VOL 38 NO 12 | MARCH 16 – MARCH 22, 2019

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VOL 38 NO 12 MARCH 16 – MARCH 22, 2019

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37 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Washington rallies to save a forsaken Chinese American

By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

A slender, grey-haired woman with a face that seemed frozen in sorrow walked to the front of the auditorium and bowed twice, asking for help.

The mother of Xiyue Wang, an imprisoned Chinese American scholar in Iran, thanked the dozens of dignitaries, academics and political representatives who turned out for a candlelight vigil for her son on March 11 at the University of Washington (UW) School of Law. She did not say if she had asked China, her country of origin, which has closer Xiyue’s mother Kexu Lan relations with Iran than the United States, for help. But the Chinese government, shortly after Wang was captured, disavowed any obligation to help him, although he was born in Beijing.

“You should know the relevant Chinese policies,” a

Xiyue Wang and son Shaofan

Families of Lion Air crash victims sue Boeing

spokesman told a Chinese reporter at a press conference in August 2017.

“We do not recognize dual nationality. You say also that Xiyue Wang has U.S. nationality. I can clearly tell you that according to our understanding, he does not have Chinese nationality.”

As of this writing, Wang has been imprisoned in Iran for more than 940 days and, despite a UN resolution calling for his release, remains in limbo.

A graduate of the UW and a doctoral student at Princeton University, he was doing research in Iran when he was captured in August 2016 and later charged with espionage and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Recognizing the failure of earlier efforts, supporters gathered to call on the U.S. government and the United Nations to push harder for Wang’s release.

Linda Iltis, assistant director of the Henry M. Jackson School and a mentor of Wang, was one of those that characterized Wang as a promising scholar whose arbitrary detention threatened the principles of academic freedom.

“I still remember it was in August of 2016, Xiyue’s mother came to my office to ask if I remembered her see WANG on 11

PICTORIAL

The Bellevue Collection Lunar New Year celebration

AT THE MOVIES

Gemma Chan in Captain Marvel

8

7

ARTS & ENTERTAIMENT

Washington State Sichuan Friendship Association celebrated its 37th anniversary

9

Caught: An exploration of social justice and cultural appropriation

Photo: AirlineGeeks | Huy Do

7

Dow Constantine on housing, immigration and other issues affecting AAPIs

By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY SEATTLE — The families of 17 victims who died in the crash of a Boeing 737 operated by Lion Air is suing Boeing. The complaint — filed on March 7 in King County Superior Court

by Seattle-based Herrmann Law Group — alleges that equipment aboard the Boeing jet failed, and that Boeing didn’t inform pilots about the potential dangers of a

■

new automated system installed on the aircraft.

The Boeing 737 MAX crashed on October 29, 2018, shortly after taking off from Jakarta, Indonesia, killing all 189 people on board.

Investigators have focused on a new anti-stall flight-control system installed on Boeing’s 737 MAX jetliner as a factor in the crash, and pilots have said they were not trained in new features see LION AIR on 4

By Kai Curry NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY In King County, under the leadership of County Executive Dow Constantine, several initiatives have been funded to support the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population. Most of these initiatives promote empowering community organizations while building trust in the populace for those same organizations.

“Since I took office, our philosophy has been not to try to be the one answer…but to create partnerships with trusted communitybased organizations that already have relationships, or that are trusted by their constituencies, and to have the services be either delivered by them, or networked to the people by them.” see CONSTANTINE on 13

Photo by Jessica Kai Curry

Lion Air's first 737 MAX 9

King County Executive Dow Constantine

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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37 YEARS

MARCH 16 – MARCH 22, 2019

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS

established in 1974 and has since remained a tireless champion for the broader Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in Washington State.

He is known to many as a historian, often telling the stories about the development of AAPI history and their contributions to the development of agriculture, economy and civil rights, as well as notable contributions in service to the United States Armed Forces. 

Photo by George Liu

Alone and Afraid: The Plight of Immigrant Spouse

Several dignitaries attended the event at China Harbor Restaurant including Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib, State Senator Bob Hasegawa, and Seattle deputy mayor Mike Fong.

Habib’s mother, Judge Susan Amini, received the Courage with Noble Love Award. 

Panel discussion on domestic violence on March 7.

In recognition of International Women’s Day, Dorothy Bullitt moderated a panel on domestic violence against immigrant spouses. It was part of the Seattle Rotary Club’s monthly luncheon on March 7. The panelists included Consul General of Japan, Yoichiro Yamada, and three women who are actively working to address and raise awareness of this lesser-known aspect of domestic violence.

They discussed what options were available for victims, and their rights. 

Reynaldo Pascua to receive CAPAA’s Vanguard Award

Reynaldo Pascua

The Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA) announced on March 7 that former Commissioner Reynaldo Pascua will receive its Vanguard Award.

Currently the president of the Filipino Community of Yakima Valley, Pascua has been engaged with CAPAA when it was first

Arrivé opens

Photo by George Liu

Photo by Assunta Ng

Chinatown Lunar New Year celebration

Photo by George Liu

Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area say it is pleased with the turnout for the annual Lunar New Year celebration.

Originally scheduled for Feb. 9, it was postponed to March 2 because of all the snow last month.

The collaboration with neighborhood businesses and organizations helped draw thousands of visitors from throughout the region for a day of festivities, which included traditional dragon and lion dances, Japanese Taiko Drumming, martial arts and the return of the popular Annual $3 Food Walk. 

Washington Sichuan Friendship Association anniversary dinner

The Washington Sichuan Friendship Association celebrated its 37th anniversary with a March 2 dinner.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony

Arrivé — a 440-foot, 41-story skyscraper in the Belltown — celebrated its opening on Feb. 19 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Former Governor Gary Locke were among the guests at the ceremony.

Located on 2116 4th Avenue, the more than $200 million project consists of 342 apartments and a 142-room hotel. 85 percent of the funding came from China-based Binjiang Real Estate Group, one of the developers.

The other developer is Las Vegas, Nevada-based The Molasky Group of Companies.

The tower was completed in February 2019. 

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asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

MARCH 16 – MARCH 22, 2019

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

3

Microsoft says Iran-linked hackers targeted businesses REDMOND, Wash. (AP) — Microsoft has detected cyberattacks linked to Iranian hackers that targeted thousands of people at more than 200 companies over the past two years.

That’s according to a Wall Street Journal report on March 6 that the hacking campaign stole corporate secrets and wiped data from computers.

Microsoft told the Journal the cyberattacks affected oil-and-gas

companies and makers of heavy machinery in several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Germany, the United Kingdom, India and the U.S., and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.

Microsoft attributed the attacks to a group it calls Holmium, and which other security researchers call APT33. Microsoft says it detected Holmium targeting more than 2,200 people with phishing emails that can install malicious code. 

Washington Senate moves to amend 1909 wrongful death law

By Tom James ASSOCIATED PRESS OLYMPIA – Four years after a fatal Seattle crash, the Washington Senate approved an update to parts of the state’s wrongful death law on March 5.

The proposal would remove requirements that, after an accidental death in the state, family members must live in the United States and be economically dependent on the

victim to be able to file a wrongful death claim here. The law dates to 1909.

