VOL 41 NO 43 | OCTOBER 22 – OCTOBER 28, 2022

King County halts shelter expansion

community cautiously optimistic

Open letter to Seattle mayor, police chief to increase public safety in the CID

By Teresita Batayola ICHS PRESIDENT AND CEO

By Mahlon Meyer

NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

King County Executive Dow Constantine on Oct. 14 called off the expansion of a homeless shelter in the Chinatown-International District (CID) after months of protests by community members who said that it would increase violence in their troubled neighborhood.

But community organizers were puzzled by an earlier statement, issued the day before, in which Constantine alluded to “paid political

agents” who he said had worked to “hijack” community concerns “to create conflict, division, and hate toward the unhoused.”

Muted celebration

Nevertheless, an air of celebration filled a rally on Oct. 15 that was originally planned to raise funds for a lawsuit against the county.

Court rejects appeal to give American Samoans citizenship

By MARK SHERMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Oct. 17 rejected an appeal seeking to give people born in American Samoa U.S. citizenship.

In leaving in place an appeals court decision, the court also passed up an invitation to overturn a series of decisions dating back to 1901 known as the Insular Cases, replete with racist and anti-foreign rhetoric. Justice Neil Gorsuch had called for the cases to be overturned in April.

But the justices refused to take up an appeal from people born in American Samoa, and living in Utah, who argued that a federal law

On Sunday, Oct. 9, at approximately 3:50 a.m., gunshots occurred outside the entrance of the Legacy House, an assisted living facility at 803 South Lane Street following altercations between groups of individuals. Approximately seven shots hit an International Community Health Services (ICHS) staff member’s parked car in front of Legacy House, and two shots hit the Legacy House building.

At this time, we do not know the nature or circumstances of the shooting. We are immensely relieved that no staff or residents were injured in the shooting. However, as you can imagine, our staff are reeling from the anxiety and trauma of random acts of violence.

Troublingly, when ICHS leadership filed a police report and inquired about how we can cooperate with a police investigation, we were informed that no case would be opened due to the fact that no one was injured in the shooting. Put plainly in the perspective of one staff member, the dispatcher notified us that this was a low-priority for them.

ICHS is deeply concerned about endemic

SHELTER EXPANSION

Jason Karman’s “Golden Delicious” look

growing up

PICTORIAL CISC’s 50th Anniversary Friendship Gala

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

American galleries get a makeover to

non-white

Dear Mayor Bruce Harrell and Chief Adrian Diaz,

Legacy House

Matt Chan and Tanya Woo at the victory rally

Photos by Assunta Ng

Seniors at the victory rally.

Supreme

editorial

NAMES IN THE NEWS

Anna May Wong, first Asian American on U.S. currency

The U.S. Mint will begin shipping coins featuring actress Anna May Wong on Oct. 24, the first U.S. currency to feature an Asian American.

Wong, who died in 1961, struggled to land roles in Hollywood in the early 20th century, a time of “yellowface,” when white people wore makeup and clothes to take on Asian roles, and anti-miscegenation laws, which criminalized interracial relationships.

Her career spanned 60 films—many in the silent era— and she earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.

The U.S. Mint’s American Women Quarters Program celebrates five female trailblazers in American history each year between 2022 and 2025. Wong is featured on the fifth coin released this year.

Kenji book signing

signing copies of his new book, “The Wok: Recipes and Techniques.”

It features more than 200 recipes, explanations of knife skills, and how to stock a pantry, in addition to guiding you through the science and technique of cooking in a wok.

The book is available for purchase at Kinokuniya Bookstore.

Fong getting added responsibilities at SBA

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has asked Mike Fong, SBA director for Region 10, to serve as Acting Regional Administrator for Region 7—which includes Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas.

“I’m honored that SBA and the Biden-Harris Administration have the confidence in me to oversee operations in eight states across two different regions and I’m looking forward to spending time in the Great Plains to support small businesses,” Fong told the Northwest Asian Weekly.

Region 7 Regional Administrator Vercie Lark stepped down from his role this month to return to the private sector.

According to its data, Region 7 has approximately 35,000 AAPI-owned small businesses while Region 10 has 90,000, and 65,000 in Washington state alone

Rep. Smith visits new food bank site

On Oct.14, Congressman Adam Smith visited the new Rainier Valley Food Bank (RVFB) location to learn about the post-COVID hunger environment and discuss federal funding for hunger relief.

He met with RVFB Executive Director Gloria HatcherMays to talk about local impacts on food banking.

RVFB said Smith has been a long-time supporter of

Cauce elected to National Academy of Medicine

University of Washington (UW) President Ana Mari Cauce is among the new members elected to the National Academy of Med icine (NAM) in an announcement made on Oct. 17.

NAM recognizes those who have demonstrated outstanding profes sional achievement in medicine and public health, and election to it is considered among the highest hon ors in these fields.

A professor of Psychology and American Ethnic Studies, with secondary appointments in the Department of Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies and the College of Education, Cauce’s research focuses on adoles cent development, with a special emphasis on at-risk youth.

She was named the 33rd president of the UW in 2015, after serving as interim president for seven months and having previously served as provost and executive vice president.

Chef J. Kenji López-Alt was at Uwajimaya on Oct. 14,

hunger relief efforts, helping support funding legislation that assists food banks, farmers, and grocery suppliers.

Chef Kenji (right) signed books for fans at Uwajimaya on Oct. 14

UW President Ana Mari Cauce

RVFB Executive Director Gloria Hatcher-Mays with Rep. Adam Smith

Mike Fong

AAPI candidates on November ballot

Washington State’s 2022 General Election takes place on Nov. 8 and features races for the U.S. Senate and Congress, as well as Washington Secretary of State and Washington Supreme Court.

Ballots have been mailed out and they must be postmarked or returned to a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. on Election Day..

Here are the AAPI candidates hoping to earn your vote in King County.

FEDERAL

U.S. Representative, Congressional District 7 Pramila Jayapal

First elected in 2016, Rep. Pramila Jayapal is currently serving her third term as the U.S. Representative for Washington’s 7th District.

She is Chair of the 96-member Congressional Progressive Caucus and also serves on the House Judiciary, Education & Labor, and Budget Committees. Prior to becoming the first South Asian American woman ever elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, Jayapal spent decades working in global public health and development.

U.S. Representative, Congressional District 10

Marilyn Strickland

Rep. Marilyn Strickland is seeking reelection for Washington’s 10th District. She previously served as the mayor of Tacoma and joined Congress in 2021 as the first Black and Korean American representative from Washington. She also formerly led both the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Pierce Transit.

In her years serving the public, Strickland has worked to lower the cost of prescription medicine, recover social security and veterans’ benefits, and make corporations pay their share of taxes.

STATE

Secretary of State Steve Hobbs

As Washington’s 16th Secretary of State, Steve Hobbs is the son of a Japanese immigrant.

He has three decades of military service in the United States Army and National Guard, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Hobbs

has completed tours in Kosovo and Iraq, and he recently commanded more than 750 members in Task Force Olympic, a Western Washington response mission to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pramila Jayapal

Marilyn Strickland

Steve Hobbs

Representative, Legislative District 1 Davina Duerr

Running to retain her seat as State Representative in the 1st Legislative

District, Rep. Davina Duerr has also served as a Bothell City Councilmember, and she is currently on the Transportation, see AAPI on 17

Davina Duerr

Cindy Ryu

Mia Gregerson

Sharon SantosJoe Nguyen

My-Linh Thai

Manka Dhingra

Ryika Hooshangi

Vandana Slatter

Leesa Manion Mary Yu

Andrea Chin Janet Chung

Kuljinder Dhillon

Gregg Hirakawa

Fa’amomoi Masaniai, Jr.

Pooja Vaddadi

Hobbs wants to keep his job

By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

A Marvel Universe fan, Steve Hobbs came to a recent luncheon of community leaders wearing a Captain America tie. The navy blue tie, adorned with subtle dots which, when looked at closer, are the trademark red, white, and blue shield carried by the hero in the Marvel Universe comics and movies. Similar to the character, Hobbs is preserving democracy through protection of the electoral process as Secretary of State.

“Underrepresented people need a voice, communities of color need a voice, I am the only person at that state executive level,” Hobbs explained on why he should be the choice for Washington Secretary of State. Hobbs’ mother immigrated to the United States from Japan. Hobbs became the state’s 16th Secretary of State in November 2021 after being appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee, becoming the first Asian American and person of color to take the position.

Despite the appointment last year, Hobbs must run for the position once again in a statewide special election in November 2022 to complete for the last two years of the

Secretary of State’s term.

Hobbs is running against Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson, who is running as a non-partisan candidate. Hobbs is a Democrat.

“I just stick to the same messaging from the beginning which works,” Hobbs said of the campaign strategy in running against a non-partisan candidate. “This office is about ensuring that our elections are transparent, secure, and accessible. With all due respect, she doesn’t have that and I

do.”

