VOL 37 NO 11 | MARCH 10 – MARCH 16, 2018

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VOL 37 NO 11 MARCH 10 – MARCH 16, 2018

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36 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Strickland seeking common ground

By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

see STRICKLAND on 12

LONG TRAN » see 7

ON THE SHELF » see 8

Photo from Port of Seattle

She’s new on the job, but she’s no rookie.

“Even though I haven’t lived in Seattle recently, it’s not as though this is a completely unfamiliar city to me.”

Marilyn Strickland is the new president and CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. You likely know her best as the former mayor of Tacoma.

At the time of her interview with the Northwest Asian Weekly, Strickland was still commuting from Tacoma to Seattle.

“My husband and I are looking for an apartment in Seattle because I know that I’ll be working some late nights, followed by very early mornings. If we’re talking about [the Chamber] being a truly regional organization, it’s important for me to have a base outside of Seattle.”

Strickland, the only child of a Korean mother and Black father, loves travel, film, and photography. She dove head first into her new role on the week of Feb. 19, doing what she called a listening tour — getting

The Port of Seattle reconfigures its approach to diversity

Port of Seattle Commissioners (L to R): Peter Steinbrueck, Stephanie Bowman, Commission President Courtney Gregoire, Fred Felleman, Ryan Calkins.

By Joshua Holland NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Marilyn Strickland

PICTORIAL » see 9

Thanks to companies like Amazon and Microsoft, when most people think of jobs in the Seattle area, their minds frequently turn to technology.

But behind the scenes, helping connect Seattle to the rest of the world and playing a vital role in moving goods around the globe, is the Port of Seattle’s role. Its

BLOG » see 10

lucrative cruise business alone brings in about $2.7 million every time a cruise ship docks.

Additionally, the Port of Seattle provides family wage jobs at SeaTac Airport, Fishermen’s Terminal, and its administration building.

To ensure this wealth is spread equitably, the Port has begun exploring ways to expand its impact and create new pathways see BOWMAN on 13

Micro ECCC gives minority business owners a voice business loans

ASIAN

Photo from Ethnic Seattle

By Janice Nesamani NORTHWEST WEEKLY

By Carolyn Bick NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

In January 2018, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced a $1.4 million grant to promote small businesses in ‘historically disenfranchised communities in Seattle.’ The Ethnic Chamber of Commerce Coalition (ECCC) received $565,960 of this sum. The ECCC includes 10 chambers and trade organizations representing ethnic communities, including the Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Latino, Vietnamese, Indian, Eritrean, and Taiwanese, as well as the LGBTQ-focused Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA), Business Impact NW, and Cascadia Consulting Group.

Photo provided by Martha Lee

When she opened her first restaurant more than 10 years ago, Taylor Hoang didn’t have to take out a loan. But, in her 20 years working in the city of Seattle, she and others have watched Asian Americans and other minority groups’ entrepreneurial dreams

see ECCC on 16

Taylor Hoang (right), owner of the Pho Cyclo Cafe restaurants, standing next to her mother Lien Dang, owner of Huong Binh restaurant in Little Saigon.

see HOANG on 12

THIS ETHNIC BUSINESS ISSUE SPONSORED BY

Lucia Leung (left) and Martha Lee (right)

■

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36 YEARS

MARCH 10 – MARCH 16, 2018

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Photo provided by Bettie Luke.

Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

An American Picture Bride

From left: Kazuhiro Tsuji, Lucy Sibbick, and David Malinowski, winners of the award for best makeup and hairstyling for "Darkest Hour", pose in the press room at the Oscars on March 4 Los Angeles.

From left: Marge Luke Young, Janine Gates, Toy Luke Kay, and Bettie Luke.

Noted Chinese American elder Toy Kay has released her new book, An American Picture Bride, an autobiography written with Janine Gates.

A book launch party will be held on March 11, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at The Firs, located at 426 Lilly Road Northeast in Olympia.

An American Picture Bride is the story of Kay, 93, who was born in Montana, and was raised as a daughter of the late 1800s Qing Dynasty of China.

Kay founded the Olympia Area Chinese Association and was active in several community service organizations.

Gates is a freelance journalist, photographer, and caregiver for seniors in Olympia. 

Tsuji makes Oscar history

Kazuhiro Tsuji was named best makeup artist at the Academy Awards on March 4, for his work in the British film Darkest Hour, making him the first Asian to receive the honor.

“I am very humbled when I think that I won this prize in a field that had so many talented candidates,” Tsuji said in his acceptance speech.

For the film, Tsuji transformed actor Gary Oldman into the jowly and portly Winston Churchill.

Born in Kyoto, Tsuji taught himself the techniques of the

special makeup used in films and went to the United States in 1996 to work in the industry. 

Morisawa art on traffic boxes

The work of Pacific Northwest artist Naoko Morisawa has been chosen to decorate traffic signal control boxes in the city of Kent.

The Kent Arts Commission announced the completion and installation of the vinyl art wraps late last month. The art wraps are intended to curb graffiti and create a visually dynamic and interesting environment.

Morisawa’s creation is at the corner of Southeast 256th and 101st Avenue, in front of Kent Meridian High School.

Five artists’ designs were selected out of a total of about 100 applicants, from an open art competition last year. 

Mihara is 2018 winner of Paul A. Gagnon prize

announced Sam Mihara as this year’s winner of the Paul A. Gagnon prize.

Mihara received the award for his work lecturing about his imprisonment as a child at Heart Mountain camp during World War II. Formerly a rocket scientist at Boeing, Mihara has spoken to Sam Mihara over 50,000 students and teachers throughout the United States.

Mihara said, “The importance of history education cannot be overstated. Through education about the Japanese American imprisonment, we can help to ensure that such civil rights violations never happen again.”

The award ceremony will be held in April in San Antonio, Texas, at this year’s national NCHE conference. 

SAM CTO

The Seattle Art Museum announced last month the hiring of its first-ever Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Manish Engineer, who will oversee technology and digital efforts across the institution.

Engineer, an Indian American, previously worked at the Museum of Modern Art as a project director in the membership and Manish Engineer development departments. He also worked at Penguin Random House on several highprofile projects developing apps and complex e-books for former First Lady Michelle Obama, Giada De Laurentiis, and Max Brooks’ “World War Z,” according to a press release.

Engineer holds a master’s degree in contemporary art from Sotheby’s Institute of Art, as well as an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. He received his undergraduate degree in computer science and engineering from Ohio State University. 

The National Council for History Education (NCHE)

Port of Seattle PortGen Graduating Class 2016

STRENGTH IN DIVERSITY

The Port of Seattle believes that diversity helps create a strong, inclusive economy. We encourage procurement, consulting, and purchased goods and services between the Port and minority-owned, women-owned, or disadvantaged small businesses.

In fact, our 2018 goal is to triple the number of women- and minority-owned firms contracting with the Port of Seattle.

Become a Port of Seattle vendor!

Register for email news at www.portseattle.org

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

MARCH 10 – MARCH 16, 2018

3

■ COMMUNITY NEWS Mayor announces community workshops for Chief of Police search SEATTLE — Mayor Jenny Durkan has announced 10 community workshops in all police precincts to assist the Police Search Committee with finding the best candidates for Seattle’s next police chief.

The workshops, including one in the ChinatownInternational District on March 28, are open to all Seattle residents.

“The voice of the community is a powerful and essential part of selecting our next police chief,” said Durkan.

“Our next chief must be committed, to deepening the relationship between our neighborhoods that have been disproportionately targeted by our criminal justice system; and to building a diverse and progressive justice system with meaningful and lasting police reform.”

Amazon removes Lord Ganesha stockings after Hindu protest

By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Amazon withdrew stockings carrying image of Hindu deity Lord Ganesha from its website within two days after upset Hindus protested, calling it “highly inappropriate.”

President of Universal Society of Hinduism Rajan Zed said that Lord Ganesha was highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines, and not to cover or touch your feet and legs.

Zed said he is still waiting from a formal apology from Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s CEO — as this was not the first time Amazon has offered such products, which are deemed offensive by Hindu devotees. 

The Chinatown workshop will be held at the Chinatown International District Community Center on 719 8th Avenue South at 5:30 p.m.  For more information about the Chief of Police search, visit seattle.gov/policechiefsearch.

Washington legislators tackle homelessness for those on aid

By AHMED NAMATALLA ASSOCIATED PRESS SEATTLE (AP) — Washington state lawmakers are advancing a measure that would prohibit landlords from turning away tenants that rely on federal housing assistance, Social Security income and veterans benefits.