A fatal 2015 crash in Seattle drew attention to the law, when an amphibious “Ride the Ducks” tourist vehicle veered into oncoming traffic, killing five and injuring 69 when it struck a tour bus full of foreign students. At least one family of a victim in the crash later challenged the law, calling it discriminatory.

Lawmakers approved the proposal on a 30-17 vote,

sending it to the state House.

In debate before the vote, the bill’s sponsor said the provision stemmed from efforts by business interests at the beginning of the 20th century to block claims made by the families of Chinese miners killed in workplace accidents.

“This law has its roots in racist origins,” said Sen. Bob Hasegawa, D-Seattle.

State documents date the provision in the law to 1909. 

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4

MARCH 16 – MARCH 22, 2019

37 YEARS

■ WORLD NEWS More Boeing planes grounded amid global probe into Ethiopia crash

By ELIAS MESERET and YIDNEK KIRUBEL ASSOCIATED PRESS HEJERE, Ethiopia (AP) — Britain joined a growing number of countries grounding a new Boeing plane involved in the Ethiopian Airlines disaster as a global team of investigators began picking through the rural crash site on March 12.

Some airlines cited worried customers for grounding the Boeing 737 Max 8, as experts chased details on why the plane crashed shortly after takeoff on March 10, killing all 157 on board.

Ethiopian Airlines had issued no new updates on the crash as of late afternoon as families around the world waited for answers. Some insights into the disaster and its cause could take months, aviation experts said.

Oman, Norwegian Air Shuttle and South Korean airline Eastar Jet also were the latest to halt use of the Boeing 373 Max 8. Malaysia, Australia and Singapore suspended all

LION AIR from 1 of the system that differ from previous models of the popular 737.

Pilots around the country reacted with outrage when they learned the new system had been installed without their knowledge or proper training.

“It’s pretty asinine for them to put a system on an airplane and not tell the pilots who are operating the airplane, especially when it deals with flight controls,” Captain Mike Michaelis, chairman of the safety committee for the Allied Pilots Association, told the Wall Street Journal.

The president of the pilots union at Southwest Airlines, Jon Weaks, said, “We’re pissed that Boeing didn’t tell the

flights into or out of their countries.

The U.S.-based Boeing, however, has said it has no reason to pull the popular aircraft from the skies, and it does not intend to issue new recommendations about the aircraft to customers. Its technical team joined American, Israeli, United Arab Emirates, Kenyan and other aviation

companies, and the pilots didn’t get notice.”

The complaint alleges that Boeing concealed the new system and minimized the differences between the MAX and other versions of the 737 to boost sales.

On the Boeing website, the company claims that airlines can save “millions of dollars” by purchasing the new plane “because of its commonality” with previous versions of the plane.

“Years of experience representing hundreds of victims has revealed a common thread through most air disaster cases,” said Charles Herrmann, the principle of Herrmann Law, which has an office in the International District.

“Generating profit in a fiercely competitive market too often involves cutting safety measures. In this case,

experts in the investigation led by Ethiopian authorities.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said it expects Boeing will soon complete improvements to an automated anti-stall system suspected of contributing to the deadly crash of another new Boeing 737 Max 8 in October, and update training requirements and related flight crew manuals.

Safety experts have cautioned against drawing too many comparisons too soon with that Lion Air crash of the same model that killed 189 people in Indonesia.

The Ethiopian Airlines plane crashed in clear weather six minutes after taking off for Nairobi.

One witness told The Associated Press that he saw smoke coming from the plane’s rear before it crashed in a rural field. “The plane rotated two times in the air, and it had some smoke coming from the back then, it hit the ground and exploded,’’ farmer Tamrat Abera said. see BOEING on 14

Boeing cut training and completely eliminated instructions and warnings on a new system. Pilots didn’t even know it existed. I can’t blame so many pilots for being mad as hell.”

Former Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Lindquist, who joined the Herrmann Law Group in January, is working on the case with Herrmann. They met with victim families in Indonesia earlier this year. More family members are expected to join their lawsuit.

“These families are heartbroken. They deserve vigorous representation,” said Lindquist.

“As a prosecutor for 23 years, I was committed to justice, accountability, and helping people. That’s my focus in this case as well.” 

GRAND OPENING MARCH 23rd, 2019 12—7pm A New Arts and Cultural Hub The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture is honored to open its new cultural space with yәhaw̓, an inaugural exhibition featuring the work of Indigenous creatives. March 23 - August 3, 2019.

303 South Jackson Street, Top Floor Seattle, WA 98104 | seattle.gov/arts Image: Shaun Peterson, Kaka, Oil on Panel, 2018

at King Street Station

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

MARCH 16 – MARCH 22, 2019

■ NATIONAL NEWS

5

Report: Spa founder attended Trump’s Super Bowl party

MIAMI (AP) — A photo published on March 8 in the Miami Herald shows the founder and one-time owner of a spa implicated in a human-trafficking ring attended President Donald Trump’s Super Bowl watch party at his West Palm Beach country club in February.

While the New England Patriots played the Los Angeles Rams In Atlanta, Li Yang snapped a blurry selfie with a smiling Trump, who turned in his chair to look over his right shoulder for the photo. He was seated at a round table decorated with paper-cutout footballs.

Nineteen days later, Trump’s longtime friend and Patriots owner Robert Kraft, 77, was charged with soliciting prostitution at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in nearby Jupiter, which Yang had founded more than a decade earlier.

Authorities said Kraft visited the spa on Jan. 19 and again on the morning of Jan. 20 and was caught on camera paying for oral sex. He then flew to Kansas City, where his team was playing that night in the AFC Championship game.

Kraft has denied the charges and an arraignment has been set for March 28 in West Palm Beach.

Yang, who goes by Cindy, wasn’t charged in the multiagency anti-human trafficking operation that resulted in 25 arrests and shut down 10 Asian day spas in South Florida. None of the spas are registered to Yang or her family. She sold the Jupiter spa to Hua Zhang around 2013. Zhang was charged with racketeering and running a house of prostitution and has pleaded not guilty.

Yang’s family still owns several South Florida spas. The

This is a screen shot from Li Yang’s Facebook page, showing a selfie she snapped with Trump from the Super Bowl watch party, held at the president's West Palm Beach country club, the Miami Herald reported on March 8.

(Photo: Facebook)

family’s Tokyo Day Spa branches have attracted the attention of at least two police agencies, the Herald reported.

Yang told the Herald in a phone interview that she and her family haven’t broken the law. She said she is out of the business, would soon be relocating to Washington, and didn’t want any negative media attention.

The newspaper reported that Yang had not voted in 10 years before 2016 but she has become a fixture at Republican political

Prepaid postage on ballots passes Senate OLYMPIA — The Washington State Senate voted on March 5 to increase access to democracy by requiring prepaid postage for ballot envelopes during all elections.

Sponsored by Sen. Joe Nguyen, Senate Bill 5063 is the latest effort to eliminate barriers to participation in Washington elections.

“This bill is a huge step forward in making Washington elections fairer and more accessible for everyone in the state,” said Nguyen. “For most people, the idea that you would have to pay to return your ballot, even if that only means a stamp, just doesn’t sit

right. Passing this legislation removes that question and brings everyone to the table.”

Washington authorized prepaid postage on a one-time basis for the 2018 midterm elections, and Nguyen is optimistic that expanding the practice statewide on a permanent basis will increase participation.

