VOL 37 NO 34 | AUGUST 18 – AUGUST 24, 2018

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VOL 37 NO 34 AUGUST 18 – AUGUST 24, 2018

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36 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Trump administration scrutinizing Chinese company’s stake in NY building

By NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The Wall Street Journal reported on Aug. 10 that the Trump administration has ordered Chinese conglomerate HNA Group Co. to sell its majority stake in a Manhattan building whose tenants include a police precinct tasked with protecting Trump Tower.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which reviews foreign investments to weigh whether they present national security concerns, informed HNA several months ago that it had to divest itself of its holding in the building.

But it didn’t give a reason why.

Congress approved expanded authority of CFIUS in August — giving more power over foreign real estate assets.

HNA acquired 850 Third Avenue before Donald Trump was elected president. One potential issue: the 21-story building located within a mile of Trump

Tower, houses the New York Police Department’s 17th precinct, whose duties include security for Trump Tower — which is the president’s base when he’s in New York.

HNA said it’s taking steps to address CFIUS’ concerns, without providing further detail.

Those issues didn’t exist when HNA bought the property, according to the company’s statement.

Last week, the New York Post reported that the Trump administration was poised to seize a majority stake in the building.

HNA denied the suggestion.

The scrutiny comes as tensions have risen between the United States and China. The Chinese government is said to have decided to help cash-strapped HNA pull itself out of recent liquidity challenges, Bloomberg reported.

The CFIUS wants HNA to set up a blind trust and transfer

Crazy Rich Asians » 7

On the Shelf »8

850 Third Avenue in New York.

PHOTO: COSTAR GROUP

see TRUMP on 13

Fred Yee » 10

Police chief Creating a level playing field ‘shaken’ after son accused of beating Sikh man SeaTac airport hosting national diversity conference

Screenshot from YouTube

Photo by Anthony Harris

By Zachariah Bryan NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Luis Navarro, Port Director of Social Responsibility; Dawn Hunter, Port Senior Manager of Airport Dining and Retail; Stephen P. Metruck, Port Executive Director; Courtney Gregoire, Port Commission President; Shannetta Griffin, AMAC Conference National Chairwoman; Lance Lyttle, Port Aviation Director; and Marcus Warren, Airport Disadvantaged Business Enterprise concessionaire, celebrated the upcoming AMAC conference at a reception earlier this year.

MANTECA, Calif. (AP) — A San Francisco Bay Area police chief said his family is “shaken to the core” after his son was arrested in the beating of a 71-year-old Sikh man.

Tyrone McAllister, 18, and a 16-year-old boy could face charges including attempted robbery, elder abuse and assault following the Aug. 6 attack in the city of Manteca. Police say they are investigating the attack as a robbery, not a hate crime, The Modesto Bee newspaper reported.

McAllister is the son of Union

■

City Police Chief Darryl McAllister, who wrote on Facebook that “words can barely describe how embarrassed, dejected, and hurt my wife, daughters, and I feel right now.”

The chief said his son began running away and getting into trouble about two years ago, committed several theft-related crimes and spent several months in juvenile detention. Later, as an adult, the younger McAllister spent another three months in jail, see MCALLISTER on 13

see NAVARRO on 15

Nail salon brawl leads to community protests

By NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

NEW YORK, NY – A video has been circulating on social media of a Black family (a daughter, her mother, and her grandmother) who was attacked by Asian nail salon workers. The incident occurred on Aug. 3 at the New Red Apple Nail Salon in Brooklyn, N.Y., after Christina Thomas, 21, told the salon owner that she was unhappy about the eyebrow treatment she received, and would pay for all other services see NAIL SALON on 12

Screenshot from YouTube

The victim (right) moments after he is knocked to the ground.

Next week, from Aug. 21 to 25, nearly 1,000 businesses, aviation professionals, government officials, and individuals from around the country will descend on The Westin hotel in Seattle for the 34th Annual Airport Business Diversity Conference.

The goal of the conference, which moves around the nation, is to provide “education, advocacy, and networking

Words were exchanged before the knock-down-drag-out fight ensued.

412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 • f. 206.223.0626 • info@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com

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36 YEARS

AUGUST 18 – AUGUST 24, 2018

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS

Governor Jay Inslee recently announced the following Boards and Commissions appointments.

Here are the AAPI appointments:

Lori Wada

Jannat Gargi

Kunal Walia

Thanh Kirkpatrick

Lori Wada as commissioner to the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA).

Wada immigrated to Washington from Seoul, South Korea when she was 18 years old. She holds a BA degree from St. Martin’s University.

Kunal Walia to the Dental Quality Assurance Commission. Walia graduated in 2007 from the University of Washington School of Dentistry.

Kathleena Ly as the student representative on The Evergreen State College Board of Trustees.

Kaitlyn Zhou as student member of the University of Washington Board of Regents.

Vijay Patel to new Washington Tourism Marketing Authority Board. Born in Uganda and educated in India,

Kathleena Ly

Ronald San Nicolas

Kaitlyn Zhou

Nirmala Gnanapragasam

Vijay Patel

Yanling Yu

Patel and his wife, Mita, founded their hotel company, A-1 Hospitality, in 1997.

Jannat Gargi as a member of Filmworks (Motion Picture Competitiveness Program) Board of Directors.

Gargi is the Head of Documentary Films for Paul G. Allen’s Vulcan Productions, producing and managing a suite of films and series, including Academy Awardnominated Body Team 12.

Thanh Kirkpatrick and Ronald San Nicolas to the Developmental Disabilities Council. Kirkpatrick is a graduate of the University of Vermont College of Medicine, and holds a Master of Public Health in Health Administration from Loma Linda University.

San Nicolas is a native Chamorro from Guam. He has served as a senior lecturer with St. Martin’s University and its social work program since 2008.

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Nirmala Gnanapragasam to the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

Gnanapragasam obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Moratuwa in Sri Lanka in 1985. She teaches the geotechnical engineering courses at Seattle University.

Yanling Yu to the Medical Quality Assurance Commission. Yu is the co-founder of Washington Advocates for Patient Safety (WAPS) and helped to get state law passed to increase the transparency of all the state medical boards.

Gregory Baruso to the Washington State Citizens Committee on Pipeline Safety. Baruso is the son of a Filipino immigrant and a captain with the Port of Seattle Fire Department. 

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SEPTEMBER 1-2, 12-8PM AMERICANA FESTIVAL AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL ON THE WATERFRONT

SEPTEMBER 14, 2-9PM SEPTEmber 15, 10AM-9PM Salmon Homecoming Celebration Presented by The Salmon Homecoming Alliance

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COME OUT AND PLAY ON THE WATERFRONT!

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

AUGUST 18 – AUGUST 24, 2018

3

Mayor announces team to help lead census efforts SEATTLE — In an effort to ensure a fair and accurate census accounting, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced the leadership of Seattle’s Census Task Force on Aug. 8.

Led by Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda and Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA) Executive Director Mahnaz Eshetu, the task force will be comprised of representatives from immigrant communities, organized labor, the education community, and other community organizations with members announced in the coming weeks.

Last month, a federal judge rejected the Trump Administration’s attempt to dismiss several elements of the multi-party lawsuit challenging the federal government’s intention to add a citizenship question to the U.S. 2020 Census.

“This administration continues with its unlawful attempts to push our immigrant and refugee communities further into the shadows and not be counted,” said Durkan.

“Seattle was the fastest growing city over the past decade and an accurate Census count is the only way our city will

receive much-needed resources.”

“The results of the 2020 Census will determine a myriad policy decisions, including funding for sufficient public health response and prevention programs, affordable housing funding, and economic development strategies,” said Mosqueda.