It’s one of several efforts by politicians and low-income housing advocates aimed at curbing one of the highest homeless rates in

the nation.

While Washington boasts one of the country’s fastest-growing economies, the flip side is a housing market where rents have surged and vacancy rates are the country’s lowest.

The bill passed both chambers, but changes made in the Senate must be approved in the House before the bill goes to Gov. Jay Inslee.

The National Conference of State Legislatures says 11 other states and Washington D.C. have enacted similar laws. 

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MARCH 10 – MARCH 16, 2018

36 YEARS

■ NATIONAL NEWS Man re-arrested in random beating of elderly Korean woman LOS ANGELES (AP) — A suspect has been re-arrested in the random beating of an 86-year-old woman in Los Angeles, police said.

Richard Colomo was taken into custody again on Feb. 27, on suspicion of felony elder abuse, according to officials.

The name of his lawyer was not immediately available.

The 41-year-old was arrested earlier last month and then released pending further investigation.

Detectives were able to build a case with help from video from surveillance cameras and tips from witnesses, police

said in a statement.

The victim, Mi Reum (mee ruhm) Song, was walking down the street when a man punched her in the face, causing her to fall and slam her head on the pavement. The attack happened Feb. 10, about a block from a police station in the Koreatown neighborhood.

Footage showed a person of interest running from the scene of the crime Feb. 10, police said.

Colomo did not know the victim, officials said, and investigators were trying to determine a motive for the

crime.

Police said Song was expected to recover.

Song’s granddaughter, Yujin Audrey Ko, posted a graphic photo of her injured grandmother on her Facebook page, showing the woman with a gash on her forehead, two black eyes swollen shut and the top of her head bandaged, according to City News Service.

“She told me to let this go because she wants to forgive the man that did this but I cannot and I am livid,’’ Ko wrote. 

Olympic bronze medalists Shibutanis skipping worlds Photo by Ben Margot/AP

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Double Olympic bronze medalists Maia and Alex Shibutani have dropped out of the upcoming World Figure Skating Championships.

Also passing on worlds in Milan from March 19-25 is Adam Rippon, who helped the United States win the team bronze medal at the Pyeongchang Games last month.

First alternates Kaitlin Hawayek and Jean-Luc Baker will replace the Shibutanis in the ice dance event. The duo won the Four Continents Championships this year after they placed

fourth at the 2018 U.S. championships.

The Shibutanis won bronze in the team event and in ice dancing.

Third alternate Max Aaron will replace Rippon in the men’s event at worlds. Both Jason Brown and Ross Miner, the first and second alternates, respectively, declined invitations.

Aaron won the bronze medal at the Cup of China in the fall, and recently placed fifth at Four Continents. This will mark Aaron’s fourth appearance at worlds. 

Alex Shibutani and Maia Shibutani

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asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

MARCH 10 – MARCH 16, 2018

5

■ WORLD NEWS In patriarchal Japan, saying ‘Me Too’ can be risky for women

By MARI YAMAGUCHI ASSOCIATED PRESS TOKYO (AP) — Japanese women who say “Me too’’ do so at their own risk.

Online comments accused Rika Shiiki of lying and being a publicity hound when she tweeted that she lost business contracts after refusing to have sex with clients. Some said that by agreeing to dine with a man, she led him on.

“The comments I received were disproportionately negative,’’ the 20-year-old university student and entrepreneur told a TV talk show in December. “We need to

“The comments I received were disproportionately negative. We need to create a society where we can speak up.

Otherwise sexual harassment and other misconduct will persist forever.’’

— The 20-year-old university student create a society where we can speak up. Otherwise sexual harassment and other misconduct will persist forever.’’

Hunt for missing Malaysian plane likely to end in June

By EILEEN NG ASSOCIATED PRESS

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — The search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 by a U.S. company will likely end in June, a Malaysian official said, as families of passengers marked the fourth anniversary of the plane’s disappearance with renewed hope that the world’s biggest aviation mystery will be solved.

Malaysia inked a “no cure, no fee’’ deal with Houston, Texas-based Ocean Infinity in January to resume the hunt for the plane, a year after the official search in the southern Indian Ocean by Malaysia, Australia and China was called off.

Ocean Infinity started the search on Jan. 22 and has 90 search days to look for the plane. Malaysia’s civil aviation chief, Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, said the 90day term will spread over a few months because the search vessel has to refuel in Australia and bad weather could be a factor.

Azharuddin said on March 3 the search is going smoothly and is expected to end

see ME TOO on 12

Hindu woman elected to Pakistan’s senate in historic first

“The whole world, including the next of kin, have (new) hope to find the plane for closure. For the aviation world, we want to know what exactly happened to the plane.’’

— Azharuddin Abdul by mid-June.

“The whole world, including the next of kin, have (new) hope to find the plane for closure,’’ he told reporters at a remembrance event at a shopping mall near Kuala Lumpur. “For the aviation world, we want to know what exactly happened to the plane.’’

Officials have said there was an 85 percent chance of finding the debris in a new 9,650-square-mile search area — roughly the size of Vermont — identified by experts. see 370 on 14

CLOUD GATE DANCE THEATRE of TAIWAN FORMOSA Photo by CHOU Tung-yen and Very Mainstream Studio

Concept/Choreography Lin Hwai-min

March 22-24, 8 p.m.

The (hash)MeToo movement has not caught on in Japan, where speaking out often draws criticism rather than sympathy, even from other women.

In a patriarchal society where women have long taken the blame, many victims try to forget attacks and harassment instead of seeking support and justice, said Mari Miura, a political science professor at Sophia University in Tokyo.

“Japan lacks such a sisterhood,’’ she said. “It’s an exhausting and intimidating process. ... It’s quite natural that victims feel reluctant to speak up.’’

By ZARAR KHAN ASSOCIATED PRESS

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A woman from Pakistan’s marginalized Hindu minority has been elected to the senate for the first time ever in an election over the weekend in which a Taliban-linked cleric was defeated.

Krishna Kumari, a member of the Pakistan People’s Party, hails from the socalled untouchables, the lowest rung of the caste system that still prevails in Pakistan

and neighboring India.

Lawmakers in national and four provincial assemblies elected half of the 104-member Senate on March 3 Krishna Kumari to six-year terms.

Deposed premier Nawaz Sharif’s party holds a plurality of 33 seats in the upper house of parliament after winning 15 in the see KUMARI on 15

asianweekly northwest

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MARCH 10 – MARCH 16, 2018

36 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR MAR 8

LEE FAMILY ASSOCIATION CHINESE LUNAR SPRING BANQUET House of Hong Restaurant 6 p.m.

206-227-8587

9 EXHIBIT OPENING, “A DRAGON LIVES HERE” Wing Luke Museum 719 S. King St., Seattle wingluke.org ENGLISH LUNCHEON, “TEA CULTURE IN THE MINORITY AREAS OF SOUTHWEST CHINA” China Harbor Restaurant, 2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle 11:30 a.m. teaartofchina.com

10 WOMEN OF COURAGE GALA 2018 Seattle Sheraton 1400 Sixth Ave., Seattle 6 p.m. $150/ticket bit.ly/WomenOfCourage2018 206-685-7570 THE BEIJING QUEER CHORUS East Shore Unitarian Church 12700 SE 32nd St., Bellevue 7:30 p.m.

11 TAP-SEA PRESENTS, “PAINT! MY KOI POND” Culture Center of Taipei

Economic and Cultural Office, 1008 140th Ave. N.E. #108, Bellevue 2:30 p.m. impactflow.com BOOK LAUNCH PARTY, “AN AMERICAN PICTURE BRIDE” The Firs 426 Lilly Road N.E., Olympia 1 p.m.

18 SEATTLE LEE FAMILY ASSOCIATION LUNAR SPRING BANQUET House of Hong Restaurant 409 8th Ave. S., Seattle 6 p.m.

206-227-8587

22 GALA DINNER IN HONOR OF THE 2018 INDUCTEES INTO HALL OF FAME: DEBBIE BRINKER, DAVID CAMPBELL, HILKE FABER, JUDY HUNTINGTON, KAREN MATSUDA, AND BARBARA VAN DROOF Salty’s on Alki 1936 Harbor Ave. SW, Seattle 5:30 p.m. $40/guest wsna.org

22-24 CLOUD GATE DANCE THEATRE OF TAIWAN University of Washington Meany Hall 7:10 p.m. meanycenter.org/tickets

23 DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR: • THE NORTHWEST

JOURNALISTS OF COLOR REPORTING SCHOLARSHIP • THE NORTHWEST JOURNALISTS OF COLOR VISUAL JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP • THE AAJA SEATTLE FOUNDERS’ SCHOLARSHIP • THE KIRO-TV/NJC 2018 INTERNSHIP wa.aajaseattle.org/studentopportunities

23-24

COLORING CONTEST Kids 12 years old and younger Grand prize of $800 gift certificate to the Bellevue Collection Wing Luke Museum 719 S. King St., Seattle Get drawing at wingluke.org/ coloring-contest

APRIL CHINESE FOR BEGINNERS, LEVEL 1 Seattle Public Library 1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle 12 p.m.

