VOL 40 NO 19 | MAY 8 – MAY 14, 2021

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VOL 40 NO 19 MAY 8 – MAY 14, 2021

FREE 39 YEARS YOUR VOICE

This AAPI Heritage Month, share the joy of being who you are

Gary Locke

Florence Chang

By Janice Nesamani NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY This year has been tough, and if you identify as an Asian or Asian Pacific Islander (AAPI), then it has been like a crescendo of rising hate gradually built up over the years. As we celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, we talked to some members of the AAPI community who acknowledge our history, the effect of additional scrutiny since the advent of Covid, and help us see ways to heal and support each other.

Florence Chang, executive vice president and COO of MultiCare Health System, saw the pain and anxiety many

John Chen

SPD Chief Diaz wrestling as liberation

E.J. Koh

of her Asian colleagues, friends, and communities felt, and recognized those feelings as her own after the Atlanta shootings.

“I worried for my parents, relatives, and adult children’s safety and—for the first time—asked them not to go out at night,” Chang said.

She admits she resisted speaking or even thinking about these events for fear of awakening painful memories. “But these heartbreaking incidents and the wellbeing of my fellow Asian American colleagues, friends, and family members has been weighing heavily

Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz

By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Adrian Diaz was chasing a suspect down Jackson Street. When he caught him, Diaz, then a 28-year-old police officer, employed a wrestling move and lifted the man off the ground, simultaneously apprehending the

see AAPI HERITAGE MONTH on 8

see DIAZ on 9

May Day march

New law protects victims of nonfatal strangulation

Photo by George Liu

By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

May Day march through Seattle on May 1

About 150 people marched through the ChinatownInternational District and downtown Seattle on May 1—as part of an annual May Day March organized by El Comité.

The crowd started at St. Mary’s Church, and stopped along south King Street for speeches by state Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos and JM Wong of Massage Parlor Outreach Project.

Wong spoke of the violence that has been inflicted on the Asian American community—and an insistence on a better future.

Santos said, “The struggles of today are not new but, rather, enjoin us to every racial and

■

ethnic group...For APIs, this fight for freedom, justice, and civil rights are largely interconnected by racial animus, xenophobia, and economic conditions.”

Santos told the crowd, “Today, your presence in the International District shows that the people’s movement is more united than ever. Today, you march with and for one another. Today, you march with the spirits of those who fought before us for they are here, all around us, joining in their ongoing struggle for freedom, justice, and civil rights. Today, you march for your future and for mine . . . because we are stronger, together.” 

A senate bill protecting victims of domestic violence via strangulation was signed into law this past April. The bill covers costs of a forensic nurse examination related to nonfatal strangulation when it is part of a sexual assault or if a victim applies for program benefits.

Washington becomes the first state in the nation to provide this service.

The proposed law aids domestic violence survivors and was supported by Washington state senators T’wina Nobles and Manka Dhingra. see FORENSIC NURSE on 11

Manka Dhingra

THE INSIDE STORY

NAMES IN THE NEWS Tana Lin nominated to District Court judgeship  2

PUBLISHER’S BLOG Long live “crazy” moms!  5

PROFILE Swimming to Hong Kong: A bold Chinese refugee looks back 6

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

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asianweekly northwest

39 YEARS

MAY 8 – MAY 14, 2021

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Canlis hires Aisha Ibrahim

Canlis announced on May 3 that it has hired chef Aisha Ibrahim to lead its kitchen.

Born in the Philippines, Ibrahim becomes the first woman—and woman of color—and the seventh chef to lead Canlis, replacing James Beard Award-winning chef Chef Aisha Ibrahim Brady Williams who will open his own restaurant later this year.

The Canlis brothers flew Ibrahim, 35, in from Bangkok for a week-long interview earlier this year that culminated in a seven-course dinner she cooked for the Canlis family and Williams in February.

“She blew us out of the water,” Brian Canlis told The Seattle Times. 

Tana Lin nominated to District Court judgeship

President Joe Biden announced his intent on April 29 to nominate Tana Lin to the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.

Lin has worked at Keller Rohrback LLP since 2004—her practice has focused on representing employees and shareTana Lin holders in consumer and antitrust litigation. Previously, Lin was an attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice Employment Litigation Section. She began her

legal career as a staff attorney at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1995.

Lin received her J.D. from the New York University School of Law in 1991, and her A.B., with distinction, from Cornell University in 1988. 

Heritage month kickoff

Northwest Watercolor Society (NWWS) Virtual Online Waterworks Unlimited Exhibition.

The annual membership show runs through June 30.

No ticket is required for the online show. To view the exhibition, go to nwws.org.

O’Connell’s painting, May Award, was among 422 entries from artists in 16 states, including Washington, D.C., and international entrants from Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, and Canada. 

Seko republished first book

Olympia Symphony Orchestra (OSO) kicked off its celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with a free concert on May 3.

The event included a panel discussion on the topic of AAPI Hate with OSO Executive Director and Board Chair Jennifer Hermann, as well as two performing artists, pianist Angie Zhang and mezzo soprano Miya Higashiyama, and state Reps. Cindy Ryu and Sharon Tomiko Santos. 

O’Connell accepted in NWWS virtual exhibition

Seattle artist Patsy Surh O’Connell is one of 70 artists accepted in the

Joan Seko

Joan Seko has republished her first book in the Wither’s Series and is offering the e-book for free for Mother’s Day between May 8–10.

The book is described as a “Victorian romance fiction novel about Lady Dahlia and her ‘knight and shining armor.’”

Go to amazon.com/dp/B093YTDRMZ to download a free copy. 

Patsy Surh O’Connell

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YOUR VOICE

asianweekly northwest

■ COMMUNITY HEALTH

WASHINGTON STATE COVID NEWS, UPDATES, RESOURCES AND SERVICES Immigrants & Refugees’ services

This is a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) information guide for immigrants who want to know more about how the issue of public charge might affect their ability to access healthcare and other services during this COVID-19 outbreak. The Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs will continue updating this site as developments occur.

2. Do hospitals and clinics share citizenship or immigration status information with ICE? • No. The federal law known as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) generally prohibits the use or disclosure of patient information without the patient’s consent. Additionally, health care providers are not legally required to report to federal immigration authorities about a patient’s immigration status.

• Residential evictions for non-payment of rent are temporarily halted in the city of Seattle. This is effective immediately and will last for 30 days or until Seattle’s COVID-19 Civil Emergency ends.

• Utilities will not be shut off during this outbreak.

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), Seattle City Light (SCL), and Puget Sound Energy (PSE) will keep utility services on during the COVID-19 Civil Emergency in Seattle.