Eshetu said, “We have a growing number of refugees and immigrants in Seattle — it is certainly consequential to people’s voice that the Census represents a fair and accurate count of all populations that make up the fabric of our great city.”

The task force will meet bimonthly during the remainder of 2018 and throughout 2019, working in coordination with King County as they make sure all cities within the county are accurately counted.

In the lead up to the City’s Census preparation, City officials submitted public comment to the U.S. Department of Commerce, opposing the addition of a citizenship question on the 2020 census. In addition, the City of

Seattle was part of a lawsuit brought by a coalition of more than 30 Attorneys General, counties, cities, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors to block the administration from demanding citizenship information on the survey form.

In 2010, 20 percent of Seattle residents did not fill out their Census form, triggering an in-person visit from Census Bureau staff. Including the citizenship question on the survey could result in this number skyrocketing, endangering the accuracy and function of the Census itself, and placing undue burdens on our immigrant residents or residents from our communities of color.

In Seattle, immigrants account for almost 17 percent of the population. 21 percent speaks a language other than English at home and 129 languages are spoken in Seattle public schools. Between 2000 and 2014, Seattle’s immigrant population grew 20 percent compared to 14 percent for the overall population, and in 2014, approximately 4 percent of Seattle’s immigrant population was undocumented. 

Soldier killed in Afghanistan

Sgt. Reymund Rarogal Transfiguracion

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — The Army says a Green Beret from Joint Base LewisMcChord died from injuries sustained in an explosion while serving in Afghanistan on his fourth combat deployment.

The News Tribune reports 36-yearold Staff Sgt. Reymund Rarogal Transfiguracion was on patrol in Helmand province when he was wounded by an improvised explosive device on Aug 7.

Special Forces spokeswoman Beth Riordan wrote in a news release that Transfiguracion died on Aug. 12 in a civilian hospital in Germany.

Transfiguracion was assigned to the

■ NATIONAL NEWS

Chinese student at Virginia camp drowns in host family pool

ROANOKE, Va. (AP) — A teenager from China who was visiting Virginia to attend a summer camp has drowned in his host family’s backyard pool.

The Roanoke Times reported that 15-year-old Bolun Liang died earlier this month. The founder of Global Placement Strategies LLC, Rikky Mu, says Liang was in the area to attend a weeklong camp.

An incident report says Liang and another visiting student were playing in a Roanoke

County pool on Aug. 5.

It says the other student told authorities they were testing how long each could hold their breath underwater. It says the host dad saw Liang in the pool and pulled him out before performing CPR. Liang was taken to a hospital where he later died. A medical examiner ruled his death accidental.

The host family declined the newspaper’s request for comment. 

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3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) at JBLM. The soldier was born in Sarrat Ilocos Norte, Philippines, in 1982, and moved to Hawaii in 2001.

Transfiguracion was posthumously

promoted to sergeant first class and awarded a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal.

An investigation into Transfiguracion's death is ongoing. 

asianweekly northwest

4

AUGUST 18 – AUGUST 24, 2018

36 YEARS

■ NATIONAL NEWS

Police: Korean man stalked ex to Hawaii, Alaska, Connecticut BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — A Korean man accused of stalking his ex-girlfriend around the world has been arrested in Connecticut.

Bridgeport police officers say they arrested 61-year-old Kwak Kyu Dong on Aug. 8 while responding to a report of

a woman screaming in a bank parking lot.

The Connecticut Post reports the woman told authorities she was in an abusive relationship with Dong and she fled. She says he tracked her down in Hawaii, Alaska and Bridgeport, where she has a friend.

Wisconsin Hmong leader emphasizes cultural understanding

By LAUREN FRENCH THE LEADER-TELEGRAM EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (AP) — When Vincent Xiong was in college, one of his professors asked him a question he couldn’t answer.

“Who are Vincent Xiong you?’’ his professor asked.

Xiong casually replied, “I’m Vince.’’

His professor pressed further: “Yeah, but who are you? Do you know your culture, where your parents came from? Can you speak the language?

What religion do you practice?’’

Xiong has some memories of the Thai refugee camp in Nongkhai that was his home from ages 5 to 8 1/2 years old: the smell of sewage running down the middle of the street, expired fish for dinner, violence against women and other refugees who tried to cross the fence and fear.

But mostly, Xiong has memories of growing up in Oklahoma City and later Appleton, where his family was among the first Hmong families to arrive after fleeing Southeast Asia in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Xiong’s family was one of only two living in Oklahoma City when they arrived in December 1979.

As the eldest son in his family, Xiong began working at an early age to help his parents and siblings fight through poverty. As the years went on, Xiong adapted to U.S. culture, and his ability to speak Hmong and Thai slipped. He later went to University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie to study mental health counseling.

“After that conversation I had with (my professor), I struggled to identify who I was,’’ Xiong told The LeaderTelegram after reflecting on his upbringing in the U.S. “... I don’t want the kids nowadays to go through that.

I want them, as they grow up, to be able to say, ‘This is who I am, and this is who my parents are.’’’

Xiong hopes his new role as executive director of the Eau Claire

Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association will help make sure that happens. As he looks toward the association’s future, he sees education — for the young Hmong community and the Eau Claire community at large — as a powerful tool for understanding.

In his first couple of weeks, Xiong said, he’s working to put a stop to a high employee turnover rate and build a solid foundation. In the long run, he’d like to see the association hire an in-house counselor for Hmong community members who can’t speak English, add a human resources department and turn the agency into an educational culture center.

With plans for a larger location in the works, Xiong is starting with projects easily transferable.

In the current entryway to the Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association, visitors can see some physical evidence of the agency’s background and purpose.

But Xiong wants it to be obvious whenever someone walks into the building.

“From the moment you walk in the door, you can really see this is a Hmong agency because it has all these representations of what the Hmong culture is,’’ he said of his hopes for the organization’s building.

Some examples include displays of the clothing worn by cultural subdivisions of the Hmong people — such as White Hmong, Green Hmong and Striped Hmong — and traditional instruments such as the ncas, which is used for courtship.

Xiong is also excited to see profiles of local Hmong community members hanging in the association’s entryway.

The profiles would detail how those people survived the Vietnam War and what their transition to the U.S. was like so the younger Hmong generation and others in Eau Claire would have a better understanding of how older generations came to be in the U.S. With help from the Chippewa Valley Museum, that project is in motion.

“Both of our organizations sort see XIONG on 12

Police say Dong obtained her bank account information.

Dong is charged with stalking. It’s unclear if Dong has a lawyer who could respond to the allegations. 

Investors plan $10 million restoration to Chinatown building HONOLULU (AP) — A group of investors is planning a $10 million restoration to an iconic building in Honolulu’s historic Chinatown district that involves opening a restaurant and boutique hotel.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports details of the project were published last week in an environmental assessment by the state, outlining plans to restore and reuse the threestory Wo Fat building.

Mighty Wo Fat, a partnership led by Texas

real estate investor John Davenport and involving former University of Hawaii head football coach June Jones, is undertaking the project.

Plans for the 80-year-old building include a restaurant, bar, coffee bar and up to 24 hotel rooms. If a hotel isn’t viable, the rooms could become dormitory housing.

Depending on the progression of the plans, work could begin in April and completed by January 2020. 

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

AUGUST 18 – AUGUST 24, 2018

5

■ WORLD NEWS Tens of thousands rally for removal of US base off Okinawa

By MARI YAMAGUCHI ASSOCIATED PRESS TOKYO (AP) — Tens of thousands of protesters in Okinawa vowed to stop the planned relocation of a U.S military base, saying they want it off the southern Japanese island entirely.

Opponents of the relocation say the plan to move U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from a crowded neighborhood to a less populated coastal site would not only be an environmental debacle but also ignore local

wishes to remove the base.