“I think we are stronger as individuals and communities when we all have access to voting and are a part of the process,” Nguyen said.

The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. 

events on the East Coast. Her Facebook page contains photos of her with Trump, his sons Eric and Donald Jr., Florida Gov. Rick DeSantis, Sen. Rick Scott, Sarah Palin and other Republican operators she met at charity events and fundraisers.

Since 2017, records show Yang and her close family members have contributed more than $42,000 to Trump Victory, a political action committee, and more than $16,000 to the president’s re-election campaign.

Yang started the Tokyo Day Spas chain in 2007. The first to open is still in business and run by her husband, Zubin Gong, in Palm Beach Gardens. The next was Tokyo Day Spa in Jupiter, which later became Orchids of Asia, the Herald reported.

Around three years ago, Yang announced she was pursuing a “new life’’ in a series of Facebook posts. This included an investment consulting business, a travel agency and a charity.

Yang told the Herald she doesn’t know the president personally.

“I just come to some events. There’s nothing special,’’ she said.

When contacted by The Associated Press, the White House referred requests for comment to Trump’s political campaign. The campaign didn’t immediately respond. 

Portland purse snatchers target elderly Asian women PORTLAND, Ore. — A string of purse-snatchings in recent months appear to have targeted elderly Asian women in Portland’s Jade District, officials said.

Crime Stoppers of Oregon said on March 1 that the Portland Police Bureau had received at least a dozen reports of pedestrian thefts and robberies since early December. At least two of those

KING COUNTY NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received for C01322C18, Fencing Services Work Order Contract 2019; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 1:30 PM on March 26, 2019. Late bids will not be accepted.

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women were hurt during the robberies.

Rosaline Hui, the editor of the Portland Chinese Times, worried that there may have been more robberies that have gone unreported due to a language barrier. She said the rash of robberies has made women afraid to go out alone. 

asianweekly northwest

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MARCH 16 – MARCH 22, 2019

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR MAR 14

APDC HAPPY HOUR Bush Garden 5-7 p.m.

14-17 EMERALD CITY COMIC CON 2019 Emerald City Comic Con, 800 Convention Place, Seattle emeraldcitycomiccon. com 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

16

THRU

FREE CLASS TO HELP PREPARE FOR THE U.S. CITIZENSHIP TEST Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave. Level 4, Seattle 2-4 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. on Saturdays spl.org

16

THRU

SEATTLE READS 2019 WITH AUTHOR THI BUI FROM “THE BEST WE COULD DO” Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Level 1, Seattle 7:30-9 p.m.

206-386-4636 spl.org/seattlereads

17

$175 wingluke. org/2019auction

SEATTLE LEE FAMILY ASSOCIATION LUNAR SPRING BANQUET 2019 House of Hong Restaurant, 409 8th Ave. S., Seattle 6 p.m. $30/person, $300/table 206-227-8587 sleewoo@yahoo.com

TRAIN IN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID SPD West Precinct Community Room, 810 Virginia St., Seattle 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Register with Sue Wyder at 253-426-5957, or swyder@valleycities.org mentalhealthfirstaid.org

TAP-SEA: PAINT! NATURE EDITION Culture Center of Taipei Economic & Cultural Office, 1008 140thAve. NE Ste. 108, Bellevue 2:30-5 p.m. impactflow.com

HOLI CELEBRATION Lake Sammamish State Park, 2000 NW Sammamish Rd., Issaquah 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

20 HISTORY CAFE: UNTOLD STORIES FROM THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT Museum of History and Industry, 860 Terry Ave. N., Seattle 6:30-8 p.m.

Orizuru “Paper Crane” Folding Party JCCCW, 1414 S. Weller St., Seattle 4-8 p.m.

23 2019 DINNER + AUCTION, “FACES OF AMERICANA” Embassy Suites King Street Ballroom, 255 S. King St., Seattle 5 p.m.

37 YEARS

St., Seattle 6:45-8 p.m.

Free admission, but seating is limited RSVP by March 12 to sesimonsays@comcast. net

29

THRU

VFA’S ANNUAL GALA: STORIES OF JOY 3601 Fremont Ave. N., Seattle 7 p.m.

30

INTIMAN THEATRE PRESENTS, “CAUGHT,”

BY CHRISTOPHER CHEN Intiman Theatre, 1620 12th Ave., Seattle 206-315-5838 intiman.org

SPRING ARTIST ALLEY Kinokuniya, 525 S. Weller St., Seattle 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

THRU

24

ZEN CLASS MEDITATION & BUDDHISM Buddha Jewel Monastery, 17418 8th Ave. N.E., Shoreline Fridays, 7-9 p.m.

Free guided meditation buddhajewel.org 206-721-9921

26 A RECEPTION AND PROGRAM FEATURING HAHRIE HAN, PHD ON PEOPLE, POWER, AND CHANGE: COLLECTIVE ACTION AND TODAY’S DEMOCRACY Northwest African American Museum, 2300 S. Massachusetts

View the solution on page 14

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

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asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

MARCH 16 – MARCH 22, 2019

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

7

Captain CAUGHT Marvel Bright, abrasive, and eel-slippery

Photo by Naomi Ishisaka for Intiman Theatre

dishes out lissome life lessons

By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY “Captain Marvel” starts out with a tribute to Stan Lee, the mastermind of Marvel Comics, who gave the world, amongst many other superheroes, the current, female incarnation of Captain Marvel. Lee, who died last November at age 95, curried controversy in the comics world by often downplaying the contributions of his artists and other collaborators. But he specialized in comic book stories, which would blend moral and ethical considerations with believable characters and tough choices, plus plenty of wild action, of course.

The current film, directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, starts out on what seems to be sure super-team footing. Brie Larson, playing a character known as Vers, works as a government enforcer for Kree Empire, overseen by Jude Law as team leader YonRogg. They fight the Skrull, a race of shapeshifting beings who threaten the Kree.

But soon enough, the action waxes discombobulated. Vers suffers from weird dreams, and her reality seems to slip and slide, combined with strange visions of an older woman (Annette Bening). A crucial mission against the Skrull leaves Vers wounded and far from home. In fact, she crashes through the roof of a Blockbuster Video, in America, on Planet Earth, in the year 1995. This allows the story (co-written

by Boden and Fleck, with Nicole Perlman, Meg LeFauve, and Geneva RobertsonDworet) to meander down memory lane, with plenty of 90s music and other cultural signifiers for the audience’s amusement.

And the audience I saw this with, laughed heartily at several such cues. The film seems poised to inject nitro into 90s nostalgia, much like last year’s “Ready Player One” did for the 80s and late 70s.

Samuel L. Jackson appears quickly enough, playing Nick Fury, the government agent he’s portrayed in several Marvel Comics films. I had a little trouble recognizing him at first, since a staggering level of CGI

works to shave 25 years off his actual age.

This is the first time a Marvel film has applied such a process to an actor throughout a feature film.

These seem quietly electrifying advances, showing how movies to come can grant brand-name actors seemingly-eternal youth, then resurrect them when they happen to inconveniently die in real life, as the filmmakers of “Rogue One” did for Peter Cushing. I found myself wondering what will happen to up-and-coming performers.

Are they doomed to obsolescence, to never finding their own place?

