Beijing’s tightening grip is eroding the city’s rule of law and guaranteed civil liberties unseen on the mainland,

{KNELL cont’d from page 1} Herfy’s. In high school, she started as a teller and worked after school and holidays. She continued working part-time while attending the University of Washington. When Knell was in college, she wanted to go into sales and applied for a position to sell computers and copy machines. After graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in business administration and finance, she decided to stay in banking and worked as a credit analyst in the World Banking Training Program at Seafirst Bank, which later became Bank of America. One of the first challenges that Knell endured was building credibility in the workplace as a loan officer. She was the only woman and person of color at the time at the bank. She didn’t have any mentors that looked like her. But she saw her challenge as an opportunity to make sure her hard work was quality work. Growing up, she started working to help fund the expenses she had. She paved her way through paying for college, and was very proud when she came up with a down payment for her first car. Now, Knell works so she can go on vacation, and when she does, she takes advantage of the time away so she can really enjoy it. She always tries to have something planned so she can look forward to the trips. She loves to go anywhere with warm weather and a beach, and she feels fortunate to have traveled around the world.

Joshua Wong

such as freedom of speech. Organizers of Occupy Central said they want Beijing to abandon its decision and the Hong Kong government to resume political reform consultations. “The courage of the students and members of the public in their spontaneous decision to stay has touched many Hong Kong people,’’ the group said in a statement. “Yet, the government has remained unmoved. As the wheel of time has reached this point, we have decided to arise and act.’’ The protest at the government headquarters followed a weeklong strike by thousands of students demanding China’s Communist leaders allow Hong Kong fully democratic elections in 2017. University and college students who had spent the week boycotting classes were

When Knell isn’t working or traveling, Knell hopes to increase her community involvement. Her priority is to give back to communities in need and to help make this a better place. “Not only is it gratifying to be contributing, but it’s also a way to reach out and hear about issues from a different perspective, and try to make a difference,” she said. Knell is passionate about education, helping women in business and girls. She is involved with many of the local organizations, including the Pacific Science Center, Washington CEO Forum, UW Foster School of Business, JDRF, Honorary Chair of Girl Scouts of Western Washington Future Builders Campaign, and Honorary Board Member of Executive Development Institute. She is the founder and chair of the Wells Fargo Washington Women’s Roundtable. “Education is a passion of mine and ensuring we have the right resources that create opportunities and support a bright future, and the growing needs of our communities,” she said. As a leader, Knell enjoys collaborating and working together as a team to come up with the right answers. She likes to hear input, the more diverse the better. “I’m a huge proponent of thinking way outside the box. The best idea is what differentiates us as bankers. Being proactive, listening, and meeting customer needs to help them succeed financially is at the center of what we focus on. I’m only successful if my team is successful,” she said.

TAITUNG

joined Friday by a smaller group of high school students. Organizers estimated that 50,000 people had flooded the streets around the government complex at the peak of the protest. Police did not give an estimate. At least 34 people have been injured since the protest began, including four police officers and 11 government staff and guards, authorities said. One of the officers suffered a gash after being poked by one of the umbrellas the protesters have been using to deflect pepper spray. Police issued a news release urging the protesters to leave peacefully and avoid obstructing officers, saying that otherwise they would “soon take actions to restore public order.’’ Many young protesters appeared conflicted that their protest was morphing into Occupy Central. “A lot of students left as soon as Occupy made the announcement they were starting their occupation,’’ said Vito Leung, 24, a recent university graduate. “I think they were really forcing it. This was always a separate student movement with similar goals, but different directions. I don’t think it should be brought together like this,’’ said Leung, who was vowing to stay until police released Joshua Wong, the 17-year-old leader of the activist group Scholarism. Wong was among the first of the protesters to be arrested after storming the government complex, and was carried away by four officers. A recent high school graduate, he gained prominence two years ago after he organized protests that forced Hong Kong’s government to back off plans to introduce a Chinese national education curriculum that some feared was a form of brainwashing. 