SPU and SCL customers who have been financially impacted by COVID-19, regardless of background or immigration status, can request a deferred payment plan that includes reversed late fees. SPU and SCL recommends that customers should as soon as possible call (206) 684-3000 or send an email anytime at seattle. gov/utilities/about-us/email-question. PSE is waiving late fees for customers who can find more information at PSE’s COVID-19 Response page.

• The Utility Discount Program (UDP) lowers Seattle City Light bills by 60 percent and Seattle Public Utility bills by 50 percent. To learn more about enrollment in UDP, call (206) 684-0268 or go to: seattle.gov/ humanservices/services-and-programs/affordabilityand-livability/utility-discount-program.

3. I am undocumented and have been financially affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. What programs and services can I apply for and access without showing my documentation?

4. I just became unemployed because of the outbreak. Do I qualify for unemployment insurance?

• It depends. The Washington State Employment

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1. I suspect I have a COVID-19 infection, what should I do?

• If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or questions, you can call: • King County Novel Coronavirus Call Center, (206) 477-3977. This helpline is open from 8 a.m.–7 p.m. every day.

• Washington State Novel Coronavirus Call Center, (800) 525-0127 and press #. This helpline is open from 6 a.m.–10 p.m. every day. The operators are able to connect with a third-party interpreter.

Security Department (ESD) administers programs designed to help workers impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, including unemployment benefits. You do need a valid social security number to apply.

• ESD also has an easy-to-read comparison guide listing some of the most common scenarios that may occur and benefits that may apply. More information for workers and businesses here: esd.wa.gov/newsroom/ covid-19.

5. Will receiving an unemployment benefit threaten my ability to apply for a green card or citizenship under the new public charge rules?

• No. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has specifically stated that unemployment insurance benefits paid to an immigrant worker are not considered in the public charge determination. Washington state administers the unemployment benefit insurance program, which is funded primarily through local sources.  More information for workers here: esd.wa.gov/newsroom/covid-19.

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asianweekly northwest

MAY 8 – MAY 14, 2021

39 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

New grants for restaurants: Act quickly!

By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY You can now obtain a new grant for your restaurant from the federal government. If you are a woman, veteran, or come from a socially or economically disadvantaged background, the federal government is offering a special three-week period, which started on May 3, during which you will be given priority for grants. After this period, anyone can apply and the government will distribute grants on a first-come-firstserved basis.

The minimum grant is $1,000. The maximum is $5 million for a single location or $10 million for a business with multiple locations. The amount of a grant is based on how much a restaurant lost due to the pandemic.

“This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss,” said the Small Business Association (SBA) in a press release on April 27.

The program is called the Restaurant Revitalization

Fund. The total funds available to restaurants across the nation are $28.6 billion.

“Restaurants are the core of our neighborhoods and propel economic activity on main streets across the nation. They are among the businesses that have been hardest hit and need support to survive this pandemic.

We want restaurants to know that help is here,” said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman.

In addition to the three-week period for the disadvantaged, the federal government has undertaken another strategy to try to make sure that the funds are not gobbled up by larger restaurants. The program has set aside $9.5 billion out of the total for smaller businesses.

This breaks down as follows: • For restaurants with gross receipts in 2019 under $500,000, $5 billion is set aside.

• For those with gross receipts between $500,001 to $1,500,000, $4 billion is set aside.

• For those with gross receipts under $50,000, the federal government has set aside $500 million.

“The SBA has focused on the marketplace realities

of our food and beverage businesses in designing the Restaurant Revitalization Fund to meet businesses where they are. And we are committed to equity to ensure our smaller and underserved businesses, which have suffered the most, can access this critical relief, recover, and grow more resilient,” said Guzman.

How to you apply

• Register for an account by going to: restaurants.sba. gov.

• On the website, read how to apply. There is a sample application. It is available in 18 different languages.

There is also a list of all documents required.

• Prepare the required documents.

• As of May 3, you have three weeks to apply for funding. The earlier you apply the better, because it is “first-come, first-served,” according to Guzman.

• You apply at the same site: restaurants.sba.gov. see GRANTS on 10

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR MAY 7

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Assunta Ng

Account Executives

John Liu

rebecca@nwasianweekly.com

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Publisher assunta@nwasianweekly.com Associate Publisher john@nwasianweekly.com Editor editor@nwasianweekly.com

Han Bui Layout & Web Editor han@nwasianweekly.com

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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.”

The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject any advertisement, letter or article.

Subscriptions cost $40 for 52 weeks of the NW Asian Weekly and $30 for 52 weeks of the Seattle Chinese Post. The NW Asian Weekly owns the copyright for all its content. All rights reserved. No part of this paper may be reprinted without permission.

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

Photo by Assunta Ng

YOUR VOICE

MAY 8 – MAY 14, 2021

simultaneously, thanks to my husband’s support.

We working moms are doing men a favor—liberating them as they are no longer required to be the sole breadwinner of the family. It takes enormous pressure off the men’s shoulders. A dual-income family

By Assunta Ng means the family lives better, NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY and has the opportunity of setting up their emergency fund.

A girlfriend of mine went back to work just because she didn’t have $700 decades ago to open an investment account for her three children.

Now, those investments paid off, turning them into gold.

I always felt I could have done a better job in both. This guilt thing affects women more than men, and it is just not fair. Once I convinced myself that perfection was Mother’s Day hand-made gifts from my son John Liu when he was in pre-school and elementary school. never my goal, I lived comfortably with all the choices Toshiko Hasegawa and I have something I have made. And to hell with what peoin common, even though we are from two ple think! I wouldn’t be content with my different generations. We are both “crazy life had I did one and not the other. The moms” perhaps! fact is, we are not “crazy moms,” just pasA few months after Hasegawa gave birth sionate working moms, trying to make a to a baby girl, she declared she was running difference in our society, while rearing our for office. Hasegawa, executive director of family. Hasegawa has a list of things she Washington State Commission for Asian wants to accomplish at the Port.

American Affairs, is running for the Port Working moms adapt easily, make tough of Seattle Commissioner. If elected, she decisions fast, and have good instincts will be the first Asian American female in about their children. One example was history to hold the seat. But she won’t be when my oldest son was 5 years old, he the first female commissioner with a baby. had a tummy ache. My mother-in-law, who Former Commissioner Courtney Gregoire had raised seven children, was visiting us had young kids when she ran and won. at the time. She put some tiger balm oil While some think Hasegawa is bold, no on his belly while I was working in the one should judge any woman who wants to office. Perhaps she thought my husband create an unconventional and meaningful was home, and she didn’t need to inform path for herself. In fact, Hasegawa didn’t me. When I went home, she reported the see her baby daughter as a challenge. pain to me quickly. One glance at my son’s “I see it as the reason (to run),” she said. agonizing face, I knew it was serious.