The issue of election security has brought the office of the Secretary of State into much more scrutiny since the presidential election of 2020. Hobbs indicated that the two major issues his office faces are cyber threats and misinformation.

“Cyber threats are pretty straightforward,” Hobbs explained. Threats to election security, voting machines, and the process of counting votes have been attacked. As Secretary of State, Hobbs has a security clearance with the federal government that allows him to keep up to date on the latest domestic and foreign cyber threats that may infiltrate our elections.

The second and perhaps bigger issue is that of malicious misinformation.

“We don’t want to restrict First Amendment rights, but when we see things that are not true, we push back on misinformation if it grows too much or is erroneous,” Hobbs explained. He gave the example of a situation where an overseas agency will scan the

see HOBBS on

Sound Transit courts community in open house

By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

After a long and contentious process in which community members over months protested various plans by Sound Transit (ST) to build a transit hub in the ChinatownInternational District (CID), the agency appeared to kick off a charm offensive with the arrival of a new CEO.

At an open house on Oct. 13, ST staff courted community members with individual consultations about station placement in which virtually anyone could lean over a table with a giant photograph of the neighborhood on it and share ideas.

An assistant would then write ideas on a white piece of paper in small bullet points in English next to a massive sign that said, “Other Ideas,” both in English and Chinese.

Outspoken community leaders representing official organizations strongly

praised the transit agency for its efforts, calling the evening “a huge success” and saying it augurs positive engagement in the future. A few more reticent community members, however, still seemed hesitant about directly engaging with transit experts.

“A huge success”

There was little to suggest that ST had not gone out of its way to set up an accessible event.

There were “stations”—other tables with other large photographs of the CID with potential changes marked on them in English and Chinese—around the hall. There were even boxes of flat onion cakes in brown, greasy wrappings that ST staff were handing out and community members were chewing in the back of a boardroom.

And phrases repeated by ST staff in short speeches seemed to promise openness.

“All options are on the table,” was a phrase

virtually every ST staff member used in her speech, from interim CEO and agency chief of staff Brooke Belman to incoming CEO Julie Timm to other staff, in private conversation, referring to the placement of the new transit hub.

Betty Lau, as a member of several organizations that have engaged with ST for months, was lavish in her praise of the event.

“The Sound Transit Open House was a huge success; anyone could see how involved participants were, especially the elderly residents who are limited English speakers. It demonstrates what culturally appropriate communication can do for engagement and input collection,” she said afterwards, in an email. “This open house bodes well for future engagement efforts, particularly since we have begun mitigation discussions.”

An end to controversy?

Still, some community members seemed

more comfortable sharing opinions among themselves rather than approaching the official table set up for exchanges with ST staff.

A few listened to interpretations in Cantonese offered by the agency, but did not utilize individual interpreters to make their opinions known.

In the end, if the ST open house accomplished anything, it appeared to have at least temporarily defused an atmosphere of protest, accusations of institutional racism, and overall community contempt and outrage over the agency’s plans to demolish parts of the CID and possibly put the neighborhood largely out of commission for a decade, if not destroy it, with dozens of businesses closed and major streets blocked off for construction or with near-constant truck traffic.

Still, ST staff said privately that the

see SOUND TRANSIT

Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs sporting his Captain America tie

A Medicare plan that covers acupuncture.

premium.

Patrick Fu CHPW Medicare Expert

NOW THROUGH 11/19/2022

VIRTUAL ART: BODIES OF LAND | ANN LEDA SHAPIRO & HANAKO O’LEARY

ArtXchange Gallery, 512 First Ave S, Seattle Tuesday –Saturday, 11 AM –5:30 PM artxchange.org

NOW THROUGH 2/19/2023

EXHIBIT, “WE ARE CHANGING THE TIDE: COMMUNITY POWER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE”

The Wing Luke Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle Thu-Sun, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. wingluke.org/we-are-changing-thetide

NOW THROUGH 1/15/2023

EXHIBIT: SRIJON CHOWDHURY: SAME OLD SONG

Frye Art Museum, 704 Terry Ave., Seattle

Admission is free Wed-Sun: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

NOW THROUGH 9/18/2023

RESISTERS: A LEGACY OF MOVEMENT FROM THE JAPANESE AMERICAN INCARCERATION

The Wing Luke Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle Thu-Sun, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. wingluke.org

HOBBS from 4

CALENDAR

OCT 20

AMERICAN ART: THE STORIES WE CARRY, EXHIBIT PREMIERE Seattle Art Museum, 1300 First Ave., Seattle seattleartmuseum.org

20-23

FREE EYE EXAMS & PRESCRIPTION EYEGLASSES OFFERED FOR PEOPLE IN NEED

Seattle Center

First-come, first-served Free service More info at seattlecenter.org/patients 206-684-7200

22

DIWALI: LIGHTS OF INDIA SHOWCASES MUSIC, DANCE & MARTIAL ARTS Seattle Center 12 p.m. seattlecenter.com

24

PEACETREES VIETNAM’S 27TH ANNIVERSARY VIRTUAL CELEBRATION 6-7 p.m. Register at peacetreesvietnam.org

29

KWA CELEBRATE 50TH JUBILEE Hotel Murano Pavilion, Tacoma 5 p.m. Tickets at kwacares.ejoinme. org/tickets

WALK FOR RECONCILIATION AGAINST RACISM Union Station Tacoma 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. RSVP at info@crpftacoma. org

NOV 3

TERRI NAKAMURA, AUTHOR OF “BLOGGING IN INSTAGRAM”

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. For zoom link, contact rotaryofseattleid@gmail.com

STG PRESENTS MIYAVI Neumos, 925 E Pike St, Seattle 8 p.m. $28-$35 stgpresents.org

5

FREE WORKSHOP, “DIVERSITY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT”

Renton, WA 8:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m. RSVP required at rentonwa.gov/ valleypolicecareers

THE ETHNIC HERITAGE COUNCIL OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TO ANNOUNCE THIS YEAR’S AWARD RECIPIENTS TO BE HONORED AT THE ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY & RECEPTION

MLK F.A.M.E. Community Center, 3201 E. Republican Street, Seattle 2-5 p.m. $35/ticket Tickets at https://bit.ly/3Meu3Rq

BUNKA NO HI, JAPANESE CULTURE DAY FESTIVAL JCCCW, 1414 S. Weller St., Seattle 11 a.m.-5 pm jcccw.org

10ED HILL: LIVE Here-After, The Crocodile, 2505 1st Ave., Seattle 7-8:30 p.m. Tickets at ticketweb.com

internet for all sorts of stuff to cause distrust in the voting system. They will then create a fake website to cause disruption.

In an effort to deal with misinformation, Hobbs preaches social media awareness. Hobbs stated that it’s important that a social media user checks the validity of news from a reliable source before accepting its truth and spreading misinformation further with a retweet or sharing with others.

He noted that young people are important when it comes to voting in this upcoming election. “They are a lot smarter when it comes to social media, than older folks.” He feels it’s vital to “communicate to them at the elementary, middle school, and high school level with better curriculum so we make better citizens as they become voting age.”

If he continues on as Washington’s Secretary of State, Hobbs hopes to expand efforts to educate the state voter. He would like to hire a lead person with a staff of people and contract out to organizations in the continued efforts to help create proper messaging for election and voting laws, and encourage everyone of voting age to vote.

In the days leading up to the general election, Hobbs will be campaigning throughout the state, spreading the message of why he should keep his job.

Hobbs was born in Everett, Washington and has been married to his wife for over 25 years. The couple has three sons. Two have followed in his footsteps of being in the Army National Guard. His middle son, Truman, took the bronze medal in swimming in the Special Olympics held in Florida this past June.

Hobbs enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 17. He

completed two tours of duty in Kosovo and Iraq where he served in various leadership positions. He is currently a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army National Guard.

Hobbs received an Associate of Arts degree at Everett Community College and then went on to the University of Washington, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Masters in Public Administration.

In 2006, he was elected as a state senator representing Washington’s 44th Legislative District, which covers a large area east of Everett which includes Maltby, Mill Creek, and Snohomish. 

Hobbs’ campaign website can be found at electhobbs.com. Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

AssuntA ng Publisher assunta@nwasianweekly.com

John Liu Associate Publisher john@nwasianweekly.com

BAyAng Editor editor@nwasianweekly.com

Account Executives

KeLLy LiAo kelly@nwasianweekly.com

John Liu john@nwasianweekly.com

geoRge hiRA ghira@nwasianweekly.com

The only weekly English-language newspaper serving Washington’s Asian community. The NW Asian Weekly has one simple goal: “To empower the Asian community.”

