View the solution on

CLASSIFIEDS

ADVERTISE STATEWIDE with a $325 classified listing or $1600 for a display ad. Call this newspaper or 360-3442938 for details.

DO YOU OWE OVER $10,000 to the IRS in back taxes? Our firm works to reduce the tax bill or zero it out completely FAST. Let us help! Call 888-994-1405. (Hours: Mon-Fri 7am5pm PDT). DONATE YOUR CAR TO CHARITY. Receive maximum value of write off for your taxes. Running or not! All conditions accepted. Free pickup. Call for details, 855-635-4229.

ELIMINATE GUTTER CLEANING FOREVER! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-888-360-1582.

DONE RITE

CARPET CLEANING 206-487-8236

CHERRY BLOSSOM from 6

“hanami” or cherry blossom viewing spot northwest of the Imperial Palace, thousands of people viewed the fluffy pale pink flowers while strolling under rows of trees or from rowboats on the palace moat.

“I feel like life has finally gotten back to normal. Here in the downtown area, people have waited for this for so long,” Takanori Shiwaku, a 62-year-old cafe owner, said as he admired the blossoms at the park.

He said cherry blossoms, which bloom and then fall en masse, connote a sense of pureness.

“I wanted to come here for sure this year, and I’m really happy,” said Midori Hayashi, a 75-year-old retiree who has largely stayed at home for the past two years.

Cherry blossoms, or “sakura,” are Japan’s favorite flower and usually reach their peak in late March to early April, just as the country celebrates the start of a new school and business year.

At many parks, viewers were requested this year not to gather under the trees for drinking parties—a traditional way of celebrating the season—as part of continuing antivirus measures.

Tokyo reported 7,846 new cases on March 29, more than twice the 3,533 a week earlier, in a resurgence attributed to the new omicron subvariant. Nationwide, Japan logged 29,740 new cases on March 28, up slightly from the previous week, bringing the country’s total to about 6.4 million, including about 28,000 deaths

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said the increase underscored “the spread of the BA.2 subvariant of omicron that is replacing the existing variant with significant speed.” 

TALIBAN from 11

while international sanctions still prohibit dealings with the Taliban.

In the ministry’s labyrinthine halls, hopeful investors stand in line, documents ready to stake their claim of Afghanistan’s untapped mineral riches.

Knocking on Rashidi’s office door these days are Russians, Iranians, Turks and of course, the Chinese.

All are “in a great hurry to invest,” he said. Chinese interest is “extraordinary,” he said.

Ministry revenues have increased exponentially, from $1.2 million in the year preceding the Taliban takeover, to $67 million in the six months since the Taliban assumed power, according to documents seen by the AP. Ironically, it was the Taliban that hindered work in Mes Aynak for over a decade.

An MCC official recalled how the road leading to the mine was laden with IEDs targeting Afghan forces and NATO allies. When his Taliban hosts told him they had restored safety so work could resume, he replied in jest, “Wasn’t it you who was attacking us?”

The men, machine-guns slung around their necks, laughed too. 

CHOE from 1

Choe was in Olympia on March 19 covering a Proud Boys rally and tweeting out a timeline of what was going on.

He wrote on Medium:

“In a Tweet recapping the day, I decided to create a photo montage with natural sound from the march… One of my videos picked up music blasting from a speaker strapped over the shoulder of one of the protesters. I could not make out the words and had never heard this song in my life.

I later learned the song is called ‘We’ll Have Our Home Again,” and is sometimes played at white nationalist rallies. This piece was never meant to air on KOMO News and it never did. I wanted it to be a conversation starter, and it sure did incite an unexpected response. In hindsight, I wish I added more context to this Tweet. But before I could clarify or respond to the criticism, my news director told me to take down all my social media related to the Proud Boys march. I was also told by my boss not to speak to any outside media. The following day, I was fired from KOMO.