About 70,000 people gathered on Aug. 11 at a park in the state capital of Naha under pouring rain ahead of an approaching typhoon and observed a moment of silence for Okinawa’s governor, Takeshi Onaga, who died on Aug. 8 of cancer.

Onaga, elected in 2014, had spearheaded opposition to the relocation and criticized the central government for ignoring the voices of Okinawans. He had filed lawsuits against the central government and said he planned to revoke a landfill permit issued by his predecessor that is

needed for construction of the new base.

Deputy Gov. Kiichiro Jahana, representing Onaga at the rally, said he will follow through with the revocation process as instructed by the governor and succeed his “strong determination and passion.’’

Okinawans are trying to block the government plan to start dumping soil into Henoko Bay within days to make a landfill for the new site of the Futenma base.

Environmental groups say construction at the bay risks see OKINAWA on 15

India lawmaker 2, including Chinese dresses as Hitler to tourist, killed in Kenya criticize prime minister hippo attacks NEW DELHI (AP) — An Indian lawmaker has appeared in Parliament dressed like Adolf Hitler with a toothbrush moustache and wearing a khaki coat with swastika symbols on his pocket and arm. His demand: More funds for the development of his state in southern India.

Naramalli Sivaprasad also raised his Naramalli Sivaprasad

see HITLER on 14

China sentences 6 in graduate exam cheating scheme BEIJING (AP) — Six people have been imprisoned for up to four years for their part in a scheme to cheat on China’s national graduate school exam, state media reported.

Exam takers were provided with wireless transmitters and receivers and told to read the questions out loud, according to the reports. Researchers off-site would

then find the answers in textbooks and read them to the test takers through their receivers.

Among those sentenced on Aug. 7 were two exam takers who helped recruit clients.

It wasn’t clear how much the cheaters paid for the service or what punishment

LONDON (AP) — A 9-year-old Indiaborn chess prodigy whose fight to stay in Britain drew international attention can remain in the country, the U.K. government said on Aug. 10.

Shreyas Royal, who came to Britain

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A Chinese tourist was attacked and killed by a hippo while taking pictures on the edge of Lake Naivasha in Kenya’s Rift Valley, just hours after a local fisherman was mauled to death in the same area, authorities said.

A second Chinese tourist was injured in

with his family when he was 3 years old, has competed internationally and came fourth in the World Cadets competition in Brazil last year. But his family faced having to leave the U.K. when his father’s work visa expires next month.

The English Chess Federation and see ROYAL on 13

the incident on the night of Aug. 11 and received treatment in the local hospital in Naivasha, 56 miles miles southeast of Nairobi, the Kenya Wildlife Service said in a statement.

In the same area, a Kenyan fisherman was attacked by another hippo a few miles from where the incident with the Chinese see HIPPO ATTACKS on 13

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AUGUST 18 – AUGUST 24, 2018

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR AUG

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CHINESE BOOKS SUMMER CLEARANCE Kinokuniya, 525 S. Weller St., Seattle 206-587-2477

16 HAPPY HOUR FOOD WALK Seattle’s ID District 4 p.m.

THEATER TAKEOVER: VIEWING OF CRAZY RICH ASIANS Lincoln Square Cinemas, 700 Bellevue Way N.E., 3rd Floor, Bellevue 7 p.m.

“QUEEN” BY MADHURI SHEKAR ACT Theatre, Seattle 7:30 p.m.

17 VOLUNTEER WITH GOODWILL TO KEEP THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN 700 Dearborn Pl. S., Seattle 1 p.m. signup.com/go/ADxThhP volunteer@ seattlegoodwill.org 206-860-5732

18 FREE MORNING TAI CHI Westlake Park 401 Pine St., Seattle 7:30 a.m.

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SAAFF SUMMER CINEMA, “ALLEGIANCE” Hing Hay Park, 423 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle 7:30 p.m.

LIVE ALOHA HAWAIIAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL Seattle Center 11 a.m.-7 p.m. seattlelivealohafestival. com

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BEACON HILL MEANINGFUL MOVIES El Centro de la Raza Centilia, 1660 Roberto Maestas Festival Street, Seattle 6:30 p.m. meaningfulmovies.org

PNWJETAA VOLUNTEERS: 2018 SEATTLE/KING COUNTY FREE CLINIC Key Arena 305 Harrison St., Seattle 5 a.m.

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CHILDREN’S SUMMER PARK ACTIVITIES Donnie Chin International Children’s Park, 700 S. Lane St., Seattle 1 p.m.

AAJA SEATTLE CHEF SHOWCASE 2018 The Collective Seattle, 400 Dexter Ave. N., Seattle 6 p.m.

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asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

■ AT THE MOVIES

Is Nick way too creepy-close to his mom?

(AND OTHER “CRAZY RICH ASIANS” THOUGHTS)



By Stacy Nguyen NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY “Crazy Rich Asians” is the first major Hollywood movie in 25 years to feature an all-Asian cast. (The last time this happened was in 1993 with “The Joy Luck Club.”) However, “Crazy Rich Asians” isn’t a serious cross-generational drama.

Rather, it is a glitzy, glamorous, fun, and unrepentant romantic comedy.

I was actually prepared to really dislike this movie but I ended up being pretty entertained by it. I was prepared to dislike this movie because I was raised

by Vietnamese immigrant refugees, and we agonize over paying retail for a can of soda — so I anticipated that watching crazy rich Asians drop some serious dollars on frivolous crap would give me a panic attack.

But you know, director Jon M. Chu is possibly the best thing about this movie. The movie was imbued with such lightness, rich color, and was just so beautiful to look at. The opulence and excess dripping off the upper echelons of Singapore’s elite felt fantastical and fairy tale-like. The fact that it didn’t feel “real” to me helped my mind move past the questions and hang-ups I had about inherited wealth.

“Crazy Rich Asians” is in part a fish-out-of-water story, in which New York economics professor, Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), is cajoled into going to her boyfriend Nick’s bff ’s wedding in Singapore. Nick (Henry Golding) never told Rachel that he is rich AF, so that’s weird — and when they arrive in Singapore, Rachel spends the first half of the movie getting smacked in the face by money. This part of the movie was delightful and had lots of jokes, many of which were delivered by Rachel’s new moneyed friend from college, Peik Lin (played by rising star Awkwafina).

It’s when the movie started to settle into well-worn romantic comedy tropes that it started to drag for me. Perhaps the second half of the movie dragged for me because I lacked an emotional investment in whether Rachel was ever going to win enough approval from Nick’s mother (Michelle Yeoh) in order to score an engagement ring from Nick. I didn’t understand why this hotshot game theory economics professor and her super handsome and impossibly-perfect-tothe-point-of-bland boyfriend never even talked about marriage or his insane wealth or their views and stances on filial piety, before the movie became about whether or not he will pop the question, whether or not she will say yes, and whether or not his mother will let them. And why is this perfect guy so weirdly close to his super controlling mother that he would take off

his shirt and let her dress him alone in his old childhood bedroom? Is this a red flag or what? Was I the only one that was like, WHOA! Maybe I’m being too American about stuff like that. That was also a theme in the movie: American individualism and the American pursuit of individual happiness versus Asian self-sacrifice and Asian collectivism at the altar of family.

You know, I grew up on romantic comedies, and I think I was messed up a bit by that. I’ve spent a fair bit of my adult life trying to unprogram what ended up being problematic ideas on what relationships are all about — ideas that I picked up from romantic comedies. These are ideas like: Men save women, men chase women, women are supposed to be caught, only incredibly conventionally handsome men are heroic, and everyone not beautiful or handsome is a side character whose life story isn’t that important, comparatively. (Incidentally, I thought that every secondary or tertiary character’s story in “Crazy Rich Asians” was a million times more interesting than the two protagonists’ journey.)