The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject any advertisement, letter or article. Subscriptions cost $40 for 52 weeks of the NW Asian Weekly and $30 for 52 weeks of the Seattle Chinese Post. The NW Asian Weekly owns the copyright for all its content. All rights reserved. No part of this paper may be reprinted without permission.

hAn Bui Layout & Web Editor han@nwasianweekly.com 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 editor@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com

Northwest Asian Weekly receives 18 WNPA journalism awards

In a contest where 48 newspapers across Washington participated, the Northwest Asian Weekly (NWAW) won 18 awards.

The winners were announced in a ceremony on Oct. 8 in Bellingham for the annual Washington Newspaper Publishers Association 2022 Better Newspaper Contest.

The contest—for non-daily Washington state newspapers to compete in a variety of writing, photography, editorial content, advertising, and design categories—covered works published between April 2021 and March 2022.

1ST PLACE WINS

Health or Medical story

Mahlon Meyer

Ethics and equity of vaccine passports

Business News Story

Mahlon Meyer

AAPI restaurants suffer and pine for relief

Arts Feature of Story, Long Andrew Hamlin Asian futures, without Asians

Topical Columns Samantha Pak On the Shelf

Branding Ad Han Bui Miss Chinatown Thank You

Multiple-Advertiser Ad

Han Bui, Kelly Liao, Assunta Ng Eat. Play. Live. Learn.

Video

Ruth Bayang, Assunta Ng, Nuk Suwanchote, Minh Le, John Liu, and George Liu Seattle celebrates 1st Asian mayor

2ND PLACE WINS

Government Story

Janice Nesamani

Talking trade with Ambassador Tai

Personality Profile, Long Mahlon Meyer SPD Chief Diaz

Art Reviews

Kai Curry Love is Blind

General Feature Story, Long Mahlon Meyer

Amidst uncertainty, Asians find ‘home’

Newspaper Website Han Bui Northwest Asian Weekly

3RD PLACE WINS

News Story, Long Mahlon Meyer Little Saigon Cleanup

Education Story

Mahlon Meyer

‘Invisible’ course at Bellevue College

Social Issue Story

Janice Nesamani

Unleashing the power of the AAPI vote!

Election Story

Mahlon Meyer

Mayoral candidates split over style

Art Reviews

Kai Curry & Stacy Nguyen Cowboy Bebop

Photo Essay

Han Bui, Assunta Ng, Rick Wong, and Max Chan

Celebrating the Year of the Tiger

NWAW competed against other newspapers with circulation between 3,400 and 6,999. This year’s contest was judged by the South Dakota Press Association. 

Immigrant relief fund opens long-delayed third round of aid

By Maleeha Syed / Crosscut.com REPUBLISHED WITH PERMISSION

Following months-long delays, undocumented immigrants can now apply for Washington’s third round of COVID-19 relief funding. The application process, which opened Sept. 19, has seen tens of thousands of submissions from those ineligible for the federal aid that many U.S. citizens leaned on to soften the pandemic’s financial blows. Each approved applicant can expect to receive at least $1,000.

The Washington state Legislature approved $340 million in April 2021 to aid the state’s undocumented immigrants, who total around 275,000, in navigating the hardships brought on by COVID. The allocation made Washington a national leader in helping people whose immigration status disqualifies them from receiving unemployment benefits and stimulus payments.

This fund was a way to provide relief to undocumented people who faced many of the same challenges as Washingtonians with citizenship during the pandemic, but didn’t have the resources to navigate them, said State Rep. Timm Ormsby, chief budget writer for House Democrats.

However, long lag times stalled the third round of this funding. In a March Crosscut story about the delay, state officials said they hoped checks could go out between this month and December.

Now, the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network, which is helping to support and manage the fund, expects funds to be distributed from December to January; hopeful recipients have until

Nov. 14 to apply.

The country’s undocumented-immigrant population was hit hard during the pandemic for a myriad of reasons, including limited access to healthcare and their roles as essential workers in several industries, such as health and agriculture. Washington’s Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance representatives attributed the delay in distributing funds to these

communities largely to the state’s Afghan refugee resettlement efforts. To some, the relief money’s slow rollout reflected a need for structural change.

Jorge Barón, executive director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, previously told Crosscut he hoped to see the money get to communities faster, and that the state’s refugee and immigrant assistance office may need additional staff on hand to

manage sudden events like the resettlement push for Afghan refugees.

“It took time to get set up,” Barón said of the fund in a recent interview. “That delay obviously meant that people did not get assistance as early as we would have wanted.”

He viewed the holdup as a lesson in the

Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Super Lawyer

see RELIEF FUND

The Layup Drill

Suzuki asked to learn French after being chosen captain

Nick Suzuki was chosen by Montreal Canadiens hockey management personnel as the team’s captain for their upcoming NHL season. Suzuki’s parents emigrated from Japan to Canada. The 23-yearold Canadian has been described as the “heartbeat of our team,” said teammate Brendan Gallagher.

Suzuki will begin his fourth season in the NHL. Last season, he played all 82 games and led the team in points scoring 21 goals and 40 assists.

By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Welcome to another edition of The Layup Drill. In this edition, we take a

Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki (14) plays against the Detroit Red Wings in the second period of an NHL hockey game on Oct. 14 in Detroit.

AP Photo Paul Sancya

look at an honor for an National Hockey League (NHL) player, Shohei Ohtani getting a big extension, and an upcoming New York Yankees player talking about his heritage and more.

Being the captain of an NHL team comes with great honor and responsibility. It also comes with scrutiny, especially if you do not know French in Montreal. Quebec politicians have told Suzuki to learn French. The reason being is to bond with the community that speaks English and French. According to a 2021 survey, an estimated 85.5% percent of households in Quebec speak French.

When asked about whether he was learning French, he said he had been taking French lessons in school and was refreshing himself with online classes.

“I’ll get better at that,” he told the media. Whether or not there

see LAYUP DRILL

Vote with Confidence.

Return

completed

By mail, postmarked by Election Day.

At an official drop box location by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

At an

by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

SAM American galleries get a makeover to include non-white art

By Kai Curry NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Change is afoot at Seattle Art Museum (SAM) and it in cludes a recent re-do of their American art galleries to be more culturally and racially inclusive. What is America? Who is American? These are the questions that SAM strives to answer by including Asian, Latinx, Black, and indigenous works in what was previously a series of rooms dominated by white male artists.

“The Stories We Carry” is the first major reinstallation of the American art collection in 15 years. It is also the larg est collaboration that SAM has done with community mem bers. The re-do received input from 11 local experts over a period of 15 months.

“It was a solid investment of time to find out what could be the possibilities of redirecting this thing called the American Permanent Collection,” said Mayumi Tsutukawa, part of the advisory circle, daughter of Se attle artist George Tsutukawa, and a writer and editor with a focus on Asian Americans.

SAM has done community collaboration before—notably, during their exhibition of Ed ward S. Curtis’ work, “Dou ble Exposure,” in which SAM decided that this problematic artist was worth looking at in a different context, and so en gaged a group of people to help guide them. The same applies to “The Stories We Carry.”

“There are a lot of new things that we’re trying out,” explained Caitlyn Fong, an in tern in SAM’s Conservation Department and one of four interns brought on by SAM to combat what Fong agrees is a dearth of people of color in the art museum industry.

“There is a lack of diverse representation of people and one of the problems is people not knowing about the field, or only certain select people knowing about the field, and that limits the types of people that try to get in,” said Fong, who was able to attend the ad visory council meetings and who helped document and restore art pieces that hadn’t been moved around for quite a while.

Now, the art will be dis played in a thematic way that talks about the “relationships”

Above: Minidoka Series #2: Exodus (1978) by Roger Y. Shimomura

Left: Early Winter, Mount Rainier (1957) by George Tsutukawa

Courtesy: SAM

K-pop group BTS members face possible military conscription

By HYUNG-JIN KIM ASSOCIATED PRESS

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s military appears to want to conscript mem bers of the K-pop supergroup BTS for man datory military duties, as the public remains sharply divided over whether they should be given exemptions.

Lee Ki Sik, commissioner of the Military Manpower Administration, told lawmakers on Oct.7 that it’s “desirable” for BTS mem bers to fulfill their military duties to ensure fairness in the country’s military service.

Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup made al most identical comments about BTS at a par liamentary committee meeting, and Culture Minister Park Bo Gyoon said his ministry would soon finalize its position on the issue.

Whether the band’s seven members must serve in the army is one of the hottest issues in South Korea because its oldest member, Jin, faces possible enlistment early next year after turning 30 in December.

Under South Korean law, all able-bodied men are required to perform 18-21 months of military service. But the law provides special exemptions for athletes, classical and traditional musicians, and ballet and other dancers who have won top prizes in certain competitions that enhance national prestige.

Without a revision of the law, the govern ment can take steps to grant special exemp tions. But past exemptions for people who performed well in non-designated competi tions triggered serious debate about the fair ness of the system.

Since the draft forces young men to sus pend their professional careers or studies, the dodging of military duties or creation of exemptions is a highly sensitive issue.