Gemma Chan, from “Crazy Rich Asians” see CAPTAIN MARVEL on 15

The Intiman production of Christopher Chen’s “Caught” begins with the ushers urging you to take stock of the works on display, from Chinese artist Lin Bo. And Lin Bo’s installations sit at irregular intervals around the theater, in the midst of the seats.

An overflowing toilet ejecting a stream of shredded paper. A cow, adorned in American-flag colors, defecating piles of tiny cheeseburgers. A pitcher of water next to a bowl of pretzels. A glass-topped coffee table, American newspapers and magazines on one side, Chinese forms with long redacted passages on the other.

A McDonald’s meal parked next to a bottle of Sriracha sauce. We’re invited to ponder what such works might mean, before we sit and the house lights go down.

NEW CONDOS IN EDMONDS

Then Lin Bo himself takes the stage, explaining his life, his art, and his long stretch in a mainland China prison. He was sent to prison for organizing a protest, that really wasn’t a protest. He never told anyone where to assemble, or exactly what to protest. He just sent a message around telling people to gather, with a date and a time and a suggestion as to what they should protest. The Chinese government found that bad enough.

And organizing movements, or at least activities, through deliberately vague messages, has some history. Baltimore Mayor William Donald Schaefer would tell his department heads that he’d found an abandoned car on the streets of his city, but wouldn’t say where. His minions scrambled to impound every abandoned car on the streets. see CAUGHT on 12

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■ PICTORIAL

MARCH 16 – MARCH 22, 2019

37 YEARS

The Bellevue Collection Lunar New Year celebration T he Bellevue

Collection Lunar

New Year celebration

was held on March 2 in

Bellevue Square’s Center Court. Rescheduled from February due to snow, it was a spectacular and colorful day filled with dance, music and art, including traditional events such as the Lion Dance and the Dragon Parade. 

PHOTOS BY BECKY CHAN

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

MARCH 16 – MARCH 22, 2019

9

Thank You! Washington State Sichuan Friendship Association celebrated its 37th anniversary on March 2 at the China Harbor Restaurant. We like to thank all the dignitaries for attending our celebration, and sponsors for supporting our event. Our gratitude to 505 Group and Tien Tho Thai of Sun Foods for their donations. The following is a list of organizations and dignitaries of different levels of government, who helped to make this event a success.

Hi Ping Family Association Fang Wu Bing CISC Seattle Chinese Chorus Cathay Pacific Asiana Air Hyatt Bellevue Hotel Marriott Bellevue Hotel Cathay Bank East West Bank 505 Group HuiWu Lai Teo Chiu Association of Washington State & Tien Tho Thai Soo Yuen Benevolent Association Peter Kung Chinese Seniors in Action President Anna Hou Dr. Xiao Ming Master Tony Au CAPAA Executive Director Toshiko Hasegawa Seattle Shiao Lin Master Chou Lei Double Face Performer Ms. Lung Hou Shu Lai

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib Gov. Jay Inslee Greetings from San Francisco Chinese Consul General Wang Donghua Office of Governor Inslee Schuyler Hoss Sen. Bob Hasegawa Rep. Vandana Slatter King County Superior Court Judge Susan Amini Greetings from Snohomish County and Pierre County Seattle Deputy Mayor Mike Fong Seattle Police Carmen Best Bellevue Council Conrad Lee and Janice Zahn Port of Seattle Executive Director Peter Mentruck Tacoma School District Hip Sing Tong Washington State Chinese Artists Association Global Federation of Chinese Business Women Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce Asian Pacific Cultural Center

asianweekly northwest

10

37 YEARS

MARCH 16 – MARCH 22, 2019

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Photo by Assunta Ng

An invitation to a festival celebrating Japanese dolls for March 10 emerged in my email. Is this a girl thing? Do I get to cuddle the dolls?

There was a hint of urgency for attending, “… this might be the last time for us.” I soon found out why.

Food

A family tradition for men and women What was also compelling was the part about “good food and wine,” towards the end of the invitation. Well, I rarely miss a good meal. I might not drink alcohol, but I love to smell sake. It warms my heart. So, I replied, “Yes.” Arriving at Naomi and Yoshi Minegishi’s home, Japanese dolls were displayed on an elaborate, red 7-step staircase at the entrance. The empress and emperor were at the top of the display, followed by the ladies-in-waiting, court musicians, and samurais. There were other miniatures like musical instruments such as drums, peach and cherry blossom trees, and chests and drawers. Each object was artfully made with perfection in every detail, from the hair, to the eyes, to the clothes.

It was a representation of a formal royal setting in Japan.

This was the celebration of O-Hina-Matsuri, Doll Festival, or Girls’ Day, just like Western custom of Mother’s and Father’s Day. It’s an opportunity for the whole family to put aside grief, misfortunes or misgivings, and open their heart to joy and fun by celebrating girlhood and

wishing their daughters good luck.

Traditionally, the dolls were thrown into rivers or seas after the event, so that bad luck would be discarded too. Over the years, people realized that it would be a pity to throw the dolls away. After all, the craftsmanship was superb. Hence, they decided to store them after the festival.

In Japan, it used to be on the Lunar New Year calendar, March 3.

But in the 19th century, Emperor Meiji, who was credited with Westernizing Japan, changed it to Western calendar, March 3. Since then, Japan has followed the Western calendar.

What about Boys’ Day? Well, Japan does have a Boys’ celebration Day on May 5. The Minegishis collect samurais and showcase them as well. I had the impression that the Japanese enjoy creating festivals. When I was in Yokohama, I attended a Fireworks Festival, and years ago, a Cherry Blossom Festival in Kyoto. Those festivals are a big deal in Japan, perhaps, a chance for people to drink and dress up in kimonos.

The history of Japanese dolls see BLOG on 15

Photo by Yoshi Minegishi

AN EVENING WITH

Display of dolls

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YOUR VOICE

MARCH 16 – MARCH 22, 2019

■ EDITORIAL

11

Asian civil rights groups: White House budget reflects more of the same anti-immigrant hate The White House calls it a “budget for a Better America.”

But Asian civil rights groups Asian Americans Advancing Justice and Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) disagree.

The budget released on March 11 includes a drastic increase in immigration detention and deportation funding while significantly cutting funding across the board for domestic programs vital to community health and stability.

The budget proposes hiring an additional 1,000 ICE enforcement agents, 750 Border Patrol agents, and 128 immigration court prosecuting attorneys. It includes $5 billion to build 200 miles of additional border wall, and combined with the $3.6 billion of wall construction funding, the White House’s request for border wall funding totals $8.6 billion.

Additionally, the budget calls for a massive slush fund to be used to further bloat the immigration jail system to lock up 60,000 people per day, and to hire thousands more deportation agents.

WANG from 1 son,” she said, speaking to an audience of about 30 people at the vigil. “The last time I saw him was in 2006.”

But she remembered him clearly.

“He was one of the most thoughtful and caring advisees I’ve known in my 30 years, a brilliant scholar,” she said.

Wang’s wife, Hua Qu, speaking in a recorded video from Princeton, thanked all Washingtonians, including the governor and senators, for their activism on his behalf.

She echoed a sentiment that would be repeated multiple times by every speaker.

“He is a student, not a spy,” she said.

She recalled his love affair with the UW, where he completed a double degree in International Studies and Asian Languages and Literature.

