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VOL 41 NO 22 MAY 28 – JUNE 3, 2022
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This Memorial Day will mark the first time Chinese American World War II veterans and their families will be able to celebrate the holiday with a Congressional Gold Medal that was awarded to them. At a ceremony on Nov. 13, 2021 in Meydenbauer Center, sponsored by the Chinese American Citizens Alliance (C.A.C.A.) Seattle and the Seattle Regional Chinese American World War II Veterans Congressional Gold Medal Committee, the highest
civilian honor was presented to three of the five living veterans and the families of the deceased Chinese American World War II veterans from this region. “It is an honor that was long, long overdue,” said Congressman Adam Smith, at the ceremony. The in-person ceremony was preceded by a virtual ceremony on March 13, during which former Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan issued a proclamation naming that day in honor of the veterans.
Uwajimaya voices concern over CID link light rail station in 10-page letter
Graphic: Han Bui
A Sound Transit committee held a special workshop last week to discuss the multi-billion-dollar project that plans to provide light rail connections between West Seattle and Ballard. The routes will travel to and through numerous communities in Seattle including the Chinatown-International District (CID). Final decisions about the project are expected next year. But residents and businesses in the CID are concerned that it’s happening too fast. Uwajimaya sent a 10-page letter—signed by Denise and Miye Moriguchi and Kenneth Louie— asking Sound Transit to extend the deadline and take more time to study the impacts in partnership with community stakeholders. It pointed to the inadequate environmental impact analysis in regards to connectivity, property acquisition and displacement, air quality, noise, and the impact on historic and cultural resources. Uwajimaya stated, “The CID station area is the only station area densely populated by communities see LIGHT RAIL on 12
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Seattle Regional Chinese American World War II Veterans Congressional Gold Medal Committee. From left (back row) Sue Mar, Michelle Locke, Cheryll Leo-Gwin, Tina Young, Vivian Chan, and Dorrienne Chinn From left (front row) JoAnne Lee, Bettie Luke, Cathy Lee, Terry Nicholas, and Kent Wong (Not pictured) Mimi Gan, Jerry Lee, Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman, June Wong
THE INSIDE STORY LETTER Reflections on history of anti-Chinese hate in Seattle and Washington state
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BUSINESS Louisa Hotel: History and mystery in plaster
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Nearly 4,000 people signed up to help clean up Seattle on May 21 in the first-ever “One Seattle Day of Service” and Mayor Bruce Harrell’s plan for people to help give back to the community.
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Little Saigon woes continue By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY On the heels of Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell’s One Seattle Day of Service—in which 4,000 volunteers signed up to clean up the city—business owners and community leaders in the Chinatown-International District (CID) say more needs to be done. “Simple vandalism is a nuisance,” said retired Lt. Col. Michael Yaguchi of the Air Force and current commander of the Nisei Veterans Committee (NVC). “The paramount issue is the overt use of drugs in our neighborhood, and the discarding of needles and other materials used to prepare those drugs amongst public areas or private property.” Over the past two years, the area around NVC Memorial Hall at 12th Avenue South and South King Street has seen see LITTLE SAIGON on 15
Credit: Staff
By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Photo by Kent Wong
Chinese American WWII veterans honored
SPD dispersed people loitering outside Lam’s Seafood on May 24.
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