In one recent survey, about 61% of respon dents supported exemptions for entertainers such as BTS, while in another, about 54% said BTS members should serve in the mil itary.

Several amendments of the conscription law that would pave the way for BTS mem

bers to be exempted have been introduced in the National Assembly, but haven’t been voted on with lawmakers sharply divided on the matter.

Lee, the defense minister, earlier said he had ordered officials to consider conducting a public survey to help determine whether to grant exemptions to BTS. But the Defense Ministry later said it would not carry out such a survey.

In August, Lee said if BTS members

join the military, they would likely be al lowed to continue practicing and to join oth er non-serving BTS members in overseas group tours.

People who are exempted from the draft are released from the military after three weeks of basic training. They are also re quired to perform 544 hours of volunteer work and continue serving in their profes sional fields for 34 months.

BTS, the K-pop band from South Korea, and Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, address the media before the group met with President Joe Biden at the White House to discuss anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination on May 31.

Tom Williams/CQ

Roll Call via AP Images

“I experienced my first blizzard in Edmonton as an 8-year-old while helping my dad earn a living. I didn’t understand why my parents moved us from Indonesia into such a harsh climate.”

Jason Karman’s

By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

“Golden Delicious”

Indonesia into such a harsh climate.”

Climate change wasn’t the only thing rocking the young man’s early memories.

“In the late 1980s, I remember starting to feel attraction to the same sex, while in junior high school in Calgary. It was in the locker room, towards one of the jocks. I just remembered him being so beautiful. I felt both fear and excitement.

“I started making films casually at the University of Calgary in the mid-1990s. I was part of a film/television club. After seeing my first set of LGBT films, I wanted to understand how the medium worked and in doing so, I was also exploring my sense of self.

Prize-winning film director Jason Karman came over from Indonesia, first to Calgary, then Vancouver, British Columbia. His earliest harsh memories revolve, not surprisingly, around snow.

“I experienced my first blizzard in Edmonton as an 8-year-old while helping my dad earn a living,” recalled Karman, who presents his feature film debut, “Golden Delicious,” at the Seattle Queer Film Festival. I didn’t understand why my parents moved us from

“In the mid-1990s, I had my first kiss with a man. We were both university students from Alberta learning French in Quebec. He told me that he imagined I was a woman when he kissed me, and that made me feel not worthy and ashamed.”

Karman took a degree in Science, another in Cinema tography, and finally graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2019 with a Master of Fine Arts in Film Production and Creative Writing. He cred its Sharon McGowan and David Hauka as his most important film teachers, helping him deep ly understand a given scene, how to understand a character’s wants and needs, and fit all of these concerns to a longer nar rative.

“My first script and cast were back in 2004, when I invested $15k of my own money to make my first short film. I had received a diploma in Cinematography and wanted to make films, but nobody was giving me an opportunity, so I created one. I remember one of my instructors in Cinematography telling me how poor the success rate was for graduates, and I refused to be a statistic.”

He’s shot 17 short films over the years, crediting the docu mentary genre for helping him construct a compelling story, the drama genre for teaching the importance of movement as a crucial aspect of visual lan guage, and thrillers, for giving him the power of economy in storytelling.

“Golden Delicious,” which runs 95 minutes, tells the story

see KARMAN on

look at growing up

Jason Karman

Victory for the CID No SODO shelter expansion!

We won!

King County Executive Dow Constantine announced on Oct. 14 that a homeless shelter in SODO will no longer be expanded as previously planned. The county will instead maintain the existing shelter at the location and funds for the expansion will instead go toward investments to shelter people faster.

Bordering the Chinatown-International District (CID), the hub would have been an addition to the Salvation Army SODO Shelter, and at least 15 homeless shelters already within walking distance.

Since the siting of the Navigation Center in 2017, and the concentration of other shelters around the CID, the quality of life, vitality, and public safety of the neighborhood have deteriorated significantly.

CID residents and community leaders have been vocal and actively protesting—frustrated at being left out of the conversation around the proposed expansion, as well as concerns with public safety and crime.

“Over the past six weeks, community members have shared their feedback about the current state of public safety and other concerns in the Chinatown-International District and surrounding neighborhoods,” Constantine said in a news release. “It is clear that building trust and resolving underlying concerns about the conditions in the community today will take considerable time before we can move forward with any added service capacity.”

What a refreshing change to have our voices heard. And a glimmer of hope. Could it be that decades of discrimination against our community could actually

come to an end?

And what a testament to the power of community organizing and uniting! We truly can move mountains when we come together and pool resources to achieve a common goal.

et this be a reminder that we are stronger together, not divided. We must continue to speak up against injustices. We must keep fighting for what we want, and ask for help when we need it. There is power in numbers and this latest development just proves that we are indeed mighty.

This is a great first step, but let’s not be complacent. We must continue to keep elected officials accountable. We must not fear “rocking the boat” and to fight for what is right. Stay focused on the common goal—to end the cycle of harm once and for all, on the CID. 

ICHS from 1

gun violence and violent crimes in the Chinatown-International District (CID) neighborhood that threaten the health and wellbeing of our patients, staff, and senior residents.

ICHS’s flagship International District Medical & Dental Clinic is located at International Village Square, on 8th Avenue South and South Lane Street, along with our vision clinic and our assisted living facility, Legacy House, which also houses our senior services program, adult day center, and senior meal service.

This is not an isolated case. The CID regularly experiences gun violence and other violent crimes. We recognize that the shooting on Oct. 9, 2022 occurs in a larger context of two conditions that lead to public safety challenges.

1) High violent crime rates from recurring cycles of drug dealing, gang violence, and other illegal activities.

2) Late Seattle Police Department (SPD) response to 911 calls or no action at all, resulting in a cycle of longstanding distrust and skepticism about the City’s commitment to address the CID’s public safety.

All of this leads to an entrenched view in the CID that police will fail to followthrough in the wake of a crime and

years-long strings of deteriorating public safety conditions.

Our staff repeatedly share their concerns for their own safety and wellbeing with us. Car vandalism and break-ins occur often in the area near our clinic. Just one example, in November 2021, in the middle of the day an individual smashed the windows of at least three vehicles on 8th Avenue South—right in front of ICHS’s clinic. The smash and grab recurs regularly in the CID.

ICHS staff have reported being followed when walking back to their car alone. Staff from Legacy House, our 24/7 assisted living facility, who work night shifts caring for our elders have especially expressed fear walking to their cars at night. Again, these are recurring incidents.

Public safety concerns are also heightened by the wave of anti-Asian hate crimes. During the pandemic, healthcare staff throughout the country have faced a rise in anti-Asian sentiment and actions. Asian-owned businesses in the CID have been targeted. Asian elders continue to face harassment on the street. Verbal and physical attacks are common.

In August this year, ICHS staff at the ID Clinic called 911 for a patient who was in crisis and had expressed intent to harm themselves. After two hours, there

was no response from SPD. Upon calling 911 again, the dispatcher said that there were too many life-threatening emergencies and SPD was too busy to respond, despite the patient having confirmed suicidal ideation. The patient’s treatment team had to move forward with an alternative safety plan at the team’s and ICHS’s risk.

The lack of response from SPD poses a serious safety risk to patients and others who are experiencing a mental health related emergency. Unfortunately, this is not the first time ICHS has encountered a lack of response from SPD. On another occasion, SPD failed to respond to an outreach request for a suicidal patient, which resulted in a provider having to bring the patient to the hospital themselves. This posed a significant risk to the provider as well as the patient.

In another incident involving an individual on the sidewalk outside of the clinic, ICHS called 911 and requested help from the mobile crisis team. SPD responded instead and declined to provide any intervention.

Currently, ICHS staff report that they don’t find it helpful to call 911. And when SPD has been involved, staff have indicated that they were not positive experiences. The

lack of police response or action in times of emergency is an entrenched challenge for public safety and everyone who lives, works, does business, or visits the CID.

The call for more police presence in the CID is not new. The legacy of Donnie Chin as a staunch protector of our neighborhood is built on a history of neglect by the City and late or non-responses to emergencies in the CID. And Donnie Chin lost his life in this effort. For decades, community leaders like the late Uncle Bob Santos have made direct calls to the Seattle Police Department. SPD needs to have more of a community presence in the CID, and the City must regard the public safety of the area at the same level as other Seattle neighborhoods.

We call on the City of Seattle to do more to ensure the public safety of our staff and the more than 8,000 patients we serve at the ID Clinic. We also call on the SPD to make a committed effort to become a part of the CID neighborhood. They must explore ways to be more empathetic and sensitive to different populations and create a culture where our community members feel more supported when interacting with police. 

Predictions and advice for the week of October 22–28, 2022

By Sun Lee Chang

Rat—If you see a cause for concern, then it’s worth a closer look to determine whether additional action is warranted.

Ox—Doing your homework before you arrive on the scene will allow you to come out of the gates strong.