She mentioned the “unforgettable days he spent in the stacks in Suzzallo Library.”

But most of all, frowning away tears, and breaking off during her speech, she begged Iran to free her husband.

“I pray for the gates of mercy to be opened,” she said.

She was seated next to their 5-year-old son, who was drawing cartoon pictures.

In contrast, President Trump threatens to repeal the Affordable Care Act in addition to proposed cuts to food stamps, $2 trillion in cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, a $26 billion cut to Social Security programs, and a 12 percent reduction in Department of Education funding. The president also hopes to slash funding for Federal TRIO programs, which support lowincome students in preparing and enrolling in college, as well as eliminate interest rate subsidies on some federal student loans, public service loan forgiveness, and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, making college even less accessible for many communities in need.

Additionally, the president proposes a $7.2 billion allocation for the entire U.S. Census Bureau, which advocates have expressed is sorely inadequate for an accurate count of all communities in 2020.

In a statement, Asian Americans Advancing Justice said, “We oppose this disgraceful budget, which is nothing more than another attack on our immigrant communities and an attempt to

Wang is one of a series of hostages Iran has taken over the past four decades, for political purposes since the 1978 Iranian revolution.

Apparently, Wang, along with other prisoners, was taken hostage by the Iranian government to put pressure on the United States, or to be used as a bargaining chip as the government seeks to gain leverage in negotiations with the United States.

In his memoir “Prisoner: My 544 Days in an Iranian Prison — Solitary Confinement, a Sham Trial, High-Stakes Diplomacy, and the Extraordinary Efforts It Took to Get Me Out,” Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian wrote that, “For the growing community of us — those foreign nationals taken captive by the regime — Iran’s revolution was actually the birth of the Hostage-Taking Republic of Iran.”

Alejandra Gonza, Director of the International Human Rights Clinic at the UW School of Law, which organized the event, argued that actions to save Wang must proceed beyond the condemnation already issued last August by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

“The United States has an obligation to use every legal and diplomatic tool to bring him home,” she said.

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continue the administration’s xenophobic and hateful agenda.

Congress must put a stop to these anti-immigrant policies and funding that separate families and harm our communities.

Rather than funding mass incarceration and the deportation of immigrant families, we ask that Congress propose a budget that supports our communities and the programs that allow us to thrive.”

“Increased funding for the expansion of our detention and deportation systems and the militarization of our borders, while cutting investments to programs that promote education equity, health justice, and decreased poverty for our communities is unconscionable,” said Quyen Dinh, executive director of SEARAC. Call your Congress member and urge them to cut funding from ICE and CBP and reallocate those funds into ensuring an accurate census count, strengthening social programs for the poor, and expanding education access and opportunity for all. 

But, she also called on the United Nations to do more and asked Washingtonians to step up pressure.

“We have to walk hand in hand and go to the United Nations together,” she said.

Gonza’s father was also a political prisoner, arrested in Argentina when she was one, she told Northwest Asian Weekly. And her mother had to go door to door to get help, in her case to prevent him from being executed.

Gov. Jay Inslee, in a statement read by his director of international affairs and protocol, Schulyer Hoss, also called the incarceration of Wang a threat to academic freedom.

UW President Ana Mari Cauce, also in a written statement, echoed those words and called the detention “a profound injustice.”

Yet Wang is more than just a symbol of academic freedom. Even in captivity, he continues to work on his dissertation and is learning Tibetan and Tibetan history.

“He asked us to make photocopies of his research materials in Cyrillic and mail them to him in prison so he can keep working on his dissertation,” said a fellow PhD student in History from Princeton, Alexis Siemon.

Sitting in the front row at the vigil, holding Tibetan scrolls in his hand, Ter Ellingson, a professor of comparative religion and South

Asian Studies at the UW, explained he was there to pass on the “untranslated materials” so they could be conveyed to Wang.

As if in some weird foreshadow, or parallel, of the politics behind the current crisis, the scrolls comprise a Tibetan law code that summarized both the “complicated” Chinese law system of the time and the “arbitrary and wild” law code of the Mongols.

As the vigil drew to a close, participants held up candles as a slide show showed photos of Wang and his wife and son in spots around the world, from the porch of a small house, to a vast mountain plain, to a pristine river surrounded by trees. In nearly every photo, Wang is holding his son either on his knee or on his back.

There is no word as to when he might be released. His sentence is for 10 years, but there are no guarantees about his ultimate fate.

Like other captives, he was filmed at least once in an apparently forced statement that was aired by the Iranian authorities.  Mahlon can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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asianweekly northwest

12

■ SPORTS

MARCH 16 – MARCH 22, 2019

37 YEARS

The Layup Drill

By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Welcome to another edition of The Layup Drill. This month, Jeremy Lin joins a new team, a new MMA organization visits Seattle, and there’s a possible rugby boycott.

Lin finds another team

Jeremy Lin was a Hawk to start the season and now is a Raptor.

The Taiwanese American NBA star signed with the playoffcontending Toronto Raptors after negotiating a buyout with the Atlanta Hawks. The Raptors is his 8th NBA team in his career. The Raptors are currently 2nd in the Eastern Conference standings and look to be a favorite to make it to the NBA Finals. Lin will serve as the backup point guard, coming off the bench, behind All-Star guard Kyle Lowry. Lin was averaging 10 points a game this season with the Hawks. He was coming off a torn ACL, which he suffered in the first game of the 2017-2018 season.

After a stint with the Brooklyn Nets, Lin signed with the Hawks this past offseason. The team is in the midst of rebuilding, and is currently one of the worst teams in the league.

The good news for Lin is that he is most certainly guaranteed to be playing for a contender. Lin hasn’t been in the playoffs since the 20132014 season with the Houston Rockets. It will be nice to see Lin back in the spotlight after a year of being out due to a knee injury and playing in relative obscurity with underperforming teams.

Eight teams in 9 years sounds like a journeyman player that barely find their way onto an NBA roster. But Lin has been a good player that has yet to find a long-term home. Whether it’s the business of basketball or not a good fit with a team, or a better opportunity with another team, Lin has not made a solid home in any NBA city. It’s clear that 30-year-old Lin is here to stay for

The ONE Championship meet and greet (Photo provided by Jason Cruz)

several more years. It would be great to see him latch on with the Raptors and help them make a run for the NBA title.

ONE Championship makes U.S. appearance with stop in Seattle

On a cold, but rainless Monday afternoon in late February, Singapore-based ONE Championship MMA made its U.S. debut with a “meet and greet” at the Southwest Boys & Girls Club in White Center.

The kids had not heard of the sport of mixed martial arts, but representatives from ONE were there to explain to them. Former UFC fighter Rich Franklin is now the vice president of Asian Mixed Martial Arts for ONE Championship. Miesha Tate, the former UFC women’s bantamweight fighter, is now a brand ambassador for the company. She is from Washington state where she wrestled in high school. Arguably, Demetrious Johnson is the best MMA fighter in the world. He successfully defended his UFC Featherweight title more than any champion in the UFC. After a successful stint with the promotion, he was able to sign with ONE Championship late last year. The Puyallup, Wash. resident will be fighting in Tokyo,

CAUGHT from 7 Teacher and writer Ron Jones decided to teach his World History class how easily folks could get caught up in fascist movements. He created an organization called “The Third Wave,” taught his students fascist principles, and then gathered them in an auditorium for a crucial message from the group’s leader. There was no message, no leader, and everyone involved was all too willing to follow someone or something that seemed like a sure thing. We would have all made good Germans, said Jones, sadly, to his stunned assembly.