Above all, Knell’s proudest accomplishment in life is her two children, her 24-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter. “I’m so proud of them, they are incredible kids,” Knell said. Knell’s advice to aspiring young leaders is to continue to put yourself out there and don’t be afraid to ask questions and speak up. She mentioned that it can be a challenge for some people who weren’t raised to question or speak up, but advised that having the confidence to question in a productive way can help engage in the conversation. “It’s the only way you’re going to make yourself known and have your opinions heard when people know you have something to say,” she said. In addition to her family influences, Knell’s former bosses, community leaders, teachers, and people that have helped her along the way have been great mentors to her. “I have a great role and an incredible team at Wells Fargo. We have fantastic customers and am so proud to be supporting our local communities. I feel very, very blessed, thrilled, and honored to be helping all of our teams grow our markets and our business. It’s always about the team, not the individual. We’re all successful because of what we do together, and that is a deep belief that I have,” Knell said.  Nina Huang can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com.

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32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ astrology

OCTOBER 4 – OCTOBER 10, 2014

For the week of October 4–October 10, 2014 By Sun Lee Chang

Rat — If a loved one requests some time alone, don’t take it personally. We all need our space once in a while.

Dragon — You tend to march to your own tune. Rather than following the trends, you would prefer to find a style that suits your unique tastes.

Monkey — Why waste your energy wrangling over a detail that doesn’t really matter to you? Right now, you are better served focusing on the big picture.

Ox — There is a moment where turning back isn’t an option. At that point, just resolve to push through as best as you are able.

Snake — A daring move could yield the results you have been seeking. However, don’t ignore the potential risks associated with it as well.

Rooster — Are you envious of a recent purchase by a friend? While it may be tempting to follow suit, wait for the feeling to pass.

Tiger — A stroke of luck has brought you to the place you need to be. Now it is up to you to turn this bit of good fortune into something more lasting.

Horse — Ask yourself why you are holding on to something long after it is actually needed. The real reason might surprise you.

Dog — A lot has been made of a rather contentious issue. Try not to get sucked into the fray, if you can avoid it.

Rabbit — If you are trying to get a sizable number of people together, then it is advisable to start planning as soon as possible.

Goat — Treat an awkward encounter as an isolated incident. Avoid letting it weigh you down going forward.

Pig — Have you been debating whether or not to take a chance on a new endeavor? Just make sure you have done your homework.

What’s your animal sign? Rat 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 Ox 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 Tiger 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Rabbit 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 Dragon 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 Snake 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 Horse 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 Goat 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003 Monkey 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004 Rooster 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005 Dog 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 Pig 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

*The year ends on the first new moon of the following year. For those born in January and February, please take care when determining your sign.

{TRAVEL REPORT cont’d from page 6} be waiting for no one, and thinking about nothing. We are not plugged into iPads or laptops or smartphone devices. We aren’t going to engage in small talk, either. We’re definitely not going to come back to this same spot tomorrow with a paper or business cards to try to get work done. It’s midday on a Friday, but this is a very different flow from the Coffee Bar in San Francisco, with a hundred people packed into the same space for fancy espresso and oatmeal and bran muffins day after day, gazing into the glow of screens and trying their best to obey house rules about how you can’t have computers at certain tables at certain hours. Here, there’s room and circulation. We’re half inside and half outside. Slowing down, now. Jetlag and processing. A certain quality of light belongs in this space, here in the Kingdom of Khmer, where either something might reveal itself intensely out of the blue to inspire or disgust, to remind you that you are most certainly not from here. Food comes. Chopsticks, broccoli, carrots, and the noodles I’ve been waiting for took much longer than the time it took to make them to taste anew. Asian food in Asia. A dollar and a half. I finish my tea and pour two more cups. Later, there will be a group of people to meet who have been asking me through e-mail all summer, “How is California going…?” There will be a conversation about comparing where we are and where we’re from, and all the many layers of what that means. Origin isn’t about a nationality, or an ethnic makeup. It’s about the frame you