I’ve been a journalist now for more than 20 years. If there was a Ku Klux Klan rally and cross burning at Seattle Center in downtown, I would be the first person there to cover the event. My job is to present all sides, not just the one that aligns with my values or worldview.”

In a statement, KOMO said that it “did not direct or approve Jonathan Choe’s decision to cover this… rally, nor did his work meet our editorial standards. We decided to end our employment relationship with him.”

A source at the station told TVSpy—an aggregator of television industry news—that staffers were complaining about Choe and that this was the “last straw.” The source also said that station photographers felt Choe was putting them in danger when they worked with him. 

HONG KONG from 11

The changes announced signal a shift in Hong Kong’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, as authorities sought to provide a direction for Hong Kong businesses and its residents after two years of aligning with mainland China’s “zero COVID” policy.

Lam said that the changes come as part of an interim review of the city’s measures, and that various stakeholders in the city will be consulted for any longer-term roadmaps when it comes to public health and economic development.

“We have to listen more carefully to the experts, both locally and from the mainland,” said Lam.

“For any longer-term public health strategy, we will have to take into account both factors that is maintaining Hong Kong’s accessibility to the mainland, and also ensuring her continued connectivity with the outside world.”

Lam also announced that social distancing measures will stay in place, although they will be lifted in stages from April 21 if infections do not surge, Lam said. A ban on dining in after 6 p.m. will be lifted, and public gatherings will be capped at four people, up from two.

Other businesses that were ordered to shutter temporarily, such as gyms and massage parlors, will also be allowed to reopen.

At the peak of its outbreak, Hong Kong reported over 50,000 cases daily, and has reported over 1 million infections and nearly 5,700 deaths since the current outbreak began at the end of last year. 

SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 6.

a young girl in torn jeans and a rose sticking out of her back pocket stands transfixed over the pile, looking for something useful. A few minutes later, she is on the other side of the parking lot, which contains the trash, holding her hands up wildly and swaying.

A plan to “protect” the parking lot, which is leased by the state to InterIm Community Development Association, and encompasses the area between South Jackson and South King streets under I-5, is underway. It involves extending and broadening the fence around the lot.

State Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, working with the Chong Wa Benevolent Association and InterIm, led efforts to secure $100,000 from the state transportation budget to rebuild and lengthen the fence so that it reaches to the very ends of the parking lot, and InterIm will be able to put up a “no trespassing” sign. That will allow police to remove people or bring in social workers to help them transition to a different environment.

“Of course, InterIm can already call the police, but the police are unable to do anything if the campers are camped out on public property . . . this is the central issue,” Santos said.

CLARIFYING ROLES

As it is, the land is managed by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) but leased to InterIm which in turn has taken over the management. But the property is also the responsibility of WSDOT. WSDOT personnel are not equipped or trained to remove hazardous waste, said Santos, who brokered discussions with the community organizations, WSDOT, and also brought members of the various legislative committees to the site.

Moreover, WSDOT workers are not able to remove people from their property, she said.

Having a “no trespassing” sign along a complete fence would allow Seattle police to respond to a call “about unhoused people camping in a public right-of-way,” said Santos.

The fence would also help keep the property clear in another way. Tent encampments with homeless people inside them were seen last week along one side of the fence—on the outside. But they were on a strip of land that is raised higher than the sidewalk and is next to it.

That strip of land, a long grey platform of concrete, holds the bottom of the poles that rise up in the darkness to hold up the freeway. It is also land managed by InterIm, so until recently it had not been subject to clearance by the police, said Santos.

The purpose of broadening the fence is to remove access to that extra strip of land. In that case, the fence will come right up to the sidewalk, which is a public right of way and the responsibility of the city, its police, social workers, and other professionals.

“Things have been increasingly challenging for the community in terms of public safety and public sanitation,” said Santos.

HEALING THE COMMUNITY

The fencing may also solve tensions between Chong Wa, which apparently levied complaints about the parking lot, and InterIm—or it is meant to do so. Chong Wa did not respond to multiple requests for comments.