“She becomes the fire in my belly.”

“He needs to go to a hospital now,” I No one would say anything to a man demanded. Immediately, my husband with little kids who runs for office. Society and I drove him to Children’s Hospital. expects women to be the sole family The doctor found out it was appendicitis, member to bear the most, if not the sole, his appendix had burst. He needed an responsibility to raise the kids. operation. I was grateful that my husband I am not running for office. But I have listened to me. done things that would make most moms What are the lessons for families with roll their eyes. People think of me as a working moms? publisher. Yet, I am more proud to be a mother than a publisher. When I had my ACCEPT CHAOS firstborn, my parents and in-laws begged Before I had kids, I loved to entertain me to quit my teaching job, stay home, and friends at home and hosted big parties. take care of the baby. My mother believed One friend wrote in her diary that she had that being a housewife meant a good life three dinners at my apartment in one year. for a woman. I tried, but I failed miserably.

But after having a family, I never invited After I succeeded in my business, both my friends to my home. I prefer to entertain in late mother and in-laws were immensely a restaurant, so the stress of cleaning and proud of me. preparing before and after a party would I did quit my job though. After two be minimal. months, I went back to school to begin I don’t want to worry about friends my master’s degree at the University of seeing my messy home. My home is my Washington. While finishing the degree, I sanctuary, where I can relax and run the was pregnant with my second son. When way I please. Books and papers are all over my kids were 3 years old and one-and-half my kitchen and dining table. My sofas in years old, I started the Seattle Chinese the living are my napping spots.

Post, and a year later, the Northwest Asian Weekly. I managed two full-time jobs

asianweekly northwest

5

Happy Mother’s Day

L ong live “crazy” moms!

NO RUSH When I first embarked on my newspaper venture, I wanted to do everything. One word of advice to young women who want to thrive—don’t rush. You have a whole lifetime to achieve your goals. You just do it in different phases of your life. Take time to enjoy each phase of your adventures.

Sometimes, you need to slow down.

GET HELP One thing Hasegawa did that I wish I had done was hire a part-time nanny. My husband and I were pretty much on our own, without hiring extra help. It was stressful. A lot had to do with our tight finances when I first started the business. When I went to classes for graduate school, I took my son with me. Although my son was quiet all throughout class, my professor was not pleased. He made a face when I brought in my son on a stroller. I don’t blame him. I was late to class. In fact, I was late for most of my appointments when my kids were little.

I couldn’t help it. Forever, I am grateful that my husband took care of the baby when I studied at a University of Washington library. By the way, he also paid for my master’s degree.

MEN SHOULD DO HOUSEWORK I was fortunate that my husband never complained about doing housework. It might be common for men to share in a more equal marriage partnership today. Decades before, I witnessed men not doing their share.

The world today is much more open than our generation. Househusbands and stay-athome dads are much more acceptable these days. My younger friends, husband and wife, are splitting their parental roles. The wife takes care of the baby in the morning, and the husband takes his turn in the afternoon so she can have some time for herself.

A VILLAGE OF WOMEN It takes a village to raise kids, said former Sen. Hillary Clinton. My village for raising my own kids consists of several women.

First, my late mother-in-law stayed with me right after childbirth to take care of my babies and me. She taught me how to bathe and feed the baby, and other valuable experiences.

My late grandaunt became my nanny when I started the newspapers. She stayed with me for three years until my youngest son turned 4 years old. If she didn’t suggest the arrangement, I would never have been see BLOG on 9

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asianweekly northwest

■ PROFILE

39 YEARS

MAY 8 – MAY 14, 2021

SWIMMING TO HONG KONG

A bold Chinese refugee looks back

By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Of all the methods used by dissidents to escape mainland China and enter Hong Kong, swimming the distance is quite possibly the most dangerous. But Kent Wong, a retired anesthesiologist living near Seattle, attempted that swim twice, sharing his life, and his hope, with a group of such brave folk, known as the “Freedom Swimmers.”

Wong, author of the just-published book, “Swimming To Freedom: An Untold Story of Escaping China and the Cultural Revolution,” grew up in Canton City (today known as Guangzhou).

“I was always a leader and at the top of my class in elementary school to junior high,” he remembers. “I believed that I would be a scientist or an engineer when I grew up... Then came the Cultural Revolution. My hopes were dashed, and I eventually became a rebel in order to escape from China.”

He caught a taste of Hong Kong as a child when his parents moved there for a short time. Later, with the devastating and violent purges of China’s Cultural Revolution, he

began to understand that he would not get to attend college, and began to plot an escape. He admits he was lucky, as Canton City sits close enough to Hong Kong to make such an escape theoretically possible.

Asked about the defining factors behind his decision to reject China, he mentioned “class discrimination towards my family during the Cultural Revolution, because my father was purged by Mao during the Great Leap Forward. Then, [me] being sent down to the countryside, followed by being forced to relocate to another, much poorer village because of my father’s downfall further, pushed me to the edge.

“The final straw was witnessing the public execution of the counterrevolutionaries from the Cultural Revolution because that reminded me that I could easily be one of them.”

He fell in with a group who opposed Chairman Mao, listened to forbidden Voice of America broadcasts on shortwave, and brooded on escape plans. They called themselves the “Rooftop Underground.” Rooftop, because they gathered at a building built on the rooftop of another building. Underground, because they could not speak freely of their

feelings to anyone outside the group, for fear of imprisonment or execution.

Swimming to Hong Kong required, at minimum, crossing five or six miles of open water. The swimmers could be set upon by sharks. They could get swept out to the open sea by strong currents. They could be picked up by Chinese patrol boats, in which case they would be sent to detention camps. But the Rooftop Underground members supported each other, and helped each other plan.

Wong tried to escape three times, the first two times through swimming. He made his first attempt alongside one of his sisters and a close friend. They were caught on the coast, by the People’s Liberation Army. After release from detention, he tried again alongside two friends from school. One of those fellows was not, alas, a strong swimmer, but Wong promised to stay with him in the water. Those two were caught by armed Chinese fishermen near the Hong Kong border—although the third swimmer made it to freedom.

“My third escape was by way of Taishan. A local fisherman stole a village’s fishing sampan, and I brought along two city couples. Their relatives in Hong Kong would pay for the Hong Kong smuggler, who would meet our sampan at night in the international waters...

“I knew 16 escapees and three died in the water. The Chinese government will never disclose how many escaped to Hong Kong during the Cultural Revolution... The number of deaths [also] remains unknown.”

