PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA
VOL 36 NO 42
OCTOBER 14 – OCTOBER 20, 2017
FREE 35 YEARS YOUR VOICE
Seattle Chinese Post 35th anniversary gala
The silent killer By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
PHOTO BY SAM LE
From left: Nelson Tang, Lindsey LaRock, and Dr. Nizar Mukhtar.
SEE PICTORIAL ON PAGE 7
The Seattle Chinese Post (SCP) celebrated its 35th anniversary at a gala celebration on Oct. 6. The event, at China Harbor restaurant, drew more than 300 people.
SCP was founded in 1982. It is the oldest Chinese-language newspaper in the Pacific Northwest since 1927. It focuses on covering mainstream news in Chinese.
You or someone you know could have hepatitis B and not know it. “In the Asian population, the prevalence of hepatitis B (a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus — HBV) can be as high as 10 percent,” said Dr. Nizar Mukhtar at Swedish Hospital. Mukhtar is board certified in internal medicine, gastroenterology, and see KILLER on 12
Developers offer to buy Dr. Seuss mural decried as racist
CISC LEADERSHIP Director Dorothy Wong is on the way out.» 3
Las Vegas gunman’s girlfriend returns to U.S. for questioning
Stephen Paddock
A&E Chasing the Dragon: An epic gangster flick with Donnie Yen and Andy Lau. »8
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — A real estate developer and his partner have offered to buy a mural featuring a Chinese character from a Dr. Seuss book after it was deemed offensive. The mural inside the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum in Massachusetts features illustrations from the author’s first children’s book, “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street.” The museum, which is in the author’s hometown of Springfield, said on Oct.
■
5 that the mural will be replaced after three children’s authors said it contains a “jarring racial stereotype.” The Republican reports ChineseAmerican developer Andy Yee and businessman Peter Picknelly announced they’re willing to buy the mural if it’s removed. Picknelly called the criticism “political correctness gone insane.” Democratic Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno says he wants the mural to remain in the museum. ■
NWAW BLUES Assunta Ng reveals even more crises she’s overcome as publisher. » 10
Marilou Danley
By MICHAEL BALSAMO and KEN RITTER ASSOCIATED PRESS LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Las Vegas gunman’s girlfriend, back in the United States after a weeks long trip abroad, will be at the center of the investigation into the shooting deaths of 59 people as authorities try to determine why a man with no known record of violence or crime would open fire on a concert crowd from a high-rise hotel. Stephen Paddock’s girlfriend Marilou Danley, 62, who was in the Philippines at the time of the shooting, was met by FBI agents at the airport in Los Angeles see LAS VEGAS on 15
412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 • f. 206.223.0626 • info@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com
asianweekly northwest
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35 YEARS
OCTOBER 14 – OCTOBER 20, 2017
■ NAMES IN THE NEWS ACRS call to action rally
Oct. 8. Double Ten in Taiwan is a national holiday, but it’s also recognized in China, Hong Kong, and Chinatowns across the United States. It commemorates the start of the Wuchang Uprising of Oct. 10, 1911 (10-10 or double ten). Community organizations from all over the Puget Sound region took part in the parade. ■
Photo by Sam Le
Ethnic Chamber call to action
Double Ten parade
Photo by George Liu/NWAW
Kin On gala raises nearly $250K
Erin Shannon at the podium speaking to attendees.
The Ethnic Chamber of Commerce Coalition (ECCC) held a Call to Action event on Oct. 3 to help solve the state’s most critical issues. Jene Jones of Washington Business Alliance, Erin Shannon of the Washington Policy Center, and Matt Griffin of Pine Street Group were the featured speakers. ■
Sen. Cantwell visits ICHS
More than 300 people participated in the Double Ten parade in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District on
own U.S. senators to defeat the Graham Cassidy proposal,” said Batayola.
ICHS Holly Park Clinic and ICHS CEO Teresita Batayola hosted a news conference for Sen. Maria Cantwell on Sept. 22, as she spoke out against the Graham Cassidy bill, the latest attack on Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. In illustrating the bill’s harmful effects, Cantwell was joined by two patients — a mom who spoke of her 7-yearold child with a rare medical condition and a woman who is a four-time survivor of different cancers. “Our state is fortunate to have Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray lead the fight for affordable, quality health care. We all need to contact our friends, families and networks in other states, especially Alaska, to contact their
Photo by John Liu/NWAW
Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) hosted a rally on Oct. 5 — drawing participants from across Washington state in support of immigrant and refugee communities. The rally was part of #AAPIAction, the Asian American and Pacific Islander National Week of Action on Immigration. ACRS joined 30 AAPI organizations in 10 major cities across the nation in coordinated action on issues impacting immigrant, refugee, and AAPI communities. State representatives Sharon Tomiko Santos and Mia Gregerson spoke at the event, as well as Seattle Deputy Mayor Hyeok Kim. ■
Photo by John Liu/NWAW
Senator Maria Cantwell at ICHS Holly Park Clinic
Kin On Board President Stella Leong presents a City of Seattle proclamation to Sam Wan
Kin On raised nearly $250,000 at its 32nd anniversary gala on Sept. 30 at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue. Over 450 people attended the “Future Forward Festival” auction dinner event. This year’s event raised funds to help complete the Kin On Expansion Project to construct a brand new assisted living facility and adult family home. Sam Wan — who led Kin On from a small rented facility in First Hill to a multi-million dollar organization — was recognized. Also, Dr. Curtiss Chin, son of Ark and Winnie Chin, donated $200,000 toward Kin On’s Adult Family Home.
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asianweekly northwest
YOUR VOICE
OCTOBER 14 – OCTOBER 20, 2017
■ COMMUNITY NEWS
CISC director leaving By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Dorothy Wong will be leaving her position as Executive Director of the Chinese Information and Service Center (CISC) at the end of this month. A source told the Northwest Asian Weekly that CISC wanted to go in a “different direction”
and be more aggressive in raising money. In a statement, CISC thanked Wong “for dedicating four years of service to the agency and local community. We wish her the very best in her future career endeavors.” CISC will be launching a search for a new executive director “with a view toward the next phase of leadership in ensuring a sustainable future for the organization.” ■
Dorothy Wong
Washington, other states, now in REAL ID ‘grace period’ By RACHEL LA CORTE ASSOCIATED PRESS OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The more than two dozen states and U.S. territories that currently have a temporary extension from the enforcement of federal requirements for state driver’s licenses and ID cards are now under a grace period through Jan. 22, as the federal government continues its review of states’ progress, Washington state officials said on Oct 3. Washington was among the states that initially had a REAL ID extension through Oct. 10. Officials with the state Department of Licensing said they received notification from the Department of see REAL ID on 13
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KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO PROPOSERS Proposals will be received for E00506E17, Architectural and Engineering Services for South County Recycling and Transfer Station; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 12:00 PM on November 3, 2017. Total Estimated Price for Phase 1: $3,500,000 Total Estimated Price for all Phases: $12,000,000 There is a 17% minimum requirement for King County Certified Small Contractor and Supplier (SCS) firms on this contract. All solicitation documents are published at: https:// procurement.kingcounty. gov/procurement_ovr/login. aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fprocurement_ ovr%2fdefault.aspx Contact: Ruth Williamson, 206-263-9333, ruth.williamson@ kingcounty.gov
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OCTOBER 14 – OCTOBER 20, 2017
35 YEARS
■ NATIONAL NEWS
Hawaii files motion seeking to challenge third travel ban Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin
HONOLULU (AP) — Lawyers representing Hawaii in the state’s long-running fight against Trump administration travel bans filed a motion on Oct. 6, seeking to challenge the latest version of the policy. The state asked a federal judge to lift his order halting the state’s previous lawsuit, so it can file an amended lawsuit targeting Trump’s third travel ban. The latest travel ban removes Sudan from
the list of affected countries and adds Chad and North Korea, along with several officials from the government of Venezuela. It’s scheduled to take effect Oct. 18. “Hawaii fought the first and second travel bans because they were illegal and unconstitutional efforts to implement the president’s Muslim ban,” Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the third travel ban is more of the same.”