Lin Bo seeks, of course, to put a movement together, not to destroy one. But he uses expectation and the willingness of people to go with the flow, to suit his own ends.

And personal ends versus social ends, quickly become crucial. Because Lin Bo is not who he seems to be. He’s worked hard to construct his life and art as a story. But two other folks appear on stage. They start out kindly. But they keep pressing him. And pressing him. And eventually, he cracks.

It’s tough to talk about the through-line of “Caught” without spoilers. But Lin Bo’s unmasking is only the first climax of an evening full of ripped-off masks. Carefully-crafted

Japan on March 31. In addition, Johnson will be involved in the company’s esports initiative, with a start date occurring this summer. Johnson, an avid video game player, has his own channel on Twitch, a YouTube channel for gamers, where followers interact with the former champion online and watch him play.

The three talked about their personal challenges in life and how they got to where they are today.

The kids, who were just dismissed from school, were interested in a sport that most have never heard of in their lives. After the talk, the three signed autographs and took pictures with the kids.

ONE Championship holds all of its events in Asia. The company is widely popular in Asia and focuses more on the traditional martial arts, rather than the sports and entertainment that happens in the UFC. It also reports financial investments that is helping them expand by signing fighters with U.S. ties, and it announced a television deal with Turner network where fans in America can watch ONE Championship events. Chatri Sityodtong, the founder, chairman, and CEO of ONE Championship has helped build the MMA promotion into a global sports media property. A native of Thailand, he is described

as a self-made entrepreneur and lifelong martial artist. Sityodtong holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from Tufts University.

Pacific Island players considering rugby boycott

Players from the rugby-popular countries of Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga are threatening to boycott the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. The boycott is due in part for a plan creating a 12-team “World League” in 2020, which would leave out the mentioned nations.

The Rugby World Cup is similar to the World Cup of soccer, where nations come together to play in a tournament to determine the best country in its sport and it is held every 4 years. The last tournament for rugby took place in 2015 and involved 20 countries competing over 6 weeks. 2019 will see the tournament held in Japan. Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga have qualified for the World Cup which begins this September.

The island nations have a rich tradition of the sport, which originated in England.

Players from island nations play professionally across the world, including Europe and here in the United States. A contingent

disguises get snagged and shredded upon assumptions, on errors, and even on semantics, although the deft and fiery performances prevent the proceedings from getting too dry.

One warning, though: Pretzel flies. The actors, no matter their roles, poses, or moods, reach for the salty snacks. And then they reach for the water, or offer water to others. Water, consumed and/or offered, becomes a metaphor for the purity, authenticity, that seems to keep getting lost. (Best not to ponder, then, impurities and additives in big-city water).

I found the ideas in “Caught” to be stimulating and challenging, although I could have done without some of the forced comedy, bolstered with an over-throbbing sound design. Director Desdemona Chiang and set designer Lex Marcos make innovative use of the 12th Avenue Arts space, although the constantly-rotating action must exhaust the cast (Justin Huertas, Jonelle Jordan, Bradford Farwell, and Narea Kang), who always have their backs to at least one section, and push to emote using their entire bodies.

Christopher Chen’s play drew inspiration from the monologist Mike Daisey, who got caught fabricating stories about his visits to an Apple factory in China, and had to apologize. But our struggles with truth, its nature, its quality, and even its usefulness, continue. A new documentary has folks once again wondering whether Michael Jackson was a

of Pacific Island Players’ union comprised of 600 members are in discussion on the value of a boycott.

Although not a finality, there is discussion of having the World Rugby league utilize a promotion and regulation policy, similar to that in European soccer where teams are promoted to the league or demoted based on wins and losses.

Daniel Leo, a past member of the Samoan National Rugby team and a member of the players’ union told the BBC, “The days of colonialism are long behind us, but this model that they’re proposing is more reminiscent of those days.” He’s also indicated that this move could “kill” Pacific Island rugby.

Although nothing has been confirmed, the World League will have bigger nations, such as the United States and Japan, competing and exclude smaller nations like Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga. Notably, Fiji is ranked higher in the world rankings than both the United States or Japan.

This is one of the many reasons that has drawn the ire of players loyal to their home countries that play the sport. According to Leo, 20 percent of all professional rugby players are from the island nations.

While we do not hear much about rugby here in the United States, the proposed World League appears to cater to bigger nations that have fans willing to spend money on the sport. While the likes of Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and other emerging nations might have better teams and players, the bigger nations have the money.

The decision has not been made to boycott this year’s World Cup of Rugby, but it would certainly raise awareness of the issue and bad publicity for an emerging World League.  Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

pedophile. Actor Jussie Smollett stands accused of staging a racial attack on himself. Over in Reno, Nev., at least, we’ve got racists posting and telling the world that all hate crimes are hoaxes.

And outside of the staged circus of ideas, the real world of emotions and ideas goes on. At the police station down the street from the theater, a man gestures desperately inside, to be taken seriously. At least, I think he was. I couldn’t hear him through the glass. At the bus stop, two men trade cryptic insults and are shouting, deciding whether or not to attack each other. One wanders off. The other one says, “Not gonna go look for trouble.”

Those things would have happened whether or not I was there to see them. After an evening with “Caught,” though, I certainly saw them from new contexts.  “Caught” plays through March 30 at 12th Avenue Arts, 1620 12th Avenue in Seattle, as a presentation of the Intiman Theatre. For prices, showtimes, and other information, visit intiman.org/caught/.

Andrew can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

MARCH 16 – MARCH 22, 2019

■ ASTROLOGY

13

Predictions and advice for the week of March 16–March 22, 2019

By Sun Lee Chang Rat — When considering a do-it-yourself project, take into account your level of expertise. If it becomes too difficult, the cost savings may not materialize.

Dragon — Is there an underlying tension that has been distracting you this week? Until it is resolved, avoid piling on anything too substantial to your plate.

Ox — By revealing too much, you could be giving someone else the upper hand. It is in your interest to err on the side of discretion.

Snake — Anticipation is half the fun with respect to an upcoming event. As it approaches, you may find yourself getting caught up in the excitement.

Tiger — What once seemed cut and dry is now more complicated. Take your time as you sort through the issues before you.

Horse — Are you trying to reconcile two things that just don’t quite fit with each other? At the end of the day, you might have to keep them separate.

Rabbit — Whether you choose to see it or not, something has definitely changed. The sooner you acknowledge it, the faster adjustments can be made.

Goat — A simple change of your mind could be all it takes to turn the wheels in another direction.

However, there will be some lost ground to make up.

Monkey — You have been sitting still for a while, trying not to rock the boat, but that may be unavoidable if you are trying to get off.

Rooster — Resist the urge to fill the silence with unnecessary chatter. There is value in the calm and stillness.

Dog — Even without intending to convey a message, your example speaks volumes in ways words simply could not.

Pig — A pressing deadline could cause you to make a hasty decision. If it is of minor consequence, then try not to dwell on it too much.

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CONSTANTINE from 1 Interconnected issues — housing, homelessness, gangs — require an interconnected response.