I wonder how “Crazy Rich Asians” and the similar films that are sure to follow will influence young kids — particular young girls today. With where our society currently is, with all of the ongoing conversations around #MeToo and gender equity in general — there were aspects of the “Crazy Rich Asians” narrative that felt a little old-fashioned and conservative to me. I get that it’s a romantic comedy, harkening back to the golden era of romantic comedies — but I’m asking, have we moved beyond idealizing certain tropes?

In hindsight, I think I was perversely lucky that all the romantic comedies I grew up on featured white people because that was a barrier to over-identifying with the characters. Like, Meg Ryan is great, but I will never in my life ever own an independent bookstore that is on the verge of financial collapse because my almostboyfriend Tom Hanks is trying to woo me by destroying my livelihood and forcing me to let go of my employees. Like, as an Vietnamese American daughter, that would never be my problem.

But the beautiful faces in “Crazy Rich Asians” are so easy to latch onto and identify with for Asian Americans. Of course representation is important, but I still wonder how movies like this will end up influencing the way that Asian girls and young women view relationships. Who knows? Maybe they are all smarter than me and can like, differentiate between reality and fiction.  Stacy Nguyen can be reached at stacy@nwasianweekly.com.

AUGUST 18 – AUGUST 24, 2018

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asianweekly northwest

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36 YEARS

AUGUST 18 – AUGUST 24, 2018

■ ON THE SHELF

Questioning the status quo Book recommendations

By Samantha Pak NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Go

By Kazuki Kaneshiro, translated by Takami Nieda AmazonCrossing, 2018 As a Korean student attending a Japanese high school, Sugihara has been in (and won) his fair share of fights with bullies who have targeted him for his ethnicity.

But then he falls in love with Sakurai, a Japanese girl from another school. And nothing has prepared him for the trials and tribulations that come with young love.

And as the young couple grows closer over their love for classical music and foreign music, Sugihara continues to put off telling Sakurai the truth about his background.

He reaches the moment of truth after a personal tragedy and is forced to tell Sakurai that he is Korean. As expected, she doesn’t take Sugihara’s confession well.

While Sakurai has to come to grips with her biases and prejudices, Sugihara has to decide what his next steps in life will be.

“Go” is a coming-of-age story filled with many of the staples of the genre: love, loss, and the growing pains that come with trying to figure out who you want to be. But there’s also racial and ethnic discrimination thrown in for good measure. The characters must confront their own biases and the

preconceived notions they have about those who are different, especially once they have gotten to know the individuals in question — something we can all keep in mind.

Kaneshiro, through Nieda’s translations, does a great job of capturing the ups and downs of adolescence. Whether it’s Sugihara’s relationship with Sakurai, the uncertainty he feels about his future, or his relationship with his parents, we see that no matter where you are in the world, there

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are just some things that never change for teenagers. And in a society where so many are so focused on what makes us different, “Go” proves that we really are not that different.

Wildlings

By Eleanor Glewwe Viking, 2016 As the daughter of an important ambassador in the country of Atsani, Rivka is

part of the magical elite. And when her father is appointed as ambassador to the nearby country of Ashara, it is all Rivka can do to contain her excitement.

This is because she harbors a deep secret: She once had a twin brother, Arik, who was placed with another family after he failed to develop magical abilities. For four years, all she has ever wanted was to be reunited with see SHELF on 12

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

AUGUST 18 – AUGUST 24, 2018

9

Kristen Bell narrates cuddly IMAX documentary ‘Pandas’

By LINDSEY BAHR AP FILM WRITER

Kristen Bell

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Anyone who has seen Kristen Bell break down in (happy) hysterics over a sloth knows the actress’ affinity for animals, especially those of the cute and cuddly variety. So when the people behind the new IMAX original film “Pandas’’ asked “The Good Place’’ star if she would consider narrating the documentary, it was a no-brainer.

“I’m not un-secretive about the fact that I’m an animal lover, or an IMAX lover to be totally honest with you,’’ Bell said. “I think they produce some of the best content out there and

I take my kids to the science center every time there’s a new IMAX movie. I just think the patience with which they produce particularly their animal documentaries is kind of astounding.’’

“Pandas,’’ from David Douglas and Drew Fellman (’’Born to Be Wild’’ and “Island of Lemurs: Madagascar’’), takes audiences to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in China where scientists are working toward a goal of releasing captive-born pandas into the wild, where only about 2,000 remaining pandas live.

The film, in wide release as of Aug. 17, focuses in on one, Qian Qian (pronounced Chen Chen), from cub stage to her supervised release in the wild and the humans trying to make that happen. Hou Rong, the director of research at Panda Base since 1994, has raised over 200 baby pandas during her tenure and hopes that one day their work will help pandas thrive outside of captivity.

In an inspiring display of crosscultural solidarity, she travels to New Hampshire to observe how a man named Ben Kilham has for 20 years been successfully raising orphaned black bear cubs for eventual release

in the wild. At Kilham’s suggestion, Panda Base hires American conservation biologist Jake Owens, whom Douglas calls “the Indiana Jones of biologists’’ to help supervise Qian Qian’s transition from city panda to country panda.

Bell, who got involved later in the process, didn’t get to meet the

pandas but hopes that one day she will. But that didn’t stop her from peppering the scientists like Owens with questions, like how much do they weigh (’’150 pounds’’), how much do they feel like they weigh (’’about 300 pounds’’) and what do they smell like (’’sweet grass and milk’’)?

An avid watcher of nature documentaries, Bell said that she and her young daughters Lincoln and Delta particularly love David Attenborough and the “Planet Earth’’ series. The girls saw an early cut of “Pandas’’ and “loved it,’’ see PANDAS on 13

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Ship Canal 101 Sept. 12

The Lake Washington Ship Canal is a bustling center of maritime activity. Learn about the many diverse maritime industry businesses and support services that make Seattle a thriving hub for commercial fishing, boat repair and maintenance, and transportation between Alaska and the Lower 48 states.

Airport 101 Sept. 20

Learn about important projects that will help accommodate the growing regional demand at SeaTac: the new International Arrivals Facility, the modernization of the North Satellite, and the master planning effort to meet growth objectives in a sustainable manner. And meet the dogs who keep the airport safe for travelers.

Cargo 101 Sept. 27

Tour Terminal 18 and learn about how cargo moves from ship to truck to train.

Hear longshore workers and stevedores describe their roles in the supply chain and visit the BNSF intermodal rail yard to see how shipping containers move between the port and the interior of the country.

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asianweekly northwest

10

36 YEARS

AUGUST 18 – AUGUST 24, 2018

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

Photo by George Liu

Photo by George Liu

Wishing there were 1,000 Fred Yees

Friends supporting Fred being honored at the Northwest Asian Weekly’s Life Achievement Award in 2014.

Fred Yee with his family when he received Northwest Asian Weekly’s Life Achievement Award in 2014.

From left: Wife Clara, son Alexander, daughter-in-law Meesha Mary Stenson, daughter Andrea, and son-in-law Jonathan Glass

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Fred Yee’s ordinary yet gentle face could be deceiving. Unless you worked with him, you didn’t see his beautiful personality and extraordinary community spirit.

Yee died at his home on Aug. 7 after a sudden heart attack. He was 67 years old.

I was one of his friends and beneficiaries.

We met at the University of Washington in the early 1970s. His major was geology. He convinced me to take Geology 101 to fulfill my elective requirement, and even tutored me when I got stuck.