The motion said the new version of travel ban “flouts the immigration laws’ express prohibition on nationality discrimination, grossly exceeds the authority Congress delegated to the president, lacks any rational connection to the problems it purports to address and seems to effectuate the president’s promise to ban Muslims from the United States.” see CHIN on 15
Judge won’t release Chinese man admits sneaking snakes Iraq War veteran fighting deportation over border in socks By GENE JOHNSON ASSOCIATED PRESS SEATTLE (AP) — An immigration judge in Washington state declined to release an Iraq War veteran from custody on Oct. 4 while he fights the government’s efforts to deport him. Chong Kim, a South Korean immigrant and green card Chong Kim
see KIM on 14
Happy Anniversary, Northwest Asian Weekly & Seattle Chinese Post! Thank you for covering our community for 35 years! Asian Counseling and Referral Service
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BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — A man who was caught trying to sneak snakes into Canada in his socks has pleaded guilty. Federal prosecutors in Buffalo say 28-year-old Chaoyi Le faces up to five years in prison after pleading guilty last week to violating wildlife regulations. He was arrested in 2014 at the LewistonQueenston Bridge in western New York after Canadian border agents discovered three live albino western hognose snakes
hidden in his socks. At first, Le said he’d found them in a New York park, but eventually admitted buying them. Authorities say Le, a Chinese citizen who lives in Mississauga, Ontario, was trying to avoid a U.S. Fish and Wildlife inspection. Court documents say that on the same day, Le also mailed several snakes from New York to China. Sentencing is set for Oct. 30. ■
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asianweekly northwest
YOUR VOICE
■ WORLD NEWS
OCTOBER 14 – OCTOBER 20, 2017
5
First visible minority wins leadership of fed Canada party By ROB GILLIES ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jagmeet Singh
TORONTO (AP) — A Sikh man became the first visible minority to claim the leadership of a federal party in Canada on Oct. 1. Jagmeet Singh claimed a first-ballot triumph in the contest for leader of the leftist New Democrat party.
Singh wears a turban as is traditional for Sikhs and he recently made headlines for his calm reaction to being confronted by an angry heckler who accused him of wanting to bring Sharia law to Canada even though he is not Muslim. He asked his guests to chant “love and courage” when confronted. The 38-year-old former lawyer will have an uphill battle when he challenges Canadian
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s governing Liberal Party in the next election. Singh’s party has just 44 of the 338 seats in Parliament. But Trudeau, 45, is now the oldest among the leaders of Canada’s three major political parties. New Conservative leader Andrew Scheer is 38. ■
Man films himself atop Bali volcano, angering officials JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian authorities are urging people not to climb the active Mount Agung volcano on Bali after a video of a foreigner standing at the edge of its smoking crater circulated online. Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said on Oct. 6 that
the volcano is “very dangerous’’ and could explode anytime. It’s been at its highest alert level since Sept. 22, sparking an exodus of more than 140,000 people from the area. The video posted on Facebook shows a middle-aged man speaking French while
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plumes of steam rise from the crater he is perched above. Nugroho said an exclusion zone that extends to 7 miles from the crater in places should not be entered. An eruption would release lava and superheated ash and gas clouds that would
speed down the mountain’s slopes, he said. Two weeks ago, four Hindu priests angered authorities by posting a video of the crater after climbing the peak to pray. Mount Agung last erupted in 1963, killing more than 1,100 people. ■
asianweekly northwest
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OCTOBER 14 – OCTOBER 20, 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 THROUGH OCTOBER 15
18
PUBLIC MEETING TO GATHER COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ON A NEW APARTMENT BUILDING IN LITTLE SAIGON Hirabayashi Place 442 S Main St., Seattle 6–8 p.m.
19
TASVEER SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL Films will be shown in Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Renton, and Bothell sumathi@tasveer.org tasveer.org
THROUGH OCTOBER 21
12
THROUGH NOVEMBER 9
API CANDIDATES FORUM Nagomi Tea House 519 6th Ave. S., Seattle 5:30 p.m. CHINESE COMPOSER XIANG AO’S MANDALA SYMPHONY University of Puget Sound 7:30 p.m. pugetsound.edu
14 KAWAIIWEEN: A CREEPY CUTE CELEBRATION Nagomi Tea House 519 6th Ave. S., Seattle 12 p.m.
ARTS GUMBO 2017: CELEBRATING INDIAN AND SOUTH ASIAN ARTS Rainier Arts Center 3515 S. Alaska St., Seattle 6 p.m. rainierartscenter.org
“STAYING CONNECTED,” WHERE YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO COPE AND LIVE WITH EARLY MEMORY LOSS Keiro Northwest, Nikkei Manor Free to public Partner and pre-registration is required. jmaher@alz.org 206-529-3872
20–22
35 YEARS
NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY’S 35TH ANNIVERSARY GALA China Harbor Restaurant, 2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle 6 p.m. Tickets at 35nwawf.bpt.me nwasianweekly.com/35 years 206-223-5559
22 ALASKA AIRLINES DAWG DASH University of Washington campus 9 a.m. $20–$40 Proceeds support UW student scholarships NAAAP-SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT CLEAN-UP 915 S. King St., Seattle 10 a.m. RSVP at lily.liao@naaapseattle.org
25 AUTHOR AMY TAN SHARES HER MEMOIR ABOUT LIFE AS A WRITER IN “WHERE THE PAST BEGINS” Central Library 1000 Fourth Ave., Level 1, Microsoft Auditorium, Seattle 7 p.m. 206-386-4636
AKI CON 2017 Doubletree by Hilton 18740 International Blvd., Seattle 12 p.m. akicon.ticketspice.com/aki-con-2017
26 STORY TIME AND SIGNING WITH TATSUYA MIYANISHI, AUTHOR OF “DINOSAURS AND LOVE” Kinokuniya Bookstore 525 S. Weller St., Seattle 4 p.m. 206-587-2477 SEATTLE HISTORIANS CHUIMEI HO AND BEN BRONSON WILL PRESENT A HISTORY OF CHINESE TEMPLES Seattle Pacific University, Ames Library, 2nd Floor, 3226 Sixth Ave. W., Seattle 7 p.m. cinarc.org
27 CELEBRATING THE LEGACY OF RACHEL HIDAKA Seattle Central College, One World Dining Room, 1701 Broadway, Seattle 5:30 p.m.
27 & 28 2017 SEATTLE NATIONAL COLLEGE FAIR Washington State Convention Center, Seattle 9 a.m. on October 27 12 p.m. on October 28
21 TALK, SIGNING, AND FOOD SAMPLES WITH RACHEL YANG, AUTHOR OF “MY RICE BOWL” Kinokuniya Bookstore 525 S. Weller St., Seattle 2 p.m. 206-587-2477
View the solution on page 12
ASSUNTA NG
Account Executives
JOHN LIU
rebecca@nwasianweekly.com
RUTH BAYANG
kelly@nwasianweekly.com
Publisher assunta@nwasianweekly.com Associate Publisher john@nwasianweekly.com Editor editor@nwasianweekly.com
HAN BUI
Layout & Web Editor han@nwasianweekly.com
REBECCA IP KELLY LIAO JOHN LIU
john@nwasianweekly.com
GEORGE HIRA
ghira@nwasianweekly.com
The only weekly English-language newspaper serving Washington’s Asian community. The NW Asian Weekly has one simple goal: “To empower the Asian community.” The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject any advertisement, letter or article. Subscriptions cost $40 for 52 weeks of the NW Asian Weekly and $30 for 52 weeks of the Seattle Chinese Post. The NW Asian Weekly owns the copyright for all its content. All rights reserved. No part of this paper may be reprinted without permission. 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 info@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com
asianweekly northwest
YOUR VOICE
OCTOBER 14 – OCTOBER 20, 2017
Seattle Chinese Post’s 35TH ANNIVERSARY
Photos by Sam Le & George Liu
Lifetime Achievement Award recipients. From left: Robert Mak (emcee), Assunta Ng, Helen Kay, Dr. Belinda Louie, Dr. Doug Louie, Shiao-Yen Wu, Sam Wan, and Rosa Leung (emcee).