choose to put yourself in to define who you were before, who you are. Maybe it’s a kind of tribe, like “Generation X.” Some of my lot will be ready to hear about what’s been happening, and I want to make sure to prepare the right set of stories. They’re all here, in Phnom Penh, some from America and some from the UK, Poland, France, Korea, and Japan, too. I didn’t believe a marina could have Wi-Fi. I didn’t realize, either, that there are good people in the world who aren’t part of my everyday life, but I can trust because there’s been sharing of ideas, stories, poems, and maybe even tears. In time, you start to discover your real village is the set of people with whom you feel safe. Dense Phnom Penh air isn’t dry like California. No more talk or signage about droughts now. Even as we’d descended in from the hop from Seoul into Phnom Penh, it was raining. “Phnom Penh is small and not sophisticated enough to be called a city…” This is what the airline’s interactive dashboard reported if you clicked around and over to the travel information section. “…But it’s Cambodia’s hopeful key point where Cambodia attempts to rise beyond its tragic history, ‘killing fields.’” They went on. You can cover it in a day, and you can take a cab across one edge of town to the other in 30 minutes. But even if that’s true--and you’d have to have pretty optimistic ideas about traffic hour if it were to be--I’m not convinced this town I’ve made my home for now is “unsophisticated.” By whose standards? Is America sophisticated? Is California? Are they talking about clean streets and ample plumbing, because if that’s the case, sure,

but what about quality of life? I give two dollars to the lady with the green hat, and she gives me some bills back in riel. No haggling here, like there would have been in Vietnam or India. No confrontation or fishy business. Back to work now. Back to the routine. Air pressure mechanics send sounds that guide my way, I pass the lads with the motorcycle on my short walk to the pickup point for the next get-together. Feeling excited to see good people I care about, in a place where all of us are doing our best to cozy into these adopted nests we’re making within, I’m feeling good: light-stepped, hydrated, and happy.  Dipika Kohli is a writer based in Phnom Penh.

KING COUNTY INVITATION TO BID Project: Data Cabling Work Order 2014 - 2016, C00932C14 Sealed Bid Time/Date: 1:30 p.m., October 16, 2014 Location Due: King County Procurement & Contract Services Section, Contracts Counter, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104 Engineer’s Estimate: Not-to-Exceed $1,000,000 Scope of Work: The Contractor will provide installation, repair, emergency repair, move/add/ change services, training, design consultation, and procurement required to support the data network cabling and infrastructure needs of King County. Work sites: various locations throughout King County, Washington; the majority of the work is in downtown Seattle facilities. The work performed under this Contract shall not exceed $1,000,000.00 and the initial Contract Time shall not exceed 365 calendar days from the date of Contract execution by the County. The County does not guarantee any minimum amount of work or that the dollar amount of the Work Orders issued will total $1,000,000.00 during the duration of this Contract. At the County’s sole discretion, this Contract may be extended for one additional year or until the Not to Exceed Contract Price is reached, whichever occurs

first. In no event shall the Contract Time be greater than two years from the date of Contract execution by the County. Contact Information: Ruth Williamson, Contract Specialist, 206-263-9333, TTY Relay: 711, Fax: 206296-7675, or ruth.williamson@kingcounty.gov. A bidder may be asked to put a question in writing. No verbal answers by any County personnel or its agents and consultants will be binding on the County. Pre-Bid Conference: October 9, 2014; 10:30 a.m., Room 121, Chinook Building 401 Fifth Ave, Seattle WA Subcontracting Opportunities: Underground conduit installation and maintenance services; project management services for more complex or urgent work orders. Apprenticeship Requirements: No minimum Apprentice Utilization Requirement. SCS Utilization Requirements. The Contractor shall ensure that at least 15% of the total price for all executed work orders shall be performed by King County Certified SCS Firms over the life of the Contract. Bid Bond: Not less than five percent (5%) of the Total Bid Price.

Bid Documents Electronic copies of the plans, specifications, reference documents, and any addenda for this solicitation are available on the King County Procurement website shown below. Printed documents may also be ordered by contacting United Reprographics at 206-382-1177. Copies of documents are not available for purchase from King County, but are available for review 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. M thru F. at the Contracts Counter: Chinook Bldg, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue Seattle, WA 98104. To receive email notifications of addenda or other important information concerning this solicitation, you must register to be a planholder under the “Solicitations” tab at the following internet link: Website: http://www.kingcounty.gov/procurement/ solicitations This information is available in alternate formats for individuals with disabilities upon advance request by calling 206-263-9400, TTY Relay: 711. Notes: Bids received after Sealed Bid Time will not be considered. Bidders accept all risks of late delivery, regardless of fault. King County is not responsible for any costs incurred in response to this Invitation to Bid.