Registration at 206-684-0849

24 HING HAY PARK CELEBRATION Hing Hay Park 423 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle 1 p.m.

206-233-7929

30 VFA’S FABULOUS 40TH BIRTHDAY WithinSodo 2916 Utah Ave. S., Seattle 7 p.m. biddingforgood.com/vfa

31 15TH ANNIVERSARY TOMODACHI GALA Hyatt Lake Washington Renton 5 p.m.

TASVEER’S SOUTH ASIAN INTERNATIONAL DOCUFEST Seattle University tasveer.org

26 ASIA TALKS: THE SOCIAL LIFE OF INKSTONES, WITH DOROTHY KO Seattle Art Museum 7 p.m.

NOW THROUGH APRIL 4

YONI KI BAAT Seattle University Pigott Auditorium 7 p.m. brownpapertickets.com/ event/3214462

21-22

27 2018 THRIVE LEADERSHIP AWARDS WITH KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AND HONOREES DR. K. ULLAS KARANTH AND DR. KRITHI K. KARANTH Four Seasons Hotel 99 Union St., Seattle 6 p.m. thrive.rsvp@zoo.org 206-548-2422

CHINESE FOR BEGINNERS, LEVEL 3 Seattle Public Library 1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle 1:30 p.m.

Registration at 206-684-0849

7 ART EVENT EXPLORING THE CAMBODIAN AMERICAN IDENTITY, “THE ART OF SURVIVAL” Seattle City Hall 600 Fourth Ave., Seattle 1 p.m.

206-214-5986

28 2018 INTERIM CDA GALA, “BUILDING COMMUNITY POWER TOGETHER” Bell Harbor Conference Center 2211 Alaskan Way, Seattle 5:30 p.m. interimicda.org

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INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FRIENDSHIP FESTIVAL Seattle Center 305 Harrison St., Seattle 11 a.m. icffseattle.org

ETHNIC HERITAGE COUNCIL ANNUAL MEETING Leif Erickson Hall, Ballard 4 p.m. ethnicheritagecouncil.org

NOW THROUGH MARCH 31

YEAR OF THE DOG

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asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

MARCH 10 – MARCH 16, 2018

■ PROFILE

7

Filmmaker Long Tran attacks Hollywood’s deep-seated stereotypes

Photo by Jessica Kai Curry

Asian boy meets white girl.

They fall in love. They endure hardship, but in the end, love prevails. It’s a scene that has played out hundreds of times in Western cinema.

Oh wait. No, it isn’t.

Unless you are watching the upcoming short film by Vietnamese American director, producer, photographer, and actor Long Tran, then it’s a scene you might never have seen in your life.

How is that possible?

The inequity of Hollywood’s treatment of Asians and Asian Americans in film and television is not new. It’s a dilemma that encompasses all ethnic minorities, and it deals with the essence of identity and how identity is perceived from the outside.

What makes a man? What makes a Hollywood leading man? When was the last time you saw an Asian male in that role?

Perhaps Jackie Chan or Jet Li jumps to mind. Did the character have a girlfriend? If so, was it “romantic”? Did they kiss? Did they have sex? Also — was she

Photo courtesy of Meiling Sproger UW Tacoma Film Club

By Jessica Kai Curry NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Long Tran and crew film a scene from the upcoming project featuring the protagonist in present time played by Arnold Mukai

Long Tran working on his new film

white?

In Long Tran’s upcoming short film, which sets an Asian-manwhite-female romance against the backdrop of Japanese American internment in Seattle in 1942, the audience is asked to consider this dilemma. The film is titled “Jap” — the slur adopted by Westerners during WWII — in a deliberate effort to stimulate dialogue on racism and its effects.

Says Long, “I never learned about the internment until college.

student at the University of Washington (UW) Tacoma, with a concentration in gender studies, Long has experienced blocked opportunities due to ethnicity, which he has channeled into his work. In his short film, “Vast Minority,” for instance, Long’s character, Johnny, auditions for a male romantic lead. The audience understands that the part is assumed to be for a white actor.

Johnny auditions well — but doesn’t get the part. Frustrated,

History in high school was geared towards white people.” Especially in the Pacific Northwest, where many residents were directly affected by the internments, this seems a grievous error. Long received a grant to create this short film, for which he gathered a diverse crew and professional SAG-AFTRA actors. It is the next in a series of works in which Long addresses race and gender in a Western context.

An Arts, Media, and Culture

the voices of casting agents in his head (“That was really great, but…we’re gonna need you to open up your eyes”), Johnny decides, in a moment that parallels Long’s real life, to regain control.

Says Johnny, “I knew I couldn’t rely on these people to start my career…I had to take matters into my own hands.”

This is heavy stuff. And it’s important. The way Hollywood

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asianweekly northwest

8

MARCH 10 – MARCH 16, 2018

■ ON THE SHELF Stories of revelations

36 YEARS

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

By Samantha Pak NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Wires and Nerve, Volume 2: Gone Rogue

By Marissa Meyer Feiwel & Friends, 2018

through the whole story.

Like the rest of the Lunar Chronicle stories, “Gone Rogue” is action packed, with a little bit of romance and more than a bit of humor thrown in for good measure.

I’ve been a fan of this world since “Cinder,” and Meyer does not disappoint in her latest story.

Serving Crazy with Curry

By Amulya Malladi Endeavour Press, 2015

complications of family dynamics, showing how they love each other even though they can’t stand one another. The characters are complex and far from perfect, but they are trying to get back to that point when they were happy — if that even existed.

“Curry” also examines issues of mental health, as the characters try to learn why Devi did what she did. And while members of the family are initially skeptical about her need for professional help, they soon begin to realize the value in it.

The Crane Girl

Adapted by Curtis Manley, Illustrations

by Lin Wang Shen’s Books, 2017

In the second installment of Meyer’s “Wires and Nerve” graphic novel series, we return to the world of the Lunar Chronicles.

The story picks up where the first novel left off, with Iko the android continuing her task of hunting down bioengineered wolfsoldiers threatening to undo the tenuous peace agreement between Earth and Luna (the moon). Her specific target is leader Alpha Lysander Steele, who believes Iko’s best friend, Lunar Queen Cinder, can reverse the mutations forced upon them when they were younger. If she doesn’t do as they wish, Steele and his army have their sights on the people of Earth as the means to satisfy their appetites. And they’re taking hostages.

Iko works alongside her friends — all of whom we’ve met throughout the Lunar Chronicles — to try and stop Steele, as they suspect he plans to attack during New Beijing’s Peace Festival.

“Gone Rogue” is a fast-paced adventure filled with themes of friendship, loyalty, and love. The most important thing to Iko are her friends, but the android begins to question this, as well as who she is after she uncovers the truth about her unusual programming. Longtime readers of the Lunar Chronicles will know Iko as the boy-crazy android with the personality of a teenage schoolgirl. While that is still the case, we begin to see a more serious and mature side to her as she goes through an identity crisis. The fact that she even questions her identity shows that she is not your average android. But that’s why we love her (or at least why I do). Meyer does a great job of showing readers Iko’s humanity, despite her not being human, and readers will be rooting for the android

away into the night sky.

The next night, a young girl arrives at Yasuhiro and his father’s home, seeking shelter and offering to do chores in exchange.

Yasuhiro and his father Ryota welcome the girl, Hiroko, into their home.

During her stay, Hiroko watches Ryota, as he struggles to provide for himself and his son. After learning how his late wife used to weave silk to sell in their village, she offers to do the same. Her only request is that neither the father nor the son open the door to the room or look at her while she is weaving.

They agree and when Hiroko’s silks fetch a good price, Ryota becomes greedy and impatient and does the one thing she had asked him not to do. What father and son discover has a life-changing effect on all three of them.

“Crane Girl” is interwoven with haikus throughout and beautiful illustrations to complement the written word.

This story, which was adapted from Japanese folktales, is one of friendship and kindness, and shows readers how one simple act can have the power to transform lives.