For example, King County set aside $5 million for a Filipino Community Village project that will create housing for lowincome seniors near the upcoming Graham Street Light Rail station. Constantine recognizes that many of those displaced

by Seattle’s economic boom are immigrants.

“The pace of change and the newfound affluence in our community is startling too many of us who’ve lived our whole lives here,” he acknowledged. With this affluence comes opportunity, and also what Constantine termed “unintended consequences,” such as “insecurity for individuals who are not participating in the new economy, or who have in some way been left behind, or are on a fixed income.” In Constantine’s view, King County needs to support all scenarios.

“We have to ask what kind of place we want to be. I think we want to be the kind of place that both is full of economic opportunity and has deep roots.”

This means partnerships. When it comes to housing, it means a combination of public and for-profit options. While Constantine is working with the state legislature to lower the income percentage required for workforce housing, from what is now 30 to 80 percent of the average income to 0 to 30 percent, he also believes that “public investment is necessary to make up for the inability of the market to create housing for people of all income ranges.” As Constantine explained, having a spectrum of housing is a policy choice, not a market choice.

“We choose as a matter of policy to want an economically diverse community.”

We also choose to protect our own, including those facing homelessness. Constantine explained that King County’s homelessness crisis is part of a larger, nationwide crisis.

“Homelessness is a product of a lot of national and global forces, not just local forces…but growing income inequality nationally, [and] the conscious choice by the national government to disinvest in the safety net and the infrastructure that allows people to be successful.” Once a person has

become homeless, it is very difficult to get back out. “Most people who are homeless do not want to be homeless,” said Constantine. “Most people who are homeless are just like you and me, but they’ve had some bad breaks.”

Homelessness is exacerbated when a person comes out of “the system” — be it the justice, mental health, or foster care system — and does not have a new support system. That’s where community partnerships come in, and the County’s support of organizations in place that strive to combat the many factors that lead an individual into homelessness.

“Our job is to knit together that community and get everyone oriented towards the point on the horizon we’re all striving for.”

How to do this in a political climate when many people hesitate to come forward due to the federal administration’s hostility towards immigrants? Deportation, according to Constantine, is “outrageous,” and he noted that “the United States government, the congress, has to come to grips with real immigration reform that recognizes the need of our country to continually have new residents coming to our shores.” This just makes sense. “It’s good for the economy.

It’s good for the culture. It’s the thing that has made America different and made it successful.”

King County and the City of Seattle have funded $5.6 million in know-your-rights services for immigrants and refugees, to span 2019 through 2023.

“We’ve provided resources…so that people are not so easily intimidated by the federal government or by those who are invoking the Trump administration’s lines in order to try to intimidate people.” Constantine insisted, “Nobody at King County government is to predicate the delivery of services on your immigration status…We do not ask for people’s papers when they need help.” This includes when accessing health services, reporting crimes, or testifying in court.

“We want people to be safe…regardless of their immigration status. We do not want to drive people into the shadows by having them think that we are somehow an agent of this now hostile federal administration.”

It is not the County that people need to worry about, Rather,

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procurement. King County encourages minority business enterprise participation.

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1010-19-ALP OPENS: April 2, 2019 Armor Plates

it is those who prey upon the disadvantaged, such as gangs and human traffickers. According to Constantine’s sources, most Asian gangs seek to harm members of their own communities, by taking advantage of those with economic and language barriers, and what is often a cultural distrust of government.

“It is absolutely incumbent on law enforcement, on the justice system, generally, on government, to build trust that will keep people from being victimized in that way.”

Many victims are young people, and King County has set a high goal for reducing youth detention: Zero.

“While it seems to some people to be purely aspirational, [this goal] is actually intended as a measure to keep us focused in every single case on asking the question: What could have been done differently here?” Community responsibility. And in fact, King County has already had a great deal of success.

The number of youth in detention has fallen from what was historically around 200, to 40 (plus those being charged as adults). Constantine and King County have also gotten behind Best Starts for Kids, a program that has awarded over $7 million to AAPI organizations, such as the Chinese Information and Service Center, in order to fund services for families and children.

It takes a village. Or a County. And although it is beneficial when those in leadership positions place people first, it takes a concerted, combined effort to make sure that no one is left behind. “It’s about having a functioning community,” said Constantine. “A compassionate community…But functioning.

We cannot have a community where tens and even hundreds of thousands of people are excluded from participating, who don’t feel as though they can be part of these basic institutions.

Everyone needs to be able to be here.”

As to whether Constantine will take on a new leadership position as governor in the near future, he responded, with a laugh. “People do ask from time to time,” then went on to say, “If the time is right, and if I feel it’s the right thing for my family, then it seems like a logical next step, but time will tell.”  Kai can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

asianweekly northwest

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EMPLOYMENT Outdoor Research is hiring experienced fulltime sewing operators and helpers, 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 206-4670374 or email jobs@orgear.com

MARCH 16 – MARCH 22, 2019

EMPLOYMENT METROPOLITAN KING COUNTY COUNCIL MUNICIPAL RELATIONS DIRECTOR

Salary Range: $117,539 - $158,078 (DOQ)

PSRC is seeking two Assistant Planners for the Transportation Planning Division. Please see our job announcement at https://www. psrc.org/about/careers. PSRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The successful candidate is a leader who will advocate for approved Council positions and policies and advise the Council on issues and concerns of municipal jurisdictions to support the Council in fulfilling its mission. This is an exciting opportunity to join the King County Council staff and play a role in providing quality regional services to county residents and foster effective partnerships with municipalities within King County.

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HOW TO APPLY: To apply and view a complete job announcement and apply, go to www. kingcounty.gov/jobs A King County application is required to be considered for this opportunity.

Interested applicants must complete the supplemental questions and submit a resume and letter of interest with your application.

METROPOLITAN KING COUNTY COUNCIL AUDITOR’S OFFICE PRINCIPAL MANAGEMENT AUDITOR FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS Closes: March 25, 2019 at 11:59 pm Salary Range: $109,990 - $147,925 (DOQ) The King County Auditor’s Office is looking for an experienced auditor to join us in improving the accountability, performance, and efficiency of capital systems, programs, and projects in county government through analysis, audits, and oversight. The Auditor’s Office analyzes capital work across the county. Some capital programs/projects that we may examine include transit facilities, court buildings, detention facilities, transfer and recycling stations, wet weather treatment facilities, parks, trails, roads, and emergency radio networks. We also review capital systems-related issues such as analysis of alternatives, project management, contracting, and staffing.

Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County (WDC) Request for Proposals (RFP) Legal Notice The Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County (WDC) is competitively procuring Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program services for Adult and Dislocated Worker. Qualified organizations are invited to respond to the RFP on the WDC Website http://www.seakingwdc.org/rfp18-02 RFP Response Deadline: April 22, 2019 at 4:00pm (PDT). Responding bidders agree to comply with all local, state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to equal employment opportunities, and all WDC policies available at http://www.seakingwdc.org/policies-guidelines . EOE/ADA

Subscribe to the Northwest Asian Weekly $40 for one year.

Name__________________________ Address ________________________ City ____________________State___ Zip Code __________Phone _______ Mail to: NW Asian Weekly 412 Maynard Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98104 or call 206-223-0623

HOW TO APPLY: To apply and view a complete job announcement and apply, go to www. kingcounty.gov/jobs

BOEING from 4 It should take five days before any victims’ remains are identified, Ethiopian Airlines spokesman Asrat Begashaw told the AP. The dead came from 35 countries and included dozens of humanitarian workers.