asianweekly northwest

OCTOBER 4 – OCTOBER 10, 2014

{JAPANESE GIRLS cont’d from page 8} performance relate to it? Blauvelt: Our benshi is Naho Shioya, who is a professionally trained actor and performance artist who is a native Japanese speaker, speaks perfect English, and sings. Naho and I will watch the film with subtitles first to see how the translation is. Then she’ll do her own translation of the film’s original intertitles, since we don’t use the English subtitles. We’ve found that provided translations are sometimes not accurate or lack pizzaz. We’ll determine what kind of other narrative information is needed and where it can be placed within the film. Since we do a bilingual version of benshi, we have to determine the balance between the languages. While English will be predominant, we try to put in as much Japanese as we can -- usually in the more improvised areas. This depends on how much space there is between the character’s dialogues. Narration for silent film had been a part of the Japanese movie-going experience from the beginning, when film was introduced to Japan in 1896. The benshi were performers who stood at the side of the screen. The film projected provided non-stop narration, character voices, plot exposition, droppedin quotations from classic poetry, sang occasionally, and offered their own opinions on what was unfolding. All this was done to the accompaniment of an ensemble that provided

background music or selected musical recordings were played. Sometimes the benshi were given background materials by the film studios, but they often created their own scripts and/ or improvised The benshi were at their peak during the 1920s and early 1930s when there were several thousand of them working, sometimes in teams, who narrated every film that was shown in Japan, whether domestic or foreign. The benshi were so popular that the best-received star billing above the actors in the films they narrated and had devoted followings. The benshi era ended when sound films became the norm, although in Japan, the silent film era lasted longer than other countries due to delays in getting reliable sound systems into theaters nationwide and opposition from the benshi who were a powerful lobby in the industry. AJE’s use of katsudo benshi (silent film narration) makes the benshi part of the overall ensemble, rather than the dominating force. We see it as creating a balance between the film and its director’s intentions, the music and sound elements, and the narration. NWAW: What were the major challenges in this project? How did the ensemble overcome them? Blauvelt: The biggest challenges were trying to determine the director’s intentions, since we didn’t know that much about him. This particular film relies less on the need for a

benshi than other Japanese silent films we’ve done. There’s no fat or padding in the film and that leaves less room to insert narrative that may be needed for non-Japanese audiences. Usually we do research that includes finding the story’s source material for background information that we can use, but in this case, the original book, as well as some original songs written specifically for the movie, have been lost. We ended up embracing the mystery and tried to give the film an anchor in its own time and place while taking a cue from director Shimizu by taking it in new directions like he did with his experimental techniques, as he searched for the poetry in things. NWAW: What are the ensemble’s plans for the future? Blauvelt: We have a number of new silent film scores planned for the near and far future, including the 1928 expressionist sensation “Jujiro (Crossroads)” that was actually the first Japanese film to cause a sensation in the West, over two decades before Akira Kurosawa’s “Rashomon” appeared. We’ll also be scoring and adding benshi to two of the classics of 1930s Japanese silent cinema, Yasujiro Ozu’s “A Story of Floating Weeds,” a bittersweet tale about an itinerant troupe of Kabuki actors, and Kenji Mizoguchi’s “Taki no Shiraito: The Water Magician,” one of his first great tragedies about women’s struggles in Japanese society. 

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32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

{NICKELSVILLE cont’d from page 1} African American woman retrieves an empty soup pot she used to donate a hot meal to the hungry community. “You know, it is them today, but it could be me tomorrow,” she says. “I could be homeless.” Poverty in King County is a serious concern. There are 9,294 homeless people that live in the city of Seattle, according to the “One Night Count” taken on Jan. 24th, 2014. Of these, 6,171 people stayed in indoor shelters or transitional housing, while 3,123 people slept outside. These figures represented a 14% annual increase in the number of homeless individuals over 2013. Matthew Kurstin, the external relations coordinator, greets me at the security gate. After offering me a hotdog with chili, he introduces me to the camp historian, Richard Gilbert. Together, we walk along the tents and wooden structures perched on cinderblocks. “Wouldn’t you like to see this place in the mud?” says Kurstin. “The rain and cold affect us more than the snow. These tents don’t keep you dry. Eventually, everything gets wet. We want to build more wooden structures.” Nickelsville lacks amenities most of us take for granted. There is no running water for laundry, cooking, and hot showers. “If we had restrooms, we wouldn’t have to use honey buckets,” says Kurstin. Transportation is another issue for the homeless, making it difficult to get to work or to doctor appointments. Yet, the homeless still gather at Nickelsville. Sleeping on the streets alone, the homeless fall prey to violence and robbery. Formed in 2008 and named for former Mayor Gregory J. Nickel, the camp offers secure, temporary housing for 40 men and women, young and old, college students, veterans, minimum-wage workers, and the disabled. Each camper serves on mandatory security patrols each week, along with other community service hours. “Affordable housing is the problem,” said Gilbert. Some of us can’t qualify. Some of us are able bodied, but have mental disabilities. It all needs to be addressed.” The Dearborn site in the ID represents the 22nd relocation of the Nickelsville community. “What we want is a permanent camp. We can’t go from home to home. We have a permit to stay for 16 months. If we please the landlord and the city, we can stay,” said Gilbert. “If we don’t, we are forced to find another home.” The city is reluctant to grant Nickelsville a permanent location, yet the alternative is that