These are important themes for readers of all ages to learn — but especially the younger set. Manley and Wang do an excellent job of getting their point across both in writing and drawings in a book that is both entertaining, as well as thought provoking. 

While gathering firewood one evening, Yasuhiro discovers an injured crane, hidden Samantha can be reached at in the snow. After releasing it from its trap info@nwasianweekly.com.

Things are not going well for Devi. She and comforting it, he watches the bird fly is unemployed, unmarried, and had recently lost a baby in a miscarriage. All of her shortcomings just prove to her that she will never live up to the example set by her older sister, as a traditional Indian wife who is also successful in her professional life.

March 7-13, 2018 Deciding she has nothing left to lose, March 14-20, 2018 at Seattle & Bellevue Devi tries to take her own life.

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MARCH 10 – MARCH 16, 2018

YOUR VOICE

■ PICTORIAL

asianweekly northwest

9

Seattle Chinese Culture and Arts Association and the Overseas Community Affairs Council celebrates Lunar New Year

The Bellevue Collection, along with Seattle Chinese Culture and Arts Association and the Overseas Community Affairs Council – Republic of China (Taiwan), held a Lunar New Year celebration on Feb. 24 in Bellevue Square’s Center Court. Marking the 7th year of bringing this celebration on the Eastside, this daylong celebration included a martial arts demonstration, music, a Peking Opera performance, painting, cultural workshops, and a Din Tai Fung food sampling.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HUT KWAN, ASSUNTA NG, TONY AU, AND REBECCA IP

People stood everywhere to see the lion dance performance.

Brush paint Chinese names

A small gift for guests

Teresa Fang, founder of Seattle Chinese Culture and Arts Association

A volunteer

VIPs at the event

asianweekly northwest

10

36 YEARS

MARCH 10 – MARCH 16, 2018

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

What businesses should you start?

So you want to be an entrepreneur, but have no idea what business to get into. I can name over 50 businesses being killed or hurt by the internet. Are there any businesses that give you a decent chance at success?

Even though the business you choose might not be making lots of profit, it can produce personal benefits. Case in point: my newspaper business — it’s a tough business that’s struggling for survival. Yet, I have no regrets. In addition to raising my family and many others, it gives me profound satisfaction and happiness every week when the product is finished, be it online or in the readers’ hands.

Several people have shared that they are much happier after becoming entrepreneurs, when they can control their own time and schedule. That’s the benefit of being your own boss. You don’t need permission to refuse a task or change direction. Nor do you need to justify why you start work at noon, take days off, or do something you want to do at the spur of the moment. The gift is the freedom to do something simply because you enjoy doing it, without restriction. You are the one to set guidelines, pace, and order. Freedom rewards you with a flexible lifestyle. In my journey, the Northwest Asian Weekly has inspired hundreds, even thousands, of dreams all these years through our stories.

That’s the silver lining. I don’t think I could have achieved that if I had worked for someone else.

I also receive lots of credit and recognition, which should go to my staff, simply because I head the organization.

(Yes, I get the blame too for things I didn’t do because I am responsible for all the people in our operation. And I have to apologize for other people’s errors, not mine.) But then again, it comes with the territory. And it’s a good one to have.

So what business ventures should you embark on?



TECHNOLOGY. Not everyone can start a big

technology company like Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, or Steve

Photo from emmayang.com

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Emma Yang

Jobs. What about something like an app, said Nate Miles, vice president of government relations for Lilly.

Emma Yang, now 14, started an app called Timeless, because her grandmother, who has Alzheimer’s, couldn’t recognize friends and relatives, or put a name to a face.

Yang’s app helps her to recognize someone’s photo on the phone with a name. The app will be available this summer.

Yang said she learned to code when she was 6 years old. If you are interested in inventing apps, begin with coding. You might make a fortune. Another example is my friend’s son in Vancouver, B.C. He started a company by using a remote control panel to direct machines to operate by themselves.

His company is expanding fast into other places, including Washington state.



REAL ESTATE can spin off into multiple businesses. Given the hot market in the Greater Seattle area, you can make lots of money. Consider development or owning a brokerage company. Consider contracting, remodeling, and construction, or starting a property management company. If you have design skills, start an interior design company, landscaping company, or an architectural firm. If you are an engineer, build an engineering firm. Development also gives rise to cleaning and maintenance businesses, as there will be a demand for these types of services resulting from the real estate boom.

I have watched some clients who have prospered over the

years through real estate. Many buy fixeruppers, tear down or remodel old houses, and make a fortune after reselling it. Many have gained from buying houses and turning them into rental properties. Those who buy land, and develop them into strip malls, have reaped profits. In both commercial and residential real estate, there is a good amount of money involved. You don’t need a college degree to invest in real estate. In fact, many successful immigrant developers don’t have a college degree. What they have is business smarts. They see opportunities in an empty lot or a tumbling-down shack. I learned first-hand about real estate from my in-laws. They taught us that it is not enough to own your business, you must own the property, too.

What if your landlord raises rent or kicks you out? Many successful Asian American developers like Shiao-Yen Woo, Jimmy Tang, Thach Nguyen, and James Wong have proven you can win over time in real estate. The longer you are in the business, the more Shiao-Yen Woo successful you become. I’d rather be safe, than invest in something like bitcoin. Let the property sit and it will increase in value. Don’t just go for a quick buck. Many start by being an agent to serve others in property transactions, and also look for good properties to invest in themselves.



RESTAURANTS.

With the increasing

see BLOG on next page

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

MARCH 10 – MARCH 16, 2018

11

OPINION

■ EDITORIAL

API state lawmakers voted against transparency By now, you’ve heard of the brouhaha that brewed last week in Olympia surrounding Senate Bill 6617, which tried to shut down a lawsuit brought by 10 news media organizations — including The Associated Press and The Seattle Times. The bill would have kept years of state lawmakers’ past records — such as emails, text messages, and calendars — private, only subjecting email exchanges with lobbyists and calendars generated after July 1 of this year to public scrutiny.

Also, there would have been no more access to past disciplinary proceedings and complaints.

Gov. Jay Inslee vetoed the bill on the evening of March 1, but not before thousands of phone calls, emails, and social media messages from constituents to his office and members of the State Legislature.

Washington state has had a Public Records Act since 1972. It’s how we, the media, find out about the stuff that sometimes lawmakers would rather keep secret.

I’m sorry. But as an elected official, elected by the PUBLIC, everything you do while serving in that role is PUBLIC. You have no right to secrecy.

As an Asian American, it’s disheartening to look at the roll call.

Every single elected official of Asian American descent voted FOR this bill — meaning they wanted to keep things

secret.

In the House: Rep. Cindy Ryu, Rep. Mia Gregerson, Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, Rep. Vandana Slatter, and Rep. Monica Stonier.

In the Senate: Sen. Bob Hasegawa, Sen. Steve Hobbs, and Sen. Manka Dhingra.

Sponsored by Sen. Sharon Nelson and Sen. Mark Schoesler, the legislation came on the heels of a Jan. 19 ruling by Thurston County Superior Court Judge Chris Lanese, that state lawmakers are subject to the state’s Public Records Act. The ruling was part of an ongoing lawsuit against the Legislature by media organizations, who sued last year for lawmakers’ internal communications and records pertaining to alleged sexual harassment incidents.

In the hours leading up to the veto, Inslee’s staff engaged in behind-the-scenes negotiations with legislators and newspaper publishers.

In exchange for a veto and no override vote from the Legislature, media organizations would seek a stay on the enforcement of the Jan. 19 court ruling, agree not to field a ballot initiative to overturn the Legislature’s action, and help lawmakers to craft public records legislation in 2019.

We appear to have dodged a bullet.

But ask yourself, what are your state lawmakers hiding?

On the right are the names, phone numbers, and emails of all the API elected officials who voted for secrecy. 

HOUSE

SENATE

Rep. Cindy Ryu 360-786-7880 cindy.ryu@leg.wa.gov

Sen. Bob Hasegawa 360-786-7616 bob.hasegawa@leg.wa.gov

Rep. Mia Gregerson 360-786-7868 mia.gregerson@leg.wa.gov

Sen. Steve Hobbs 360-786-7686 steve.hobbs@leg.wa.gov

Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos 360-786-7944 sharontomiko.santos@leg. wa.gov

Sen. Manka Dhingra 360-786-7672 manka.dhingra@leg. wa.gov

Rep. Vandana Slatter 360-786-7936 vandana.slatter@leg. wa.gov Rep. Monica Stonier 360-786-7872 monica.stonier@leg.wa.gov

BLOG from previous page Traditionally, youth attend art, martial arts, music and dance, and academic tutorial lessons. Food is an important part of our lives, and cooking schools are relevant for children. If they can learn about nutrition and prepare their own food while they are young, they would be less likely to be obese. It also educates them about health and disease-preventive approaches through food therapy. If cooking is not your thing, then think of other ideas and skills to train youth. The sky’s the limit.