Ironically, his whole career had nothing to do with rocks, and everything he did was connected to his devotion and passion for the community. Yee’s interests had always been about giving. There are different kinds of volunteering. For Yee, it was hands-on, whatever it takes to fulfill a community goal by creating meaningful assets for the community. I have met quite a few volunteers of different organizations — all pointed to the fact that Yee recruited them personally, just like he recruited me to be in the geology class.

When Yee immersed into something, he was all in. That’s how deep his passion was for the community. That’s how he spent his spare time — recruiting others to do good. His means were never through protests or tearing up someone’s dignity. His style was personal — lending a hand whenever he could.

As one of the founding members of the Chinese Information and Service Center (CISC) during his college years, Yee was critical to the organization’s existence. He was the strongest vocal advocate to transform CISC from a volunteer-based organization to a professional nonprofit agency. I was at that meeting more than three decades ago. His support for CISC instantly gave credibility to the organization when many Chinese community members accused CISC of being a leftist group. It was unheard of and unthinkable that young people would volunteer to help immigrant seniors, according to some Chinatown leaders who questioned the volunteers’ real motive. But Yee was no stranger in the community. He was a sixthgeneration Chinese American who came to the United States in 1969. He had deep roots in Chinatown, and his dad, George Yee, was a partner of the Wah Young Company, an

established grocery store which was located on the storefront of the current Wing Luke Asian Museum. Old timers complained about CISC in front of Yee. “It’s left-wing.” Yee replied, “I am a CISC volunteer.” Quickly, rumors and gossips subsided.

Yee’s social work expanded. He went from working in a nursing home to becoming a minorities’ health administrator for the federal government. He had a three-year stint as the Kin On Health Services CEO, when former CEO Sam Wan took a sabbatical.

Always, Yee chimed in when someone asked for his help.

Yee’s generosity

Many Asian community members would rather give time than money. Yee gave both.

Although Yee was not rich, he never said no to friends and community donations. Anytime someone asked for help, his response was,

“Yes, I can.”

Yee was one of the major forces who pushed for and raised money for the Yee Fung Toy Family Association to own its own headquarters on Beacon Hill. He even encouraged the Yees to participate in the annual Seafair Chinatown Parade.

His sister, Hoyping, said Yee paid for all her family members’ plane tickets when they immigrated to the United States.

He organized ping pong programs for the International District Chinatown Community Center and Kin On. Those programs still continue to this day. When the Chinese American Citizens Alliance (CACA) and Organization of Chinese Americans needed help for events, including the CACA national convention, he played a big role. Often, he was a captain table for many community events. Many times, his goal was to fill two tables, not just one. The number of Asian community events had increased several times over the years, and he would attend

From left, Fred Yee, Alan Yee, Bettie Yee, Peter Yee, and Gong Yee at the 25th National Yee Fung Toy Family Convention in 2015.

them if he was not traveling. As actor Woody Allen said: 80 percent of success is showing up.

In 1995, former governor Gary Locke was running for the seat, and I told him about Locke’s fundraising event. “Do you want to support this?” I asked Yee. In a heartbeat, he said yes without asking questions. It was $300 see BLOG on 14

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

■ COMMENTARY

AUGUST 18 – AUGUST 24, 2018

11

Why I’m excited about Crazy Rich Asians

By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

It’s one of the most highly anticipated films of the summer — especially if you’re Asian. For me, it’s not because it’s the first Asian-led studio film to hit theaters since The Joy Luck Club. It’s not just because people are calling it a landmark moment for Asian Americans in Hollywood.

I grew up in Asia and while there were American shows on TV, there were also locally-produced shows and I never wondered why the people on TV didn’t look like me.

For me, this movie is special because of one of the leads, newcomer Henry Golding, who plays Nick Young.

When talk show host Ellen DeGeneres asked, “So where are you from?”

Golding answered, “I’m Iban — I’m half Malaysian and half British.”

Google “Iban,” and the first few results are for International Bank Account Number (IBAN).

Google “Iban tribe,”... now we’re getting somewhere.

The Iban, or Sea Dayaks, are the largest indigenous group in Sarawak — a Malaysian state on the island of

Henry Golding and Constance Wu on the Ellen show

Borneo.

When people (mostly other Asians) want to know what type of Asian I am, I’ve never answered “Iban” — unless it was another Malaysian asking, because it was too long of an explanation. I often get mistaken for Filipino, Vietnamese, sometimes Pacific Islander. Complete strangers will go down the list of all types of Asians and never come to

“Iban.” After numerous guesses, I usually stop them and say, “I’m from Malaysia,” and leave it at that.

Because most of the world doesn’t know what “Iban” is.

Not even Asians.

And that’s why I’m excited.

Henry Golding is a relative unknown now. But that is about to change.

Golding is a fully-trained hairstylist, actor, model, and television host. He has been a presenter on BBC’s The Travel Show since 2014.

Now he’s on the silver screen, on the international stage, sharing the limelight with internationally known stars such as Michelle Yeoh (who is also Malaysian, by the way).

And from now on, my answer to the question of my ethnic background will be, “Iban. You know, like that guy on Crazy Rich Asians.”

Finally, the world will learn more about this little-known and very fascinating tribe that is part of my heritage.  Ruth can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

■ GUEST EDITORIAL

No excuse for fake news rhetoric

By Fred Obee EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WASHINGTON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION

The plight of a grieving orca who continues to carry her dead calf for weeks is reported by the Seattle Times.

The Spokane Spokesman-Review lets people know for the first time the Legislature is forming a task force to exempt lawmakers from portions of the Public Records Act. The Columbia Basin Herald in Moses Lake warns that air quality for the county fair may be unhealthy because of wildfire smoke pollution. The Omak County Chronicle reports that Wally Richards is this year’s Omak Stampede grand marshal. The Nisqually Valley News in Yelm tells its readers where ballot drop boxes will be located so they can participate in the primary election. In the Port Townsend Leader, we learn about firefighter Reece Chambers and ways the community can support his family following his heart transplant.

These stories and many more all appeared recently in the pages of newspapers across Washington State as they chronicled the history of the communities they serve. For more than a century, they have informed, celebrated and lamented the good and bad of the schools, governments

and people in their coverage area.

And these are the enemy of the people? This is fake news?

Of course not.

Yet in one way or another all journalists are being tossed into the anti-media waters being chummed by President Trump and others.

I do not write today to choose sides on the right or left of national politics. Instead, I write today on behalf of the more than 80 newspapers of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association as we join others across the nation in defense of our profession.

We witnessed President Trump’s June 27 rally in Fargo when he, throughout the course of an hour, taunted the media seven times, inciting jeers from the audience. This month at a rally in Pennsylvania, he pointed at reporters and called them “horrible, horrendous people.”

“They can make anything bad, because they are fake, fake disgusting news,” he said.

During a speech at a VFW event in Missouri, the president said that what Americans are reading “is not really happening.”

Even the VFW winced, saying it was “disappointed to hear some of our members boo the press. We rely on the media to help spread the VFW’s message. … We were

happy to have them there.”

Yet some people believe the president and, unfortunately, the ugly rhetoric is sifting downward, settling even on small newspapers.

Yes, even in Washington State, newspapers are being called “fake news” by candidates, public servants and the people we cover as they seek to discredit news reports and create their own smokescreens in the face of news coverage they see as critical of themselves or their political beliefs.

Do not fall for it.

Newspapers are the first to admit they are not perfect, but on all levels they are serious about what they see as their core roles: documenting the daily and weekly history of our towns and serving as watchdogs to protect the public interest. If President Trump wants to dispute the criticism he gets from the press, he should try countering with facts and well-supported arguments that support his policies instead of spewing unfair and dangerous rhetoric from a rally podium.

