VOL 36 NO 47 | NOVEMBER 18 – NOVEMBER 24, 2017

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VOL 36 NO 47 NOVEMBER 18 – NOVEMBER 24, 2017 FREE 36 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Jenny Durkan appoints Asian American deputy mayors

By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

SEATTLE — For the first time in Seattle’s history, the city will have two Asian American deputy mayors. Mayor-elect Jenny Durkan unveiled her full transition committee on Nov. 13.

Mike Fong and Shefali Ranganathan will be the senior Mike Fong

deputy mayor and deputy mayor, respectively.

Fong was former Mayor Ed Murray’s chief of staff — he left that role recently to become chief operating officer for King County Executive Dow Constantine.

Fong said Durkan has a “progressive, inclusive vision” for Seattle. “I’m eager to get to work see DEPUTY on 12

The Democratic National Committee said the election of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) candidates — many of them running for the first time — in Virginia, New Jersey, Washington, and across America were resounding victories for the community. Here is a small sample of the notable AAPI Democratic victories:

Shefali Ranganathan

SHELF This month’s top book picks highlight the resilience of children. » see 7

TURNING 80

HMONG ADELE

Grandmaster Leong’s birthday celebration. » see 8

Maa Vue on breaking and embracing tradition. » see 9

Photo by Daria Kroupoderova/NWAW

UW regent Tamaki: George Takei, Richard Dreyfuss A voice for API respond in students harassment scandal

By Irfan Shariff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY George Takei and his husband, Brad Takei, at the 40th annual gay pride parade in 2014.

By LEANNE ITALIE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK (AP) — George Takei took to Twitter on Nov. 11 to deny groping a male model and Richard Dreyfuss said he never exposed himself to a female writer helping him with a TV script, both back in the 1980s.

Takei, the 80-year-old “Star Trek” icon, said in a series of tweets that events described by Scott R. Brunton in The Hollywood Reporter “simply did not occur,” and he does not remember ever knowing Brunton.

“Right now it is a he said/he said situation, over alleged events nearly 40 years ago. But those that know me understand that non-consensual

■

Election Day AAPI victories

acts are so antithetical to my values and my practices, the very idea that someone would accuse me of this is quite personally painful,” Takei tweeted.

Richard Dreyfuss

Dreyfuss, meanwhile, told the New York magazine blog Vulture he flirted and even kissed Los see TAKEI on 13

Blaine Tamaki is a Triple Dawg. He received a bachelor’s degree in economics, earned a Juris Doctor, and most recently was appointed to the Board of Regents at the University of Washington (UW). He’s more than just a former UW Husky and member of the university’s governing board —he’s the father of a current student and an alum.

Tamaki, a third-generation Japanese American, has practiced law in Yakima for 35 years. He has led record cases “fighting for the rights of the powerless. My clients are people, not corporations.”

Tamaki is one of two regents who are based outside of Western Washington. And, he is currently

the only Asian American. Past API UW Regents include Fred Kiga, Scott Oki, and the late Ark Chin.

“API students were overdue for a voice on the Board of Regents. I am flattered and honored to be that voice,” said Tamaki. According to Tamaki, 25 percent of the student population is part of the API community.

“Having a regent who is Asian will mean we have someone at the table at the state’s largest public university,” said Francisco “Frank” Irigon, who was a member of the Asian Student Coalition at UW in the 1970s.

“With his awareness, we’ll have an advocate for our issues and concerns,” said Irigon. “He will represent the best interests see TAMAKI on 15

Manka Dhingra, WA: Flipped Washington’s 45th Senate District, giving Democrats control of all branches of state government.

Kathy Tran, VA: First Asian American woman to be elected to the Virginia House of Delegates.

Vin Gopal, NJ: Flipped New Jersey’s District 11 Senate seat.

Ravi Bhalla, NJ: Mayor-elect of Hoboken, first Sikh mayor to be elected in the state of New Jersey.

Kelly Fowler, VA: Flipped Virginia’s House of Delegates 21st district. ■

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2

36 YEARS

NOVEMBER 18 – NOVEMBER 24, 2017

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Photo provided by ICHS.

ICHS opens new vision clinic

From left: Prof. Kam Wing Chan (Geography); Anne Pyle; Professor Kenneth Pyle (Jackson School of International Studies); Eugene Wu (front, our featured speaker, Harvard-Yenchin Librarian Emeritus); Zhijia Shen (Director of East Asia Library); Prof. Donald Hellmann (Jackson School of International Studies).

Ribbon cutting ceremony with ICHS CEO Teresita Batayola (2nd from left, former Seattle City Councilmember Jean Godden (4th from left) and supporters.

International Community Health Services (ICHS) held a ribbon-cutting service on Nov. 6, to celebrate the opening of its new vision clinic in the ChinatownInternational District.

The 1,200-square-foot facility, located in a storefront across the plaza from the ICHS medical-dental building in the International District Village Square, was built with support from a $350,000 grant from the City of Seattle. The clinic includes two exam rooms and is expected to handle approximately 900 visits by its second year of operation.

The vision clinic concept arose out of discovery that only half of ICHS patients completed their referrals for eye care.

Former Seattle City Councilmember Jean Godden, who helped secure the grant from the City during the 2015 budget process, was also at the ceremony. ■

East Asia Library’s 80th anniversary

The University of Washington’s East Asia Library (EAL) celebrated 80 years of supporting the East Asian Studies community on Nov. 3.

Eugene Wu, the first-ever staff member (in 1947) of what was then the Far East Library, spoke along with other past and current staff, faculty, and students. Wu is now in his 90s.

Additionally, special items from EAL’s collections

including a recent gift of Korean calligraphy and a timeline of EAL’s rich history were on display. ■

Musunuri wins regional Siemens competition

Four students, including Sriharshita Musunuri of Mill Creek, Wash., were named national finalists in the Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology this past weekend.

Musunuri, a senior at Henry M. Jackson High School, earned top individual honors and a $3,000 scholarship for designing a new polymer nanoparticle that could diagnose and treat a deadly form of sepsis caused by bacterial infections.

She will move to the final phase of the Siemens Competition in Washington, D.C. in December, where $500,000 in scholarships will be awarded, including two top prizes of $100,000. All of the finalists will receive at least $25,000 in scholarship money.

The Siemens Competition, launched in 1999 by the Siemens Foundation, increases access to higher education for students who are gifted in STEM. ■

The Seattle Globalist names new executive director

Longtime journalist Travis Quezon has been hired by

The Seattle Globalist to be its executive director. Globalist Board President Anita Verna Crofts said, “His journalism background and his deep commitment to community stewardship will build on The Seattle Globalist’s strong foundation of being a platform for underrepresented voices in our region with stories that need to be told.”

Quezon, the Editor-in-Chief of the International Examiner since 2013, was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. He has a degree in English from the University of Hawaii.

“It’s essential in today’s political climate that we keep striving to empower diverse voices who can share their own stories and develop journalists to report on issues that would otherwise not be covered in mainstream media,” Quezon said.

Quezon’s first day at The Seattle Globalist will be Dec. 1. ■

PICA Conference

The Pre-conquest Indigenous Cultures and its Aftermath (PICA) conference on Nov. 10–12 at the Klondike Gold Rush National Park, examined the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act and other denials of liberties.

Since 2013, PICA’s purpose has been to increase knowledge UW Senior lecturer Connie So showed some of the art exhibits about Asian heritage and create a shared identity, based upon greater awareness about issues common to our community.

They accomplish this by focusing on a historical event in American history as it impacts people of color in the Seattle area. 

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

NOVEMBER 18 – NOVEMBER 24, 2017

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

3

People of color, women make up majority of Durkan’s transition committee challenges as a city, and we want to have a myriad of voices at the table to ensure we are making decisions that will have the most impact and provide immediate relief within our communities.”