He found a Chinese expat community in Hong Kong, but his father, who stayed behind on the mainland, always urged him to head to America. Wong applied for immigration, secured a sponsor in the United States, and landed at Sea-Tac Airport in 1975 with his sister, Ning,

another escapee who’d been approved at the same time.

Now his dream of becoming a doctor seemed within reach. After two years at Shoreline Community College, he transferred to the University of Washington (UW) and graduated with a chemistry degree. He got into Harvard Medical School, took much of his residency at the UW Medical Center, and practiced at Highline Hospital as an independent board-certified anesthesiologist. He also operated an art gallery with his wife, Tuoya, the Twin Cranes Gallery in Pioneer Square, to showcase avant-garde mainland China artists.

Now retired, he makes his home in Pierce County. He’s hoping to turn his book into a screenplay and eventually a film, musing that Chinese Americans do well in medicine, law, and engineering, but need more representation in film and books.

“I have to say that I was not born to take risks,” he concludes. “I was pushed to the edge before I made up my mind to escape.

But once I decide to do something, I am all out and will not quit. I used to tell my sons that success or failure is not important so long you have given all you have.”  Andrew can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

MAY 8 – MAY 14, 2021

YOUR VOICE

■ EDITORIAL

asianweekly northwest

7

It’s AAPI Heritage Month WHAT CAN YOU DO The month of May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, and it is even more notable now—after more than a year in which the AAPI community has experienced a rise in racist attacks amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In and around Seattle, and virtually, there are many ways you can celebrate and support AAPI causes.

Locally, the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce had some good ideas: • Support local AAPI-owned businesses by using directories like Intentionalist.

• Support small businesses in Seattle's ChinatownInternational District by shopping a unique selection of retail, arts, gifts cards, and more through the C-ID online marketplace.

Refugee Artisan Initiative (RAI) is a Seattle-based organization helping AAPI women learn artisan skills to gain full-time employment, while also producing PPE for local medical facilities.

It has launched a GoFundMe (gofundme.com/f/helprai-stopasianhate) to help raise $50,000 to enroll 20 more women into their training program and help combat Asain hate.

Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman, a Taiwanese immigrant who founded the RAI, said, “We stand with our AAPI community. We stand against racism and hatred, and we stand for the eventual freedom in which all women in America are accepted, respected, and empowered.”

GoFundMe has also launched the #StopAsianHate Initiative, which provides a centralized, rallying point for those who want to donate and support. The centralized hub of fundraisers (gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate) helps those affected by violence, provides increased protection for the AAPI community, is dedicated to helping AAPI neighborhoods and businesses flourish, and more.

The Wing Luke Museum has a (Our Stories Are Your

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Learn about Asian American heritage in Washington at visitseattle.org/things-to-do/arts-culture/cultural-heritage/ asian-american.

Support AAPI-owned media like Northwest Vietnamese News and the Northwest Asian Weekly.

Have you watched our video yet on “The Story of Seattle Chinatown International District Murals”? Go here (youtu. be/VE9BA7KkbKc) if you haven’t.

Support these local nonprofits: • Chinatown-International District BIA • Japanese American Chamber of Commerce • Korean American Chamber of Commerce WA State • Ethnic Chamber of Commerce • Filipino Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest • Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce • Washington Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce

• Asia Pacific Cultural Center And these national organizations: • Ascend • Asian American Advertising Federation • Asian Americans Advancing Justice • The Asian American Architects and Engineers Association • Asian American Business Development Center • Asian American Federation • Asian American Government Executives Network (AAGEN) • Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) • Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund (AALDEF) • Asian Women in Business • Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce (APACC) • Asian Pacific American Medical Students Association • Asian Pacific Fund • Asian/Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship Foundation • The Center for Asian Pacific American Women • Filipino American National Historical Society • Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) • Korean American Coalition (KAC) • National Association of Asian American Professionals • U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce We are glad to see the current Congress and administration taking steps to fight anti-AAPI racism and to increase AAPI representation in our government.

This month is an opportunity to highlight, appreciate, and acknowledge AAPI contributions to this country. 

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO PROPOSERS Sealed bids will be received for KC000195, 2021 Countywide Pavement Preservation; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, via the E-Procurement system, until 1:30:59pm on 5/18/21. Late bids will not be accepted. The public bid opening will only be conducted on-line following the Bid Close Date and Time; see Invitation to Bid for details.

There is a 15% minimum Apprentice Utilization Requirement on this contract.

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

King County in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 78 Stat. 252, 42 USC 2000d to 2000d-4 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office of the Secretary, Part 21, Nondiscrimination in Federally-Assisted Programs of the Department of Transportation issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement,

disadvantaged business enterprises as defined at 49 CFR Part 26 will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, national origin, or sex in consideration for an award.

Synopsis: This project provides for the improvement of 9.03 miles of roadway in King County by grading gravel shoulders, removal of pavement markings, planning bituminous surfaces, pavement repair excavation, placing crushed surfacing top course, paving with hot mix asphalt, erosion control, installing rumble strips, induction loop replacement, other adjustments as needed, and other work.

Estimated contract price: $4,746,692.50 Prospective bidders can view more details at: https://kingcounty.gov/procurement/ solicitations Complete Invitation to Bid Documents, including all project details, specifications, and contact information are available on our web page at: https://kingcounty.gov/procurement/ supplierportal

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asianweekly northwest

39 YEARS

MAY 8 – MAY 14, 2021

■ COMMENTARY

The fight against anti-Asian hate must include fighting economic racism

By Shomya Tripathy FOR NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

This past year, the Asian community has experienced a heightened level of racism, violence, and harassment. As a result, community memShomya Tripathy bers are rightfully fearful of the physical violence they might encounter on the street, at the workplace, or in their homes. As we honor victims and survivors of this new wave of physical violence, it is important to also reflect on the multitude of other ways that Asian and immigrant communities continue to face systemic racist violence.

DIAZ from 1 suspect and throwing out his back for the next two decades.

Now at the helm of the Seattle Police Department (SPD), Chief Diaz, 45, faces a restorative process not only for his own back, but for a department that has hit its “nadir,” according to an authority on policing, the former federal monitor.

For himself, he undertakes small workouts in the morning, with no hope of getting back to the 122-pound star wrestler, soccer player, and baseball player he was in high school, not to mention the champion jujitsu and judo competitor he would later become.

For the department, he has taken larger steps. In the less than one year since he was tapped to replace Carmen Best, the first Black female police chief in the city’s history, he has made drastic changes. He has terminated nine personnel and moved 100 officers back to patrol.

“That allowed more officers to respond to 911 calls,” he said in an interview. “We had to focus on the core foundation of police work.”