Yet even the narrative about how the fencing solution came to be is questioned by different parties.

“I am not aware of any questions about the origins of the fencing idea,” Santos told the Northwest Asian Weekly.

She said the idea emerged from one of multiple meetings she had with the community.

“The idea really did come from especially this one meeting where we had the people from Chong Wa there and we had InterIm there, and when Chong Wa was able to hear about what the challenges were from the standpoint of the State Department of Transportation and the challenges that InterIm was having, they said, ‘But our property owners are able to do this, why can’t InterIm do that?’ And it was because the fence didn’t go far enough,” she said. “And that was sort of like this moment where all those lightbulbs go off all at the same time and it was like, let’s just re-fence it.”

But Tom Im, deputy director of InterIm, said the solution had been discussed at InterIm internally for years.

“I just want to reiterate that the fencing idea did not, in any way, originate from Chong Wa, as that would be a false narrative—though they might’ve come up with the idea from their own internal conversations. However, the idea has been discussed well before last year. If anything, Rep. Santos helped push this forward and if it wasn’t for her work, this wouldn’t have happened,” Im said.

A PERSONAL ISSUE

Still, such small differences may reflect a greater sense of frustration that the freeway represents for the community. They also perhaps reflect uncertainty about the future.

The neighborhood was “intentionally” split by the freeway in the 1960s, said Im, who has worked at InterIm for 25 years. According to Santos, this caused parts of the community to shrivel.

During the 1970s, her late husband Bob Santos led a movement to advocate for the space under the freeway to be turned into a parking lot to help revitalize the community. In an interview with Densho on June 30, 2011, Bob Santos described the process as part of a way to save the Chinatown-International District (CID) by bringing in more business to its remaining shops and restaurants through more parking spaces.

The money from parking was also transformative to InterIm, which for a time Bob Santos led, because it allowed the organization to do lobbying since the parking entity was not constrained by the laws that governed InterIm itself as a nonprofit.

Still, today, InterIm does not make any substantial revenue from the parking lot, said Im.

“Over the last couple years, I’m pretty sure it’s been down a lot to the point where we aren’t making any income, if not making a loss,” he said.

The fencing is meant as a community solution, he said.

DIFFERING LAWS?

At the same time, though, the need for the fencing highlights an apparent dysfunction between state and city governments—one that it is not clear the future will remedy.

There is, in fact, already a provision that requires city police to take responsibility over areas of land under and along freeways that pass through the city. A 1961 provision in the revised code of Washington (RCW 47.52.200) allows city police, county sheriffs, and state patrol to enforce laws, which would include trespassing or any other state laws.

“Whenever any limited access highway facility passes within or through any incorporated city or town the municipal police officers of such city or town, the sheriff of the county wherein such city or town is situated and officers of the Washington state patrol shall have independent and concurrent jurisdiction to enforce any violation of the laws of this state occurring thereon,” it sates.

Moreover, it appears that Seattle police, even as recently as March 17, carried out a sweep of state-managed land under the freeway along one side of the current fence.

Photos obtained by Northwest Asian Weekly show countless bicycle police officers, patrol vehicles, and a garbage truck along South Jackson Street. The following week, that side of the fence was mostly empty of tents and trash. It was not clear why the other side of the fence, on South King Street, was still full of encampments.

When asked if police were operating under such a law that allowed them to enforce on state-managed property, the Seattle Police Department responded, “You will need to reach out to the Mayor’s office regarding this inquiry.”

Jamie Housen, director of communications for the city of Seattle said the encampment that was removed on March 17 “was primarily on City-owned property.” A few tents on WSDOT property were also removed, he said, under a “maintenance agreement between the City of Seattle and WSDOT.” “Existing laws do not prevent Seattle from conducting encampment removals on WSDOT properties within the City. That said, maintenance agreements between Seattle and WSDOT are important for informing City practices and clarifying roles and responsibilities,” Housen said.