Anne Lee

Brianna Ishihara

Ruthann Kurose

By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Seattle Mayor-elect Jenny Durkan unveiled her full transition committee on Nov. 13, a diverse and inclusive group of more than 60 community leaders and experts. The

Shefali Ranganathan

David Della

Taylor Hoang

committee includes housing and homelessness advocates, social justice activists, transportation advocates, environmentalists, and labor and business leaders.

“Our transition team reflects the best of Seattle. To solve our affordability, housing, and homelessness crisis, we need urgent action and innovative ideas,” said Durkan in a statement. It went on to say, “We are facing unprecedented

Asian American transition committee members include: — Anne Lee, TeamChild, Executive Director — Brianna Ishihara, Community Member — Ruthann Kurose, Community Leader — Shefali Ranganathan, Transportation Choices Coalition, Executive Director — Taylor Hoang, Ethnic Business Coalition, Executive Director — David Della, Former Seattle City Councilmember Staff can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

ACRS offers hot meal on Thanksgiving Day

celebration with hot food served by ACRS volunteers and staff.

Chef Chong Boon Ooi of Ooink restaurant on Capitol Hill will join this year’s celebration and offer ready to eat Asian meals alongside traditional fare like turkey and pumpkin pie. All are welcome at this free event. ■

Photo by John Liu/NWAW

Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) invites members of the community to attend a Thanksgiving luncheon at its headquarters in Seattle’s Rainier Valley.

It will be held from 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., or until the food runs out, at 3639 Martin Luther King Jr. Way South in Seattle.

Last year, more than 300 individuals and families attended this multicultural

ACRS Thanksgiving 2016

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NOVEMBER 18 – NOVEMBER 24, 2017

■ NATIONAL NEWS Asian publisher says Arizona lawmaker made offensive remarks

By BOB CHRISTIE ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOENIX (AP) — The publisher of Arizona’s largest newspaper on Nov. 10 joined a growing list of women who say a top Republican state lawmaker subjected them to inappropriate sexual comments or actions.

Arizona Republic Publisher Mi-Ai Parrish wrote in a column published online that state Rep. Don Shooter made a strikingly Mi-Ai Parrish inappropriate comment to her during a meeting last year in his statehouse office about legislation opposed by the newspaper.

Parish wrote that Shooter told her he was a free thinker and had done everything on his “bucket list,” except for “those Asian twins in Mexico.”

Also on Nov. 10, Republican House Speaker J.D. Mesnard suspended Shooter from his chairmanship of the powerful appropriations committee pending the results of an investigation into his actions. The state’s most powerful business group, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, called on him to resign.

Mesnard said in a statement that Shooter is entitled to and will receive a fair and thorough investigation, but he doesn’t believe he can fulfill his role leading the committee until that is done.

“Additionally, due to the number and nature of the allegations against him, the House’s bipartisan sexual harassment investigative team has decided to employ the use of outside investigators moving forward.”

36 YEARS

Garrick Taylor, spokesman for the chamber, went further.

“We believe he should resign,” Taylor said. “Our president and CEO, Glenn Hamer, believes this is the right position for the chamber to take. And it’s also best for the institution of the state Legislature.”

Parrish is Asian American and serves as president and publisher of the Republic and previously held the same jobs at The Kansas City Star and The Idaho Statesman. She has twice served as a Pulitzer Prize juror, is a longtime member of the Asian American Journalists Association and serves on several boards, including that of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Arizona State University.

Shooter is already the subject of an investigation launched by the Arizona House this month after a lawmaker accused see PARRISH on 14

Elderly Hmong San Francisco’s first residents affected by Chinese American tuberculosis outbreak police officer dies ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A tuberculosis outbreak among elderly Hmong residents of Minnesota is proving deadly and costly, in part due to antibiotic resistance.

State health officials say six of 17 people who contracted tuberculosis in Ramsey County have died, three of them as a direct result of the disease.

The outbreak has primarily affected elderly residents of the Hmong community.

Ten cases have been linked to a senior center. Four other Hmong residents were also infected.

“We know we are already seeing more cases than we would have anticipated, and we far outnumber cases in other parts of the country,”’ said Anne Barry, director of the St. Paul-Ramsey Public Health Department.

Patients affected by the outbreak must

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Herb Lee, San Francisco’s first Chinese-American police officer, has died. He was 84.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Lee died Nov. 1 of colon cancer.

Lee joined the police force in 1957 and spent his first years working undercover in Chinatown.

He investigated gangs and later worked in the juvenile and narcotics divisions. He was promoted to sergeant and became executive director of the Police Activities League, overseeing athletic and enrichment programs for poor children.

His son, John, who’s also a police officer, says his father tried to steer youths away from crime and often took them out fishing aboard his 25foot boat, the Ah Choo.

Lee retired from the force in 1987.

Police Chief Bill Scott calls Lee “a true pioneer” and a beloved mentor and colleague. ■

undergo a costly medication regimen that has more side effects than two first-line antibiotics that have proven ineffective against this strain, the Star Tribune reported.

The state has used nearly $225,000 in see TUBERCULOSIS on 13

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YOUR VOICE

■ WORLD NEWS

NOVEMBER 18 – NOVEMBER 24, 2017

■ NATIONAL NEWS

5

Cardona apologizes Trump: Will UCLA amid racism storm basketball players say thank you? in South Korea

By JOHN DUERDEN ASSOCIATED PRESS SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Colombia’s Edwin Cardona has apologized after sparking a racism controversy during his team’s 2-0 loss to South Korea in an international friendly.

The Colombian midfielder made an apparently derogatory gesture with his eyes toward South Korean players in the secondhalf of last week’s game at Suwon World Cup Stadium, south of Seoul.

“I didn’t mean to disrespect anyone, a country or a race, but if anyone felt offended, or interpreted it in that way, I am sorry,’’ Cardona said in a video posted on the Colombian national team’s official Twitter account.

Two goals from Tottenham’s Son Heungmin gave the South Koreans a first win since March but Cardona’s actions, visible on the television broadcast, received considerable attention.

“I want to say I am not an aggressive person,’’ said Cardona, who plays for Boca Juniors in Argentina. “I am sorry that something that happened during the game has been misinterpreted.’’

Cardona’s actions were condemned by the Korean media and captain Ki Sung-yeung.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS Edwin Cardona

“The Colombians were really physical, which can happen in football,’’ said Ki, who plays for Swansea City in the Premier League. “Racist behavior is unacceptable, however. Colombia is a team full of worldclass players and it was disappointing to see this kind of thing.’’

This is not the first racist controversy on a South Korean soccer field this year.

During the 2017 Under-20 World Cup in June, Uruguay midfielder Federico Valverde reportedly made a similar gesture after scoring a goal, although he insisted it was a private celebration meant for his friends. ■

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is asking whether three UCLA basketball players released from detention in China will thank him.

Trump said he raised their case with China’s president when he visited Xi Jinping in Beijing last week.

Freshmen LiAngelo Ball, Jalen Hill, and Cody Riley returned to Los Angeles on Nov. 14 and ignored questions from reporters.

Trump returned late Tuesday from a trip through Asia and tweeted the following day: “Do you think the three UCLA Basketball Players will say thank you President Trump?

They were headed for 10 years in jail!”

The players were detained in Hangzhou following allegations of shoplifting last

week before a game against Georgia Tech in Shanghai.

Pac-12 Conference Commissioner Larry Scott has thanked Trump, the White House and the State Department for their efforts.

“We are all very pleased that these young men have been allowed to return home to their families and university,” Scott said.

A person with knowledge of the Pac12’s decision said any discipline involving the trio would be up to UCLA. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the conference doesn’t plan any sanctions.

UCLA Chancellor Gene Block said, “I want to be clear that we take seriously any violations of the law,” he said in a statement see UCLA on 13

Chinese spend billions online shopping on ‘Singles Day’

By SAM McNEIL ASSOCIATED PRESS BEIJING (AP) — Chinese consumers spent billions of dollars shopping online for anything from diapers to diamonds on “Singles Day,’’ a day of promotions that has grown into the world’s biggest e-commerce event.