His morning workouts, by contrast, are minimal. He is just shooting for maintenance.

“I used to be able to do splits and back flips,” he said.

Still, when he walked to the podium in January after five Seattle police officers were found to have taken part in the demonstration at the United States Capitol, he moved agilely like a cat.

But with the police department, the task is a little more challenging, to say the least.

“It was chaos,” he said, when he took over in August.

Two police chiefs had abruptly departed in a row. When the former mayor was caught up in a scandal, some members of the police department illegally released screen shots of a dispatch computer, in an apparent attempt to smear him, according to a report by the Office of Police Accountability (OPA).

The current mayor announced she would not launch a search for a new chief.

And the departing federal monitor (Seattle has been under a federal consent decree since 2012 for excessive force and possible racially biased policing) recommended that the department bring in someone from outside the department.

Diaz acted decisively. He fired three personnel for racial bias—one officer, one

Anti-Asian violence is not just physical violence—it is also economic violence that is deeply affecting our dayto-day lives. In addition to what our families face on the streets, our communities experience real harm when our businesses are shuttered, our neighbors are losing work, and unemployment insurance is linguistically and culturally inaccessible.

This year, we needed our representatives to go beyond a symbolic statement of support and to instead take active steps to protect us. Many of the people we work with at Asian Counseling and Referral Services (ACRS) have been doubly or triply hit by the pandemic and face many barriers in addition to the fear of physical violence.

As our lawmakers debated the budget and the economic crisis, we worked to make sure that they acknowledged the violence we experience, and all the other ways our systems leave us out.

One of these systems is our deeply regressive and

member of traffic enforcement, and one in dispatch, he said. He fired five for lying and one for violating policies.

The nightly protests that were wracking the city last year were pulling officers away from patrol. The homicide rate was up.

Moreover, the department had been hit with the greatest mid-year funding cuts in history. Morale was low and 185 officers had left.

Asked in a follow-up email why the police took no action when Black Lives Matter (BLM) splinter groups looted and attacked the Chinatown-International District last May, Diaz responded he was not chief at the time so was not privy to all the decisions.

However, he said he believes the splinter groups were not associated with BLM, but were anarchists/direct action demonstrators focused on destruction, not on exercising their First Amendment rights. Also, he said, the SPD had very little information that these splinter groups were going to attack the CID—or anywhere—that evening.

A family history of police work Diaz said he has police work in his blood.

His father was a police officer in the Air Force. And his brother, eight years his senior, was and still is a member of the SPD. His own progression toward police work started perhaps when he was a 98-pound stripling his freshman year in high school.

He had played other sports, but was willow thin and relatively weak.

“I was always getting my butt kicked by my best friend and held down by my older brother,” who was a wrestler, he said.

(When a reporter clarified if his brother is currently a lieutenant, Diaz quickly corrected him. “Acting lieutenant,” he said.)

Diaz tried out wrestling and it changed his life. He was soon virtually undefeated.

As he grew older, he wrestled at different weight classes, all hovering around 120 pounds.

He also began to read, as he progressed into martial arts, about Eastern philosophy, and stoicism.

He learned two things in wrestling—it takes others to succeed. One always needs a partner to train with. And without that partner, you will never progress.

“But when you’re wrestling, it’s all you,” he said.

Wrestling became a symbol for liberation. His brother moved on and joined

racist tax code. In Washington, those of us with the lowest incomes, who are disproportionately people of color, pay up to six times more of our incomes in state taxes than our wealthiest neighbors. We have allowed the rich to get richer without asking them to contribute to childcare, health services, good roads, or any of the other shared investments that make our communities great places to live. As a result, the services that are supposed to help us remain under-resourced and inaccessible to non-English speakers.

This year, our lawmakers finally listened to us when we talked about the economic violence that has only been exacerbated by the pandemic.

Gov. Inslee signed two landmark bills into law on May 4. One was a tax on large profits from capital gains, which will make sure that the wealthy few will also pay their

the military, which Diaz described as a vehicle many Latino boys take to escape various societal systems.

“It is a way for many Latinos to get out of the barrio,” he said.

Diaz did not come from a strictly oppressed or impoverished background.

But he “didn’t grow up with money,” he said.

His father, after leaving the Air Force, managed a grocery store while his mother cut hair in a convalescent home.

“Both of my parents were very engaged with me.”

For the sake of his schooling, they moved from Anaheim up to the Eastside of Seattle, where his grandmother lived. It was in fact his great grandmother who had come over from Mexico and the family had originally settled in Kansas. Diaz speaks some Spanish.

But there was always wrestling.

When his father brought him up to Mercer Island High School for the first time, having just moved up there, he said to the wrestling coach, “When he’s not with me, he’s with you.”

Diaz later passed on that commitment to countless other boys. He coached wrestling at Mercer for five years, then after a break, he coached for another five years at Chief Sealth, then again another five years at Mercer.

Along the way, he joined the academy.

He had offers for both Seattle and Los Angeles. But he chose Seattle.

Shortly before joining the SPD, he studied for a short time at Bellevue College and then took Chicano studies and Ethnic Studies classes at the University of Washington. Later, after he joined the department, he went back to school and finished his degree in Criminal Justice and Law. He later earned a master’s degree.

Coming into this role, he’s had to distinguish himself as a leader yet cleave to the common ideals he shares with his predecessor. Describing himself and Best as “servant leaders,” he said his leadership style did not differ from hers significantly.

However, he was quick to point out that he had terminated more officers than any previous chief.

“We must have accountability,” he said.

“Police officers must follow the laws and policies they are sworn to keep.”

He is opposed to defunding the police.

However, he said, he clearly understands the need to support marginalized communities with additional services.

see TRIPATHY on 10

“I completely support community investment in BIPOC communities. I’ve seen kids not able to reach their potential because they deteriorated up to the point of incarceration,” he said.

The department has adopted ABLE training, which coaches officers to intervene if they perceive anything wrong in the way another officer is handling a situation.

It is working through crowd management issues and crafting a “usable strategic plan.”

He has also held listening and learning sessions with the community.

“I’ve done what I’ve needed to do to build relations back with the community, it doesn’t mean there haven’t been hurdles.”

Diaz likened the need for police to the needs associated with handling longterm domestic abuse. Police are needed to handle the potential for homicide or abuse involving the parents. But for kids, he said, that is where you need community partners.

“It takes a partnership.”

In 2004, a community group asked the SPD to address violence among young Latino gang members. Diaz was asked by the department to become a liaison with the community, which also marked the creation of a broader Community Outreach Unit.

According to a law enforcement publication, Diaz focused on building strong relationships with community members. He also engaged with the gamut of problems facing the community, facilitating ESL classes, public works repairs, and other initiatives.