As of press time, however, it was not clear which laws the city would be following in the future if it removed homeless encampments from the InterIm parking lot—existing laws, or no trespassing laws activated by the expanded fencing. Nor did it seem clear under what circumstances the police would be acting at the direction of the city or the state or simply responding to a call from InterIm.

HOPE FOR COLLABORATION

The lack of clarity may reflect systemic issues of local governments trying to work together. Rep. Santos hopes to make sure that the personnel who have the requisite training and authority are protecting the InterIm parking lot.

“People know when governments don’t work, but they don’t really know why governments don’t work,” said Rep. Santos. “And it’s not because we’re not trying. Then all of a sudden you have two different governments. You have the city and you have the state. Both trying to accomplish something. And if they can’t get along, then we’re all in trouble, right?”

Housen said Mayor Bruce Harrell was “putting a renewed focus on regional collaboration, bringing together county, state, and federal efforts and resources to make a difference in the immediate and long-term. That includes engaged work with the new Regional Homelessness Authority, funding their work and supporting the new Partnership for Zen effort to reduce homelessness on the streets of downtown Seattle.”

In the meantime, Santos said the fence building is part of a broader movement to reclaim and heal parts of the community that were torn away and damaged. She pointed to a similar moment in South Park, where citizens are working to reclaim the damages done to the area by the SR 99 highway.

“When they first started looking at this, mostly from an environmental standpoint, they started realizing there actually is a traceable reason to why you see higher rates of asthma, and other kinds of health conditions in poor communities of color. It’s because they’re located so close to a freeway. Well, you take a little while longer and you realize they didn’t move there because the freeway was there, the freeway ran right through it,” she said.

Outside the fence that is currently in place, a man with a face like mud beaten into tiny hillocks wanders with a blanket over his shoulders that he then pulls over his head and continues to stagger. 

Mahlon can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

BLOG from 10

you get reunited with them. Instead of being confined at home, we can walk out of our home freely now. Celebrate that we have control over Covid because of the vaccines.

At the beginning of Covid, few assumed that it would last more than two years. But we have tackled it, and are not so afraid anymore. We are not being locked down, and we can go about living our lives as normally as possible. My prayers are finally answered, and hope is coming. In my gut, I feel, “The worst might be over, we are almost there.”

As if the pandemic is not complicated and heavy enough, we lived through an unusual but exciting election in 2020, and endured an insurrection in 2021 even though insurrectionists wanted to overturn the election. Let’s celebrate that.

Just as we thought we may be back to normal in 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, and President Joe Biden’s leadership in uniting 27 European countries to sanction Russia and support Ukraine is no small feat. I celebrate America’s strength to isolate Russia, an evil empire; and our humanity and solidarity to support the Ukrainians by sending them money, food, medical supplies, and military equipment, in addition to our talents and advice. While it is unbearable for us to witness Russia’s destruction of lives and cities in Ukraine, I am grateful that Biden insisted he won’t be sending troops there. War should never be a part of the plan. We are blessed that our land is protected.

No one knew that the last 24 months would be extraordinary, unpredictable, and heart-wrenching, especially the tremendous loss of human lives. Everyone has a Covid story to share. Mine may be different and not so different. But one lesson I have learned is, I will never be the same person after the pandemic. What was important then, is not so important anymore. What used to be beautiful, now it is not. What used to make me happy, has no effect on me. The Covid journey has been profound. We never know if today is our last day. So don’t waste time on small stuff. Wake up every morning with love, joy, gratitude, and laughter every day. I am aware of those qualities before Covid. The only difference is, I truly embrace these gifts of life by practicing them constantly. 

Facebook post in support of Jade Garden Restaurant, which had been a target of vandalism

The Rotary Club of Seattle gave out colored wristbands after restaurants reopened in 2021. Green means “hug me,“ yellow means elbow hugs only, and red means stay 6‘ apart.