China’s biggest e-commerce giant, Alibaba Group, said sales by retailers on its platforms had exceeded $19 billion by mid-afternoon on Nov. 11 in a count that started at midnight Nov. 10.

Its main rival, online retailer JD.com, which tracks transactions starting from Nov. 1 through to the actual day, said sales had topped $16.7 billion.

Starting at midnight, diamonds, Chilean frozen salmon, tires, diapers, beer, shoes, handbags, and appliances were shipped out from JD.com’s distribution centers on trucks bound for deliveries across China.

China is already the world’s largest e-commerce market and the share of online-shopping that makes up all consumer spending grows every year. Boston Con-

sulting Group forecasts online spending will rise by 20 percent a year, hitting $1.6 trillion by 2020, compared with 6 percent growth for off-line retail.

Singles Day was begun by Chinese college students in the 1990s as a version of Valentine’s Day for people without romantic partners.

Zhang Jingjing, 30-year-old clerk for an engineering company, prepared for Singles Day by building a shopping list on Alibaba’s retail platform Tmall and watching for when prices dip. She then clicks and snags a long-sought item at a discount.

“I have often emptied my ‘shopping cart’ on Singles Day,’’ Zheng said. “I have been watching those goods for a long time and know very well their original prices.’’

The spending gives a boost to the ruling Communist Party’s efforts to nurture consumer-based economic growth and reduce reliance on trade and investment.

China has 731 million internet users, up 6 percent from 2016, according to government statistics. ■

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NOVEMBER 18 – NOVEMBER 24, 2017

36 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR NOV 18

JACL SEMINAR, “YOUTH LEADERSHIP” Keiro Rehab Center, Garden and Kimochi Rooms 1601 E. Yesler Way, Seattle 9 a.m.

Free event. Registration is required.

Register at jaclleadershipnonprofits. eventbrite.com FREE FIRST AID & CPR TRAINING Nihonmachi Terrace 651 S. Main St., Seattle 9 a.m.

Sign up at k.tan253@gmail.com SEATTLE CHINESE CONCERT UW, Kane Hall 4069 Spokane Lane, Seattle 7:30 p.m.

2017 BLACK AND BROWN SUMMIT Highline College’s main campus in Building 8

8:45 a.m. bandbsummit.highline.edu

COMMISSION ON ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN AFFAIRS PUBLIC BOARD MEETING Asia Pacific Cultural Center, 4851 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma 10 a.m. capaa.wa.gov 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

20 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS TO HONOR WWII JAPANESE AMERICAN NISEI VETERANS AT “SALUTE TO SERVICE” HALFTIME CenturyLink Stadium 5:30 p.m. nvcfoundation.org

22

TAMAKI, UW BOARD OF REGENT Asian Counseling and Referral Services, Room 301 5:30 p.m.

24 YIRUMA LIVE IN SEATTLE 2017 Benaroya Hall 200 University St., Seattle 8 p.m. seattlesymphony.org

AAPI ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR Hing Hay Coworks 409B Maynard Ave. S., Seattle 11 a.m.

VINTAGE, CRAFT & GIFT MARKET Nagomi Tea House 519 6th Ave. S., Seattle 11 a.m.

ETHNIC BUSINESS COALITION HOSTS ITS 3RD ANNUAL, “SHOP SMALL, SHOP ETHNIC” Hing Hay Park 423 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle 11 a.m. ethnicseattle.com

24–26 LANTERN LIGHT FESTIVAL Washington State Fair Events Center, 110 9th Ave. S.W., Puyallup 5 p.m. tidd.ly/8fb4c128

25 HOLIDAY FOOD WALK IN SEATTLE’S CHINATOWNINTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 1 p.m.

29 FREE FIRST AID & CPR TRAINING Nihonmachi Terrace 651 S. Main St., Seattle 9 a.m.

Sign up at k.tan253@gmail.com AN EVENING WITH JEFFREY MCINTOSH, “ALL ABOUT PU’ERH, TEA TASTING” University of Puget Sound 7 p.m.

28

DEC

WILDLIGHTS Woodland Park Zoo 5500 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle 5:30 p.m.

1

REAL ESTATE SEMINAR #15 Bellevue City Hall, Room 1E-106, 450 110th Ave. N.E., Bellevue 7 p.m.

Register at goo.gl/d3xTnb

SEMINAR, “YOUR IDEAL BUSINESS PARTNER IN CHINA” Washington State Convention Center 705 Pike St. 6th Floor, Seattle 8:30 a.m.

MEETING WITH BLAINE

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

Construction starting soon for ID curb ramp project

The Seattle Department of Transportation expects to begin construction on curb ramp and sidewalk corners at two International District locations as soon as Monday, Nov. 20, including 10th Avenue South and South King Street, and Maynard Avenue South and South Charles Street.

Crews will be constructing new sidewalk corners and curb ramps, to make it easier to walk in the neighborhood.

The construction is expected to last until early January 2018, depending on the weather.

Pedestrians and customers will be able to access businesses at all times. ■

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asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

NOVEMBER 18 – NOVEMBER 24, 2017

■ ON THE SHELF

7

Children overcoming hard times BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

By Samantha Pak NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

First They Killed My Father

By Loung Ung HarperCollins Publishers, 2010

At the age of 5, Loung Ung is living in Phnom Penh as the daughter of a high-ranking government official.

She enjoys visiting the open markets, chicken fights, eating fried crickets, and sassing her parents.

But then Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge takes over the capital in April 1975, and everyone is forced out of the city. As Ung’s family flees their home and moves from village to village, they have to hide their background of education and privilege in order to survive. Eventually, Ung’s family becomes separated, with Ung becoming a child soldier in a work camp for orphans, and her siblings working in labor camps elsewhere.

“First They Killed My Father” is the true story about Ung’s experiences as a child during the Khmer Rouge’s regime in Cambodia. In her memoir, Ung does not sugar coat what she and her family went through during those years. From the near starvation they endured, to the death of her father, Ung gives readers a child’s perspective on what happened, as she and her siblings slowly worked to find each other and reunite.

This is not an easy story to read and there are particular scenes where readers will undoubtedly need tissues, such as when Ung’s father is forced to leave the family for certain death. But despite this difficulty, it is an important story — one that is not

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told often enough and not taught enough in schools.

Personally, I found Ung’s story particularly engrossing as I have relatives who also survived the Khmer Rouge’s regime, as well as relatives who did not. When reading about the sacrifices Ung’s family makes in order to stay alive, I can’t help but think about the hardships my own family endured during that time.

As an aside, this book has been turned into a movie by the same name and having seen it, I can say it stays pretty true to Ung’s memoir. I recommend those who have read the book to also watch the film. I watched it with my mother, who worked in the labor camps, and she said it was one of the most realistic portrayals of the Khmer Rouge’s regime that she has seen.

Step Up to the Plate, Maria Singh

By Uma Krishnaswami Tu Books, 2017

It’s spring of 1945 and all 9-year-old Maria Singh wants to do is play softball. As World War II drags on, Maria’s teacher, Miss Newman, becomes inspired by Babe Ruth and the All-American Girls’ League, and forms the first-ever girls’ softball team in Yuba City, Calif.

But as enthusiastic as Maria is to join the team, the realities of life stand in the way. With a father from India and a mother from Mexico, Maria and her younger brother get a firsthand look at the prejudices that prevail in their community, as well as the discriminatory laws of the land. And soon, the family see SHELF on 16

asianweekly northwest

8

36 YEARS

NOVEMBER 18 – NOVEMBER 24, 2017

■ PICTORIAL

GRANDMASTER

turns

Photos by George Liu/NWAW

Over 500 people attended an 80th birthday celebration for Grandmaster John S.S. Leong on Nov. 11 at China Harbor Restaurant.

Leong opened Seattle Kung Fu Club, which is the oldest kung fu school in Seattle. It has been a fixture in Chinatown for the past 50 years. Kung fu masters from around the world attended — they performed for attendees, along with Leong himself.