Martha Lee singing with husband Gene playing the guitar.
Seattle Deputy Mayor Hyeok Kim making a toast.
Tim Louie of Tsue Chong (right) with Assunta Ng.
Lara Hermann (middle) and Charles Hermann.
Mike Fong (right) with the Corporate Appreciation Award recipients.
Mike Fong (middle) with Janice Zahn (left) and Port of Seattle Commissioner John Creighton.
Tai Tung Restaurant family with George Liu (left) and Assunta Ng.
Fashion show models
7
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35 YEARS
OCTOBER 14 – OCTOBER 20, 2017
■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
“The World of Chasing Extreme Happiness” the Dragon will leave you feeling high
By John Liu NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY As you may have guessed from the title, Chasing the Dragon is about drugs. This story is about the infamous Ng SekHo (Donnie Yen), who emigrated from China with his buddies to make a name
proves worthy worldwide
for himself in Hong Kong in the 1960s. After arriving, Ho and his buddies join a street fight between rival gangs to make some money, but expect to flee if there’s actual fighting. A fight erupts, and his gang of friends try their best to escape. The see DRAGON on 12
CONGRATULATIONS to our friends at the Northwest Asian Weekly for 35 years of reporting excellence. We’re honored to be a partner in service to the International District-Chinatown community.
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By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY “The World of Extreme Happiness,” a play written by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig, tells the story of a Chinese girl, left to die in a slop bucket because she’s born female. She survives, makes her way to the big city, and finds both intrigue and pain in her struggle to better herself. For one crucial member of the Seattle Public Theater (SPT)’s production, the story wasn’t new. “I actually directed a workshop reading [of the play] a few years ago in San Francisco with Frances,” relates SPT’s Desdemona Chiang. “She was in the final stages of developing the piece. I’ve also had a few chats with Shana Bestock (SPT’s previous artistic director) about working together over the last couple of years, but the right play and timing never worked out. “So, when [SPT’s] Annie Lareau and Kelly Kitchens got in touch with me about directing this particular piece, it felt like an opportunity too fortuitous to pass up.” Cast as the lead character, the resilient and death-defying Sunny, Seattle-area actor Mika Swanson allows how she was acting, and occasionally acting out, from an early age. “I was raised on Disney movies,” she explained. “I would always be running around the house, and singing at the top of my lungs, re-enacting scenes. I also sang and danced in my elementary school’s talent shows. And it was seeing my first
Broadway national tour show [of “Les Miserables”], that solidified my want and my choice to spend my life doing theatre.” Swanson, daughter of a Japanese mother and a Caucasian father, grew up mainly in the Everett area, and studied drama at Seattle’s Cornish College of the Arts. She credits Cornish professor Marya Sea Kaminski with some crucial coaching. Kaminski, remembers Swanson, instilled in her, and my fellow classmates, the idea of ‘Dare to Suck.’ “She taught me that it’s okay to make mistakes in your acting exploration. That messing up or making a crazy choice isn’t a bad thing, because it can lead to a great choice. And, as a self-conscious and people-pleasing 18-year-old, it really opened my eyes to how much I was limiting myself in my work, by showing only what I thought my teachers or directors wanted to see.” Director Chiang, born in Taiwan and raised around Los Angeles, got her Master of Fine Arts at the University of Washington (UW), starting in 2006. “I remember thinking — wow, that’s a damn beautiful [Seattle] skyline,” she explained. “Then I eventually turned a corner onto University Avenue, saw a hole-in-awall restaurant called Best of Bento, and thought — yep, I can live here for three years.” Her own mentors were UW’s Jon Jory and Valerie Curtis-Newton. Jory, explained Chiang, “Taught me that see HAPPINESS on 14
asianweekly northwest
YOUR VOICE
■ ANNIVERSARY STORIES
OCTOBER 14 – OCTOBER 20, 2017
9
From cartoonist to NWAW 35th cancer and many anniversary salute points in between By Susan L. Cassidy NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
By Yoon S. Park NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Back in the fall of 2005, my then-boyfriend (now husband) encouraged me to submit an article. I wrote about a cartoonist, Stan Sakai, and submitted it to the Northwest Asian Weekly (NWAW). Much to my surprise, the editor at the time, Carol Vu, accepted it for publication. Fast forward to 2017, and it’s hard to believe that I have written articles for the NWAW for over a decade. In many ways, writing has been somewhat of a creative outlet for me, even though much of it is based on facts and real interviews. Transforming my pages of scribbled notes or tapes from interviews and research to actual articles has allowed me to really put my writing skills to the test. I have interviewed heads of companies, scientific researchers, artists, political figures, entertainers, famous athletes, and educators, just to name a few. I cannot think of any other context where I could meet such a diverse range of people, like former Olympian Apolo Ohno, when
he was on a promotional tour with Dancing with the Stars. What a joy to be able to put my curiosity and love of words to good use! Over the years, with the support of NWAW editors, I have expanded my writing from profile pieces to travel articles, topical issues like immigration, and all the way to astrology. As the eldest child of immigrants, and as an immigrant myself, I didn’t know a single word of English until I was 5 years old. What a journey it has been to take my experiences growing up as an Asian American, and transforming that perspective within the wide range of topics and issues that the NWAW covers. The opportunities I have been offered as a result of writing for the NWAW has been nothing but positive. It has allowed me to springboard to writing for other local and national publications. I could hardly have imagined over a decade ago that a story on a lecture at a local library would turn into the portfolio of articles I have been able to publish since then. I can see now see PARK on 13
I never thought we would see a time like this in our country — a time where journalism and the press are under attack from the top down to the degree that it is today. Maybe I’m naïve. Maybe I was too young when the world of journalism changed, when it stopped protecting the powers that be from themselves and allied itself with the truth, a shift led by Woodward and Bernstein. Journalists have always been criticized and often hated by those in power. They are inconvenient. But this feels different. This feels conspiratorial. This feels dangerous. There is a new blurring of fact and fiction, truth and lies, theater and reality, that should scare us all. It should scare us for our democracy. We had a great many checks and balances in place that have been systematically dismantled since the new administration came into power. Not only are the rules being changed, they don’t seem to think there is any need for rules at all. The rules don’t matter, only personal power matters. And the person in power is dangerous. Many readers of the Northwest Asian Weekly (NWAW) come from around the world. Many are not strangers to
the dictatorships, regime upheaval, Communism, and more. They know trouble when they see it and they know that access to information is critical to democracy and freedom. They know what dangers lay in the control and distortion of fact, information and truth. Those with any foundation in history understand the necessity of a free press. Assunta Ng began the Seattle Chinese Post, Chinese edition, when she saw a need in the community for information beyond bulletin boards in central Chinatown. Since then, the NWAW was founded and it has grown. With that growth, the papers’ purpose has expanded. The papers have grown in its service to the community. They have become advocates for the community. But this does not mean that they are blind advocates. They make sure that the community has access to information it needs. And they report about the community, its members, and its leaders. No longer is the Asian and Asian American community of the Seattle area invisible. It has a voice. The NWAW serves its community through inclusion, the dissemination of facts and see CASSIDY on 16
Congratulations to
Seattle Chinese Post &
Northwest Asian Weekly
35th Anniversary
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asianweekly northwest
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35 YEARS
OCTOBER 14 – OCTOBER 20, 2017
■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG
OPINION
My weapons for battling crises PART 3
The crises at the Northwest Asian Weekly never ends. One hit us as recently as last week — on Oct. 5, a day before the 35th anniversary gala of our sister paper, the Seattle Chinese Post, for more than 300 people. The Asian Weekly was already delivered to the office. But where was the Chinese Post? A voicemail was left in our office from a family member of our newspaper distributor. “Mr. To (distributor) is in the hospital, he couldn’t work today,” his daughter said. To is in charge of picking up the Seattle Chinese Post from the printer. He also distributes both papers in the International District (ID) and Renton. (Good thing the Asian Weekly is printed at another printer.) His absence set up a chain of emergency responses in our office. Picking up the papers was not the hard part. But who would distribute the two papers in the ID when everyone in the office was so involved with the gala the next day? We made some quick decisions. My husband and I, along with a staff member, distributed to a few areas, including Uwajimaya and all our news boxes. Some people saw me and was surprised that I, the publisher, was delivering the papers. Later, To called to say that he’s okay and could work on the following day. We apologize to readers who were anxiously waiting for the papers last Thursday. Despite the crisis, I was actually thankful that we didn’t get the message until the morning, so we got a good night’s sleep.