Tiger—Laying the necessary groundwork is crucial to the stability and success of what comes afterwards.

Rabbit—A recent string of events is starting to make sense. Where things once seemed random, they now appear connected.

WHAT’S YOUR ANIMAL SIGN?

Dragon—Are you starting to see your partner in a new light? It should remind you of why you are together.

Snake—Someone you have held in high esteem feels the same about you. This could turn into a promising collaboration.

Horse—Just as your resolve is starting to wane, you will receive inspiration and encouragement from an unexpected source.

Goat—Are your thoughts a bit scattered today? Get some fresh air or take a break to renew your focus.

Monkey—Facing the source of your hesitation should help you to overcome it much quicker than avoiding it.

Rooster—Have you considered going off the beaten path? There could be a delightful surprise waiting for you.

Dog—Don’t underestimate the power of music to set the scene, whether it is for a gathering or just for yourself.

Pig—You’re your own person, so pick the path that is right for you—not the one that fits everyone else.

RAT 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 OX 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 TIGER 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 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, 2018 PIG 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

*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.

SHELTER EXPANSION from 1

Lion dancers swirled and cavorted in the square of Hing Hay Park. Around 100 residents turned out despite unhealthy levels of wildfire smoke.

But organizers say the battle is far from over.

They want a community safety plan and a community engagement plan, both of which are necessary to stop the increasing levels of violent crime and personal assaults in the neighborhood. Leaders of nightly block watches say the violence is committed not only by people with mental illness or substance abuse problems inundating the CID from over a dozen shelters concentrated in the area, but by drug dealers and others who prey on the unhoused.

“Homicides are up, violent crimes are up,” said Woo, who volunteers for one of the CID patrols.

Local businesses have repeatedly said that when they call the police for assistance, there is no response.

“We also don’t have a neighborhood agreement with the shelter,” said Woo. Shelters in other neighborhoods have such agreements, she said.

Both the Downtown Emergency Service Center main shelter and the Seattle Navigation Center have “good neighbor plans” with the community, as does the planned shelter in Eastgate.

Demands for an apology

For months, protests went ignored, and demands by the community unanswered. So when Constantine came out with his initial statement, blaming “paid political agents,” organizers were confused.

Their first meeting with the city and county had been on Sept.. 8, according to Woo.

“We were just preparing for our second meeting, scheduled for the next day, Oct. 14, when we got that statement,” she said.

As they headed to Union Station to meet with Leo Flor, director of the department of community and human services for the county, and representatives from the mayor’s office and others, “everyone had questions,” said Woo.

But they did not get any answers—or an apology.

“They kept diverting to another topic when we would ask,” said Woo.

It was during this meeting that Flor told them the expansion of the megaplex homeless shelter would be put on hold, according to Woo.

Building trust and balancing priorities

At the same time, Constantine put out a statement that the funding allotted for the expansion was federal money that had to be used by a certain date, and therefore he would propose to the King County Council that it be used to get people off the streets into existing facilities as soon as possible. More specifically, the funding would be used to give one-time wage increases to service providers at the existing 270-person shelter, which would continue in operation for another five years.

In addition, the county would divert funding to other areas that were ready to provide shelter to people experiencing homelessness, such as the Green River area, in South King County.

“It is clear that building trust and resolving underlying concerns about the conditions in the community today will take considerable time before we can move forward with any added service capacity. At the same time, the crisis of homelessness—and the health of every person living outside—requires urgent and immediate action,” said Constantine in his second statement, on Oct. 14.

“Recognizing these competing tensions, it is incumbent on King County to change course so we can utilize term-limited, one-time federal funding and invest in actionable projects in the months ahead.”

Still some confusion

Members of a work group formed with the city and county about the planned shelter expansion said Constantine’s earlier comments could serve to distract from the county’s responsibility to make up for insufficient outreach.

“There is no one in our group that would be considered a ‘paid political agent,’” Matt Chan, a member of the group, told the Northwest Asian Weekly. “It was divisive and racially motivated to distract from his lack of real community engagement.”

He added, “Dow Constantine bringing in a statement like this diminishes our efforts and shows a lack of grace on his part. We have publicly requested an apology for his statement

ELIMINATE GUTTER CLEANING FOREVER! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-888-360-1582.

PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGES today with a GENERAC home standby generator. $0 money down + low monthly payment options. Request a FREE Quote. Call now before the next power outage: 1-888674-7053

to our community.”

Tanya Woo, another member of the group, said it was not clear to whom Constantine was referring.

“We’re still scratching our heads,” she told the Northwest Asian Weekly.

Gary Lee, another community organizer, also told us, “It was like he was saying there was someone who was trying to manipulate us. No one in our group has received any money.”

Community needs

The county has still not fully addressed community needs, said Chan.

“By the executive conflating our efforts with a personal vendetta he has with certain people in the media is on him,” he said. “We welcome anyone who supports us and has the interests of the CID at heart, but we can’t control how others tell our story.”

Community advocate Betty Lau said the first statement had obscured the real problem between the county and the CID.

“Was not our community subverted by not having prior notice or any discussion of the expansion prior to having it sprung on us?” she said in an email.

Advocates hope, going forward, that this sea-change will usher in increased engagement.

“This win came about because the seniors rose up. The county never expected them to become a force. But we don’t want to have to rally the troops every time there’s an issue,” said Woo. “We hope the county and city will continue to have a dialogue with the community going forward as we work to repair past and current harm to the CID.”

Lau said, “This was a multi-generational effort. Each senior is cherished and loved by extended family members throughout Greater Puget Sound, so ignoring them wasn’t smart. Community aunties and uncles stepped up to help, contributing their accumulated wisdom from past social and racial justice advocacy. Then there’s the leadership, brilliantly led by Tanya Woo, Gary Lee, and Matt Chan, who put together a working team.”

Mahlon can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

EMPLOYMENT

Kitsap

Marine

Req: HS dipl/GED & 3 yrs exp in service & repair of marine engines & equip. $47.20 - $63.48/hr + gen erous benefits. Job details, appl. & benefits info: http://kitsaptransit. appone.com/. Deadline: 4:00 PM, 10/28/22

KITSAP TRANSIT IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

EMPLOYMENT

4Culture is seeking a Deputy Director to lead in long-range planning, budget development, funding programs oversight, per sonnel management, and under take strategic initiatives for King County’s cultural funding and commissioning agency. Apply by Friday, November 4 at https:// www.4culture.org/deputy-direc tor-2022

Place a 6 line classified ad for just $30! Reach many readers. Deadline Tuesday. Print: Thursday. Issue Date: Saturday. Call 206-223-0623 Email: john@nwasianweekly. com for more info.

CLASSIFIEDS

Prepare

outages

NOTICE

Request for Proposals

King County Housing Authority is issuing a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) from quali fied applicants for Cleaning and Decluttering Services. To submit an application, view the RFPs on our website: https://www.kcha. org/business/professional/open/. Applications due on Friday, November 11, 2022 at 4:30 PM.

site or call 844-620-1999.

RELIEF FUND from

importance of infrastructure, which he said can move the process along more quickly in the future.

Who’s applying?

Upward of 35,000 people had already applied to the fund when Crosscut spoke to Nazibah Chowdhury, communications manager at the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN) on Sept. 27.

Many of these applications came from people in Yakima and King counties, according to Chowdhury, who said that on Oct. 3, the number of applicants surpassed 50,000. She characterized the program’s intended recipients as those “greatly impacted by the pandemic”—ranging from those who lost work to those who dealt with the repercussions of getting COVID.

Those interested in the funding can check their eligibility by going to immigrantreliefwa.org and clicking “Apply Now,” which will prompt them to fill out a questionnaire that asks, for example, if they:

• Live in Washington and are at least 18 years old;

• Experienced specific hardships since January 2021 due to COVID – like being past due on rent, losing child care or contracting COVID;

• Received unemployment benefits during the pandemic or a federal stimulus check.

People can apply in Chinese, English, Korean, Spanish and Tagalog. Applicants needing assistance in other languages can find community resources on the Immigrant Relief Fund

SAM from 9

between them; and there are a lot of new arrivals from diverse American communi ties. A painting by Thomas Eakins, for example, will be side by side with a portrait by Black artist Kehinde Wiley.

“One is a traditional white man painting by a white man, and then there is Kehinde with this reclaiming of the portrait genre of painting and highlighting sitters and their dignity,” described Fong. As for Asian American art, while there was space in SAM for this demographic prior, now it will be combined in the American art galleries so as to “signal something import ant about what is American or who is American because then it is incorporated into the rest of the show instead of be ing a separate thing—and that could be meaningful,” Fong expressed.