Photo by Assunta Ng



population in our state, there are always people who want to go out to eat. When your apartment is small (the new trend), renters are more inclined to eat out. Your living quarters are not appealing enough to entertain or meet friends anymore.

Naturally, restaurants have intense competition. But if your product is good, you will still attract customers. What kind of restaurants though? I pick fusion of the East and West. It gives you more opportunities to create new menus. Novelty will excite diners. Sometimes, Asian food that is too authentic might turn customers off. However, it’s challenging to start a restaurant these days due to the high capital

and cost of labor. That $15 minimum wage law in Seattle will probably drive potential investors to cities like Bellevue, Redmond, and Renton. Still, there is a market for nice restaurants with good food in Seattle.

Chic Asian restaurants are now all over the Greater Seattle area and many are doing well.

 SCHOOLS OF ALL KINDS.

During my recent Hong Kong trip, I saw a cooking school for kids in a shopping mall. What an inspiration! The age group ranges from 8 to 12 years old. While some were chopping vegetables, others were measuring and mixing ingredients.

They seemed like they were having fun.

FOOD MANUFACTURING.

Have you considered making honey, yogurt, sauces, and bread on a large scale?

Baking can be a profitable business. At French bakeries, I often see lines of people.

There is also a demand for organic food.

Do you like farming? Making herbal and vegetable pills are also gaining traction.

I have seen many organic grocery stores carrying them. Catering meals to working families is filling a market need. The other day, I read about the declining bee population in the United States. That’s bad news for our ecology and environment.

If you like to raise bees to harvest honey, you need to have acres and acres of land.

The honey business sounds interesting.

Even though I have listed five categories of businesses you should consider, there are many subcategories you can develop.

 COACHING. There’s a difference

between

mentoring

and

coaching.

Mentoring is mostly volunteering. But life coaches get paid. Life coaching is a popular profession today, especially for people who are looking for second careers, who have rich life experiences or skills. My friend earned her certification as a life coach. You may get influential clients who are looking for an objective person to be their sounding board. Go on the internet and you will find instructions to get certified. These are just some ideas for businesses in today’s world.

Talk to friends to brainstorm more and do some soul-searching. One day, you will discover what dreams to pursue.  Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

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asianweekly northwest

12

MARCH 10 – MARCH 16, 2018

STRICKLAND from 1 to know the board, members of the community, and elected officials. Already, she discovered that “we all share a lot of values and goals,” and that she’s excited to advance the needs of the community and enhance our entire region.

“We want as many people as possible to share in economic empowerment,” Strickland said. “We believe in housing affordability and livability. We want people, regardless of their country of origin or background, to be successful.”

When it comes to the business community, Strickland said it’s important to recognize just how diverse it is.

“One of the things I really want to do is help people understand that when we talk about communities of color — that people look at us as entrepreneurs, business owners, successful business people, as much as they have very typically looked at us as communities that need something from the government,” she said.

“We’re not a monolith and we have a lot of roles to play. I hope to see more boards and commissions that have people of color, I hope to see more people of color in leadership

HOANG from 1 dashed, because they tried — and failed — to get one.

“It’s not something that has escaped people’s notice. Everyone knows [about it], and everyone is aware of it,” Hoang said.

Hoang is the president of Cyclo Restaurant Group, the parent company that covers three different Seattle restaurants and a catering company. She is also the executive director of the Ethnic Business Coalition, a nonprofit that works to promote immigrant- and minorityowned small businesses throughout the state of Washington. Along with Seattle’s Office of Economic Development and Craft3, a small loan nonprofit, Hoang aims to make it easier for minorities to get loans, and succeed in the businesses they begin.

Geographically, Hoang said, they plan to work within the city’s ChinatownInternational District, in its most distressed neighborhoods. She said they chose this

positions and organizations, and I also hope to see more of the ethnic chambers participating with the metro Seattle Chamber because their voices matter.”

Strickland said she brings to her new role “a fresh set of eyes and no baggage.” She has reached out to members of the Seattle City Council and was scheduling meetings to talk with each one of them.

The Chamber and the City Council have not always seen eye to eye. Strickland said, “Sometimes it gets portrayed [in the media] as us being on the opposite end, but we share a lot and for the most part, we all want the same thing.”

She said that when she meets with councilmembers, she intends to focus on common ground. “How we can walk away with really big wins to benefit all of us.”

Foreign direct investment

Citing a Global Cities Initiative report, Strickland said, “The Seattle area is underperforming when it comes to foreign direct investments, so there’s an opportunity to do more.”

The Boston Consulting Group, in partnership with the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, studied the global

area, based on the businesses they had been working with for the last several years, as well as the community’s need for assistance.

Unlike a traditional, bigger bank, Hoang said the nonprofit will give smaller loans in amounts between $5,000 and $15,000. The idea isn’t to mimic a big bank — and besides, she said, big banks often have difficult hurdles minorities and immigrants have to surmount, before said banks grant a loan. For instance, most of the people with whom the nonprofit plans to work with may not have a credit history or a written business plan, both of which are key elements to getting a low-interest loan from a traditional banking institution.

“Minority business owners, usually, they are so busy running their business, they don’t always have all of the accounting paperwork,” Hoang said. “For them, rather than sitting down and going through all the paperwork for the application, they go with a really high interest rate from a lending institution.

ME TOO from 5 One woman, journalist Shiori Ito, went public last year.

She held a news conference after prosecutors decided not to press charges against a prominent TV newsman whom she had accused of raping her after he invited her to discuss job opportunities over dinner and drinks in 2015.

Many online comments criticized her for speaking out, looking too seductive and ruining the life of a prominent figure. Some women called her an embarrassment, she told The Associated Press.

The October release of Ito’s book “Blackbox’’ detailing her ordeal came as the (hash)MeToo phenomenon was making headlines in America. It prompted some discussion in Japan, but only a handful of other women came forward.

“Many people think Shiori’s problem has nothing to do with them ... and that’s why (hash)MeToo isn’t growing in Japan,’’ said lawyer Yukiko Tsunoda, an expert on sex crimes. In Japan, sexually assaulted women are traditionally called “the flawed,’’ she said.

Nearly three quarters of rape victims said they had never told anyone, and just over 4 percent had gone to police, according to a 2015 government survey. The study found that one in 15 Japanese women had been raped or forced to have sex.

Victims often shy away from going to court out of fear, privacy concerns or losing jobs, Tsunoda said.

Justice Ministry statistics show only one-third of rape cases go to court, and punishment is not severe. Of the 1,678 people tried for sexual assault in 2017, only 285, or 17 percent, were sentenced to prison for three years or longer.

In November, Yokohama prosecutors, without saying why, dropped the case against six students from a leading university who had been arrested for the alleged gang-rape of a teenage female student after getting her drunk. The university expelled three of them.

Popular writer Haruka Ito, who goes by the pen name

36 YEARS competitiveness of the greater Seattle region compared with eight peer regions.

It found that our region — being home to companies like Amazon, Costco, Starbucks, and Microsoft — has all the prerequisites to effectively compete on the global stage.

And although Seattle’s position as a global business center has grown over the past decade, that progress has been driven more by favorable circumstance than by design.

In her previous job, Strickland rose the profile of the City of Tacoma — after she made several trips to Asia to boost foreign investment.

“People around the world are very interested in this amazing region we call home,” Strickland said. “Our location is an asset. We have great institutions of higher education, natural beauty, clean air — considering all the assets we have, we should have more foreign direct investments.”

Lots of manufacturing jobs are starting to come back on America’s shore, according to Strickland, because wages are going up in certain parts of the world. “When you look at the cost of shipping and moving things here, it may actually be cheaper just to manufacture here on site, in the United States.”

Breaking the mold

“All the numbers are in their heads … so how do we put that on paper, to help them become bankable?” Hoang continued.

And this is where the nonprofit comes in. Rather than assessing a person’s credit score, Hoang said, the nonprofit will focus on whether or not the person pays their utility bills or rent on time. The loans won’t just be for people starting out, either. They will also be for people who are looking to expand their current business.