Our free press supports the rights of people expressing every imaginable political viewpoint. It’s not fake. It is very real and it’s time our President recognized and supported this very basic and central concept of our democracy. 

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received for C01280C18, 2018-2019 Mechanical Construction Work Order; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 1:30 PM on 8/28/2018. Late bids will not be accepted.

Scope of Work: Work Orders will be issued for commercial and HVAC repairs, replacements and modifications, plumbing, equipment installation, tenant and safety improvements, fire alarm systems, fire sprinklers, related trades, and associated subcontractors. The work will take place in secured detention sites, office buildings, courthouses, public health clinics, Sheriff precincts, emergency management facilities, etc. Secure facilities will require comprehensive background checks for all personnel accessing the facility.

Not-To-Exceed contract price: $500,000.

The Contractor shall ensure that at least 5% of the total price for all executed Work Orders shall be performed by King County Certified Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS) firms over the life of the 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

asianweekly northwest

12

AUGUST 18 – AUGUST 24, 2018

XIONG from 4 of realized that you can’t really go anywhere in town to learn more about Hmong history and culture right now,’’ said Liz Reuter, an archivist at the museum.

The museum applied for funding from the Wisconsin Arts Board in January and received $5,400. With that money, the museum is bringing a folklorist from Madison to interview Hmong community members. Reuter said after the interview phase is over, the museum will begin producing a display for the association and an online exhibit, both of which she hopes to launch next spring.

“I think it’s important for folks regardless of their personal heritage to know more about their neighbors,’’ Reuter said of the project’s importance.

Xiong said he’s also working with the museum to have some display cases made for traditional Hmong artifacts.

The Eau Claire school district has increased its inclusion of Hmong history and culture in its programming over the last year, including an elementary school language club for Hmong speakers, an upcoming high school history course and a language/culture hybrid summer program.

The summer program wrapped up earlier this month.

The group of about 16 students with varying knowledge of Hmong language and culture prepared a speech in

SHELF from 8 her twin. So when she and her father arrive in the country where he now lives, Rivka immediately begins her search for Arik — all without alerting her father, who has told her to forget about her twin.

“Wildlings” is a story about being brushed aside and underestimated — and thriving not only in spite of all that, but because of it. As teenagers, Rivka and the new friends she makes in Ashara, who help her in her search, refuse to be dismissed just because of their age. If anything, they use this to their advantage while they work towards their goal.

Although “Wildlings” takes place in a fictional land, Glewwe, who is half Chinese, touches on the universal themes of societal prejudice and biases, and what it takes to overcome this and change people’s minds. The story takes place in the same universe as Glewwe’s debut novel, “Sparkers,” which has similar themes relating to social justice (and now that I know that story came first, I’m going to have to add it to my to-read list).

Glewwe also touches on the strength of the love between siblings, which is a unique bond. Rivka is willing to risk everything — from her father to her freedom not only to

NAIL SALON from 1 except for the $5 brow treatment.

The situation quickly escalated into chaos when Thomas delivered a blow to a nail salon worker, Huiyue Zheng. The video shows the Asian nail salon workers fighting back — grabbing on to her tank top straps as an attempt to hold her down. One worker is seen spraying her with a bottle of acetone nail polish remover. Another is seen repeatedly beating Thomas’ back with a broom as she flees the salon. There is even a lady who attempts to throw a chair at her. Thomas and Zheng have both been charged with assault.

Perceived as an act of racist brutality, protesters gathered in front of the nail salon on Aug. 6, urging neighborhood residents to boycott the business. “Black $$$ Matter,” one sign read.

The nail salon is located in East Flatbush, a neighborhood in Brooklyn that is 86 percent Black and 1 percent Asian, according to Census data.

The New York chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) released a statement on Aug. 11 saying it condemns this act of violence.

“We reiterate and reaffirm our opposition to anti-Black violence and racism, especially within the Asian American community. We call on both communities, as well as all communities of color, to unite and work towards promoting an interactive dialogue between our communities through organizations and individuals.” The statement goes on to say, “We hope that as a result, we can

36 YEARS

Hmong, which Xiong and the students’ parents watched with enthusiasm.

“With the language and culture class, I don’t expect them to go out and be a translator,’’ Xiong said from his secondfloor office, pointing to the floor below him where students were preparing for their final presentation. “But at least they have those tools. At least, when they buddy up with their Hmong friends, they can say, ‘Hey, I know a little bit of that culture.’’’

Xiong mentioned that he hopes the association could become a stronger educational resource for Eau Claire schools inside the classroom and out. The association could become a field trip location, he said, to reference artifacts and stories of Hmong community members.

Outside the school, Xiong noted, Hmong parents could use some communication services, especially when it comes to accompanying their kids to school events such as parentteacher conferences.

Joe Luginbill, Eau Claire school board president, said he sees the association as a key partner for cultural education.

“I strongly believe that the Hmong Association and its community members play a key role in educating, inspiring and uplifting the next generation of learners and leaders,’’ Luginbill said. “I am excited that Vincent shares in that vision.’’

Xiong hopes the association’s future plays a role in helping young people especially.

“In the Hmong community, our youth, we are forgotten,’’ he said. “A large percentage of them don’t know what their parents went through or what the culture really consists of. So if I make those visible where they can actually come and see it, they can tie it together and have a better understanding of what their parents went through and got them to where they are today.’’ 

see Arik again, but to be able to be seen with him in public without fear or repercussions.

This is a story about how it doesn’t matter how old or young you are. You can still make a difference if you want it enough — something we can all do well to remember.

Jaewon earns Tera’s respect. That respect turns into love, causing Jaewon to question a regime that has no qualms about creating weapons out of humans. At the same time, there are rumors of a rebellion and with his new uncertainty regarding the Republic, Jaewon must pick a side.

“Rebel Seoul” is a science fiction novel — a genre I don’t normally delve into — but take away the robots and secret experiments, and you have a story with characters trying to do what they believe is right, even if this means undermining authority figures and societal norms. Jaewon’s questioning of how things are serves as a reminder to readers that just because things are a certain way, doesn’t mean that’s how they should be or that things can’t change.

Although “Rebel Seoul” is intended for young adult readers, Oh does a great job of appealing to readers of all ages. Jaewon is a great protagonist with a complicated story and Tera is more than just an experiment. Her human side shines through, showing readers glimpses of who she used to be. 

Rebel Seoul

By Axie Oh Tu Books, 2017

In East Asia 2199, a great war has left the East Pacific in ruins. In Neo Seoul, status is based on one’s success in combat and ex-gang member Lee Jaewon is a talented pilot rising in the academy ranks. Having been abandoned as a child in the slums of Old Seoul by a rebel father, all Jaewon wants is to escape his past.

Jaewon is soon recruited into a weapons development division and he is eager to prove himself to claim military glory. But it gets complicated when he meets Tera, a test subject for a government super soldier project. Tera has been trained to pilot a robot for a never-ending war, and Jaewon becomes her partner and is secretly ordered to report on her.

Things don’t start out smoothly, but as time passes,

find common ground within these complex cultural issues in the fight for racial and social justice for all marginalized communities.”

JACL said Asian American and Black communities have historically had tensions, specifically due to the model

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minority myth that pitted them against each other since the 1960s. But there is also a long history of solidarity between the two communities in the fight for equal justice and civil liberties for communities of color.

“It is crucial we recognize that many of the privileges and benefits that we enjoy

today as Asian Americans are owed to the Black-led fight for civil rights and to our Black brothers and sisters,” said JACL.  Staff can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

AUGUST 18 – AUGUST 24, 2018

■ ASTROLOGY

13

Predictions and advice for the week of August 18–24, 2018

By Sun Lee Chang

Rat — You would prefer to make your own way rather than be told what to do, but do consider the advice of those who have your best interest at heart.