“The Stories We Carry” will include one of George Tsutukawa’s sculptures, “Mo” or “Seaweed,” and

other works by Seattle artists like Paul Horiuchi. Horiu chi and Tsutukawa were part of the Northwest School of art that rose to prominence in the 1930s and 1940s, but could be said to have started as early as 1890. This school focused heavily on Pacific Northwest nature, especially on Washington’s West side, which synced well with Asian art aesthetics and values. Tsu tukawa and his wife worked with SAM during their life times, and on the whole, daughter Mayumi feels her father received his due of recognition from the public during his lifetime. Mayumi’s brother, Gerard, is also a local artist, recently highlighted in the media for rebuilding their father’s famous arboretum gates, after they were stolen and destroyed.

Mayumi confirmed that SAM practiced what it preached in revamping the American art galleries. She described American art cura tors Theresa Papanikolas and Ann M. Barwick as “dyed in

Barón of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project emphasized that applying to the fund will not negatively impact one’s immigration status or efforts to gain citizenship.

Being undocumented during the pandemic

COVID took Edgar out of commission for about a month.

“It hit him pretty hard,” his son, who helped translate, said in a phone conversation. “Body chills and body aches and throwing up… I mean, you could name it all and he had it.”

Even after he got over the debilitating symptoms, Edgar, a Washington resident for over a decade whose last name has been excluded for privacy reasons, still found that his lungs and sense of taste had yet to fully recover.

Beyond getting COVID, the pandemic also impacted his work as a house painter: He worked fewer hours. People didn’t want anyone coming into their homes.

Edgar weathered woes characteristic of the pandemic, but due to his undocumented status, could not rely on receiving the financialassistance many other citizens used to cushion themselves—until he learned about the relief fund on social media. He applied to the program in the summer of 2021 and received a $1,000 check about one month later.

He was able to put the money toward household needs like groceries, his son said. Since then, Edgar has applied for the third round of relief funding, and, if he receives the money, plans to use it to pay rent and other bills.

Why was the relief money delayed?

The distribution delays may be the result of an overextended office maneuvering a large-scale, fast-paced refugee

the wool anti-racists,” who worked with a “view towards diversity.”

“During this year and a half, the entire advisory council and leadership of the museum, and also in partic ular these two curators, real ly went through a process of looking at what was there, what is currently in the per manent collection, what could be the possible themes,” she said. The thematic concept is something that SAM’s Asian Art Museum spearheaded as part of its reopening, where pieces are displayed by sub ject instead of location, and remains a ground-breaking approach, nationally.

Themes for “The Stories We Carry” will focus on topics such as landscape in the “Storied Places” gallery, or memory in the “Memory Keepers” gallery. There will also be ongoing temporary exhibits “to explore fresh per spectives,” SAM explained in their news release. This relook at how they do things is part of SAM’s overall plan to

be community-focused and to revitalize its spaces. For in stance, SAM recently made a decision to no longer sell spe cial exhibit tickets separately in an effort to encourage visi tors to walk through the entire museum, not just one part, and then leave, which often occurs with the special shows. Several of SAM’s other cura tors are now rethinking how they might want to rearrange their own galleries in the near future.

“[SAM has] done a good thing by including…Asian American artists along with major categories of African American, indigenous, and Latino artists,” Tsutukawa said. In the past, she point ed out, you might have seen attention to communities of color mostly in the Educa tion Department, yet now, she continued, “I feel like the Se attle Art Museum…has done a great job and I’m looking forward to doing a deep dive into this exhibition.”

Fong, who came to Seattle from Pennsylvania for this

resettlement push, but there could also be other factors at play, said State Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, D-Seattle.

“While I think we all want so many things to happen more quickly, I do think that making sure that the community is designing… every piece of this particular program is really important,” said Saldaña, a longtime advocate for immigrants’ and workers’ rights.

The push to ensure community organizations had a seat at the table in shaping the rollout, in combination with workforce shortage issues within state agencies, appeared to fuel the delay, she said.

A spokesperson for Gov. Jay Inslee told Crosscut, in previous reporting on the relief funding disbursement delays, that Trump-era policies limiting refugee resettlement in the U.S. led to staff reductions at resettlement agencies.

Representatives with the state’s Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance at the time indicated to Crosscut that it planned to add three additional staff members to its 13-person team, who could assist in managing the fund.

Barón wants to see Washington better primed to respond to immigrant communities’ needs, but that isn’t a responsibility for the state to shoulder alone. Programs like the relief fund reflect a federal failure to pass legislation that gives people a path to citizenship, he said.

“I think there is a necessity and an urgency for states to step in and say, ‘If the feds are not going to do the job, we need to put in place mechanisms to take care of the community members who are left out of federal systems,” Barón said. “Despite the fact that they’re making huge contributions to all of our communities.”

opportunity, added, “Museums should be places where people come to learn about the communities around them. Museums are meant to connect, I hope.” With its reinstallation of the American art galleries, SAM has shown it agrees with Fong, who said that, when visiting an art museum, people should be able to “see themselves and feel like they relate to the pieces that are on view, maybe have more engaging conversations about their lives, and reflect on the places they come from.”

“The Stories We Carry” opens Oct. 20. 

Kai can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

from

Consumer Protection & Business, and Local Government committees, as well as vice chair of the Local Government Committee. She is a licensed architect and works at an architecture firm in Bellevue.

Representative, Legislative District 32

Cindy Ryu

Rep. Cindy Ryu is looking to serve a seventh term in the State House of Representatives. She was first elected in 2010 and reelected in 2012, 2014, and 2016.

Previously a Shoreline City Councilmember, Ryu served as mayor of that city, becoming the first Korean American woman mayor in America.

She chairs the Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs Committee, with jurisdiction over tourism, veterans, and community resilience.

Representative, Legislative District 33

MIA SU-LING

GREGERSON

A state representative since 2013, Rep. Mia Su-Ling Gre gerson chairs the House com mittee on State Government and Tribal Relations, and also serves on the Labor & Workplace Stan dards and Appropriations com mittees.

In her time as a lawmaker, she has fought for policies that protect the rights of tenants to stay housed, address the disparity in internet access and device acquisition, and tackle the food insecurity crisis in Washington state.

Senator, Legislative District 34 Joe Nguyen

Since being elected as Washington’s first Vietnamese American state senator in 2018, Nguyen has championed legislation to help working families, to rebuild social safety nets, and to address climate change through investments in green public transportation.

His parents fled the Vietnam War, and as refugees, and Nguyen

was a janitor at his high school and he washed dishes in college to make ends meet.

Representative, Legislative District 37

SHARON TOMIKO SANTOS

First elected in 1998, Rep. Sha ron Tomiko Santos has advanced civil rights and liberties for wom en and underserved Washingto nians, provided more financial resources for public schools, and worked towards closing opportu nity gaps for students and young adults.

She is the founding member of the Task Force on Immigration and the States, and former board member of the Seattle chapter of JACL.

Representative, Legislative District 41 My-Linh Thai

Rep. My-Linh Thai is a former Bellevue School District presi dent, a healthcare professional, and an award-winning PTSA par ent who is committed to improv ing education, opportunity, and quality of life for all Washingto nians.

She has championed and sponsored legislation to guarantee access to quality local schools, prioritize food access and stability for students, and ensure that courts are accessible for all regardless of immigration status.

Senator, Legislative District 45 Manka Dhingra

Manka Dhingra is a state sen ator as well as Deputy Majority Leader of the Senate, and chair of the Law & Justice committee.

She has been a Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney with King County since January 2000.

Prior to becoming a prosecutor, she interned with the State Attorney General’s Office in their Criminal Division assisting with sexually violent predator cases.

Ryika Hooshangi Ryika Hooshangi is an attorney and Sammamish Plateau Water District Commissioner who is

challenging Manka Dhingra for State Senate seat in the 45th District.

Hooshangi was born and raised in Redmond, and states on her campaign website that she will work tirelessly on the most pressing issues facing the residents in the 45th District—public safety, affordability, and education.

Representative, Legislative District 48 Vandana Slatter

Rep. Vandana Slatter is a former Bellevue City Councilmember, community leader, public school parent, and biotech and healthcare professional.

A Doctor of Pharmacy, Slatter has worked for the past 20-plus years at leading biotechnology companies, including Amgen and Genentech. She is a licensed pharmacist in the state of Washington.

Her mission is to build safe, healthy communities and an economy that works for everyone.

COUNTY

King County, Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion

With 27 years of experience as Deputy Prosecutor, Leesa Manion would be the first woman and person of color to serve as King County Prosecutor.

In her candidate statement, Manion said she is the only candidate for this office who has developed criminal justice policies and led teams of prosecutors, as well as having led efforts increasing support for victims of domestic violence and assault, and establishing models for alternative sentencing.

JUDICIAL

WA Supreme Court, Justice Position 1 Mary Yu

A Supreme Court Justice since 2014, Mary Yu also has 14 years experience as a trial court judge, and seven years as deputy prosecuting attorney for both civil

and criminal cases.

Justice Yu is the first Asian, Latina, and member of the LGBTQ+ community to serve on the Supreme Court. In addition to her work on the bench, for the last 22 years, she has mentored hundreds of new judges, young lawyers, and law students.