The lawsuit
A collection letter arrived late in the summer of 2016. For the first time in 35 years of business, we were being sued. A man accused us of discrimination. He claimed that our rejection of his classified advertisement in the Chinese Post resulted in a $25,000 loss of income. I didn’t know how he arrived at that number. It was signed by a collection agency’s attorney. His intent was clearly revealed — extortion. But the document was real. We rejected his advertisement because his customer complained to us that he didn’t refund the rent deposit when they decided not to go ahead with the deal. We told him if the deposit was returned and there were no more complaints, we would be glad to accept his advertisement. After months and months of waiting, we never heard back. A while later, he approached our receptionist in our office to place the advertisement. She took it without suspecting that he was the guy we had warned her about. But another staff member, who’s in charge of classifieds, recognized the name and photo. We rejected his ad again. Two years later, he sued us. We hired a media attorney to represent us. To make a long story short, the judge dismissed the case and ruled against him. But we had to spend over $8,000 in legal fees. The
Photo by George Liu/NWAW
By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
The late Ted Choi (third from left) with other Vietnamese leaders.
plaintiff paid us back $4,500 to settle, even though we asked for more to cover the attorney’s fee. It’s not just the money wasted, it consumed everyone’s time and energy. He did send a letter of apology afterwards, and wanted to advertise. He should know better!
The protest
In 2004, our editorial sparked a protest. About two dozen Vietnamese Americans held a demonstration across the street from our front door. Former Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Cao Ky decided to end his opposition to the Vietnamese Communist government, and was the first South Vietnamese leader to return to his native land after the war, since his exile in America. Our editorial stated that it was also time for the Vietnamese community to move on and reconcile with the government. A veteran, who was married to a Vietnamese, organized the protest after a Vietnamese newspaper wrote about our editorial. One of the Chinese community leaders, the late Ted Choi, sided with them. The protest traumatized our former editor, who happens to be Vietnamese. She couldn’t believe her own people protested against the paper and her writing. When the protestors learned about the editor’s reaction, they told her it’s not about her, “It’s that Chinese woman (meaning me).” Historically, the Vietnamese had been fighting the Chinese for over a thousand years. That’s the problem with the Asian community. The hostility among China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and other Asian countries have been dragged over to many generations. Why do we have to burden ourselves with our parents’ baggage all the way from our homeland to America? Why can’t we, as immigrants of America, have fresh ideas that are free of bias? We have to do better than our parents and ancestors! What’s ironic is, I am not pure Chinese. Born in Vietnam, my grandfather was half Vietnamese. It was interesting to see how divided the
Vietnamese community was on the issue. The young generation told us privately that they agreed with us. Some Vietnamese
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friends even shared with me that some of these protestors had returned to Vietnam early. That’s hypocritical! The older generation was still upset with the Communist government after 30 years for their loss of their homeland, property, and lives of loved ones. Somehow, they didn’t grasp they were in America, and the practice of freedom of speech was the media’s right. They expected everyone in the Asian community to side with them for what they had been going through. Hatred and the past only consumes the community. It’s important to work towards the future. A month later, my rage melted. Out of compassion, I invited the protesters to met with us in our office. But our goodwill was misunderstood as timidity and regret, and not as a gesture to foster dialogue and build bridges. The elder folks came with the expectation of getting an apology from us. They brought a written agreement for me to sign that said we would agree to publish an apology. Of course, they left emptyhanded. It was a constructive and friendly discussion though. see BLOG on 16
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asianweekly northwest
YOUR VOICE
OCTOBER 14 – OCTOBER 20, 2017
■ COMMENTARIES
11
OPINION
Being editor of NWAW
Photo by Han Bui/NWAW
By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Assunta Ng (left) with editor Ruth Bayang reviewing a weekly edition before going to press.
Twenty months ago, I got a phone call. I picked up and I heard a woman’s voice. “This is Assunta Ng.” My jaw dropped. Up until then, I knew Assunta by reputation only. And she was calling me. THE Assunta Ng. Not an assistant or receptionist, but Assunta Ng herself. I had applied for the editor position at the Northwest Asian Weekly. I had sent an email and my resume days before and thought nothing of it. I certainly never expected to get a phone call from THE Assunta Ng. I have been a journalist for 23 years, 17 of those in the Seattle market — most of it in the broadcast arena. Though it was a different medium, everybody knew of Assunta. If you didn’t, you were either new to town, you lived under a rock, or you didn’t take journalism seriously. Assunta is a legend in journalist circles.
She asked if I could come in for an interview that week. I said yes, and we arranged a time. I was very nervous about meeting this local legend. My first impression of her was that she was a no-nonsense person. She gets right to the point and some could perceive her as being blunt. I liked it. I also recognized that she had a very strong personality and I knew instantly that I would either love working with her, or hate it. There would be no middle ground. At that interview, Assunta assigned me to write an article. I was to interview Jane Chu, the head of the National Endowment for the Arts, that afternoon. Talk about a trial by fire! I accepted the challenge, not revealing to Assunta that I was accustomed to broadcast deadlines of only minutes. She gave me a four-day deadline. Unlike broadcast, I had to write a much longer story than I was used to. Seven-hundred words versus a story an anchor could read in 20 seconds (50-60 words?).
I assume I passed the test since she offered me the job. We agreed that we would give it a one-month trial period. Assunta had experienced a recent high turnover of editors (which I found out about much later), and I wasn’t sure if I would butt heads with her. Nearly two years later, I’m still here. We occasionally butt heads and I let her win since she’s the boss. She even made me change the original headline (“In awe of Assunta”) of this commentary because she didn’t want her name so prominently displayed. On a serious note, she does listen to my viewpoints and whether or not she takes the course of action I recommend, I feel like she respects me. I, in turn, get great satisfaction in helping Assunta live out her dream, one week at a time, and being a small part of the Northwest Asian Weekly’s 35-year history. Ruth can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.