The Grandmaster’s son, Robin Leong, surprised his father with a photo book of his kung fu life. The elder Leong also donated $3,000 each to Wing Luke, Kin On and Fred Hutch. 

Grandmaster John S.S. Leong and wife Kar Ling Leong cutting the roasted pig.

Grandmaster Leong and King County Councilman Larry Gossett (right)

Grandmaster Leong and Harry Chan, Tai Tung owner

Presenting the scrolls to Grandmaster Leong From left: Robin Leong, Grandmaster John S.S. Leong, and Paul Mar, presenting a check to Wing Luke Asian Museum.

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asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

NOVEMBER 18 – NOVEMBER 24, 2017

9

MAA VUE

HMONG POP SINGER GAINS WISCONSIN TV SPOTLIGHT

By KEITH UHLIG WAUSAU DAILY HERALD

WESTON, Wis. (AP) — She’s been called the “Hmong Adele,” but her fame so far has been found only among Asian Americans.

The Wausau Daily Herald reports that Maa Vue’s singing and music videos in Hmong have inspired more than 37,000 people to subscribe to her YouTube channel, and her music videos are watched millions of times. One video, “Rov Pom Koj Dua (See You Again),” a duet with another Hmong singer, David Yang, has more than 4.8 million views. That online popularity netted Vue a music recording contract with a Hmong-owned California company, Yellow Diamond Records.

Her performances resonate with young people who, like Vue, straddle the line between modern life in the United States and the ancient Hmong traditions that have been part of the ethnic group’s culture for generations in southeast Asia.

“My style of music was unique at the time.” She started singing professionally six years ago, Vue said. “I used a contemporary style with the Hmong language. ...

Now there are many people doing it. There are Hmong rappers, Hmong rock singers now.”

One of Vue’s primary goals is to preserve the Hmong language through her music, to help young people learn to speak it by approaching them in a way that resonates.

“The Hmong language, to me, is a dying language,” Vue said.

Along the way, she and other young musicians who use the same template ruffled feathers among traditionalists.

Traditional Hmong singing is very different from Western-style music; it’s more chanting than singing, and is not a melodic art form. Applying American musical styles with the Hmong language was not immediately embraced by elders who likely viewed Hmong pop as another form of diluting the culture.

The owner of Yellow Diamond Records, Tre Xiong, 28, of Merced, Calif., said the pushback from the elders has eased as Hmong pop music has shown its staying power and is proving to be a way to keep the language

in use.

“Music is a universal language, and they’ve come to realize a new generation is embracing it,” Xiong said.

Mixing old and new to create a new form of music isn’t the only way Vue challenges traditional Hmong thinking. A young married woman traditionally would not travel alone, but she must as she performs in live concerts across the country. see MAA VUE on 15

Thank You! On November 11, 2017, we were humbled and delighted that so many Family Members, Community Leaders, Elected Officials and Kung Fu Masters from different parts of the World attended the 80th Birthday celebration of Grandmaster John S.S. Leong at the China Harbor Restaurant on Lake Union!

We appreciate everyone’s presence, good wishes, congratulatory advertisements, beautiful gifts and plaques, and wonderful performances from the Seattle Kung Fu Club, the Kung Fu Kids of Ch’i Life Studio, and the Chinese Arts and Music Association. With over 500 people in attendance, it was great to see so many of Grandmaster Leong’s old and new students coming together in celebrating their Sifu on this special day.

On behalf of Grandmaster John S.S. Leong, we want to thank each and every person who helped make this celebration so special and memorable.

We wish everyone Good Health and Prosperity for many years to come!

— The Family of Grandmaster John S.S. Leong

Photo by Daniel Harm

asianweekly northwest

10

NOVEMBER 18 – NOVEMBER 24, 2017

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

36 YEARS

OPINION

A good year for

ASIAN AMERICANS IN POLITICS

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Photo by John Liu/NWAW

It’s been an amazing year for Asian Americans in politics.

basket,” said Jinyoung Englund, Republican candidate. “Having representation in both parties is important not only to represent the ideological diversity within our own community, but also to ensure that regardless of which party has the power at that time, we continue to have a voice.”

Dhingra defeated Englund, and she will be the second Asian American state senator in Olympia. Sen. Bob Hasegawa, who lost his bid for Seattle mayor, will retain his senate seat.

Winning versus succeeding

Bruce Harrell taking the Oath of Office on Sept. 14, 2017.

Bruce Harrell, Seattle City Council President, who ran for mayor four years ago, became Seattle’s first Asian American mayor for two days in September.

Hyeok Kim, former deputy mayor, was considered the best candidate to fill in Mayor Ed Murray’s seat, according to Murray before he resigned. That’s not just a compliment, but an accomplishment to have the endorsement of your boss.

For the first time in history, two Asian Americans — Mike Fong of Chinese descent and Shefali Ranganathan of Indian descent — will be deputy mayors for the City of Seattle.

The assumption is that Durkan, being female, would be more likely to appoint another guy as her deputy. To her credit, an Indian American and female is playing a key role for the first time in the mayor’s office. Durkan is more progressive and unconventional than anyone had guessed.

This is also a big year for Indian American women getting some top jobs: Senator-elect Manka Dhingra won the 45th District state Senate seat ensuring that the Senate will be controlled by Democrats, Ranganathan being Seattle’s deputy mayor, and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal serving her first year as the first Indian in Congress.

Democrats and Republicans seek Asian candidates

Jinyoung Englund

Both Democrats and Republicans sought strong Asian American candidates to run for the 45th District state Senate seat. Both parties poured in millions of dollars to help their candidates get elected. It was the most expensive race this year in Washington state.

The confidence the two parties had towards their Asian candidates, was unprecedented.

“As minorities, we should be wise and not put all of our political eggs in one

From city councils to big legislative districts, more Asian American women ran for small local offices, as well as prominent district-wide positions.

It didn’t matter that many candidates were novices. Fearless Jin-An Kim, 27, ran against a 12-year incumbent, a hairstylist, for a Shoreline City Council seat.

As a photographer in the legislature in Olympia, Kim witnessed the lack of representation of women and minorities. Of the 147 legislators, only 15 are women. Not only that, they were not being treated with respect.

Despite her loss, she has no regrets about running. A former opioid addict who got hooked when she was in high school after receiving prescribed painkillers, Kim’s goal was to remove society’s stigma towards drug addicts. She has stayed clean since 2013.

“Win or lose,” Kim said, “I made history” as the first long-term opioid recovering addict to run for office and hopefully, it will inspire other former addicts to come out and not be fearful.

She said she is clearer than ever about her purpose in life. “I am proud that I ran and my family is most proud… I will run again if I see that people are not doing a good job.”

Kim remained true to herself, her heritage, and community during the campaign.

People advised her to change her look, to be “less Asian,” and to Westernize her name — she refused, an example for us all.

To me, Englund and Kim succeeded even though they didn’t win. They have grown not as candidates, but as future leaders.

Their names are just getting out. And their journey has just begun. Please don’t quit.

Learn from the pros like Conrad Lee.

A political veteran I don’t always agree with Bellevue City Councilman Conrad Lee’s politics, but his resilient spirit should be emulated.

Lee has just won his sixth term, with an overwhelming majority, beating a challenger. He is the longest-serving Asian American elected official in Washington state. He has been a Bellevue City

Conrad Lee and his campaign manager

Councilman for 23 years, including two years as the first ethnic mayor of the City of Bellevue.

When he lost in his first election, the Asian Weekly’s former editor Susan Cassidy and I were worried that Lee couldn’t cope with defeat. We both had predicted that he would lose — for good reasons. Bellevue, a mostly-white city, was not ready to have a person of color on its City Council — and he was a newcomer in the political scene. Even though the Seattle Times endorsed him, and he had raised funds successfully, some voters just couldn’t accept a person of color at the table of power, just like some voters rejected President Obama just because he’s Black.