Court of Appeals, Division 1, District 1, Judge Position 7 Janet Chung

Judge Janet Chung has over 25 years of experience as a litigator in state and federal courts and as a legislative advocate. Her practice focused on legal aid, access to health care, worker protections, and gender justice.

Judge Chung has been endorsed by all nine State Supreme Court Justices, all Court of Appeals judges able to endorse, Attorney General Bob Ferguson, and many more.

King County, Southwest Electoral District, Judge Position 4 Fa’amomoi Masaniai, Jr.

Candidate statement: Raised in the White Center/Burien area, I understand the struggles that most people have, the strain local businesses are under, and the difficulties law enforcement face each day. I will make decisions based on the law, but with an eye toward the future. I will make sure all who appear before me are heard. I want to make the court the best it can be.

King County, West Electoral District, Judge Position 2 Kuljinder Dhillon

In 1989, Judge Kuljinder Dhillon’s East Indian family immigrated to the United States, and before attending law school, she became a domestic violence victim advocate at the King County Prosecutor’s Office.

For 17 years, she served King County’s indigent population as a public defender and private defense attorney. Dhillon is an advisory board member for the Judicial Institute, which is dedicated to

diversifying Washington State’s judiciary.

King County, West Electoral District, Judge Position 4 Gregg Hirakawa

Judge Gregg Hirakawa was first elected to the King County District Court in November 2016, after being appointed to the position in May 2016. He has experience both as a prosecuting attorney and as a public defense lawyer, and is committed to maintaining public safety while protecting individual liberties. In private practice, he successfully represented children, the elderly, and veterans in guardianship, trust, and disability proceedings, and protected vulnerable adults from abuse and financial exploitation.

City of Seattle, Municipal Court

Judge Position 2

Andrea Chin

Judge Andrea Chin was elected to the Seattle Municipal Court Bench in November 2018, following 26 years of experience in public service as an Assistant City Attorney with the Seattle City Attorney’s Office. She has presided over a general trial court, handling arraignments, pretrial hearings, trials, sentencings, and post-resolution review hearings. Her current rotation is the court’s domestic violence calendar.

City of Seattle, Municipal Court

Judge Position 3 Pooja Vaddadi

Pooja Vaddadi would be the first South Asian woman elected as a judge in Seattle Municipal Court.

She has practiced in district courts in both Snohomish and King County, and most recently in Seattle Municipal Court. She has received exclusive endorsements from the King County Democrats, the Young Democrats of King County, the Democrats for Diversity and Inclusion, and the Women’s Political Caucus. 

If there are any AAPI candidates we missed, please let us know at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

SOUND TRANSIT from 4

expansion of the system is inevitable and unavoidable.

Voters in this region have approved ST expansion three times, the most recent in 2016, when 54% of voters in urban areas endorsed a $54 billion expansion plan.

Grasp of grievances?

At the same time, there were signs that even after months of arduous community engagement, including over 5,000 comments sent in and collated by ST staff, that leaders of the agency perhaps may not have fully grasped the import of charges of institutional racism leveled at the agency and the city by community advocates.

Bettie Luke, sister of Wing Luke, the first person of color elected to the Seattle City Council, and many other community advocates, have expressed statements and grievances about how the CID has been uniquely harmed over a long history of racist exclusion, destruction, forced removal, and redlining, precisely because it was occupied by Asians and Asian Americans.

Perhaps unintentionally, Brooke

Belman, interim CEO and agency chief of staff, lumped the history of harms the CID has undergone with those of Pioneer Square, even as she described the neighborhood as a “cultural hub” vital to the city and the region.

“It is our duty to understand the impacts of past decisions so that the right decisions can be made moving forward,” she said in brief remarks. “I want to acknowledge that the CID and Pioneer Square neighborhood have gone through multiple infrastructure projects and many of these projects did not yield the same benefits as the impact endured by these communities.”

While Pioneer Square has been devastated by development, its history has not shown the waves of outright racism that have beset the CID. In fact, according to a history undertaken by the Seattle City Council, Pioneer Square was built by “imported” Chinese laborers. In the course of the history of the CID, residents were forced from their homes in 1886. The current CID is the third location of the community. Moreover, an earlier location was destroyed by a road built through it just as the current CID was bisected by I-5, helping to contribute

to the worst air quality in the city.

Community reticence

Meanwhile, community members that were not among the most outspoken advocates appeared reluctant to share their ideas.

After an initial swarm of community advocates who thronged the main table where ST Executive Corridor Director Cathal Ridge sat, at least some community residents hung back in the boardroom after hearing a presentation by Seattle City Deputy Mayor Greg Wong and ST staff.

Community residents sat in a circle and shared ideas about where the transit agency should run its new hub. But when asked multiple times why they did not go out to the main table and share their ideas there, they vaguely assented that they were thinking about it and would probably do it “in a little while,” according to one.

When this reporter emerged from the boardroom later, it did not appear that any of these community members had approached the table with Ridge to share their ideas.

Longtime advocates such as Lau said the event overall could serve as a model.

“This is what should have been done from the very beginning,” she said. “So I hope that all government entities are paying attention to their own community outreach efforts.”

Mahlon can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

SAIGURU5686@GMAIL.COM 425-370-9676

28-year-old Tennessee woman bears down on seven continents

By MARK KENNEDY CHATTANOOGA TIMES FREE PRESS

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — Becca

Hisamoto, 28, felt the first pangs of wanderlust almost a decade ago when she was in college at the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

Hisamoto, who lives in Chattanooga now, took two college classes while studying abroad during a summer spent in London, Paris and Rome. She hopscotched around Europe to fairs and festivals as part of earning a degree in event planning.

“It didn’t feel like school,” she recalled of the 2013 trip abroad. Hisamoto spoke with the Chattanooga Times Free Press by phone. “I’d always loved to travel, but after going abroad I knew: I was hooked and needed to find a career in the travel industry.”

Fast-forward nine years, and Hisamoto has done just that. She is a travel coordinator for a company called Exceptional Vacations, which plans mostly domestic trips for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Meanwhile, she has honed her personal travel-planning skills to the point she is on the precipice of completing a serious bucket list item. She’s about to join the Seven Continents Club before she turns 30.

Hisamoto said she is not a wealthy person but has learned how to travel using work exchanges, arrangements that allow her to earn food and lodging in exchange for work as an English teacher, gardener or child care worker, for example. She has checked off six continents so far and has a trip planned to Antarctica in November.

“As soon as I got my first taste (of

travel), I wanted to see everything,” she said. “Over time, I was like, ‘I could hit all seven continents.’ Then, to make it more challenging, I set a goal of visiting all the continents by my 30th birthday.”

Hisamoto said she and a friend will take a flight to the southern tip of Argentina, where she will embark on a 10-day excursion to Antarctica through the Drake Passage,

the infamously windy and rough stretch of ocean between South America and the southernmost continent.

“Over those 10 days, we will spend two full days crossing the Drake Passage. We will live aboard the ship and take Zodiacs (inflatable boats used to transport passengers onto land). Hopefully, we will be in Antarctica for four days.

“It’s unbelievably exciting,” Hisamoto said. “It’s been such a dream of mine.”

Hisamoto said she decided early in her 20s that she would pull out all the stops to travel the world while she is still young. World travel is a mindset, a way of finding context in an ever changing world, she said.

“I hope that travel is always part of my life goals,” she said. “I didn’t want to wait until I was older or retired.

“I’m young and healthy, but as I grow older, I think I will still travel, although maybe not to this extent.”

After Antarctica, Hisamoto has trips planned to China and the Middle East next year.

Too, she’s added a goal to her bucket list. Her next challenge is visiting all Seven Wonders of the World.

“I have four already checked off,” she says enthusiastically.

CITIZENSHIP from 1

declaring that they are “nationals, but not citizens, of the United States at birth” is unconstitutional.

A trial judge in Utah ruled in their favor, but the federal appeals court in Denver said Congress, not courts, should decide the citizenship issue. The appeals court also noted that American Samoa’s elected leaders opposed the lawsuit for fear that it might disrupt their cultural traditions.

“It’s a punch in the gut for the Justices to leave in place a ruling that says I am not equal to other Americans simply because I was born in a U.S. territory,” John Fitisemanu, the lead plaintiff, said in a statement. “I was born on U.S. soil, have a U.S. passport and pay my taxes like everyone else. But because of a discriminatory federal law, I am not

recognized as a U.S. citizen.”

American Samoa is the only unincorporated territory of the United States where the inhabitants are not American citizens at birth.

Instead, those born in the cluster of islands some 2,600 miles southwest of Hawaii are granted “U.S. national” status, meaning they can’t vote for U.S. president, run for office outside American Samoa or apply for certain jobs. The only federal election they can cast a vote in is the race for American Samoa’s nonvoting U.S. House seat.