He led funding drives to supplement department funds, including reaching out to every 7-Eleven in the city to raise $12,000. He also sought funding from major corporations.

By 2005, the unit had expanded to 25 employees.

Before its inception, there had been seven homicides in 18 months. But from 2005-2016, the SPD reported no homicides related to gang violence, according to the publication, “Strengthening Relationships Between Police and Immigrant Communities in a Complex Political Environment,” published by the Police Executive Research Forum in 2018.

“I will have led the department through some of the most challenging times and I haven’t been afraid to lead.”  Mahlon can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.

MAY 8 – MAY 14, 2021

YOUR VOICE AAPI HERITAGE MONTH from 1 on me...I realized my silence would not help others, or myself. Only speaking up would do that,” she said.

The United States’ first ever Chinese American governor, Gary Locke, was very disturbed to see the rise in blatant racism over the last four years.

“It was equally tough to see it directed at members of our community,” Locke said. “At the same time, the solidarity from many racial and civil rights groups has been heartening. At a recent Stop AAPI Hate rally in Seattle, I saw people of all ages and backgrounds carrying ‘Hate is a Virus’ signs. When we see hatred and discrimination flare up against any group, we each have a responsibility to respond and express solidarity,” he said.

CEO of Geoteaming, John Chen, also feels that terms like the ‘China Virus’ coming straight from top leadership gave many people who harbored similar thoughts the power to be more vocal.

“If there is racism in America, it brought it to the forefront,” Chen said. “Over the last year, the few times I did go out, I felt scrutinized. I had to spend a lot of brain power thinking about who’s watching or judging me. That’s a side effect, a lot of us spend time on high alert,” he said.

“I appreciate that I have not experienced acts of hate, but I’m having to watch other people deal with them. I’m on alert all the time because I know it can happen to me,” he added.

These events take Chen back in time to Stockton, California, where there were not a lot of Asians.

“It was a farming community and being Asian there was different. I didn’t realize till later that as a child, I took the ‘easier path’ of assimilation but got picked on because I was Asian,” he said.

Cut to three years ago where he was walking around Bellevue library when “two teenagers started pulling the ‘ching chong’ China stuff at me. I was older, so I pulled out my cell phone and said, ‘Excuse me, what did you say?’ and they ran,” Chen said.

For poet and author E.J. Koh, grief and rage are multi-layered, and often ignored.

“For community leaders and teachers, students and activists, families and friends, it’s vital to process all that’s going on by asking for space if you need it, letting people know the boundaries of your labor and emotions,” Koh said. “You have every right to say so.”

Solidarity

Locke was touched by many friends from around the country and world checking in to see how he was doing and express their disgust at the anti-Asian violence.

“I’m proud of the way my colleagues and students at Bellevue College have rallied in support of the AAPI community, not just on campus but nationwide,” he said. Locke is

the president of Bellevue College.

Chang, on the other hand, was grateful for loving family, friends, and colleagues who asked how she was doing and with whom she could have open conversations as she processed her raw emotions.

“In March, I shared my story of coming to America from Taiwan at the age of 15 and my experiences with racism with fellow leaders at MultiCare. I felt liberated by the vulnerability that came with it,” Chang said. “I received responses from many of my fellow Asian American colleagues and it acted as an invitation to be okay to embrace painful memories, to care for each other, and to talk about what we can do to change things for our own children and grandchildren.”

Koh finds a sense of hope in Asian Pacific American literature, film, and art.

“Asian Pacific American writers, artists, directors, musicians, and those who work across languages and histories, who ask questions about a global humanity, create imaginative possibilities of a future,” Koh said.

Chen, on the other hand, takes refuge in his family history.

“My grandfather was a paper son. That is an experience that not only touched me but our entire family, including my kids,” Chen said.

The Chinese Immigration Act of 1882 excluded the Chinese, except the elite, from entering the United States. “At the time, there were people and papers who created the sentiment that the Chinese were taking all the jobs and they lobbied and got a law passed against Chinese,” Chen said. “Today is almost an echo of the immigration issues of the time.”

When the San Francisco courthouse burned down during the 1906 earthquake and destroyed public birth documents, it created a loophole for businesspersons or merchants whose sons could become naturalized citizens.

“It was an enterprising experience for immigrants who wanted to come here.

Many Chinese said, ‘I got five or six kids and declared them sons on paper,” Chen said.

“What really touches me is that every day I spend in this country, doing what I do is built on the shoulders of my grandfather taking this huge, somewhat unnecessary, risk,” Chen said.

An opportunity

With AAPI Heritage Month earmarked to celebrate AAPI contributions and achievements, May presents an opportunity to learn and take pride in the community’s history while making our own mark on the present.

A question Koh claims she has had on her mind was asked by a student to another writer.

“It was a question about where to find the joy of being Asian Pacific American,” she said. “There is something here I find

BLOG from 5 able to start my journey as a publisher.

Once, my mother came to Seattle to help me when my husband had to go back to Hong Kong to take care of his family.

And all the great women who worked at the Calvary Lutheran Church and University daycares where my sons attended. There were no male staff working in the daycares during my sons’ enrollment. I salute all the women who made a big difference in our lives.

INDEPENDENT KIDS People assume that working moms neglect their children.

My kids learned responsibilities and independence at a young age. They are wonderful human beings, and they never felt that they had been deprived growing up. My sons have a lot of respect for strong women because they have been looking up to me as their role model. When they were little, they thought I was the head of the household. It’s

compelling and important, something I want to put into practice––to share the joy of being who you are,” she added.

Locke said, “[Bellevue College]’s Asian Pacific Islander Student Association is putting on a series of virtual events open to not just the campus, but also to the general public.” Locke will speak virtually at numerous events and forums across the country during this month.

In collaboration with MultiCare’s Center for Health Equity & Wellness, Chang explains that the organization will share more about health disparities faced by the AAPI community, as well as providing information on how to be an advocate for the AAPI community in May. “We are also collaborating with our employee-led Belonging Advisory Council—which was created to represent the diversity of our organization and the communities we serve—to develop and share a resource kit focused on responding to hate crimes or triggering or traumatic events,” Chang said.

MultiCare is bringing COVID-19 vaccines directly to the AAPI community in Tacoma by holding several pop-up clinics at the Asia Pacific Cultural Center.

“We want to do what we can to remove some barriers to vaccination in our local community,” Chang said.

This will be Chen’s fifth year with the AAPI Heritage Month festival committee.

“I was proud to produce it digitally on Sunday, May 2. We highlight the music, culture of the different Asian and Pacific Islander communities, and even food to support some chefs and restaurants that have been hurting,” he said.