So we invited Lee to lunch two days after the election in the International District, to cheer him up. While waiting for him at the

restaurant (now the site of the Wing Luke Asian Museum), we brainstormed ideas to lift him up, not realizing we completely underestimated the guy.

When he walked into the restaurant, there was no gloom or tension on his face, just smiles. Lee was relaxed and gregarious, as if nothing had happened. No moaning and groaning about the results. No placing the blame on racism, even though there were racist incidents during his campaign.

And his appetite was voracious, enjoying everything he ate as opposed to some people who stuff food for self-punishment.

Being present at the moment, he never mentioned that he suffered a loss. His upbeat mood was unbelievable as if he was ready to launch another tough campaign.

Lee’s remarkable quality is that he doesn’t give up. This is the first time I’ve shared Lee’s story in the Asian Weekly to inspire viable Asian American candidates who worked hard and yet, lost in the election.

To our Asian American candidates, what you have been through is a blessing, not a failure. Keep serving your community, keep developing relationships. Be patient.

You never know what door is going to open. The day of harvest will come when you least expect it.  Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

KING COUNTY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ADVERTISEMENT Proposals will be received for #E00467E17, Work Order Multidisciplinary Engineering Services for Road Services Division; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 12:00 PM on November 28, 2017.

Total Estimated Price: $1,000,000(each) King County intends to award two contracts from this RFP. There is a 12% 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: Paul Price, 206-263-9309, paul.price@ kingcounty.gov

NOVEMBER 18 – NOVEMBER 24, 2017

■ COMMENTARY

By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Did you wake up this morning? Are you still breathing? If you answered ‘yes’ to both questions, then you are truly blessed.

As I am.

It’s easy to take that for granted, to go about your daily life and forgetting the gift that you have been granted another day on earth — another day to hug the people you love, another day to share your talent with the world, another day to make someone else smile, another day to experience all the joy that life has to offer.

It’s easy to get bogged down in all the stuff that’s not fun — stress, worry, anxiety.

Up until recently, that was me. It took a conscious effort daily for me to count my blessings, but I still felt like I was drowning in stress, worry, anxiety — suffering from sleepless nights, the worry festering in my body until it manifested in physical aches and pains.

Then something literally threw me out of that state. Last week, the car I was driving, not more than 13 feet in length and

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

11

OPINION

A close call

weighing just over a ton, got sideswiped by an 18-wheeler weighing at least 40 tons.

What happened next was surreal. I felt like I was Jason Bourne — trying to escape from this massive vehicle, keep my own car under control, not hit anyone else, and stay alive.

I know it lasted only seconds. But it felt like an eternity.

I heard and felt the impact before seeing the big rig right up against my driver’s side window. I would find out later that the other driver was changing lanes and didn’t see me. I’m sure I let loose a few expletives.

I remember the sound of tires screeching (his? mine?) and soon saw smoke from what I assume was the burning rubber.

Then I remember my car spinning and I

ended up in front of the truck — it was right up against my driver’s side window.

Another string of expletives, and my car spun again — I can’t recall how many times. During one of the revolutions, my driver side door swung open. If I hadn’t been wearing my seatbelt, I might have been thrown from the car. I finally came to rest on the shoulder of the other side of the freeway, perpendicular to oncoming traffic.

I was shaking and sobbing, but I was alive! My heart was pounding — still trying to process what happened. But I was alive!

“Holy sh**,” I thought. “I can’t believe I survived a crash with a semi!”

A couple of drivers stopped to check to see if I was OK. Somebody called 911. It

seemed as if the Washington State Patrol arrived within minutes. The driver of the truck got a ticket. As far as I know, he was not hurt and his truck unscathed. My car is banged up and may not be repairable.

But who cares? As much as I love that car, it’s just a thing that can be replaced.

Suddenly, everything in my life that I had been stressed about, seemed so insignificant. I’m convinced this was God’s way of jolting me out of that state, which I had been in for months — to remind me of what’s really important. The rest is just stuff and doesn’t matter. In the moments of my “dance” with the semi, I felt fear, terror, and confusion. Now, it is clear to me that there was a bubble of protection around my body, as if angels intervened to keep me unharmed.

I’m alive, I’m breathing, and in one piece. Thank you God for another day. His message to me is clear: I am blessed, I am loved, and I still have work to do on this earth. ■ Ruth can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

■ WAYNE’S WORLDS

If someone could come up with a matzo ball dim sum restaurant, we’d all be set

By Wayne Chan NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY It’s interesting what one feels pride over.

A few days ago, I was playing tennis with a group of guys during our weekly tennis match. We’ve been playing regularly for years now.

During a break in play, we started talking.

It’s never anything important — it could be about family, it could be about sports.

It could be about making fun of what one of the guys was wearing. We almost make an effort to choose topics of discussion that have no real significance whatsoever. That’s what guys do.

But in this instance, we began talking about something that’s very close to my heart. In fact, I can think of few other topics that would equal this one in importance.

What’s the best Chinese restaurant in town?

First, a little background. In our group, except for me, our entire tennis group is white. Therefore, if my buddies would like a primer on where to go for the best Chinese food in town, they’ve found the right guy to ask.

Well, except they didn’t.

They didn’t ask, “Wayne, where’s the best Chinese restaurant in town?” They asked, “Where’s the best Chinese restaurant in town, Rhett?” Rhett happens to be Jewish.

Now, I’ve heard all the jokes about how Jewish people know where all the best Chinese restaurants are. But when someone says something about it, my usual reaction is akin to gently tapping a young boy on the top of their head after attempting to tell a joke, as if to say, “Nice try, young lad. Good for you for trying.” In other words, I’m

matter that I don’t own a Chinese restaurant, or that I wouldn’t be cooking any of the Chinese food that my friends wanted. For some bizarre reason, my pride seemed to dictate my belief that my Chinese-ness made me uniquely qualified to authenticate the location of the best Chinese restaurants in town.

On the other hand, is that really so strange?

If the tables were turned, and the guys asked

usually a little condescending.

But in this case, my reaction was downright hostile. Why? Because these guys were asking someone where the best Chinese restaurant was, and that someone wasn’t the Chinese guy standing in front of them.

It doesn’t matter that my friend Rhett actually did seem to know where all the best Chinese restaurants were. This wasn’t about the validity of the answers, this was about who should be providing the answers.

As Rhett was calmly rattling off four or five Chinese restaurants, I chimed in, somewhat indignantly.

Excuse me? You’re asking Rhett about the best Chinese restaurant in town? What am I, chopped liver? As a matter of fact, if you were interested in chopped liver, then you should ask Rhett! But for Chinese food, don’t you think you should be asking me?!?

I wish I had been quick enough to have actually come up with that chopped liver line on the spot. Nevertheless, I made my point clear.

Here’s the thing about pride. It doesn’t

where the best Jewish deli was in town and I immediately chimed in with, “Let me tell you, you’ve got to try the blini’s over at Mortons — they’re to die for,” I think Rhett might be a little peeved. ■ Wayne can be reached nwasianweekly.com.

at

info@

asianweekly northwest

12

NOVEMBER 18 – NOVEMBER 24, 2017

36 YEARS

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

ISHIRO HONDA Godzilla, gratefulness, and greatness

By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY I tried to call Ishiro Honda, once. I was about 10, and I loved reading about his Godzilla stories and watching them on KSTW-11’s “Sci-Fi Theater.” (I wanted to stay up late and catch more good ones, like Honda’s classic “King Kong vs. Godzilla,” but my bedtime was nine o’clock.)

I didn’t get very far, partly because I didn’t understand that Information couldn’t give me numbers outside the United States; partly because I was still calling him “Inoshiro Honda,” a mistake that crept into Western versions of his films, used by fans, and even by critics, including the widelyrespected Susan Sontag, one of the first American pundits to take Honda’s films seriously.