Seattle: What’s the fuss? By Shounak Bagchi Sustainable Investment Consultant and Freelance Writer
Often, in hopes of escaping to some sense of a liberal utopia, I find myself watching old episodes of West Wing, the Aaron Sorkin American serial political Shounak Bagchi drama depicting the fictional workings of a progressive political administration. In one quintessential Sorkin scene, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman mansplains to his assistant, Donna Moss, “There’s a hockey coach who’s got a player who’s squandering his potential. Coach says, “Are you ignorant or just apathetic?” Player responds, “I don’t know and I don’t care.” Last year, Sorkin and certain cast members gathered at Austin’s SXSW to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the hit show’s series finale. When asked about the bevy of programming aimed at blue-state patrons, Sorkin expressed concern. The writer of The Social Network and A Few Good Men worried that in today’s climate, the endless amount of time one can spend in a kale-kombucha enclave of a liberal echo chamber could lead to progressives developing a dangerous habit of signaling an embodiment of liberal ideals (i.e. diversity, tolerance, and acceptance), while failing to actually espouse these values in real life. For those looking for an example of Sorkin’s nightmare, one should look no further than Seattle, because the passiveaggressive drizzly older brother of Portland is certainly the chicken tikka masala of liberalism — a diluted, washed down monolithically banal region devoid of any cultural nuance. Initially, I believed my six-month stint in Seattle, a time filled with faddish optics of multi-culturalism and a large douse of the nativist cold shoulder, was a unicorn of an experience. Upon further investigation, it’s apparent that these two characteristics are as ingrained into 206 culture as a Starbucks corner shop, Green Lake regaling, and Pike Place’s fish throwing.
At first blush, I realized Seattle practices are what one can call ‘diversity at a distance.’ During my first week, I attended a Bloomberg conference on sustainability and inclusion, where one of the city planners boasted that in one district, there are 58 languages spoken. When asked to reveal what those languages were and how often those groups interacted, the civil servant’s face turned paler than it already was (Spoiler Alert: everyone on the diversity and inclusion panel was white). More troubling, when Gov. Jay Inslee came up to speak, he doled out several statistics without mentioning any interaction of minority groups, their unique struggles, or contributions to his state’s largest city. This poor lady’s and governor’s dearth of understanding of diversity perfectly encapsulates the city’s outlook on the meaning of a melting pot, where 69 percent of the population, who are Caucasian, cite ethnic-focused statistics, then prop up these individuals, who they rarely interact with, as an anthropological novelty or a diversity economic case study justifying their international gravitas and global awareness. In short, Bill Gates’ fellow Pacific Northwesterners enjoy discussing issues affecting communities of color, rather than discussing issues with communities of color. In the masochistic endeavor of trying to engage with locals, I signed up for three or four “Meet Up” events. Given the “shocking” election results, voter turnout was a common topic. In our discussions, I denounced the idea that simply making Election Day a national holiday would be the silver bullet to clear liberal electoral domination (because when you’re poor, over worked, and never see your family, why would one bother to wait in line for a candidate who pays lip service to your problems). I articulated (in my humble opinion) that to increase turnout, progressives must develop a sound platform, expand resources towards voter registration, make sure the liberal base turns out during midterms, and that we try to increase voting locations and timeframes. Each time, I was lambasted as not caring for the poor, giving into conservative principles, and creating a pipe dream. At one point, others joined to denounce me and “corporate” views. (Side note: I attended Berkeley and my idea of expanding voting locations comes from India, where they have one poll for every 1.2km).
Most shocking, is that this moment of liberal hysteria was the one time I had any spontaneous interaction from Space Needle bedfellows. Before this article, you might have heard the rumor that Seattle residents are known for being rudely cold. It’s true. The term that often describes this reclusiveness is the Seattle Freeze—a concept that describes the cold, standoffish, flaky, and passive-aggressive demeanor of 206 residents. The oldest reference about the Seattle Freeze dates back from a piece from 1946 in the Seattle Daily Times, which spoke of the lukewarm reception newcomers receive: “It was revealed what we had indeed suspected – that newcomers do not always find us altogether perfect; that we sometimes are neglectful of the stranger in our midst; that we seem unduly preoccupied with our own local concerns.” It might make sense that when residents boast about their city, they bring up their beloved Seahawks and Sounders, the semi birthplace of Rock n’ Roll, the proximity to lush to the islands of San Juan and Vashon Island, their craft beers (#overrated), and their summers (#overhyped). Never once would you hear about the magnificence or personal brilliance of the character of Seattle residents. And that’s why Seattle is the Ted Cruz of metropolises. Because whatever geographical amenities, intellectual capital, and financial firepower an area may have, the greatness of a city lies in the beauty, eclectic aura, and charisma of its people. Seattle patrons lack the elegance of a Parisian, the worldliness of a Londonite, the hospitality of an Athenian, the entrepreneurial spirit of a San Franciscan, the weirdness of the Austinian, the vibrancy of a New Orleans resident, the grit of Detroit native, the honesty of a Chicagoan, and the realness of a New Yorker. As hordes of newcomers arrive to Jeff Bezos’ backyard, the questions remain: is Seattle indifferent or apathetic to these facts? Can their citizens quickly revise their approach to liberalism before the lie catches up? Or are they okay with being the Nickelback of large towns? The sad reality is patrons of the 206 simply don’t know and don’t care. ■
asianweekly northwest
12
OCTOBER 14 – OCTOBER 20, 2017
KILLER from 1 transplant hepatology. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Asian Americans make up only 5 percent of the U.S. population, and they account for more than half of the burden of chronic HBV infection. Known as a “silent killer,” liver cancer patients typically show no symptoms until the latter stages of the disease. That’s why Swedish is rolling out a pilot program to increase awareness and get people screened — particular those in the Asian and sub-Saharan African immigrant populations. “We are using the mammography coaches (vehicles) — hoping to do some liver cancer screening and hepatitis B management outreach starting in December,” said Swedish Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) Lindsey LaRock. It would be the first ever mobile liver health clinic in Seattle, possible nationwide. “Patients tell me — it took a lot of emotional energy to be here (at a clinic),” said LaRock. “The questions are often, ‘What did I do wrong?’ or ‘I thought it was because my family was dirty.’” She hopes the community outreach of a mobile van will normalize perceptions about HBV, hepatitis C, and liver cancer. “In the U.S. and western countries, [HBV is transmitted through] exposure to infected blood, experimenting with
35 YEARS
intravenous drugs, or sexual interaction,” said Mukhtar. “That’s where some stigma comes into play.” He said in Asia and Africa, the primary mode of transmission is mother to child. “It’s not the fault of anybody… you were just born.” Mukhtar said you could have the disease for decades and never exhibit any symptoms. The only way to find out if you have it is to get tested or screened. Primary care doctors don’t test for it, as it’s not part of the annual well visit. “Immigrants from places like China, Korea, Japan, India, sub-Saharan Africa ... these are populations that should automatically be tested, even if they don’t have any symptoms,” said Mukhtar. He also said first degree relatives, such as children born to immigrants from those regions, should be tested. It’s not clear why Asia and some parts of Africa are highly endemic. Swedish wants to partner with community clinics and organizations that are already doing outreach. They are especially interested in working in the Chinatown-International District. With the large number of immigrants coming in for tech jobs at Amazon or Microsoft, Mukhtar said it makes sense to target these populations. To help with outreach to the Asian population, Swedish has a Cultural Responsive Care program to support patients who can’t speak English. Outreach Education and Patient Engagement Program Managers like Nelson Tang will help find medical practitioners who speak a patient’s native
language and help them receive quality health care services, among other things. Mukhtar emphasized the significant morbidity and mortality associated with liver diseases in general. “If they’re coming to us because of symptoms, it means they are already in the very late stages.” Symptoms can include fluid retention and gastrointestinal bleeding. “Every month, I’m seeing patients who are finding out about their disease because of being diagnosed with liver cancer through imaging done for another reason like abdominal pain, or because they started to develop pain related to the liver cancer,” said Mukhtar. Often he sees Asian men in their 50s to 60s. “Very functional men who have families, young children, and coming in with very severe liver cancer that could have been treated or prevented.” There is a vaccine available that protects individuals from acquiring a hepatitis B infection. Doctors suggest you get the shot if you are going to be in contact with someone who is infected, such as a first degree family member, or if you’re traveling to areas where there are high rates of infection. Mukhtar is on the tumor board, where he and other doctors meet weekly to discuss treatment plans for liver cancer patients. “[Liver cancer] is very treatable when detected early. It is the key to giving patients the best chance at a cure.” Ruth can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.