“Through the rest of the month, we will be posting something on Facebook every day. This is a really great way to help our culture,” Chen said.

As a member of the AAPI community, there is a lot we as a community can do all month long.

“Let’s start by talking about it! Let’s embrace the difficult memories and be willing to be vulnerable and share our story with the hope and belief that by speaking up, we can change the experience for generations to come,” Chang said.

She feels that something as simple as a text or a phone call to check in with a loved one can be an important way to help each other process the current environment and reflect on the pride we have for our culture.

It’s a sentiment Chen echoes.

“I stopped thinking of it as AAPI Heritage Month. I observe and post things on the group throughout the year. For instance: how Chinese doctors in the U.S. helped create vaccines,” he said.

Chen reminds us that AAPI represents over 50 cultures and 100 languages.

“People forget this and that all these cultures can come together and become an even bigger group,” he said. As for the easiest way, “Go to facebook.com/ APIheritage or Instagram to learn and

healthy, especially for sons, to view their parents as equal partners and a team rather than one being more important than the other. Perhaps, the right description is not “liberal sons,” but sons who have a broader understanding of family dynamics and healthy relationships.

Ask my sons and they will tell you that I was not always home, but I always made it up to spend quality time with them during weekends. We often had interesting discussions during dinner. We were always at their concert performances, debate tournaments, and other school activities.

THE WASHING MACHINES, PAMPERS, ETC After my baby was born, the large amount of laundry virtually broke our two-year-old washing machine. Babies and little kids need to change clothes frequently as they get dirty easily.

Imagine if washers and dryers didn’t exist, I would have had to wash all the dirty clothes by hand, and I would have

asianweekly northwest

9

experience our culture.”

Locke feels it’s important to make time to share and celebrate our culture and history within our own families and with our friends.

“Between digital technology and the hustle of modern life, sometimes we don’t prioritize passing on our stories and traditions,” he said. “Too much is lost between generations.” Celebrating our diversity and recognizing that America’s strength and greatness comes from its diversity of peoples and cultures are critical to combatting hate and discrimination,” Locke said.

Awareness

As for how non-Asian members can be allies, Koh makes an important point. She quotes Claudia Rankine: “Awareness has to happen in rooms where everyone’s white, since those rooms are already in place.”

“Socialization keeps people ignorant of their ignorance,” Koh said. “Talking about racism and xenophobia in spaces where decisions are made every day affecting lives through policy, surveillance, neglect is of the utmost importance,” she said.

It’s something Locke espouses.

“Increase your awareness of the many elements and challenges within the AAPI community and speak out against harassment, violence, discrimination, and stereotyping directed at any and all groups,” he said.

Chang suggests a three-pronged approach. “Check in with your friends, co-workers, neighbors, and community members who are feeling pain and anxiety to help them feel seen, valued, and safe,” she said. “You may not know what to say or how to help, but just walk alongside them to show that you care.”

Next, Chang wants people to educate themselves to recognize unconscious bias and racism and use their voices to spark change when they see it. And lastly, “Learn more about Asian American history, including the discrimination and violence many in our community have experienced through the Japanese internment camps or the Chinese Exclusion Act,” she said.

Chen brings up the book The Anatomy of Organized Hate: Stories of Former White Supremacists – and America’s Struggle to Understand the Hate Movement, by his friend Lonnie Lusardo.

“He talks about former haters who go on to become allies of the people they hated.

And the #1 factor is making a friend,” he said.

“It’s the easiest thing you can do. Meet somebody who is Asian, learn their culture, it’s the first thing you can do to understand,” Chen recommends. “That could solve a lot of the world’s problems. You learn you have more in common, and I hope one day we have fewer problems and more solutions.”  Janice can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

gone nuts. When I was 12 years old, I washed all my family’s clothes with my bare hands and hung them afterwards to dry. It was one cold winter. The experience was grueling.

The washing machine and dryer are saviors for modern women. Before the machine was invented in 1937, women had to do all the laundry by hand. They wouldn’t have time for anything else.

Also, I was grateful to have Pampers. If I had to wash all the soiled pampers every day, I would have lost my appetite to eat. Thank God, I had those tools, which liberate women today.

Parenthood is both challenging and rewarding. I would not have changed my kids for anything. Happy Mother’s Day, especially to working moms who hold on to their dreams!  Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

10

asianweekly northwest

MAY 8 – MAY 14, 2021

39 YEARS

CLASSIFIEDS NoTICE

SUMMoNS

SUB-BIDS REQUESTED All Subs SHA Lam Bow Apartments 6935-6955 Delridge Way SW SEATTLE, WA 98106 Owner: Seattle Housing Authority BID DEADLINE: Thursday, May 20th, 2021 by 4:00pm.

WALSH CONSTRUCTION CO./WA 315 Fifth Ave. S., Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 547-4008 WMBE / SECTION 3 / APPRENTICESHIP PARTICIPATION: WCC and SHA strongly encourage Women and Minority Business Enterprises (WMBEs) and Section 3 Businesses to submit proposals for this project. The project will also track WMBE, Apprenticeship and Section 3 participation; see bxwa at the link below for more information regarding project goals.

To: Julie Renee Novak: I have started a court case by filing a petition.

You must respond in writing if you want the court to consider your side. Deadline! Your Response must be filed and served within 60 days of the date this Summons is published April 11, 2021. If you do not file and serve your Response or a Notice of Appearance by the deadline: No one has to notify you about other hearings in this case, and The court may approve the requests in the Petition without hearing your side (called a default judgment).

Follow these steps: 1. Read the Petition and any other documents that were filed at court with this Summons.

Those documents explain what the other party is asking for.

2. Fill out a Response on this for FL Divorce 211, Response to Petition about a Marriage.

3. Serve (give) a copy of your Response to the person who filed this Summons at the address below, and to any other parties. You may use certified mail with return receipt requested. For more information on how to serve, read Superior Court Civil Rule 5.

4. File your original Response with the court clerk at this address: Superior Court Clerk, King County 516 3rd Ave Seattle, Washington 98104 5. Lawyer not required: It is a good idea to talk to a lawyer, but you may file and serve your Response without one Person filing this Summons or his/her lawyer fills out below: March 9, 2021 - Khaled Youseff Ali. I agree to accept legal papers for this case at the following address (this does not have to be your home address): 15127 NE 24th Street, Suite 314 Redmond, Washington 98052

PREVAILING WAGES: All subcontractors must comply with Washington State Residential Prevailing Wage AND Davis Bacon Residential Prevailing Wage requirements – see specific information under project posting.