Being taken seriously was a big problem for Honda, who worked on films and television between 1934 and 1993 (though he gave up directing films in 1975), and counted the legendary Akira Kurosawa amongst his best friends. Honda made a diligent and humble worker bee for, most of the time, Toho Studios. He turned out documentaries, dramas, comedies, coming-of-age stories, and even a yakuza crime picture, 1961’s “A Man in Red.” He worked under Kurosawa after both men had grown old, effectively becoming a second director on such epics as “Kagemusha” and “Ran.” Still, all anybody remembers is the giant rubber monsters, Godzilla leading the pack.

The new book “Ishiro Honda: A Life in Film, from Godzilla to Kurosawa,” by Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski with Yuuko Honda-Yun (the director’s granddaughter), compiles a life, a life’s work, and even throws in relevant Japanese history, relating to Honda’s original film visions. Honda did not make personal films, or autobiographical films, as we generally understand those terms.

He did not shoot political films or social justice polemics. But even with the rubber monsters thrown in, he could comment astutely on Japanese society, and even insert personal concerns.

It didn’t seem like a life meant for film, at first.

Honda’s father and grandfather were Buddhist monks, in a tiny town that’s since absorbed into a larger hamlet. He loved science and would always love science, but scientific school studies flummoxed him. He couldn’t seem to master equations. He was drafted into the Japanese army three times, and he avoided seeminglycertain death at least twice. His marriage to Kimi Yamasaki was not an arranged marriage, and her father retaliated by cutting both of them off. (Over the years, pressure to conform to an

arranged marriage would turn up again and again in Honda’s plots.)

Kurosawa, a year older than Honda and far more blustering, got into the director’s chair first.

But that wasn’t at all fair. Honda ended World War II as a prisoner of war in China, while Kurosawa skipped service thanks to, ironically, family military connections. Honda’s early films mixed documentary approaches, getting up close on rituals and processes, with fictional characters and stories. That stood him well when the time came to tell stories of huge monsters, usually radioactive, stomping Tokyo and everything else they could find to stomp. The very idea was ludicrous, always. But the director didn’t go for lurid, or, at first, for lampooning. He rendered terrors viable.

And yes, Godzilla (originally “Gojira,” a smushing together of the English “gorilla” and the Japanese “kujira,” which means “whale”) was meant to comment on the radioactive age, although Honda, at first, did not point fingers right at the United States for its use of the atomic bomb against Japan. Time after time, in monster films, science fiction films, and films “limited” to the everyday Earthbound, Honda quietly asked questions. In 1969’s “All Monsters Attack,” aka “Godzilla’s Revenge,” he gave us a small, lonely, bullied little boy who travels to Monster Island and meets Godzilla, through flights of hallucinogenic fancy. That’s contrasted with the ugly industrial blight just outside the boy’s door.

Honda says in effect, we pushed ourselves into heavy industry, and galvanizing the economy.

And it’s working. But we pay a price for doing it this way. Pollution threatens physical, mental, and spiritual health, even as it corrodes the natural beauty Japan supposedly prides itself on. And all of these latch-key children, coming home to empty houses, both parents working. No supervision, and no encouragement. What effects will this have?

What will become of them when they grow up?

Honda’s films were often chopped, panned, scanned, badly dubbed, and/or badly narrated, in America. His original visions meant nothing to U.S. distributors, who often left in all the monster fights, masterminded often by the magnificent Eiji Tsuburaya, and made mincemeat of what Honda was trying to say underneath. Honda put up with this. His films, even the American reworkings, played matinees, drive-ins, and American television slots morning, afternoon, and night.

He never plotted for a spot in history, but he ended up introducing Japanese cinema to the West, far further than his friend, the more widelypraised Kurosawa. The Kurosawa dramas and epics boasted higher production values and far

DEPUTY from 1 quickly to effectively address the biggest challenges facing our residents. From the affordability and homelessness crisis to the threat of the Trump administration, Jenny is ready to fight for our values and act on bold plans that make a real difference in people’s lives,” said Fong.

better reputations with critics. But you couldn’t sit down to one of them on latemorning Saturday TV, with a big bowl of heavily-sugared cereal.

In the end, Honda was probably too modest and self-effacing for his own good. He let studios tell him what to do. After he accidentally invented the “kaiju” (monster) genre in Japan, the studio heads kept him busy filming those at the expense of anything else.

And when he found he could no longer keep doing more work on ever-smaller budgets, he got out of the pool.

The Hondas had to sell their huge house, where they’d held huge parties

Ranganathan is executive director of Transportation Choices Coalition, a statewide advocacy group where she has worked for a decade.

Durkan will take office on Nov. 28, when the results of her Nov. 7 election win over Cary Moon are officially certified. Durkan is taking over earlier than usual because Murray resigned as mayor in September.

Want to be a part of our team?

Northwest Asian Weekly is accepting applications for freelance writers.

Should be interested in politics, business, education, health, arts and/or food articles. Flexible hours. Send resume and writing samples to: Ruth Bayang at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

for their famous friends. But they settled into a smaller house in a Tokyo district called Seijo. Honda, between TV work and Kurosawa work, lived there until his death in 1993. According to the book, “He continued to welcome admirers arriving at his door, or he’d accept their phone calls, even the occasional collect call from overseas.”

If I’d only dialed two more numbers—Japan information, and then a Seijo number—I might have heard his voice. ■ Andrew can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

Tim Burgess, formerly a City Councilmember, has been serving as temporary mayor since Murray stepped down, and Council President Bruce Harrell declined the job. ■ Staff can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

NOVEMBER 18 – NOVEMBER 24, 2017

■ ASTROLOGY

13

Predictions and advice for the week of November 18–24, 2017

By Sun Lee Chang

Rat — It’s not just how you spend your time, but who you spend it with. Both should be given serious consideration.

Dragon — A renewed sense of purpose has suddenly grabbed a hold of you, making you a force to be reckoned with.

Monkey — Slowing down is the last thing on your mind, though you should be careful not to overload your schedule.

Ox — Even if you are nervous about the outcome, that is not reason enough to withhold your full involvement.

Snake — Though your style would benefit from some additional refinement, there is no arguing that the substance is real.

Rooster — The same old tricks won’t always work.

Think about adding some new skills to your current repertoire.

Tiger — Although you tend to gravitate towards excess, you may find restraint or simplicity to be better for some things.

Horse — You are one who is accustomed to thinking on your feet. Your ability to come up with a quick solution will impress an important person.

Dog — Does it seem as though you are hardly making any progress? Stay with it as you will see the momentum start to pick up soon.

Rabbit — Are you hoping for a bit of a boost this week? Your solid preparation will definitely give you an advantage over your competitors.

Goat — Not content to leave well enough alone, you know that just a little bit of adjustment could vastly improve function.

Pig — Has a recent experience muddied the waters for you? As long as you do not avoid the difficult questions, clarity is within your reach.

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.

TAKEI from 1 Angeles writer Jessica Teich over several years but thought it was a “consensual seduction ritual.” The fact that “I did not get it,” he said, “makes me reassess every relationship I have ever thought was playful and mutual.”

Teich told Vulture she first met Dreyfuss at a theater where she worked and they spent hours together over several years after she was hired to develop a script for an ABC comedy special. The actor, she said, made continual, overt and lewd comments and invitations but she never told anyone.

Dreyfuss, now 70, called Teich a friend of more than 30 years.

In 1987, Teich said, she was summoned to his trailer on the set of one of his films and he exposed his genitals to her. Dreyfuss agent Barry McPherson said his client denies ever exposing himself to Teich. As for other encounters with Teich, Dreyfuss said he is now “horrified and bewildered to discover that it wasn’t consensual.”

Teich said she decided to speak out after Dreyfuss tweeted support for his son, Harry, after the younger Dreyfuss went public with accusations that Kevin Spacey groped his crotch when he was 18.

Brunton told The Hollywood Reporter he was 23 when he first met Takei at a bar. Brunton was living in Hollywood and working as a waiter at the time. They exchanged numbers, speaking by telephone from time to time, when he rang up Takei after breaking up with a boyfriend. Takei

invited him to dinner and the theater, Brunton said. He said the two went to Takei’s condo for drinks after.