DRAGON from 8 skirmish is stopped by Ernest Hunt (Bryan Larkin), who is an infamous English police superintendent sent over to Hong Kong to enforce British law. After being released, the gang of four start making their way up the ranks of the illegal drug trade. Ho joins forces with corrupt Chief Detective Lee Rock (Andy Lau) to put a stranglehold on the drug business. Lee constantly reminds Ho that they can do whatever they want, as long as they don’t murder any British cops. There are some subplots with Ho, arranging for his family to be smuggled by boat to Hong Kong, and his son dealing with a drug addiction. Ho’s son eventually becomes desperate enough to approach Ernest for drugs. In the 1970s, an ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption) was established to clean up the streets of Hong Kong. The partnership between Lee and Ho begins to erode. Lee wants to escape Hong Kong with Ho, but Ho just wants to settle the score. Hong Kong’s corruption in the 1960s is well known for people who grew up there. I tried to do some research to find how much of the story between Lee and Ho was true, but did not find much on English-language websites. This movie isn’t advertised
as a biopic and other reviewers point to exaggeration, and the family subplots were unfounded. Donnie Yen is known for his role in the Ip Man film series — a martial arts hero who saves his people from outsiders, and he’s had supporting roles in recent U.S. blockbusters XXX: Return of Xander Cage and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The fight scenes aren’t choreographed the same way as Ip Man, but street fights were done well nonetheless. I was cringing at the scene where Ho receives his infamous
nickname Crippled Ho. There are a few plot twists that can be expected. In Chasing the Dragon, Donnie isn’t portrayed as a villain as much as the trailers make him seem. It is refreshing to see him playing a multidimensional character, and I’m excited for Donnie’s future movie opportunities. Andy Lau settles right into his role as Lee Rock, since he plays the same character in the movies To Be Number One (1991), Lee Rock, and Lee Rock II. With Andy’s extensive movie career, he plays a calm and calculated cop always making sure he
covers all the angles perfectly. Andy and Donnie did a fantastic job supplementing each other. Surprisingly, Chasing the Dragon was released over China’s National Day, and there is speculation why a film dealing with corruption was allowed on such a prestigious occasion. All films released in China are heavily censored to make sure they follow China’s political and moral views. The director, Wong Jing, stated, “We’re showing how the British colonial powers didn’t do anything good for Hongkongers. They were only colluding for bribes. Of course, not all of them did that, but maybe 70 to 80 percent did.” That perspective from the director was how Chasing the Dragon got the green light to be released. Chasing the Dragon is currently playing in 52 theaters in the United States and has grossed $60 million worldwide. Seattle is extremely fortunate this movie is playing at Regal Meridian 16. Don’t miss it! John can be reached nwasianweekly.com.
at
john@
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asianweekly northwest
YOUR VOICE
OCTOBER 14 – OCTOBER 20, 2017
■ ASTROLOGY
13
Predictions and advice for the week of October 14–20, 2017 By Sun Lee Chang
Dragon — While you are quite attuned to the changes, others might not recognize it as readily. It should give you extra time to make adjustments, if necessary.
Rat — If you don’t want to be left behind, then make it clear that you are ready and willing to accept the invitation that has been extended to you. Ox — There could be some conflict where responsibilities overlap. It is worth discussing early on to figure out what to do in that instance.
Snake — Even though you would have done things differently, this is a moment to step back or support, rather than interfere.
Tiger — Build upon recent successes to select a way forward that is tailored to your unique combination of strengths and interests.
Horse — Avoid letting a difference of opinion get in the way of a productive collaboration. Focus on the important areas where you actually agree.
Rabbit — Rather than going down a worn path, your prospects for the future will be much greater if you strike out on your own.
Goat — Pondering whether to act now or wait a little longer? When the moment is right, there will be no question.
Monkey — Taking care of everyone but yourself can take a toll. Make it a priority to address your needs as well. Rooster — Are you growing tired of an old argument? It takes two to engage, so decide this time to go another way. Dog — There are certain areas where settling is just not an option. In those cases, you need to stand firm for what you want. Pig — You know something that is going to alter the playing field, which can be used to your advantage.
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.
REAL ID from 3 Homeland Security that while Washington’s REAL ID request for an additional extension throughout October 2018 is awaiting review from the Secretary of Homeland Security, they will join the other states under a grace period through Jan. 22. The federal law requires state driver’s licenses and ID cards to have security enhancements and to be issued to people who can prove they are legally in the United States. It was passed after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to strengthen rules for identification needed at airports and federal facilities. Washington lawmakers passed a measure this year creating a two-tiered licensing system that was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee. Washington state already offers, but does not mandate,
PARK from 9 that sometimes, it really is worth it to see where the road will take you, no matter how it meanders or detours. With each new editor, a different focus and style has shaped the NWAW over the years. All have combined to add a richness and depth to the stories that are covered. They have consistently breathed life into the pages of the paper with their passion and drive for new stories and coverage of important issues facing the Asian American community. That is evident by the long history and variety of articles that the NWAW has to offer. I remember many years ago, when I was covering the annual NWAW scholarship dinner, I first met publisher Assunta Ng in person. You could tell even from a distance who she was by her level of engagement and interest of those in attendance. As I approached her nervously, she encouraged me to talk to the recipients and find out their individual stories and try to show why they were being honored with a
enhanced driver’s licenses and IDs that require proof of U.S. citizenship and are valid under the federal law. Starting in July 2018, the state’s standard licenses — which aren’t in line with the federal requirements — will be marked to indicate they are not REAL ID compliant and thus not acceptable for certain purposes by federal authorities. Residents will have a choice of which license they want. Those with the non-compliant licenses will eventually need additional documentation — such as a passport, permanent resident card, or military ID — to board domestic commercial flights and for other federal purposes. Washington was among several states that were scrambling to address this issue, concerned about the possibility of residents needing additional documentation sooner, based on a January 2018 deadline for boarding flights that the federal government had set for states not
scholarship. Of course, that’s just what I did! A civic leader in her own right, it was clear to me that this publisher meant business and really cared about promoting and supporting the future leaders in the local community. The past decade has seen such a huge change in how Americans consume news. No longer do they rely only on the big three networks or the dominant local paper. Now, the huge world of online news sources, cable news, and others can be overwhelming and oftentimes contradictory. I have come to rely on the fair and honest reporting of the NWAW to cover stories that are often overlooked by the local and national media. The mission to inform and educate, as well as entertain, is an important one — to do just that consistently and credibly, as the NWAW has done over 35 years, is nothing short of phenomenal. ■
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Yoon can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
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in compliance and without extensions. According to the REAL ID website, all states and territories are either in compliance or have an extension. Christine Anthony, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Licensing, said that her office was told by federal officials that the grace period was put in place because events like the recent hurricanes and the Las Vegas shooting “have delayed that review.’’ Federal officials did not address the reasoning for the grace period either on the REAL ID website (dhs.gov/realid) that shows the current status of each state or by email. “The grace period allows for DHS to continue the review of any potential open requests for an extension from the states,’’ DHS spokeswoman Justine Whelan wrote in an email. “Residents will not experience a functional change with respect to enforcement during the grace period.’’ ■