Photos by Assunta Ng

Kelly Marie Tran wore a green áo dài designed by Thai Nguyen. Simu Liu arrives at the Oscars AP Photo/John Locher

Pawo Choyning Dorji arrives at the Oscars

She wore a UN Refugee Agency blue ribbon pin on her dress, in support of the Ukrainian refugees campaign.

She also captured the audience’s hearts when she presented the Oscar in American Sign Language to Troy Kotsur, the first deaf male actor to win an Academy Award.

Following the phrase “And the Oscar goes to,” Youn paused to sign “congratulations.”

“Shang-Chi” star Simu Liu was also a presenter at the 94th Academy Awards on March 27. He teamed up with Tiffany Haddish to present the Oscar for Best International Feature Film.

And of course, South Asians Aneil Karia and Riz Ahmed won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film for “The Long Goodbye.”

LA Weekly wrote that the “media should be celebrating the diversity of the Oscars winners list… instead of arguing about who was right or wrong,” in regards to the punch that made collective jaws drop.

In case you missed it, Will Smith struck Chris Rock on stage after Rock directed a G.I. Jane joke at Smith’s wife and actress, Jada Pinkett Smith.

It “shouldn’t be about being ‘Team Rock’ or ‘Team Smith’... it’s about the films,” stated LA Weekly. “Despite a rough past couple years for the movie industry thanks to the pandemic, last night showed that the art can still be powerful and inspiring, and it is getting more inclusive.

Especially after the #OscarSoWhite boycott of 2016 (which the Smiths were a part of), it’s important to put personal feelings aside and focus on this progress.”

Ever since #OscarsSoWhite became hugely popular around the world, the Academy has tried to be more inclusive of people of color in their nominations.

Such change has been demonstrated in the past few years too, with the Academy passing several milestones in the previous two ceremonies, with Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite becoming the first foreign film of all time to win Best Picture in 2019 and Chloé Zhao making history as just the second woman ever to win Best Director for Nomadland in 2020.

Whilst its slow progress, it’s certainly a start.

We love seeing Asian presenters and nominees flaunting their heritage through traditional costumes on the red carpet.

“Raya and the Last Dragon” star Kelly Marie Tran became the first actress in Oscar history to arrive in the áo dài—she had her emerald green dress specially created for her by Vietnamese American designer Thai Nguyen.

“Writing With Fire” directors Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh both donned traditional Indian costumes to the red carpet, as well as “Lunana” director Pawo Choyning Dorji, who showed off the Bhutanese gho.

Let’s see more Asian representation onscreen and behind the scenes, on the big screen and small screen. It’s not traditionally a career path that Asian parents would approve of or condone. Perhaps it’s time for a change. What’s not to like? Those who succeed in the entertainment industry enjoy money and prestige (check Asian parent boxes), along with fame. It’s time to step into bigger roles—literally and figuratively. 

Presented by NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY & SEATTLE CHINESE POST

AAPI HERITAGE MONTH video & photo contest

Show us how you celebrate AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) Heritage Month in May. Whether it’s a family gathering, adorable children (and adults!) celebrating traditions, in all forms including arts and craft, or the awesome family cook showing off a delicious meal, we’d love to see the unique ways in which you and your family celebrate AAPI heritage. There will be two categories of competition: videos and photos.

Prizes: Judges’ Choice awards and People’s Choice Awards (readers vote). The winners will be announced in early June. Winners will receive gift certificates to restaurants and grocery stores, and Asian snacks.

Please submit your photo(s) to james@nwasianweekly.com by April 25. For videos (no more than 1 minute each), please submit it by posting on your Facebook and tag us #NWaapi to consider. Whoever win, will be part of Northwest Asian Weekly‘s YouTube. All entries have to be original photos and videos. Fill out the information below. You may also submit via mail to: Northwest Asian Weekly, 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104.

Name: ____________________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Email: ____________________________________________________________ Phone: ___________________________________________________________ Describe in one to two sentences what the photo or video is about. __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

SPONSORED BY