A pilot who saw the crash site minutes after the disaster told the AP the plane appeared to have “slid directly into the ground.’’

Capt. Solomon Gizaw was among the first people dispatched to find the crash site, which was discovered by Ethiopia’s air force.

“There was nothing to see,’’ he said. “It looked like the earth had swallowed the aircraft. ... We were surprised!’’

He said it explained why rescue officials quickly sent bulldozers to begin digging out large pieces of the plane.

Investigators found the jetliner’s two flight recorders at the crash site on March 11. An airline official, however, told

the AP one recorder was partially damaged.

“The engine is here, the wreckage, the humans, the flesh and remains, still we are collecting,’’ one investigator at the site, Amdey Fanta, said.

Ethiopian Airlines, widely seen as Africa’s bestmanaged airline, grounded its remaining four 737 Max 8s until further notice as “an extra safety precaution.’’ The carrier had been using five of the planes and was awaiting delivery of 25 more.

Airlines in China and Indonesia, Aeromexico, Brazil’s Gol Airlines, India’s Jet Airways and others also have temporarily grounded their 737 Max 8s.

As the global team searched for answers, a woman stood near the crash site, wailing.

Kebebew Legess said she was the mother of a young Ethiopian Airlines crew member among the dead.

“She would have been 25 years old but God would not allow her,’’ she wept. “My daughter, my little one.’’ 

SERVICE DIRECTORY CONTACT JOHN TO PLACE AN AD ON CLASSIFIED PAGE 206-223-5559 JOHN@NWASIANWEEKLY.COM

NOTICE

RFP 18-02 Adult and Dislocated Worker (WIOA) Legal Notice

Closes: March 26, 2019 at 11:59 pm

Assistant Planner (Two Openings)

No time to pick up a newspaper? Find us online www.nwasianweekly.com

NOTICE

NOTICE

EMPLOYMENT

The King County Council is seeking an experienced, enthusiastic, results oriented and collaborative individual, with a passion for public policy to join the Council team. The Municipal Relations Director represents the Metropolitan King County Council with other municipal jurisdictions within the County, such as individual cities and special purpose districts, as well as the Sound Cities Association and the City of Seattle.

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asianweekly northwest

MARCH 16 – MARCH 22, 2019

15

dates back to the 14th century. It is a traditional craft that is still popular in Japan. They are good-luck charms and symbols of perseverance and resilience. I was amazed by how expensive these dolls were when I traveled to Japan 5 years ago. It varied from a few hundred to thousands of dollars.

There were more dolls in other rooms. The Minegishis must have more than 80 dolls and mini objects. Their collection is part of both of their families’ history, spanning three generations and more than a century. The dolls once belonged to their grandmothers.

Naomi said the dolls are old and fragile. To me, they still look new and well-preserved.

It’s not true that only women like dolls, men like them, too.

“It’s a fantasy,” said Yoshi. “The dolls are nobilities. They are someone we look up to.”

“I like traditions, and I like to celebrate,” he said. “I have two daughters. Someday, one of them is going to inherit the dolls. But you need to have space (to store them).”

Naomi and Yoshi are great appreciators of art and culture.

It is no surprise that the couple are also founders of Celebrate Asia, an annual concert of Asian music, part of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra’s successful program.

CAPTAIN MARVEL from 7 and other films (plus television), appears as Minn-Erva, one of Vers’ teammates. Chan explained her role to the press by saying that Minn-Erva was once the star of the team and YonRogg’s favorite, leaving her bitter when Vers appeared and stole her thunder. Chan isn’t used as much as I hoped for, but she’s brightly-colored, ramrod-tough, and full of attitude. Her

Minegishis were gracious hosts. The dining table set with several dolls, was aesthetically appealing. The colors of the dolls, food, and the hand-painted lacquer plates (family heirlooms) were so gorgeously matched that guests understood the amount of thought and heart that went into the setting.

Guests like me enjoyed lingering around the table. I probably ate more than I should have. Catered by Chef Hiro Tawara, the salads, salmon, beef, and other courses were delicious. Each mini mochi, wrapped in a small gift box, consisted of just the right amount of sweetness. A small glass of green tea should be accompanied with the dessert. It was perfection, though, in every sense of the word.

Photo by Assunta Ng

Photo by Assunta Ng

BLOG from 10

Professor Paul Atkins (left) and Naomi (right)

Men were invited, too, and many guests were among the Who’s Who in our community, including the Consul General of Japan, Yoichiro Yamada. To make the occasion special, Professor Paul Atkins, of the University of Washington, gave a history of the Doll Festival.

The Minegishis don’t host every year. And Naomi said this might be their last time. I understand, it takes a lot of work to dig them up and store them afterwards. Yoshi said it can take as many as three to four hours to disassemble the stairway and store the dolls in boxes and padding.

I had never attended a Japanese doll festival before. Dolls!

You probably think that older folks don’t care about dolls.

Hey, I am a girl, too. These days, I enjoy things that spark childlike fun and a sense of play.

I had only one doll in my childhood. My mom often told friends that I never liked dolls. Not true. She worried that I might not be able to bear children one day because of my inclination not to play with dolls. That’s silly. She bought me a big ugly Western doll and just dumped it next to me. The doll was heavy for me, for a 5-year-old. Also, I didn’t have anyone to play with. Had I been given the chance to choose one at a

toy store, it could be a different tale. Just that one time, she assumed I wanted no dolls. Since then, she never bought me any toys again.

Few people know that one of my favorite pastimes is to buy dolls and toy princesses, including Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, for my friends’ daughters during Christmas. It’s a manifestation of my desire to make up for my childhood.

Giving to other kids fills up my past void and makes me happy.

I have been to countless dinners since January. My life has been blessed with variety through my work as a journalist. For two consecutive days, I got to appreciate heritage preservation and friendship — first at the Minegishis’ home facing Puget Sound and the Olympic mountains; the following day, I was at a dinner in a fancy downtown hotel, with six executives, focusing on how robotics can drive up business in retail. The Minegishis’ gathering has enhanced not only my humanity, but my energy and vision to engage in meaningful conversations in cultural diversity. 

terse exchanges with Larson crunch like croutons in salad.

The story also benefits from a certain odd twist, related to but separate from Vers’ discombobulation. She must decide who the real enemy is, and who is telling the truth, after a long stretch of believing that she simply knows. This was a bold move, and it left me wondering, for long minutes afterward, whom to believe.

And the film also stresses, though not shrilly, that sometimes

a person has to choose between the demands of duty, and his or her morality, a homegrown inner sense of what is right and wrong. “Captain Marvel” hast all the glitz, humor, and elaborate set pieces a popcorn movie needs. It will sell tickets.

I’m hoping the popcorn eaters leave with an appreciation of its softer messages. 

Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

Andrew can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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MARCH 16 – MARCH 22, 2019

37 YEARS

Access YOUR Opportunity!

The Port of Seattle is committed to expanding opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses. Learn more about upcoming events and register to receive information about opportunities in construction, consulting, and goods and services.

LEARN MORE www.portseattle.org/smallbiz