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HAPPINESS from 8 directing theatre is about craft and work, not art. He used to tell me, ‘Desdemona, you’re good, but you’re no artist.’ Valerie taught me that fear was the center of all your problems. ‘Where’s the fear?’ she would ask. ‘Locate the fear, and you’ll locate your solution.’” On first exposure to the play, Swanson was struck by Sunny’s journey. She starts as a meek girl who wants to move her way up into the world without rocking the boat, and evolves to a revolutionary figure, willing to risk her safety and wellbeing to draw attention to the wrongs that her fellow factory workers face every day. “I saw it [at first],” said the actor, “as an Eastern story
KIM from 4 holder from Portland, Oregon, struggled with drug addiction, homelessness and post-traumatic stress following his time in Iraq in 2009 and 2010, leading to convictions for burglary and other charges. Kim’s lawyer and friends have said he has done well since completing a substance abuse treatment program run by the Department of Veterans Affairs early this year. But immigration agents arrested him in April and brought him to a detention center in Tacoma, Washington. They plan to deport him because of his convictions. “It’s just wrong to be deporting an Army veteran,” said Matt Luce, 41, of Troutdale, Oregon, who attended high school with Kim and traveled with three other former classmates to the hearing last week. “Despite his convictions, he was on and continues to be on the right path. This is just a travesty of justice.” Kim’s attorney, Tim Warden-Hertz of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, said that Immigration Judge Theresa Scala found that the government met its burden to show that Kim posed a danger to the public or a risk of flight, though he said she did not explain her rationale in court. Warden-Hertz planned to appeal the decision, which he said illustrates the difficulty of obtaining bond in the
KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received by the King County Procurement Services Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 2:00 PM of bid opening date for the following listed bids. To download a document, go to our web page at: http://www. kingcounty.gov/procurement. King County encourages minority business enterprise participation. King County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its programs, services, and employment opportunities. 1333-17-RLR OPENS: October 31, 2017 Crane Rental Services with Operator (Seeking Additional Vendors – Supplemental to 1273-17-RLR) 1334-17-VLN OPENS: November 2, 2017 Industrial Hygiene and Environmental Services Work Order Services
that was going to be told to a Western audience. But as I continued to go deeper into the script and the story, I realized that this play tells a universal story, it just happens to be set in an Eastern country, told by Eastern characters. “This story has something in it everyone can relate to, no matter their background, and it’s my hope that I can do my part to relay that connection to the audience.” Chiang expressed similar thoughts. “When I first worked on this piece, I was struck by how Western the script felt, despite being set in China. The fight against a system of oppression, the individual’s struggle for visibility, our misguided notions of meritocracy, and desire for personal advancement — these are also American ideas. And that there is a lot of shared values between modern China and
America. “So the more I work on this play, the more I’m convinced that as our world becomes more increasingly technological, our perceived cultural differences eventually become subsumed by a larger shared notion of modernity.” ■
immigration detention system. In an earlier statement, the agency said Kim had been arrested after “it was determined he has a prior felony conviction in Multnomah County for attempt to commit arson in the first degree, among other charges.” Kim joined the National Guard in 2005 and served in Iraq in 2009 and 2010 before being honorably discharged. He came to the U.S. more than 35 years ago, at age 5, and he became a legal permanent resident in 1981. He does not speak Korean, his friends have said. His immigration troubles stem primarily from two incidents — a burglary and another case, which his lawyer described as a “dumb prank,” in which he filled a beer bottle with gasoline, lit it on fire and threw it at a concrete outer wall at the back of a hardware store. After the first matter, in 2013, he faced deportation. The judge let him go — but warned him not to get in trouble again, former Staff Sgt. Ryan Kell, who was Kim’s team leader in Iraq, told the Associated Press in July. Last year, though, he was convicted of attempted arson in a special veterans court following the second incident. He participated in a 4 1/2-month, inpatient substance abuse treatment program run by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and had been doing well. “He admits he had a drug problem and that he committed crimes when he was under the influence — he’s not proud
of it,” Warden-Hertz said. “To find he’s a danger or a flight risk now doesn’t make any sense.” In petitioning for Kim’s release pending deportation proceedings, Warden-Hertz submitted letters from a clinical psychologist who detailed Kim’s success in the substance abuse program as well as from a clinical nurse manager at the Portland VA Health Care System, where Kim began working in January as a housekeeper at a cardiology and oncology unit. “Mr. Kim demonstrated exceptional team work,” the nurse manager, Cynthia Fahy, wrote. “It was regularly reported to this manager that he often went out of his way to assist other housekeepers and nurses.” Jason Phebus, 31, of Gresham, Oregon, is an Air Force veteran who began drinking heavily — and later using harder drugs — as he had a difficult time transitioning into civilian life. He said that he met Chong in the VA’s substance abuse program, and he credited Chong’s friendship and advice with helping him make it to where Phebus is today — in recovery with a steady job. His response to the notion that Chong might be deported is “a string of explicits,” he said. “He was man enough to stand up and serve this country, in combat no less,” Phebus said. “Now he’s not fit to be here?” ■
“The World of Extreme Happiness” opens Oct. 12 and runs through Nov. 5 at Seattle Public Theater. For prices, showtimes, and other information, visit seattlepublictheater.org/the-world-of-extreme-happiness. Andrew Hamlin can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
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asianweekly northwest
YOUR VOICE
OCTOBER 14 – OCTOBER 20, 2017
15
“Congratulations to the Northwest Asian Weekly for 35 years of bringing the community closer together through print media. Your newspaper has done a wonderful job of keeping us informed on the important issues that impacts us all. Please continue to educate, inspire, and challenge us by keeping us current to all the things happening around us. I wish continued success to the staff at the Northwest Asian Weekly for many years to come.” — Hiroshi Hibi, Bellevue Uwajimaya store manager “I can’t believe it was more than 35 years ago, when [Assunta and I] had a conversation about the idea of a newspaper! My first worry was about how much work it would be. But Assunta made it happen. Her vision, insights, commitment, and determination forged a path that would bring information about and between Asian and Asian American groups. Valuable results have been API groups learning about and caring about other API groups and their concerns. Your stories informed and advocated, as well as supported community issues. Thank you for a job well done! Best wishes for the next 35 years!” — Bettie Luke, community leader
The only weekly English-edition newspaper serving the Asian community in the state of Washington for 35 years.
LAS VEGAS from 1 last week, according to a law enforcement official. The official wasn’t authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Sheriff Joseph Lombardo, who has called Danley a “person of interest” in the attack, said he is “absolutely” confident authorities will find out what set off Paddock, a 64-year-old high-stakes gambler and retired accountant who killed himself before police stormed his 32ndfloor room. Danley first arrived in the Philippines on Sept. 15, according to immigration documents there. She departed on Sept. 22 then returned three days later on a flight from Hong Kong. She was traveling on an Australian passport. Philippines immigration bureau spokeswoman Antonette Mangrobang said authorities there had been working with U.S. officials. “From the very beginning, we have been providing them necessary information that would aid their investigation,” Mangrobang said. Danley’s Australia-based sisters say they believe Paddock sent her away so she wouldn’t interfere with his plans. Australia’s Channel 7 TV network interviewed the sisters with their faces obscured and their names withheld. They said they believe their sister couldn’t have known about his ideas. The woman said Danley is “a good person” who would’ve stopped Paddock had she been there. One of the sisters, who live near Brisbane, Queensland, said they believed
CHIN from 4 Chin has been battling President Donald Trump on travel bans since February, after the president sought to bar new visas for people from seven mostly Muslim countries. The state later amended that lawsuit to add a plaintiff: the imam of a Honolulu mosque. Hawaii has roughly 5,000 Muslims. When Trump revised the ban, Chin amended the lawsuit to challenge that version. In March, U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson in Honolulu agreed with Hawaii that the ban amounted to discrimination based on nationality and religion.