the homeless have to sleep in business doorways or under bridges. “We want to get away from the stereotype that every homeless person out there is the same way, and that the homeless don’t want to work,” says Kurstin. “We like to work.” Residents in the camp include two college students who don’t make enough money to afford proper housing. Others have part-time or minimum wage jobs. Some residents are physically or mentally disabled and cannot work. The remainder are seeking employment. Kurstin says, “Everybody is looking for an opportunity. Nobody wants to be homeless, this was not by choice.” Charlotte Kahaloa helps her husband, Kenny, run the Nickelsville kitchen. But she used to be the donations coordinator, distributing blankets, sleeping bags, plywood, and other supplies to the residents at the camp. “Some of these people need socks. Winter is coming. We are going to need a bunch of coats and sweaters. It’s going to be cold,” she says. Kahaloa is 60 years old and came from Portland, Ore., where she worked as a caregiver in a retirement home for 20 years. She pulls down her shirt revealing a thick scar that runs from her neck and extends all the way down to her belly. “I had heart surgery three times. I had to go through rehab. I got two mechanical valves. After that, I couldn’t work, so we lost our apartment. We went to Tent City Three, but they wouldn’t take us because of our dogs.” Kahaloa is one of eight or nine women who live at Nickelsville, one of whom has a baby that is only three months old. “We try to get them out of here as fast as we can,” says Kahaloa, “especially with a baby. It’s dangerous to have kids at this site. There is too much glass on the ground.” Kahaloa says that they go to the YWCA to help families with children find homes. “We have a couple of nurses who come out here and they try to help. They usually bring stuff for the kids.” But, given the choice, Kahaloa wouldn’t leave the camp. “I feel safe here. They’ve got women’s shelters, but you can’t bring your spouse. That’s why we come here. Nickelsville doesn’t turn anybody down, provided they follow the rules. You can’t drink or do drugs. No violence or cursing is allowed. That makes it safer. It’s supposed to be safe here.” Other residents at the camp have a difficult time finding a landlord who will accept their application. “My girlfriend and I have a housing voucher through the Housing and Essential needs program,” says Kurstin. “It’s provided

OCTOBER 4 – OCTOBER 10, 2014

by the Catholic Community Services. It will pay a whole year’s rent, up to $800 per month, including first month, last month, and security deposit. Nobody will rent to us.” Regardless of the reasons, the lack of affordable housing, low wages, disabilities, or unemployment, it is clear that homelessness is not going to go away. Currently, the Nickelsville residents feel happy about the move. There is some concern that the business owners in Little Saigon might be apprehensive. “We think we are going to be really good neighbors of the International District,” says Kurstin. He and Gilbert are quick to encourage business owners, city councilmembers, and anyone who is interested to come visit the camp and see first-hand what it is all about. “We are someone’s father, brother, mother, son, aunt, or sister. We are your next door neighbor,” says Kurstin. “Please don’t lose sight of this fact. Just because I am homeless doesn’t mean I am any less of a person.” Since moving, Nickelsville has made the effort to contribute to the neighborhood. “We love living near the International District,” said Kurstin. “Seven of us went to a ceremony where they dedicated a new Little Saigon sign.” After the event, the campers helped put away the tables, chairs, and microphones. When asked how he felt about living on the edge of the ID, Kurstin smiled and said, “The roast duck is really close. It gets everybody’s mouth watering. I know we can’t afford it, but we like to dream.”  To donate supplies and funding, contact Scott Morrow at 206-450-9136.

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OCTOBER 4 – OCTOBER 10, 2014