But the nonprofit’s work won’t stop, once a person has secured a loan. Instead, Hoang said they plan to work with the person, to make sure they not only succeed in their business venture, but can also work with bigger, traditional banking institutions, in the future — “kind of like holding their hands, so they can get to the next stage of accessing a larger pool of capital.”

“We can spend the next six months with them, to help their financial education, putting … their numbers down on paper, helping that

structure,” Hoang said. “And if they have bad credit, help them clean up their credit. If they have no credit, help them establish credit.”

As for the number of people to whom the nonprofit plans to lend, Hoang said that depends on the capital they receive to start the nonprofit. She said they are working and looking at different organizations to approach for funding.

Though the group isn’t ready to disclose whom they may approach yet, Hoang said they are past the ideation phase, and are currently in what she called the “capacitybuilding phase.” This means the group is pulling together its research and data. Hoang said she anticipates it will take another six to eight months to begin feasibility studies for the project. 

Ha-Chu, was criticized after revealing in December that she had faced sexual and other harassment by a senior male employee when both worked at Dentsu, Japan’s largest advertising agency.

The alleged harasser, whom she identified by name, apologized in a statement and quit as head of his own company, though he denied the harassment was sexual.

Ha-chu said in a statement that she initially tried to endure and forget the ordeal, fearing that exposing it would hurt her image and cause problems for her former colleagues. After news of the journalist Ito’s case and the (hash)MeToo movement, “I decided to speak out,’’ she said.

Conformist pressure in Japan discourages women from speaking out or saying “no’’ to many things, including unwanted sex, said Saori Ikeuchi, a former lawmaker and gender diversity activist.

That mindset has silenced virtually all of Japan’s socalled “comfort women,’’ who were sexually abused as prostitutes for the wartime military, while Japan has shown little sympathy to victims from Korea and elsewhere, she said.

Ito, the journalist, said that after she became dizzy and passed out in a restroom, her alleged attacker, Noriyuki Yamaguchi, took her to his hotel room and raped her while she was incapacitated.

The alleged assault was just the beginning of her ordeal, Ito said. The women’s clinic she visited the next day lacked expertise on rape, and a rape victim support center refused to give her advice on the phone. Police required her to recount the ordeal repeatedly and to demonstrate it with a life-sized doll, she said.

Ito said it took three weeks to get police to accept her criminal complaint and start investigating. She held a news conference in May, announcing that she had requested a court-appointed citizens’ panel to review the decision to drop the case. The inquest in September agreed with the decision not to indict.

“I may not fit the description of who people might typically imagine in this role,” Strickland said, when asked about being a woman of color in such a high profile position.

A graduate of the University of Washington and an MBA degree holder from Clark Atlanta University, Strickland said there are always challenges, even just based on gender alone. But she sees it as an advantage.

“We’re seeing a stage in America right now where women’s voices are being more valued and respected. People are expecting to see more women at the table,” said Strickland.

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Strickland said, “My identity as being African American and Korean American — growing up in two cultures that weren’t considered mainstream for a long time, the values that my parents instilled in me — I’m able to see the world from a lot of different perspectives.”

That will come in handy as she reaches out to the various ethnic chambers. Historically, the partnership with different chambers has been a good one. And Strickland hopes that is something she can build on and strengthen.  Ruth can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

Carolyn can be reached nwasianweekly.com.

at

info@

Yamaguchi has denied any wrongdoing in published articles and on Facebook. Ito has filed a civil lawsuit against him, demanding 10 million yen ($93,000) in compensation for her suffering from the alleged rape, and seeking any clues as to why he was let go and never arrested.

“I thought about how I could change the situation, and I had no choice but to speak out about my experience,’’ she said.

A group of opposition lawmakers has started its own investigation, seeking to find if the charges were dropped because of Yamaguchi’s connections to powerful political officials.

National Police Agency official Junichiro Kan told the lawmakers at a recent hearing that Ito’s case was properly handled. Police say they have tried to be more sensitive to the feelings of victims while guarding against wrongful accusations.

Mika Kobayashi, a rape victim, runs a self-help group that has exchanged thousands of (hash)MeToo experiences, but only anonymously among themselves.

She said she was pushed into a car and raped on her way home in 2000. She reported the attack to police, but the attacker hasn’t been found. She has since published books about her recovery from the ordeal, to raise public awareness.

Her focus is on providing support and understanding for victims, rather than being an activist.

“I used to think of myself as someone hiding a big secret, a sex assault victim and unclean,’’ she said. “I’m so grateful I could connect with fellow victims. They gave me strength.’’

The knowledge that others also blamed themselves and lost self-esteem has helped her to heal slowly, Kobayashi said.

“I think it’s also OK not to speak up,’’ she said. “I respect any decision that makes a victim feel most comfortable.’’ 

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

MARCH 10 – MARCH 16, 2018

■ ASTROLOGY

13

Predictions and advice for the week of March 10–16, 2018

By Sun Lee Chang

Rat — Don’t assume that you know more than the other side. To underestimate is to give someone else the advantage.

Dragon — Have your priorities shifted? Even an incremental change could cause more than just a ripple.

Monkey — There is no need to embellish something that was done just right. The simplicity only serves to add to its appeal.

Ox — While your persistence isn’t always appreciated, it will nonetheless garner the results that you seek.

Snake — The groundwork has been laid and now you must have the patience to see it through.

Avoid getting ahead of yourself.

Rooster — Do you want to stop soon or keep going? If the latter, then you might want to find out who else is coming.

Tiger — Avoid making quick judgments this week.

Instead, a thoughtful, measured approach should leave you in a much better position.

Horse — You are one who can easily see the beauty in even the most mundane of things. Use that insight to showcase what would otherwise have been overlooked.

Dog — Dismiss a source of frustration by choosing to be done with the issue. There is no reason to let it bother you any longer.

Rabbit — Making new friends can be quite daunting at times. You might be surprised by how effective a smile and good eye contact can be.

Goat — Do you prefer to maintain an air of mystery? Where there are no answers, some may try to fill in the blanks.

Pig — You are a strong advocate when the situation calls for it. In fact, you might even surprise yourself with what you are able to accomplish.

What’s your animal sign?

Rat 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 Ox 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 Tiger 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Rabbit 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 Dragon 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 Snake 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 Horse 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 Goat 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 Monkey 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 Rooster 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 Dog 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 Pig 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

*The year ends on the first new moon of the following year. For those born in January and February, please take care when determining your sign.

BOWMAN from 1 for minority communities to access economic opportunities. Over the last few years, the Port of Seattle’s contracting for minority- and womenowned business has been about 5 percent.

To bring these numbers up, the Port last year spent time soliciting feedback from minority communities, asking how it could improve.

“Traditionally, we’ve measured diversity and contracting primarily by looking at women- and minority-owned business (WMBE) participation in large capital construction projects like the third runway or north satellite contracts,” said Commissioner Stephanie Bowman.

“Portwide, we’re thinking about other items as well, such where we get boxed lunches or order office paper for example. While it might not sound like a lot, it adds up.”

In January, the Port of Seattle passed a new policy with the intent of tripling the number of contracts it holds with WMBEs and tying performance of Port directors to goals they’re expected to meet in terms of diversity in contracting. This

includes being more intentional about my education through their tuition hiring workers. The priority hire policy, reimbursement program and have helped which was recently adopted as well, now me envision what I want to do with my requires Port of Seattle contract holders career, more than when I was fresh out to hire from disadvantaged zip codes in of high school.”

King County, and it places an emphasis With the Port’s assistance, Gauvin on hiring minorities and women. Prior is now a junior at the University of to the adoption of the policy, general Washington Bothell studying business. contractors had few hiring guidelines.

Once he’s done with his degree, Gauvin 自1872年起服務西北岸社區 In the last few years, the Port has plans to explore other opportunities 非營利獨立協會 also provided on-the-job training and within the Port and eventually obtain a apprentice programs. Last February, it management position.

Last year, the Port of Seattle had authorized $1.2 million towards the next over 150 interns, many of them from two years of training.

The Port is also looking to the younger South King County. The Port hopes the generation and targeting high schools. opportunity will help students uncover This exposure provides students with unexpected career paths.

“Kids don’t necessarily hear about valuable on-the-job training and these opportunities these days,” said experiential learning opportunities.

Former intern Emile Gauvin discovered Bowman. “The Port provides good an opportunity at Fisherman’s Terminal family wage jobs. In many cases, while he was a student at Aviation High they don’t require a four-year degree, School. The opportunity allowed him reducing the need for young adults to ‧陵墓地下室 ‧骨灰靈位 to gain real world experience, which take out $40,000–$50,000 of student eventually led him to a full-time ‧墓碑、紀念碑 job with loan debt.”‧土葬福地  the Port, where he works today as a dock specialist.