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.
Marilou knew Paddock had guns, but not as many as he had. “She probably was even (more) shocked than us because she is more closer to him than us,” her sister said. Paddock traveled at least twice to the Philippines, where his girlfriend was born, according to a Filipino official who was not authorized to discuss the trips publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The official said Paddock visited the Philippines in 2013 and 2014, around his birthday, staying for five to six days on both occasions. There were no immediate details available about those trips, according to the official. Paddock transferred $100,000 to the Philippines in the days before the shooting, a U.S. official briefed by law enforcement but not authorized to speak publicly because of the continuing investigation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Investigators are still trying to trace that money and also looking into a least a dozen financial reports over the past several weeks that said Paddock gambled more than $10,000 per day, the official said. As for what may have set Paddock off, retired FBI profiler Jim Clemente speculated that there was “some sort of major trigger in his life — a great loss, a breakup, or maybe he just found out he has a terminal disease.” Clemente said a “psychological autopsy” may be necessary to try to establish the motive. If the suicide didn’t destroy Paddock’s brain, experts may even find a neurological disorder or malformation, he said. He said there could be a genetic component to the slaughter: Paddock’s
A subsequent U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowed the administration to partially reinstate a 90-day ban on visitors from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, and a 120-day ban on refugees from anywhere in the world. The court’s ruling exempted a large number of refugees and travelers with a “bona fide relationship” with a person or entity in the U.S. Hawaii successfully challenged the federal government’s definition of which family members would be allowed into the country. Watson ordered the government not to enforce the ban on close relatives such as grandparents, grandchildren, uncles and aunts. ■
father was a bank robber who was on the FBI’s most-wanted list in the 1960s and was diagnosed a psychopath. “The genetics load the gun, personality and psychology aim it, and experiences pull the trigger, typically,” Clemente said. Paddock had a business degree from Cal State Northridge. In the 1970s and ‘80s, he worked as a mail carrier and an IRS agent and held down a job in an auditing division of the Defense Department, according to the government. He later worked for a defense contractor. He had no known criminal record, and public records showed no signs of financial troubles. Nevada’s Gaming Control Board said
it will pass along records compiled on Paddock and his girlfriend to investigators. His brother, Eric Paddock, said he was at a loss to explain the massacre. “No affiliation, no religion, no politics. He never cared about any of that stuff,” he said outside his Florida home. Eric Paddock said his brother did show a confrontational side at times: He apparently hated cigarette smoke so much that he carried around a cigar and blew smoke in people’s faces when they lit up around him. Lombardo said the investigation is proceeding cautiously in case criminal charges are warranted against someone else. ■
asianweekly northwest
16
35 YEARS
OCTOBER 14 – OCTOBER 20, 2017
BLOG from 10 Presently, the Vietnamese media and the Asian Weekly have a good relationship — we support one another and even collaborate together from time to time.
US-China-Taiwan
What do you do when both Chinese and Taiwan’s diplomats show up at your event? Instantly, it can create a diplomatic crisis. In 2009, forgetting the implications of inviting diplomats from China and Taiwan in the same room, I sent Gary Locke and Director General Daniel Liao out invitation letters of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office to four diplomatic representatives: China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. No one suspected the drama and tension behind the event. As the organizer, I wanted the event to be a full house. Those Asian countries shared the pride of having an Asian American appointed to such a high position. All four officials indicated they would like to come. The issue was who would sit with Locke at the head table. Both the Chinese and Taiwan officials asked if they could sit at Locke’s table. We knew we couldn’t accommodate both requests. We also didn’t know that neither could sit at that table — we had no clue about protocol. The Taiwan official threatened that if we didn’t let him sit at the head table, he would accuse me of being divisive between the two communities. I had no choice but to report to Locke’s office, who consulted with the State Department for guidance. The State Department said that no China or Taiwan officials could sit at the head table because they were not the same rank as a cabinet member. When the State Department spoke, no one would argue. It’s interesting that neither Japan or South Korea’s diplomat demanded to be at the head table. The challenge now was the seating plan. Our solution was to make sure that no one lost face. Everyone was seated with prominent
community leaders as table hosts. The head table was set in the middle of the room. The Taiwan official’s table was in front; the Chinese official’s table was next to the head table. The Korean and Japanese officials were right behind the head table to the left and right. All the chaos was settled before the dinner. At the event, we introduced the Taiwan and Chinese officials to each other, and they posed for photos together. Everything ran smoothly that evening.
From left: Ron Chow, Gary Locke, and Chinese Vice Consul General Lu from San Francisco
Yes, they both showed up on the 10th anniversary celebration of the Seattle Chinese Post. Sometimes, many interpret a mailed invitation as an important piece of courtesy. On our 10th anniversary, we mailed out the invitations to all subscribers with a computer label. We didn’t even think about it when we sent it out. But the Chinese consul general in San Francisco and the local Taiwan director general both accepted the invitation. It was not a pretty scene for me as the host that night. Both walked out in protest when they found out the other was at the same event. For the past two weeks, my blogs have focused on crises at the Northwest Asian Weekly. When my editor learned that I will write about more crises this week, she said, “You have more?” Definitely, there’s more. But...I’d like to stop here as many are not printable, and it could impact the community. What I am most thankful for is that these crises might have hurt us, but they didn’t kill us. We still publish week after week for our readers. That’s what matters. What exactly are my weapons for dealing with crises? You will find out next week. Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.
CASSIDY from 9 information, and factual representation to the greater community. Now, more than ever, journalists must continue to do their jobs, with integrity and without wavering in conviction. Journalists must continue their quest for objectivity. They must continue to fully cover stories no matter the cost to themselves. Eventually, we hope to see an end to the unwarranted and unsubstantiated aspersions on this noble profession. For our part, we journalists can never lose sight of the important work that we are doing. We must never fail to strive for fact and truth and objectivity. And we must refrain from participating in the circus and freak show in order to sell papers, or gain an audience. We must be faithful to the mission of accurate information about and for the readers. To obscure information for personal bias is to fail as a journalist. Failure is not an option when the mission is so important. It will require sacrifice. It requires commitment and hard work. It requires the expurgation of false journalists — those who are intent upon misleading the public and the propagation of a particular point of view are not true journalists. They are entertainers, and puppets, and con artists. Serving as editor of the NWAW was my dream job before I knew it was my dream. Assunta Ng entrusted her dream to me and her community became mine. I will never again have a boss like Assunta. She never hesitated to support me in my service to the community. She gave me the freedom to grow the paper and participate as an activist.The establishment of the Seattle Chinese Post and NWAW has forever changed Seattle, and forever changed the Asian and Asian American community. She did it by providing information to people who needed it. And by giving them a voice. Assunta changed the world through the noble, treacherous, and difficult profession of journalism. I am proud to have played a small part in the change that she made. ■ Susan can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
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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
$100 per seat / $1,000 for an individual or corporate table of 10. After Oct. 6, the price increases $125/$1250. Space is limited To purchase tickets, call us at 206-223-0623 or email rsvp@nwasianweekly.com. To reserve space, fax a copy of this form to 206-223-0626 or send a check by Oct. 6 to Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation, Attn: 35 years, PO Box 3468, Seattle WA 98114. Name ______________________________________ Title/Org ____________________________________
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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.