Dragon — Are you trying to understand something that doesn’t quite make sense? Likely, there is a piece of the puzzle that you are missing.

Ox — Resist the urge to jump in and finish a task for someone else. Refraining will show that you have confidence in their ability to do it themselves.

Snake — Do you have mixed feelings about an upcoming gathering? Focus on the positive aspects of the meeting, which should help to quell your hesitation.

Tiger — Have you crossed a boundary without actually meaning to? Acknowledge that you have made a mistake, and move on from it.

Horse — Whether it be praise or criticism, you must not let it define you. You have the ability to set the terms as you see fit.

Rabbit — A step in the right direction could mean that you are going away from something else. Don’t be afraid to leave behind what is no longer necessary.

Goat — An all too familiar pattern is setting in. Once you recognize it, you must decide whether to break free.

Monkey — You had to do some digging, but you have found what you are looking for. Before you get too excited, figure out if there are any strings attached.

Rooster — Are you getting pushback from a surprising source? Opening the lines of communication should help to ease the resistance.

Dog — While your interest was strong at first, is it now waning a bit? Perhaps the current motivation simply isn’t enough — try introducing a new incentive.

Pig — Throwing together too many different elements could cause some conflict. Be selective about what you choose to bring in.

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.

MCALLISTER from 1 his father said.

“Violence and hatred is not what we have taught our children; intolerance for others is not even in our vocabulary, let alone our values,” he wrote. “Crime has never been an element of our household, our values, nor the character to which we hold ourselves.”

Police said Sahib Singh, who doesn’t speak English, was attacked while walking on a sidewalk next to a park in Manteca, about 40 miles northeast of Union City,

HIPPO ATTACKS from 5 occurred, a police official said.

“The man was bitten on the chest and his injuries were serious and he died minutes after he was retrieved from the lake,’’ said Rift Valley Head of Criminal investigations

authorities said.

Surveillance video shows two people in hoodies approach him. Singh appears to try to walk away, but they confront him and he puts his hands up.

The two appear to talk him briefly before one kicks him in the chest, knocking him to the ground. His turban falls off. He gets up and appears to be trying to defend himself when one of the attackers kicks him again, knocking him down. Singh is kicked several more times, and an attacker spits on him before leaving.

Singh suffered minor injuries, police said.

McAllister said he and his wife worked with Manteca police to help track down his son, who now could face felony charges and prison time.

The attack was the second on a Sikh man in a week in central California.

The week prior, two men beat a man in the community of Keyes and spray-painted a neo-Nazi symbol on his truck in what police are treating as a hate crime.

Surjit Malhi said he was putting up campaign signs for local Republicans when two men ambushed him. 

Gideon Kibunja.

The deaths brought to six the number people who have been killed by hippos around Lake Naivasha so far this year.

Wildlife service spokesman Paul Udoto said the circumstances are not clear in which the two Chinese were

attacked. He said attacks on tourists are rare because they are usually protected by guides.

He said hippos and lone buffalos pose the greatest danger to humans and there have been many attacks in which civilians and even rangers have lost their lives. 

CHEATING from 5

ROYAL from 5

they received, although permanent disqualification from the exams is the usual sanction in such cases.

The six defendants were sentenced to between 20 months and four years and fined up to 40,000 yuan ($5,900). They could have faced as much as seven years in prison under a 2015 amendment to the law.

Exam scores make up the overwhelming preponderance of criteria for acceptance in the Chinese education system from early education onward. 

two lawmakers had appealed to Home Secretary Sajid Javid to let the family stay, saying Shreyas was the U.K.’s greatest chess talent in a generation and had lived in the country most of his life.

Javid said that, “after carefully reviewing the evidence, I have taken the personal decision to allow Shreyas and his family to stay in the U.K.’’ “We have always been clear we want a world-class immigration system that welcomes highly talented individuals from across the globe,’’ he said.

The boy’s father, Jitendra Singh, said Shreyas “jumped on the sofa and started dancing’’ when he heard the news.

He said the decision was “such a relief for us.’’

“Yesterday we were packing to leave, we thought we had to go,’’ said Singh, an IT project manager.

London’s Battersea Chess Club, where Shreyas plays, thanked supporters and said the young chess player had “a big future ahead of him on the world stage, hopefully

TRUMP from 1 its stake in the building to the trust that has its own board of directors, which have a fiduciary duty to the trust, not to HNA. HNA is now in talks with potential buyers interested in the building to abide by the CFIUS order, though it was not given a deadline to sell. 

PANDAS from 9 which makes Bell all the more excited for additional kids and families to experience “Pandas,’’ too.

“It’s inspiring the next crop of biologists and conservationists,’’ she said.

She thinks the film will connect beyond animal die-hards, too.

“It makes you feel good,’’ Bell said. “It’s inspiring, it’s beautiful, it’s adorable, it’s educational and personally I think currently the world could use more things that feel good, you know?’’ 

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representing England.’’

Immigration is a divisive issue in Britain, and reducing the number of newcomers was a major factor for many voters who in 2016 backed leaving the European Union.

The Conservative government says it wants Britain to remain open to global talent, but has tightened policies in recent years in a bid to create a “hostile environment’’ for illegal immigration.

Critics say many legal immigrants to Britain have suffered as a result of excessive bureaucracy and harsh decisions. Earlier this year it was revealed that hundreds of legal long-term residents from the Caribbean had been refused medical care or threatened with deportation because they could not produce paperwork to prove their right to remain in the U.K. Javid, who was appointed in April after the migration scandal felled his predecessor, has said the term “hostile environment’’ “does not represent our values as a country.’’ 

asianweekly northwest

14

AUGUST 18 – AUGUST 24, 2018

HITLER from 5 hand in a Nazi salute for the media on Aug. 9. His appearance did not trigger any protests from legislators.

He said he wanted to send a message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to follow Hitler. He complained that Modi had gone back on a promise to provide extra funds for his Andhra Pradesh state.

“He does not get the pulse of what people want and I

want to urge him to not be like him (Hitler),’’ he said.

Modi’s government denies the charge.

In protest, Sivaprasad’s powerful regional group, the Telugu Desam Party, broke its alliance with the Modi government in March. It also unsuccessfully tried to bring down the government through a no-confidence motion last month in Parliament.

Sivaprasad, a 67-year-old former film actor, has previously dressed as a farmer, a cattle herder, a Muslim

BLOG from 10 per person. At the time, it was considered a lot of money, when folks in the Asian community were comfortable with writing checks for $100 or under.

Yee’s hardship

36 YEARS

Yee was a single father, after his first wife Amy died of cancer in 2000 and before he married Clara. He raised successful kids — his daughter is a school teacher and his son is an engineer. The last time I talked to him was when he celebrated the 100th day of his first grandson with friends at a restaurant two months ago.

“Your grandson is so much more handsome than you or your son,” I teased him.

“That’s our wish, isn’t it?” Yee replied. The guy always spoke from his heart.

One of Yee’s characteristics was his voice, often carrying a rhythmic laugh. He loved to laugh and sing. He met with his

cleric and a woman to press different issues.

Hitler remains a figure of fascination in India, where the Holocaust is not well known, and is widely seen more as a strong leader than a genocidal dictator. His book, “Mein Kampf,’’ can be found in many bookstores, and bootleg copies are regularly sold in the streets of New Delhi and other large cities. 

karaoke friends regularly. Once, I told him, “Fred, your singing, no good.” Not only did he not get upset, he said, “I know.” Only real friends can speak the truth to one another.

Yee represented the best side of humanity. If there were any flaws with Yee, it would be his craving for junk food. After his first heart attack a decade ago, he had not been diligently following good dietary habits. In fact, one time, I stopped him from nibbling crispy snacks excessively at his house. Perhaps, his appetite for unhealthy food contributed to his heart attack.