Joshua can be reached at “The Port has been great to me,” info@nwasianweekly.com.

1554 15th Ave East (North Capitol Hill) said Gauvin. “They’re invested in

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EMPLOYMENT Administrative Specialist II – Bilingual Performs a wide range of administrative and office support activities for the agency to facilitate the efficient operation of the organization and to provide customer support to agency staff, clients and visitors.

Must be fluent in Cantonese or other AAPI language and English. Multiple positions open. For more information, visit https://acrs.org/careers/ current-openings/. Send resume & cover letter to: hr@acrs.org

MARCH 10 – MARCH 16, 2018

EMPLOYMENT

Outdoor Research is hiring experienced fulltime sewing operators, especially Flatseam, Coverstitch, and Single needle machine operators. This position will be eligible for medical insurance and paid vacation benefits. Please come apply in person at 2203 1st Ave S. Seattle, WA 98134 or fax resume to 206-467-0374 or email jobs@ orgear.com GRAFFITI REMOVAL TECHNICIAN Well established company with great BENEFITS, starting wage is $18/hr. with opportunity to advance. Patrolling and removing graffiti throughout the city; training provided on all equipment and chemicals. Clean WA DL driving record required!

EMPLOYMENT

Japanese restaurant in downtown Bellevue. looking for teppanyaki chef,sushi chef,server, and kitchen helper. Must speak English.

Call 4255337773.

Asian Counseling & Referral Service seeks Adult Mental Health Clinical Case Managers. Provides culturally competent & recovery oriented case mgmt & counseling services for Mandarin-speaking & other members of Asian American & Pacific Islander community living w/ mental illness. See https://www. worksourcewa.com & Job ID # 193907469 for details. FT, Seattle, WA. Apply to: ACRS, Attn: Donna Springer, 3639 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S, Seattle, WA 98144 or hr@acrs.org

Please send your resume to roberthaggard@ goodbyegraffitiusa.com

EMPLOYMENT

36 YEARS

EMPLOYMENT

Executive Director Chinese Information and Service Center (CISC) Headquartered in Seattle’s Chinatown/International District, CISC is a 45-year-old non-profit agency providing full range of human services to immigrant communities. CISC is seeking an Executive Director to lead the agency to a new level of success. This is an exceptional opportunity for a visionary leader with a passion for serving the community.

Responsibilities: Developing and implementing long range strategic plans and initiatives, developing strategic relationships, leadership and management of the agency. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent and 5+ years of executive level management experience. Knowledge and experience in fundraising, securing grants, managing a $6 million budget. A demonstrated success functioning in the Asian cultural environment, human services background with multi-ethnic communities, and bi-lingual preferred.

Send cover letter and resume by March 30, 2018 to: CISC Executive Director Search, 611 South Lane Street, Seattle, WA 98104 or email to Kevin Chan atkevinc@cisc-seattle.org

WANTED WANTED RECORD LP’S REEL TO REEL TAPES 206-499-5307

This newspaper participates in the statewide classified ad program sponsored by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association, a statewide association of weekly newspapers. The program allows classified (and display) advertisers to submit ads for publication in member weeklies throughout the state. Thank you for running WNPA Advertising.

For more information about CISC, please see our website at www.cisc-seattle.org

370 from 5 If the mission is successful within three months, payment will be made based on the size of the area searched. Malaysia says it will pay Ocean Infinity $20 million for 1,930 square miles of a successful search, $30 million for 5,790 square miles, $50 million for 9,653 square miles, and $70 million if the plane or flight recorders are found beyond the identified area.

The plane vanished March 8, 2014, while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board.

The official search was extremely difficult because no transmissions were received from the aircraft after its first 38 minutes of flight. Systems designed to automatically transmit the flight’s position failed to work after this point, according to a final report issued in January 2017 by the Australian

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PROMOTE YOUR REGIONAL EVENT statewide with a $325 classified listing or $1,575 for a display ad. Call this newspaper or 360-344-2938 for details.

WIN $4,000 IN CASH & PRIZES! Enter to win. Take our survey at www.pulsepoll. com & tell us about your household shopping plans & media usage. Your input will help us improve the paper.

FREELANCE WRITERS Northwest Asian Weekly is accepting applications for freelance writers. Should be interested in politics, business, education, health, arts and/or food articles. Flexible hours.

Send resume and writing samples to: Ruth Bayang, NW Asian Weekly, PO Box 3468, Seattle, WA 98114 or email editor@nwasianweekly.com

Transport Safety Board.

Family members lit candles on a stage on March 3 and observed a moment of silence during the three-hour event.

Most are split over whether the search will be fruitful.

“It doesn’t renew (any hope) because I also have to be realistic. It has been four years,’’ said Intan Maizura Othman, whose husband was a flight attendant on the plane. She was pregnant when the plane disappeared and attended the event with her now 4-year-old son.

Jiang Hui of China, whose mother was on board the plane, said that he was grateful for Ocean Infinity’s courage to mount the search, but that he hopes it will not be the end if the mission fails. He proposed for a public fund to be set up to continue the search.

“Without a search, there will be no truth,’’ Jiang said. 

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The deadline to place a classified ad is Tuesday.

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MARCH 10 – MARCH 16, 2018

presents life to us is the way we come to know it.

If Hollywood never presents us with an Asian male romantic lead courting a white female, then the chances of encountering this scenario in real life become less. Just visit Tinder, where statistically, compared to white men, it is very difficult for Asian men to get dates. What it means to be an Asian man in the United States is a question in people’s minds. “Even Bruce Lee was portrayed as asexual,” says Long. “We have to start with the media.”

Change is possible when we have changemakers like Long.

Long’s singular ability is that he observes and empathizes with not just one group of sidelined Americans, but all of them. His award-winning documentary, “Trapped,” dealt with a high school student coming out as transgender. Long says, “I don’t want to be known as an Asian filmmaker.”

Contradictory? It isn’t. It’s about the freedom to follow one’s passion — whatever form that takes — and not be

KUMARI from 5 March 3 elections. Former President Asif Zardari’s party came in second, followed by the party led by former cricket star Imran Khan.

Khan’s party supported Maulana Samiul Haq, a mentor to a number of Taliban leaders, but he fell short. Extremist groups in Pakistan have mobilized mass rallies in recent years to protest U.S. policies and support tough antiblasphemy laws, but have largely failed to translate their clout into electoral victories.

Sealed bids will be received for C01211C17, Stormdrain Crossing Taxiway B at Connector B5 (Rebid); by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 1:30 PM on March 29, 2018. Late bids will not be accepted.

Brief Scope: Excavation, replacement and realignment of storm pipes and aircraft rated catch basin.

Estimated contract price: $730,000 Pre-Bid / Site Tour: March 14, 2018 1:30 pm., King County International Airport, 7277 Perimeter Road S, Seattle WA 98108. A site tour will be conducted immediately following the conference. Hardhats and safety boots are required for site tour.

There is a 5% minimum Apprentice Utilization Requirement on this contract.

There is a 15% minimum requirement for King County Certified Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS) on this contract.

Complete Invitation to Bid Documents, including all project details, specifications, and contact information are available on our web page at: https://procurement. kingcounty.gov/procurement_ovr/ default.aspx

15

pigeon-holed. Long recognizes his indebtedness to his past and to his family’s connection to the Vietnam War. “I wouldn’t be here without that.” While he hopes to one day tackle his own story more profoundly, his goal now is to be a pathfinder for others who face similar issues of race, gender, and identity — and who do not see these issues reflected on the screen.

If he wins, we won’t even notice. We will see “directors” on the set, and “actors” on the screen, not “Asian American directors” or “Asian American actors.” And in real life, we will see people.

For now, though, warriors like Long need all the support the rest of us can give. If you wish to follow Long’s activities, you can find him on Instagram at “longwasabi,” or check out his videos on YouTube. Look for his next projects under his company, This is a Long Film.  Jessica can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

Most of Pakistan’s Hindu population fled to India as part of the population exchange that followed the 1947 partition.

Those who remain live on the political and economic margins, and like other minorities they have endured discrimination at the hands of the Muslim majority.

“I feel delighted, this was unthinkable for me to reach the senate,’’ Kumari told The Associated Press.

