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Sanders, Clinton take the lead in…
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were in favor of Clinton. Scores for O’Malley, Webb and Chafee were below 3 percent. Despite claims from Sanders’ camp that he dominated the stage, Clinton supporters praised her performance and asserted that she is the clear frontrunner in this race. “[Clinton] did really well. She showed herself to be a leader for this country…[and] laid the groundwork for winning,” Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) said in the post-debate spin room, adding that Clinton demonstrated how she differs from President Barack Obama, yet how she will continue on from what he was accomplished. While in Las Vegas, Chu met with Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) leaders who are working to register and organize of the Asian American vote, which currently has one of the lowest rates in voter history. “As the fastest growing racial population in our country and one of our nation’s fastest growing swing votes, the AAPI electorate will undoubtedly play a critical role in key states like Nevada, where the AAPI population has more than doubled over the past decade,” Chu continued. AAPIs currently make up 10 percent of Nevada’s state population, with around 130,000 eligible AAPI voters. The number of registered AAPI voters in Nevada has also increased 157 percent between 2004 and 2012, according to Asian Americans Advancing Justice.
“I thought when she said ‘I’m a progressive who could get things done,’ that kind of summed it up and it was the best combination of ‘I’m right there on the issues that people care about but I know how to make it happen,’ added Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.). She noted that much of the focus on Tuesday was on domestic policy, but has no doubt that foreign policy — an area Clinton has expertise in — will be brought up in later debates. “I think all of the candidates sounded so much better than the Republicans. There is general consensus that we need to have comprehensive immigration reform. Senator Clinton laid out a plan for expanding DACA and DAPA and making sure the children here are able to go to school, get a job and obtain their potential. So, I’m very pleased that they are making this a priority,” Titus said. Titus, who represents Nevada’s 1st District, which has a large concentration of Asian residents, particularly Filipinos and Chinese, said she will continue mobilizing voters leading up to the election. “Education for children in the Asian community is very important — they want their children to get ahead and I respect that. A number of Asians in my district own small businesses so they want to be sure that the economy is moving forward and that the tax structure benefits them,” she said. A rally for Clinton was scheduled on Wednesday afternoon,
Oct. 14, at Springs Preserve in Las Vegas, before she continues on the campaign trail. In Southern California, a coalition of Filipinos is gearing up to launch Filipinos for Hillary next week. “…I know [Clinton] will be the best advocate in the Oval Office for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Her campaign is the only campaign that has reached out to the community and is actively engaging with us and for this I will make sure she wins in 2016,” said Melissa Ramoso, immediate past state chair of the Filipino American Democratic Caucus for the California Democratic Party who is spearheading efforts for Filipinos for Hillary. Ramoso, who watched the debate with her socially conservative parents, said that it’s important for AAPIs to recognize Clinton’s track record of listening to and fighting for the community. Lisa Changadveja, the AAPI Outreach Director for Hillary for America, tweeted out her support of Clinton with the hard facts. “Nearly 40 percent of #AAPI workers don’t have access to paid leave. #Hillary will work to change that. #AAPIforHillary #ImWithHer #DemDebate,” Changadveja said, followed up with a tweet that said Clinton will “defend & enhance social security,” which reportedly keeps 19 percent of AAPIs out of poverty. Despite the rally of support
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Stronger El Niño coming to the… PAGE A8 t
dramatic weather changes worldwide and extensive damage and flooding throughout California. According to Swain, California could receive stronger storms than typical, especially between December through March. With sea temperatures particularly warm offshore, that could bring even more atmospheric moisture to fuel storm systems bound for this state, he wrote in his blog. “All of this suggests that there could be a substantially increased risk of precipitation-related hazards this winter in California, including flooding and landslides,” Swain said. The harsh effects of the drought–deaths of trees, thick ash and debris left behind by
wildfires–could also increase the risk of mudslides and debris flow this winter. In addition, “the last massive El Niño to hit California was succeeded a few months later by its sister, La Niña, the demon of drought,” commented Bill Patzert, a climatologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “Once they arrive, the storms won’t just stop in L.A. They will continue across the southern United States, through Texas and into Florida,” Patzert said. “The flip side of that is the northern tier of the United States tends to be relatively mild and benign.” While more precipitation is likely across the southern part of the country, the drier-than-aver-
age weather is forecasted in most of Alaska, the northern Rockies, the northern Plains, and around the Great Lakes, according to the Climate Prediction Center. The center does not specify how much of the precipitation falls as snow, ice, or rain, only that is overall more likely, said USA Today. Snow forecasts are dependent upon the strength and track of winter storms, which are generally not predictable more than a week in advance, the center said. As for how cold it should be this winter, most of the western and northern US should see a milder-than-average season, as weather patterns should keep the worst of the extended cold outbreaks away. n
LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 17-20, 2015
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Official Washington pauses to honor Fil-Am…
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a result, seven more Senators and four more U.S. Representatives signed up as co-sponsors. Month in the sun Just hours before the October 1 deadline, on the morning after Congress voted to avert a government shutdown, Obama expressed relief and remarked that “we should celebrate where we can.” Soon after, he issued his proclamation calling for the celebration of Filipino American History Month. As it turned out, averting a shutdown was propitious, which made the celebration happen: CAPAC didn’t have to cancel
its press conference; the White House Initiative on Asian American Pacific Islanders didn’t have to postpone the Tour and White House event; and Capitol Hill offices remained open for their constituents. “You know, it’s a good indicator that you’ve arrived when you don’t only have your own month but that the White House is saying they want to celebrate it, too,” said Coloretti in her opening keynote remarks. “The Filipino American culture deserves its month in the sun,” chimed in New York Senator Chuck Schumer in his press statement honoring FAHM.
But the sun was nowhere to be found in Washington’s dark skies during the first three days of October. Hurricane Joaquin was passing through and tried to grab all the attention. But it didn’t matter. The spirit of Filipino American History Month in the nation’s capital asserted itself with Pinoy-style humor and laughter, despite relentless drizzle and soggy weather. “Well take this over a government shutdown, anytime, rain or shine,” said Rozita Villanueva Lee, former WHIAAPI Commissioner who flew in from sunny Las Vegas. (Jon Melegrito / Inquirer.net)
Study: Growing disparities among Western…
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cent of the West’s population. • Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are becoming citizens in greater numbers. Asian Americans and NHPIs are registering to vote and going to polls in increasing numbers in the West. In certain jurisdictions, Asian Americans and NHPIs have already had or will soon have the ability to produce the margin of victory to impact the outcomes of
elections. • Asian Americans and NHPIs continue to own businesses and employ millions of people. Asian American and NHPIs buying power continues to grow in all major regions in the West. • While some Asian Americans and NHPIs in the West have achieved economic success, others still struggle to make ends meet. The reality is Asian Americans and NHPIs in the West are
more likely to live in poverty, be low income, make less money and be less likely to own homes than Whites. • While some Asian Americans and NHPIs have no trouble speaking English and accessing educational opportunities and health care, many still need language assistance to access critical services, and have difficulty graduating high school. (Allyson Escobar / AJPress)