He said he grew dizzy and “must have passed out,” awaking to his pants around his ankles and Takei groping him. He said he extricated himself and left.

The Hollywood Reporter said on Nov. 10 it spoke to four longtime friends of Brunton who said he had confided in them about Takei years ago.

Also on Nov. 11, an audio clip surfaced from Takei’s appearance on Howard Stern’s radio show last month. The interview was recorded less than two weeks after sexual assault accusations against fallen film mogul Harvey Weinstein were made public. Stern and Takei were discussing the “irony” of the Weinstein case and the audiotape of President Donald Trump boasting about grabbing women’s genitals years ago, when Stern asked Takei whether he had ever grabbed a man’s genitals against his will.

Takei, a staunch opponent of the Republican president, initially was silent, then said “uh oh” and laughed. Stern asked again and Takei said, “Some people are kind of skittish, or maybe, um, uh, afraid, and you’re trying to persuade.”

Stern and his co-host, Robin Quivers, persisted, asking Takei whether he ever held a job over somebody for sex and he said no.

Quivers asked if he did “this grabbing at work.” Takei said, “It was either in my home. They came to my home.”

Meanwhile, “Supergirl” and “Arrow” executive producer Andrew Kreisberg has been suspended by Warners Bros.

Television Group pending an investigation of sexual harassment and inappropriate touching accusations made by 19 former and current employees.

The accusations first were reported

by Variety, which did not identify the 15 women and four men who accused Kreisberg.

Kreisberg told Variety, “I have made comments on women’s appearances and clothes in my capacity as an executive producer, but they were not sexualized.

Like many people, I have given someone a non-sexual hug or kiss on the cheek.”

Warners Bros. confirmed the suspension on Nov. 11 and said in a statement, “We take all allegations of misconduct extremely seriously.”

Kreisberg’s shows run on the CW network.

In another development in the barrage of sexual assault, harassment and rape allegations to rock the entertainment industry and other fields, Massachusetts prosecutors will meet with the son of a former Boston TV news anchor who said Kevin Spacey sexually assaulted the teenage boy at a Nantucket restaurant.

Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe told The Boston Globe on Nov. 10 that the meeting “will occur soon.”

Heather Unruh told reporters that Spacey stuck his hand down her then-

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UCLA from 5 “In this particular case, both Athletics and the Office of Student Conduct will review this incident and guide any action with respect to the involved students. Such proceedings are confidential, which limits the specific information that can be shared.”

The Bruins traveled to China as part of the Pac-12’s global

TUBERCULOSIS from 4 emergency funds to limit the disease’s spread and the county has funded additional public health workers.

Health officials said more than 350 people at other senior centers serving the Hmong community as well as family members of those infected need to be assessed

initiative that seeks to popularize the league’s athletic programs and 自1872年起服務西北岸社區 universities overseas. The China Game is in its third year, and while 非營利獨立協會 the scandal was developing the league announced that California and Yale will play in next year’s edition.

The game is sponsored by Alibaba Group, the Chinese commerce giant that both UCLA and Georgia Tech visited before the shoplifting incident occurred. ■

or reassessed for signs of infection, but sneezes or coughs. incomplete contact information has made Tuberculosis symptoms include a cough it difficult for health officials to track all of that lasts more than three weeks, weight loss, ‧陵墓地下室 ‧骨灰靈位 them down. night sweats and fever. The disease typically While tuberculosis isn’t easy to catch, aff ects the lungs but it can cause spinal pain, ‧墓碑、紀念碑 ‧土葬福地 friends and family of those infected are more joint damage, meningitis and damage to the susceptible to the disease through repeated liver, kidneys and heart if left untreated. exposure. The disease is spread through the Health officials encourage anyone with 1554 East (North Capitol Hill) ■ air when someone with infected lungs15th talks,Avesymptoms to see a doctor.

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18-year-old-son’s pants and grabbed his genitals while the two of them were at a restaurant in July 2016. Unruh said Spacey ultimately left to use the bathroom and when he was out of sight, her son ran away.

Spacey’s lawyer didn’t immediately return an email seeking comment.

In New York, a subpoena in a Weinstein rape investigation requesting all medical treatment records from a therapist for “Boardwalk Empire” actress Paz de La Huerta is too broad and would be embarrassing and damaging to her, her lawyers said in court papers.

De la Huerta told police Oct. 25 the media mogul raped her twice in 2010.

The Manhattan district attorney’s office has subpoenaed her therapist, who told Vanity Fair she recalled de la Huerta telling her about the sexual assaults. But the subpoena seeks “any and all medical treatment records” from the therapist, both handwritten and typed.

De la Huerta’s lawyers argued the information is protected by doctor-client confidentiality laws and she should have the opportunity to review the records before anything is turned over. They also argued the request sought too much information beyond just the 2010 allegations. ■

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36 YEARS

Tsega Asefa and Kibrom Hagos Respondent No. 17-3-06605-6SEA Summons By Publication To the Respondent: Kibrom Hagos, The petitioner has started an action in the above court requesting to end your marriage.

You must respond to this summons by serving a copy of your written response on the person signing this summons and by filing the original with the clerk of the court. If you do not serve your written response within 20 days (or 60 days if you served outside of the state of WA) after the first publication of this summons(60 days after 18th day of November, 2017), the court may enter an order of default against you, and the court may, without further notice to you, enter a decree and approve or provide for other relief requested in this summons. In case of a dissolution, the court will not enter the final decree until at least 90 days after service and filing. If you serve a notice of appearance on the undersigned person, you are entitled to notice before an order of default or a decree may be entered.

Your written response to the summons and petition must be form WPF DR 01.0300 ( Response to Petition (Marriage). Information about how to get this form may be obtained by contacting the clerk of the court, by contacting the Administrative Office of the Courts at (360) 705-5328, or from the Internet at the Washington State Courts homepage: http://www.courts.wa.gov/forms If you wish to seek the advice of an attorney in this matter, you should do so promptly so that your written response, if any, may be served on time.

This summons if issued pursuant to RCW 4.28.100 and Superior Court Civil Rule 4.1 of the State of Washington. Dated 7/15/15, Tsega Asefa File Original of Your Response with the Clerk of the Court at: King Count Superior Ct 516 3rd Ave Seattle, WA 98104.

Serve a Copy of Your Response on: Kibrom Hagos 2933 S Brighton St Seattle, WA 98108

PARRISH from 4 him of repeatedly making unwanted advances.

Shooter denied Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita’s allegations and leveled his own against her, accusing her of pursuing an affair with a House staffer. But several other women have come forward with similar charges about Shooter’s behavior since Ugenti-Rita gave a television interview that aired on Nov. 7, including allegations of inappropriate sexually-tinged comments or unwanted touching.

Shooter issued a statement saying he requested the investigation, and “therefore I am unable to comment further except to provide my full support and cooperation.”

He has since referred questions to his attorney, who hasn’t elaborated.

Mesnard appointed two House attorneys to lead an investigation into the claims. They will be joined by several staffers from the Democratic and Republican caucuses.

Parrish wrote that she initially brushed off Shooters’ comment, chalking it up as “just another remark in a long, long list of offensive, obnoxious, ignorant, destructive things said to me and others by people with some power or sway.”

But she said she now realizes “It wasn’t OK. And it wasn’t OK for me to be OK with it. For me to put up with it. To laugh it off, to excuse it, to use it as a cocktail-party tale.”

The developments in Arizona’s statehouse come after a flood of allegations sparked by an October report in the New York Times alleging that Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein had sexually harassed or assaulted several women. Other entertainment industry figures, business people, newsroom leaders and politicians at several statehouses have since faced similar charges.