Kumari, who was born and raised in a remote district, attributed her success to her parents, who encouraged her to pursue her education and eventually helped her to earn a university degree. She later worked for a non-governmental

Photo courtesy of Meiling Sproger UW Tacoma Film Club

TRAN from 7

KING COUNTY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ADVERTISEMENT

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

Long Tran and crew work on a scene depicting the protagonist’s love interest as played by Annie Treux

organization before joining the Pakistan People’s Party of slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. The party nominated her for a seat reserved for minority candidates from the Sindh province, where it holds a majority.

“I will continue to work for the rights of the oppressed people, especially for the empowerment of women, their health and education,’’ she said.

Kumari, who worked in the fields alongside her parents as a child, will take the oath of office later this month alongside some of the biggest landowners in the country. 

The Search for a New Police Chief Starts with Local Input Join the conversation The City of Seattle is conducting a national search to find an experienced, well-respected, and accountable executive to effectively lead the Seattle Police Department (SPD). The City of Seattle Mayor’s Office is hosting ten workshops across the City and invites community members to share their thoughts on what qualities they would like to see in a new police chief.

Please join us at these community workshops to provide your input and feedback.

Thursday, March 15th 5:30pm-7:30pm Garfield Community Center 2323 E Cherry St, Seattle, WA 98122

Friday, March 16th 5:30pm-7:30pm Rainier Beach Community Center 8825 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118

Tuesday, March 20th 6:00pm-8:00pm Queen Anne Community Center 1901 1st Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119

Wednesday, March 21st 5:30pm-7:30pm Northgate Community Center 10510 5th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125

Friday March 23rd 5:30pm-7:30pm Loyal Heights Community Center 2101 NW 77th St, Seattle, WA 98117

Wednesday, March 28th 5:30pm-7:30pm Chinatown International District Community Center 719 8th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104

Thursday, March 29th 5:30pm-7:30pm Rainier Community Center 4600 38th Ave, Seattle, WA 98118

Friday, March 30th 5:30pm-7:30pm Laurelhurst Community Center 4554 NE 41st St, Seattle, WA 98105

Refreshments provided.

To request an interpreter, please contact the city at chiefsearchinfo@seattle.gov Can’t make it to a meeting? Visit https://goo.gl/pX2C2m to participate in our online survey.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information: Information can be provided in alternative formats: large print, braille, cassette tape, or on computer disk for people with disabilities by contacting chiefsearchinfo@seattle.gov or 206-684-4000. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may make a request for alternative formats through the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1.

600 Fourth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104 | www.seattle.gov | 206-684-4000

asianweekly northwest

16

36 YEARS

MARCH 10 – MARCH 16, 2018

ECCC from 1

Ethnic Chamber of Commerce with Korean Chamber of Commerce

greater opportunities to reach more people, rather than sit someone down for an hour,” she said.

Lee has also had to learn things. “The process of coordinating is standardized, but outreach is customized to each community.

It’s not easy because everyone has to learn,” she said. “I didn’t know about the East African culture to start with, but I learned a lot,” she added.

For Lee, there is no one special group of business owners that need help. “All equally need help in this subject,” Lee said.

“Some older businesses that have been here for a long time feel they don’t need our help.

Though the law is new and there is a lot they don’t know, they don’t know what they don’t know. It’s hard to earn their trust,” she added. She finds it easier with younger, newer immigrants. “They are eager to learn and want to know.

“A lot of people approached us recently about the new soda tax,” Lee said. “It’s total confusion for some small businesses that don’t know what to charge and their employees don’t know how to ring up customers,” she said, adding that Seattle has a lot of new rules.

She cited the $15 minimum wage. “It raises questions for small businesses because it’s time phased. Every year on January 1, it changes and along with it whether you offer health insurance or not, a tip or not, the dollar amount changes,” Lee said. Then, she adds things like giving employees paid personal time off, sick leave, family leave. It all has to be properly calculated and recorded.

“It’s no longer just a timesheet,” she said.

“Sometimes, businesses don’t know basics like if you hire someone new, you must give them a piece of paper saying you’re hired for a certain position, who your supervisor is, what your wage is, what your overtime is,” Lee added.

The ECCC has to get business owners’ attention, but be wary of scaring them off.

So, the organization takes a softer approach.

They go to shopping centers or food courts at various locations. They talk to business owners or organize a group workshop.

With the Chinese community, the ECCC started with workshops.

“We leveraged our relationships with banks, lawyers, accountants, and business owners, offering to provide information to their clients. So, we reached people we wouldn’t have otherwise met,” she said.

In other communities, such as the East African and Eritrean community, representatives go door-to-door to do one-on-one outreach and education. All organizations use culturally-appropriate methods and languages to reach their business owners.

With players from diverse backgrounds, ECCC has regular meetings to share knowledge, feedback, and make sure everyone understands basics, such as what they are trying to accomplish, who they are trying to accomplish it with, and what feedback or reporting they need to do.

“Everyone learns and it’s a good way of getting to know each other,” Lee said.

After a corporate career that involved jetting across the globe to solve tough

Photos provided by Martha Lee

Calling Durkan’s grant commendable, Martha Lee, president of the ECCC, said, “The City of Seattle is thinking of minorities and disadvantaged groups and trying to do something to help.

In 2017, ECCC worked to help small businesses understand the city’s new labor laws and its impact on them. These efforts were supported through an earlier grant from the Office of Labor Standards of the City of Seattle. The ECCC collaborated with its partner groups, mentioned earlier.

“We also partnered with Business Improvement Northwest (BIN) that focuses on women, veteran-owned, and small businesses, and Cascadia Consulting, who helped us capture our ideas, organize everyone’s input, and write extensive reports,” Lee said.

Besides assembling a team, ECCC had to write a Request for Proposal defining their goals and committing to deliverables that essentially demonstrated why they would be the best organization to receive grant dollars. “It takes time, but by and large, the city responded favorably to our approach,” Lee said.

Lee has held key management and financial roles over the past 35 years, the most notable being Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer with Royal Philips Electronic Corp that included Philips Electronic North America, Philips Lighting in North America, Philips Consumer Communication in Asia Pacific, and Philips Medical Sales and Service Region in North America. Her corporate experience has set ECCC’s operations apart.

“With my corporate background, I know how things should be managed,” Lee said.

Noting large amounts of data that need to be organized and reported take a special skill set, she said, “With a large group of partners, we can leverage each other’s strengths and resources to gain efficiency, collaboration, and professionalism.”

“We are very proud of our results in 2017.

We over-delivered and underspent. We set a goal to do around 1,200 trainings through workshops and one-on-one consultations, and we accomplished around 1,300 trainings,” Lee said.

As a former CFO, Lee is good at managing what she has.

“I never lose money and I always overdeliver,” she said, but added it wasn’t easy. “I was worried about how we were going to make it, but as a team, you can do it,” she added. Given last year’s limited resources, this year looks promising for the organization. Lee said she is always on the lookout for self-starters join the team.

Commenting on minority business needs, Lee said, “A lot of minority and disadvantaged immigrants with small businesses don’t have money.” They are trying to make a living and don’t have a lawyer readily available.

“Many don’t have accountants to guide them about the law, that’s where we come in,” she said. ECCC’s primary objective is to help them understand and comply with labor laws.

Small businesses are competing with bigger businesses and e-commerce and what ECCC is trying to do is not easy. “It’s the labor law, it’s not sexy. It’s not how you make money and it doesn’t teach you to make money,” she said. To get people to listen and understand that they are trying to provide a service and help them is a challenge. “To help them understand that you are not representing the city, not trying to spy on them, but just trying to help them.

For them to listen to you and ask questions takes time. You have to build trust and a relationship,” she said.

Learning from experiences in 2017, Lee said, “We focused a lot on difficult deliverables like training, but we are changing our deliverables a bit to have

From left: Jessie Tam, Lawrence Pang, Lucia Leung, and Martha Lee

problems for Philips, Lee could have had a comfortable life going skiing or taking vacations, but she feels like she is running a startup with 14 organizations.

“The reason we have this coalition is to ensure minority communities have a voice.

Single-handedly, nobody listens, and you don’t have the time for it,” she said. “Once you get involved with something and care, you want to do it right,” she added.

Having been a woman in the corporate world, Lee has been a trailblazer in her generation and has had her share of trials.

Passing her wisdom down to women in the corporate world, as well as women who

run small businesses, she said, “I attribute my success to my sustaining power. Push out all the politics and you still have to know what you are doing. You must know your business, then nobody can fool you.

Nobody can take that away from you.”

“Learn what is culturally workable in your environment. If you know what you’re doing, work hard, are objective, and make the right decisions for your business and people, it’s only a matter of time before people realize your value,” Lee added.  Janice can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.