Not taking up the case “helps preserve American Samoa’s cultural priorities and right of self-determination,” said Amata Coleman Radewagen, American Samoa’s U.S. House delegate.

“Our people value American Samoa’s right of self-determination, with great love for the

United States as expressed in our people’s high rate of service to the country,” she said in a statement. “The issue of the Insular Cases can be addressed by Congress, based on self-determination by the people of each territory.”

The Insular Cases, which arose following the Spanish-American War, dealt with the administration of overseas territories.

In their conclusion that residents of territories had some, but not all, rights under the Constitution, justices wrote in stark racial and xenophobic terms. Citizenship could not be automatically given to “those absolutely unfit to receive it,” one justice wrote.

That history prompted Gorsuch to comment in a case involving benefits denied to people who live in Puerto Rico, decided in April. He wrote that the Insular Cases were wrongly decided because they deprived residents of

U.S. territories of some constitutional rights.

“It is past time to acknowledge the gravity of this error and admit what we know to be true: The Insular Cases have no foundation in the Constitution and rest instead on racial stereotypes. They have no place in our law,” Gorsuch wrote.

The case stems from a lawsuit filed by three American Samoa natives now living in Utah, where they are prohibited from voting or becoming police officers.

The Biden administration joined the American Samoa government in calling for the court to reject the appeal.

Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the administration’s top Supreme Court lawyer, wrote that “the government in no way relies on the indefensible and discredited aspects of the Insular Cases’ reasoning and rhetoric” that was highlighted in the appeal. 

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO BIDDERS/PROPOSERS

Sealed submittals will be received by the King County Procurement and Payables Section through the County’s E-Procurement Supplier Portal for the following solicitations.

The list of current solicitations in E-Procurement, resources on how to register as a supplier, express interest, communicate with the Contract Specialist, successfully submit a response and other information is provided on the County’s website: https://kingcounty.gov/procurement/ solicitations

King County encourages minority business enterprise participation. King County does not discriminate based on disability in its programs, services, and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

KC000692 OPENS: 11/8/2022

Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Planning Support Services

KC000700

OPENS: 11/3/2022

Capacity Counsel Services Roster-Supplemental to RFQ 1229-20 & RFQ KC00504

KC000693

OPENS: 11/4/2022

RFP-Expanded Polystyrene and Plastic Film Recycling

To attend the Pre-Proposal Conference on October 25, 2022, at 9:00AM PT, please use the Microsoft Teams link and/or phone number provided in the RFP document.

KC000702 OPENS: 11/4/2022

RFP-Contamination Reduction Campaign

To attend the Pre-Proposal Conference on October 26, 2022, at 10:00AM PT, use the link and/or phone number provided in the RFP document.

LAYUP DRILL from 8

is a deadline for Suzuki to speak conversational French is not known, but being required to speak another language for a sports team seems above the call of duty for a captain of a team.

Seattle fans know that a community can relate to a sports team despite not specifically addressing fans. Ichiro Suzuki, who the Mariners honored this past August, was famous for having an interpreter in his interviews. Of course, Suzuki had a handle on the English language. In his induction into the Mariners Hall of Fame, Ichiro addressed fans in English.

Nick Suzuki is the face of the franchise for a rebuilding Montreal hockey team and it seems that he is willing to learn the language.

Ohtani signs massive one year deal

Shohei Ohtani is having another great year for the Anaheim Angels. Even though the team had another disappointing season, Ohtani has improved upon last year’s monster year. Along with his ability to hit home runs, he’s improved on the mound. On Oct. 1, he took a nohitter in the 8th inning and gave up just one hit in his 8 innings of work while striking out 10. On the same night, he collected another 2 hits and a run batted in.

Despite rumors of being traded in July, the Angels and Ohtani have agreed to a one-year extension worth $30 million to avoid salary arbitration next year. It is the most any Major League Baseball team has given a player eligible for arbitration. The deal is fully guaranteed with no other provisions.

The deal staves off any rumors that Ohtani will leave the Angels for next year, but the long-term is still up in the air for the Japanese star.

Yankees next star talks Filipino heritage

The Seattle Mariners finally broke through to reach the MLB Playoffs for the first time since 2001. If they are able to go deep in the playoffs, they could be facing the New York Yankees.

Although not currently on the roster for the Yankees, Anthony Volpe is the Yankees #1 prospect and shortstop in waiting.

His mother, Isabelle, is an anesthesiologist originally from

the Philippines. She grew up one of seven children and Volpe stated in an interview that his aunt and grandmother currently live with them. His family grew up in New York and then New Jersey.

the Asian greats in Yankees history. Matsui, a Japanese designated hitter, played for the Yankees from 2003-2009. Volpe stated he was his little sister’s favorite player.

Volpe was selected in the first round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft out of high school. He had committed to play college baseball at Vanderbilt University before being chosen by the Yankees.

Notable highlights

The Los Angeles Rams narrowly defeated the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 18. After the game, Taylor Rapp and Younghoe Koo met and exchanged jerseys. The two Asian football players are a rarity in the NFL and it did not get past them.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Pacquiao was front row for a Floyd Mayweather, Jr. boxing exhibition match this past September, which gives rise to the speculation that the two may fight yet again, but this time in an exhibition.

The Presidents Cup is a series of men’s golf matches between the U.S. and an International Team representing the rest of the world, except Europe. Tom Kim, a professional on the Asian Tour, stole the show during play last month. The 20-year-old delivered emotion for his team and came through with big putts to make it difficult for the Americans. On one putt, the South Korean putt his ball, then dropped his putter, threw his hat, and ran toward his teammates as the ball was rolling in the hole. Although the United States won the Presidents Cup, Kim made a big impression on the viewing audience.

Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

He has not been to the Philippines but intends to go. Volpe said his parents wanted to take him, but they were too young and then when they grew older, they were just too busy with activities. He did note that he played in an international baseball tournament in Taiwan when he was 12 years old. He met players from the Filipino National Team and talked with them. He would love to go to the Philippines and help grow the sport.

“I grew up loving Hideki Matsui,” said Volpe, one of

Koo made one of two field goals during the game while Rapp had three tackles. Both players posted the photo on their Instagram accounts. Rapp added, “Doin’ what they said we couldn’t!”

We all thought that Manny Pacquiao was done boxing. Well, his professional career may be over but not his exhibition career. The Filipino senator is in talks for a potential exhibition fight in January 2023. There are talks that the 43-year-old Pacquiao will fight former sparring partner Jaber Zayani in

of Jake (Cardi Wong), a smart and artistic kid getting ready for his last year in high school. He’s getting ready to go all the way with his long-time girlfriend, Valerie (Parmiss Sehat), but when a hunky, aggressive, and confidently gay basketball player named Aleks (Chris Carson) moves in across the street, Jake has to take a long, tough look at his life. Sexuality, sports, machismo, bullying, and long-standing family tension, all enter the mix.

So far as budgeting the film, Karman explained, working on his short films “helped with applying for grants and attracting sponsors. I also have done IndieGoGo funding in the past, so I was able to use that knowledge when crowdsourcing.

“It took about four years to make. I had

read earlier drafts before, but it wasn’t until 2018 that momentum accelerated. I filmed in Vancouver, Burnaby, and New Westminster, specifically New Westminster Secondary.”

Asked about future plans, Karman didn’t say much, but he’s proud that “Golden Delicious” got selected for nine film festivals across North America. He’s currently working on a second feature.

Jason Karman presents his film “Golden Delicious” at the Seattle Queer Film Festival on Oct. 22 at 7 p.m., at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian. Go to: threedollarbillcinema.org/golden-delicious for more details.

Andrew can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani pitches against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., on Oct. 5.

AP Photo Godofredo A. Vásquez

Anthony Volpe

KARMAN from 13

CISC’s 50th Anniversary Friendship Gala

CISC celebrated its 50th Anniversary Friendship Gala at the Westin Bellevue on Oct. 15. The organization raised over $500,000 which included a matching grant from a donor whose parents were CISC beneficiaries. Former executive directors Rita Wang and Alaric Bien joined close to 400 people at the gala. Emceed by former KING 5 anchor Robert Mak and auctioneer James Lovell, keynote speech by former Judge Dean Lum, programs included performances by Hengda Dance Academy, and a dragon and lion dance by Seattle Shaolin Kung Fu Academy.

Auction items

Duc Tran with family and friends

CISC staff members receive recognition for their decades of service

Rosa Leung and Dennis Lam, recipient of CISC volunteer award

From left: Mary Hsu, CISC Executive Director Michael Itti, Rita Wang, and Alaric Bien

From left: Faye Dow, Frances Yuet, and Selina Chow

From left: Jolyn and Alaric Bien, and Daphne Tang

From left: Joan Yoshitomi, Rep. Sharon T. Santos, and Selina Chow

Performance by Hengda Dance Academy

Auction items

Photos by Assunta Ng