Shooter wielded considerable power as head of the House Appropriations Committee and is known around the Capitol as a politically incorrect jokester famous for throwing booze-laden parties in his Capitol office on the last of legislative sessions. The Yuma lawmaker was elected to the Senate in 2010 and led that body’s appropriations committee before moving to the House in 2016.

Minority Democrats have called for him to resign, but for now he’s staying put.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, expressed support for an investigation.

“There can be absolutely no tolerance for sexual harassment in the halls of our state Capitol, or any other organization — private or public,” Ducey said in a statement.

The investigation could lead to a formal ethics probe by the Arizona House, which could expel him with a twothirds vote for “disorderly behavior.” ■

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YOUR VOICE

NOVEMBER 18 – NOVEMBER 24, 2017

15

“I wanted to congratulate you and the Northwest Asian Weekly for your incredible 35 year journey of telling the stories of the Asian community in Seattle and the greater Seattle area.

The Weekly brings to life the real stories about the people who make a difference for the community.”

— Lee Lambert, Pima Community College Chancellor “I first met Assunta Ng around the time she started the newspaper. She didn’t just start a newspaper, but she brought a strong voice to the Asian community and has a great impact on the Seattle political scene. Thank you.”

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

— David Chan, Commissioner of Snohomish County Fire District

MAA VUE from 9 When she first started singing, in a show choir in middle school in Green Bay, she hid her singing desires from her parents. When she continued singing in high school, she had to tell them, and they discouraged her from participating.

She stubbornly held out. Vue just loved to sing.

That’s where she picked up her love of pop and showtune style music.

Vue was working a minimum-wage job, taking care of her mother who is diabetic and blind, while juggling school and choir.

“I was singing all kinds of songs, Beatles, Aretha Franklin, musicals,” Vue said. “I loved it. I loved singing.

I loved performing.”

She was still a student at Green Bay East High School when she met her future husband, Hmong Zong Yang, who attended D.C. Everest Senior High School. Yang encouraged her to pursue her dreams, and his support gave her the confidence to work for a musical career.

Even as she sang and built her fame, she was studying business and arts management, first at the University of Wisconsin (UW) Marathon County and then at UWStevens Point. Vue put school on hold when her career gained traction and she began to earn a steady income from singing. She plans to return soon to get her degree.

Meanwhile, Yang is completing his degree at UWStevens Point where he studies computer information systems. He has no ambition to step into a spotlight.

TAMAKI from 1 of the campus community from students, staff, and faculty to the administration. He’ll also be the [API] community’s link to what’s happening on campus.”

Tamaki is already engaging with API community leaders like Irigon to discuss “a broad range of issues, such as sexual harassment of API female students and expanding curriculum for API students,” he said.

Tamaki Law, which he started in 1994, operates three offices across Washington and handles cases nationwide. He has settled over 30 cases for over one million each, including a 2011 sexual abuse case against the Pacific Northwest chapter of the Jesuit order that made national headlines.

His clients are “Native Americans, Latinos, the injured, disabled, and abused.”

“My father was interned under Executive Order 9066 despite being an American citizen,” he said. “I learned early in life that race matters and, as a result, became an idealist to battle my disillusion with the real America.”

“I have learned to cope with my minority viewpoint by channeling my energies and passion into achieving justice one case at a time,” said Tamaki.

“Yakima is very politically conservative,” he said. “I stay because it is my home. My friends, family, and roots are in Yakima.”

Tamaki has raised three children in Yakima with his wife,

“I just want a normal, 9-to-5 job,” he said, although he has been working to create video games.

As for Vue, she plans to slowly ease out of her performing schedule to focus on producing and working with Yellow Diamond Records to aid other young performers.

“I think this is leading me to a higher calling,” Vue said, “to create a more impressive Hmong music industry.” ■

who was born and raised in the Philippines.

“API students are special treasures. Their parents know that the best chance for their children to truly achieve the American Dream is through education,” he said. “And that’s why as children of API parents, we value higher education and emphasize our own children to reach for the stars.”

On Oct. 5, Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Tamaki as a UW Regent. Tamaki will be completing the term vacated by Pat Shanahan, who was recently confirmed as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense.

“Regent Tamaki brings many important viewpoints to the board” that include his perspective as an Eastern Washington resident, as a UW parent, and his “critical role as a plaintiffs attorney working on behalf of marginalized communities,” said Jaron Goddard, a second-year law student, who was appointed as the student regent for the current academic year.

Like Tamaki, Goddard is “dedicated to public service and hopes to continue to serve the people of Washington state in my capacity as an attorney,” she said.

In addition to being the liaison to the API community, Tamaki hopes to focus on improving board support for UW Medicine, improving state funding which has suffered recent declines, and “continuing a safe, supportive environment for high academic achievement for all UW students at all UW campuses,” he said.

According to its website, the UW Board of Regents is

the “governing body whose broad responsibilities are to supervise, coordinate, manage, and regulate the university, as provided by state statute.”

The board consists of 10 members, of which one is a student. The student regent’s term lasts one academic year compared to the six-year term held by the public members.

“We oversee, at a high level, some particular decisions,” said Goddard. “A particular decision we make is the selection of the UW president.”

“More broadly, we oversee how some important decisions are made…we oversee the process,” she said.

Most state university systems and private universities have similar governing boards. For Washington state’s public colleges and universities, members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. Tamaki’s appointment is awaiting confirmation and his term will last through September 2022, at which point he will be eligible for reappointment.

“I’m extremely excited,” said Tamaki. “I love the UW.” “It is critical for the UW to embrace API students and treat them as the treasures they are,” he said. “I hope to be a part of that embrace.” ■ There will be a community meeting with Blaine Tamaki on Nov. 22 at 5:30 p.m. at ACRS, Rm. 301.

Irfan can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

asianweekly northwest

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36 YEARS

NOVEMBER 18 – NOVEMBER 24, 2017

something readers of all ages can strive to do.

In addition to introducing readers to a strong protagonist, “Step Up to the Plate” also highlights a little-known slice of American history. I have to admit that personally, I did not know anything about the “Hindu Mexicans” living in California. Krishnaswami’s story also highlights the difficulties these families faced with discriminatory laws that wouldn’t allow certain groups to own land. She shows readers how some abstract and sometimes confusing laws and policies can have dire consequences on real people — something we can all remember to keep in mind in this day and age.

SHELF from 7

Ahimsa

By Supriya Kelkar Tu Books, 2017

are on the brink of losing their farm.

As Maria’s passion for softball continues to grow, so does her passion to stand up for herself and others, and for what is right.

Maria is a strong young girl who is not without flaws.

She can sometimes be selfish, often going after and doing what she wants, while forgetting her responsibilities and commitments to others. But that is what makes her human and relatable for readers. She makes mistakes and learns from them and works to not make them again. That’s

It’s 1942 in India and Mahatma Gandhi is asking Indians to give one family member to the freedom movement, as the country works toward independence from Great Britain.

Ten-year-old Anjali is crushed at the thought of her father joining the fight and risking his life. But then she learns it will actually be her mother who will join the fight.

And with this new change comes adjustments Anjali and her family must make to improve the country and use “ahimsa,” or non-violent resistance. Those adjustments include Anjali giving up her prettiest garments, as the family trades in their foreign-made clothes for homespun clothes. And when her mother decides to reach out to the Dalit community, or the “untouchables” in Indian society, Anjali is forced to get over her prejudices and really think about things.

Then Anjali’s mother is jailed and it is up to Anjali to take over her mother’s work and make sure her part in the Indian independence movement is done.

“Ahimsa” is based on Kelkar’s great-grandmother’s experiences working with Gandhi and offers readers a glimpse of a time in history that many Americans may not know too much about. I admit that I didn’t actually know too much about India’s fight for independence before reading this story.

Despite her young age, Anjali is a character readers of all

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ages can look up to. While she may come off as superficial, the work she does with her mother and eventually, in place of her mother, causes her to question things and better understand how the world works. She sees that things are not always black and white. People are not always the same as the labels society puts on them. And that is a lesson everyone can learn. ■ Samantha can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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