I miss my friend Fred, a wonderful human being whose life was cut short! I wish there were 1,000 more Fred Yees in our community — someone to carry his torch! 

SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 6.

Fred Yee’s celebration of life will be held on Aug. 25 at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 8501 SE 40th St., Mercer Island.

Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

Have a story idea that you think would fit perfectly in Northwest Asian Weekly?

We want to know about it. Send it to us at info@nwasianweekly.c om.

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YOUR VOICE

15

Photos by Flyright Productions.

AUGUST 18 – AUGUST 24, 2018

Sea-Tac Airport Concessions Opportunities Summit, 13 January 2017.

NAVARRO from 1 opportunities that promote diversity and inclusion in airports,” according to an event description.

This year, the Port of Seattle’s Director of Social Responsibility Luis Navarro and Dawn Hunter, senior manager of SeaTac International Airport’s dining and retail, will serve as the local chairs and hosts for the event.

The conference comes at an opportune time. The airport has been criticized in the past for not being diverse enough, but with some key changes, Navarro and Hunter believe it has corrected course.

Navarro said Hunter, who is Black, and Airport Managing Director Lance Lyttle, who is Jamaican American, are helping to create “a shift in what has traditionally been white male-dominated leadership in airports.”

This is largely due to their commitment to outreach with minority communities.

While the airport has attempted outreach in the past, it wasn’t done with as much intentionality or with much knowledge of what people needed to hear from leaders.

Even though the airport hired Lyttle in 2015 and Hunter just last year, it is already seeing more involvement from minorityand women-owned businesses.

“When you have people like Dawn making the process a little more understandable and real, the result is … increase in participation, interest, and real businesses being contracted,” Navarro said.

The conference will be a continuation of that work, both on the national and local level. While it has all of your typical conference mainstays — breakfasts and lunches, a golf game, an awards ceremony — it will also work toward promoting diversity.

OKINAWA from 5 corals and endangered dugongs.

The protesters held up signs saying “Henoko new base, NO!’’ and “Okinawans will not give up,’’ as they chanted slogans.

They also adopted a resolution demanding the central government to immediately scrap the relocation plan.

Japan’s government says the current plan is the only solution, but many Okinawans want the base off the island.

About half of the 50,000 American troops in Japan are stationed on Okinawa.

Onaga had said Tokyo’s postwar defense posture under the Japan-U.S. security alliance was built on Okinawa’s sacrifice.

The dispute over the Futenma relocation reflects centuries-old tensions between

Business owners will talk about their mistakes and successes and women aviation leaders will describe how they climbed through the ranks. There will be workshops on what to know before signing a contract, improving applications, technology, executive coaching, and various government programs. And 100 local high schoolers will be introduced to the aviation business and will get to talk to aviation leaders.

SeaTac International Airport sets an aspirational example for the aviation leaders coming to the event.

Right now, women- and minority-owned businesses are contributing 21 percent of the total revenue from airport concessions (up from 19.6 percent in 2011), nearly meeting a goal of 22 percent set by the Federal Aviation Administration.

More are submitting bids for contracts, too. Out of 30 firms participating in the last round of leases, six were owned by women and people from minority communities, compared to four the previous round.

Connecting with the community has been one of Hunter’s top priorities since she joined the airport last year.

“When I came and started to attend community events, [starting a business at the airport] was a daunting kind of experience,” she said. “[It’s about] us being more open and transparent about the process and letting folks know we want to have you here, we want to make this possible.”

To help make this connection, Hunter participates in community roundtables and hosts quarterly PortGen events, aimed at helping people jump through the many hoops of starting a business in the airport.

That can include everything from airport badging and security to acquiring the right permits.

Okinawa and the Japanese mainland, which annexed the islands, formerly the independent kingdom of the Ryukus, in 1878. Okinawa was Japan’s only home battleground in the final days of World War II, and the island remained under U.S. rule for 20 years longer than the rest of Japan.

Okinawa is still forced to sacrifice for the interest of the mainland, Onaga’s son Takeharu, an Okinawa assemblyman, told the rally.

“The (relocation issue) is pushed to Okinawa because nobody on the mainland wants it,’’ he said, urging the rest of the country to also think about the issue.

“Let us keep fighting so we can achieve my father’s unfinished goal and give him good news.’’ 

Sea-Tac Airport Concessions Opportunities Summit, 13 January 2017.

Hunter also started doing debriefs for people who lost out on bids. It’s a chance to look at mistakes people made and how they might fix them, so they can come back with a stronger application.

“A lot of airports don’t do that,” Hunter said. “They say, ‘Sorry, you lost, bye!’ We really take time to say this is why.”

She told the story of Bambuza, a Vietnamese café originally founded in downtown Seattle and currently based out of Portland. The owners lost out on a bid for a location in the SeaTac Airport, but after a lengthy debrief, they came back with a stronger bid in the next round of leases.

“They listened to what we told them, they went and did the work, and they came back,” she said. “We said these are the rules, and if they play by these rules, they’ll be successful.”

And they were successful. Now, Bambuza is making plans for their new SeaTac restaurant.

This type of outreach work has been one of the only effective methods of increasing minority representation at the airport.

That’s because of I-200, a citizen initiative passed in 1998 that prevents government agencies in Washington from giving preferential treatment to “any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin.”

For the airport, that means they can’t enact any affirmative action policies to help promote diversity, even if the people those policies would help start out from a disadvantaged position.

“We noticed over the years that minorityowned businesses and women-owned businesses have been left out of many opportunities” as a result of I-200, said Navarro.

So, he continued, the port has had to figure out ways to work within the confines

of the law.

“The law does not forbid us to do intentional outreach, support of, and mentoring small businesses. We can do all those things to encourage them to come to the door and apply for a contract,” he said.

As of May, the airport started the process for a disparity study looking at how minority- and women-owned businesses are faring in the airports’ concessions program. Expected to be completed within a year, Hunter said it should show whether the airport’s current programs are working well enough, or if more action needs to be taken.

The Port of Seattle published a similar study for the construction side back in 2014, showing that nearly every racial minority was at a disadvantage compared to people who are white.

The disparity study comes at a crucial moment. SeaTac International Airport is currently undergoing $3 billion in renovations, which will lead to more opportunities for business owners.

Navarro hopes the upcoming conference will show the Port of Seattle’s dedication to promoting diversity.

“The Port of Seattle is committed to equity: not to leave any voice outside of the conversation, to include all communities,” Navarro said.

Hunter said diversity — and the range of backgrounds and experiences and stories it brings — enriches the organization.

“I want it to reflect the community, and the community of Seattle is very diverse,” she said. “I think people should be able to come to the airport and see that, and see a reflection of them.”  Zachariah can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

Viet-Wah Supermarket

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EDS vietwah

As one of the oldest grocery stores in the Little Saigon neighborhood, Viet Wah Supermarket has been serving our community’s food needs since 1981. It specializes in Vietnamese, Chinese, and Thai products, as well as a full array of grocery staples. Stop by for live seafood, a fullservice meat counter, unique kitchenware, and the best produce in the neighborhood.

asianweekly northwest

16

36 YEARS

AUGUST 18 – AUGUST 24, 2018

The Port of Seattle and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

are proud to host AMAC’s flagship event, the 34th Annual Airport Business Diversity Conference: Inspiring Possibilities

C E L E B R AT I N G 2 0 Y E A R S OF EXCELLENCE

For conference details and information visit www.amac-org.com/annualconference Connect with your Port!

AMAC_NWAsianWeekly_FullPG.indd 1

www.portseattle.org 8/13/2018 4:45:48 PM