Please join Walsh Construction for an information session outlining the SHA Lam Bow Apartments project. In this session we will cover high-level project details, general bidding information and answer any questions bidders may have before bids are due.

-Session 1: Thursday, April 29th 2:00-3:00pm: bit.ly/lam-bow1 -Session 2: Friday, April 30th 2:00-3:00pm: bit.ly/lam-bow2 All Bid Documents are available on Builders Exchange, you can also download it from sharefile link here: Bid Documents LOCATION OF CONTRACT DOCUMENTS - Current plans, specifications, bid packages and bid forms can be accessed: Builders Exchange at www.bxwa.com. (Click on: Posted Projects, General Contractor - Project Areas, WA, Walsh Construction Co. Seattle, Projects Bidding. Username: walsh Password: safety). All subcontractors are advised to frequently visit Builders Exchange to check for any Addenda to the Bid Documents.

CCO1 WALSHCC990D1

GRANTS from 4

What if you need assistance?

SBA has a hotline with 17 languages available. Assistance is available 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Agents can guide you through the application process. Or you can apply by phone. However, in that case, the government will mail you materials to fill out. So the process will be slower than online.

The hotline number is 844-279-8898.

If you are a restaurant in the ChinatownInternational District and need someone to apply for you, the Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority (SCIPda) can help with Mandarin, Cantonese, and Vietnamese speakers.

If you need their help, email SCIPda at cidbizrelief@scidpda.org.

The City of Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED) also can provide support with accounting and in multiple languages.

EMpLoyMENT

Assistant Regional Manager Washington AFC Franchise Corp., the leading provider in the retail sushi industry has many excellent opportunities for an Assistant Regional Manager positions in Seattle area. Qualified candidates will entail prior experience in Sushi/ restaurant, multi-unit, franchised restaurant management industries. We offer competitive salary and benefits package plus bonus opportunity. For more information, please contact hajime.takahashi@afcsushi.com

“OED will also provide technical assistance including accounting consultation for microbusinesses. Seattle small businesses with five employees or less and whose household income does not exceed 80% area median income have access to 10 hours of consulting services.

Email OED at oed@seattle.gov or call 206684-8090 for more information. Bilingual assistance is available in Amharic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Somali, Spanish, Thai, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese,” it said in a press release.

For more detailed information about the grant, the OED has prepared a flier. Go to: https://bottomline.seattle.gov/2021/04/30/ restaurant-revitalization-grant-applicationportal-opens-on-may-3.

“The Restaurant Revitalization Fund will provide much needed support to our local businesses that have done everything in their power to just hold on,” said Pamela Banks, Interim Director of the OED. “Our office is proud to be a part of a network that is committed to connecting as many eligible businesses as possible—especially

TRIPATHY from 8 share to invest in our child care and education systems.

The other was the Working Families Tax Credit, which will put $300 to $1,200 back in the pockets of people with low and moderate incomes, including undocumented immigrants. State Rep. My-Linh Thai and state Sen. Joe Nguyen successfully championed this year’s effort to fund the credit, which passed by an almost unanimous vote after 13 years unfunded.

At ACRS, we know just how impactful things like direct cash assistance will be for our neighbors. When we distribute COVID relief, gift cards run out the fastest. People need cash assistance to get back on their feet—we live it and see it every day.

Policies like the Working Families Tax

Credit provide money with dignity, giving people autonomy and agency over their own lives. This credit allows working people to make the decisions on how to help their families—the money often goes towards something as simple as buying food with no strings attached.

This year’s historic wins for working people are our first steps towards a more just and anti-racist economy. But there is more to do. As our communities rally against the physical manifestations of racism, we must also work just as hard against the economic violence caused by our racist tax code. We hope

NoTICE Request for Qualifications for Stormwater parks Technical Assistance The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) is requesting qualifications from firms to assist PSRC staff with early planning stages of up to 4 stormwater parks in the central Puget Sound region.

Budget: Not to exceed $160,000.

Due: All statements must be received by 2:00pm (PDT) May 26, 2021 More Info: https://www.psrc.org/about/request-proposals or contact Patty Jakala at 360-473-7807 or pjakala@psrc.org.

Statements will be subject to PSRC’s review and selection process.

PSRC promotes equal employment opportunity in the evaluation and award of consultant contracts, and complies with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and procedures.

EMpLoyMENT

Puget Sound Regional Council 1011 Western Ave Ste 500 Seattle, WA 98104 Phone: 206-464-7090, Fax: 206-587-4825 www.psrc.org

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our businesses owned by people of color, immigrants, refugees, and those whose first language is not English—to the necessary information and support that will help them be successful in applying for these grants.”

Who actually is qualified for the priority three-week period?

Besides women and veterans, the SBA has defined disadvantaged groups that will be prioritized during the first three weeks.

They include Blacks, Latinos, American Indians, Asian Pacific Americans, and Subcontinent Asian Americans, said Guzman.

Subcontinent Asian Americans refers to “persons with origins from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, the Maldives Islands, or Nepal; and members of other groups designated from time to time by the SBA,” according to its website.

As with other federal grant programs, there is always the risk that mainstream businesses will try to jump the line, said Guzman.

that the lawmakers who have stood up against the physical attacks on our communities will also continue to address the economic injustice we face and choose to deeply invest in the services we need to recover together.  Shomya Tripathy is the Director of Policy and Civic Engagement at Asian Counseling and Referral Services (ACRS). ACRS is a social services agency that serves Asians and Pacific Islanders, including immigrants

“There are always challenges that people will try to take advantage of,” she said. “It would be unethical in the least, but also a violation of federal law if they are found out, and they would have repercussions.”

Established under the American Rescue Plan, and signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund is intended to “prioritize economic recovery,” Guzman told the Asian Weekly in an interview.

“What that means is that for SBA to ensure access to opportunity for capital and market access is available for all entrepreneurs, especially our emerging and diverse entrepreneurs who have historically experienced barriers,” she said.

If any gaps emerge in the program, the government will be quick to study and rectify them, she said.

“We are implementing this holistic approach to looking at our program and ensuring that whatever changes are necessary to make sure that we’re providing equitable access to resources are done expeditiously.” 

and refugees, in King County and beyond.

Shomya makes sure Asians and Pacific Islanders have inclusive entry to political processes, and advocates for policies that will better the lives of community members.

SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 4.

YOUR VOICE

■ ASTROLOGY

MAY 8 – MAY 14, 2021

asianweekly northwest

11

Predictions and advice for the week of May 8–14, 2021

By Sun Lee Chang

Rat—Despite the attendance by others, your presence is also important and signals much without saying a word.

Dragon—You are actively pursuing alternatives that could result in quite a windfall. However, don’t count on it just yet.

Monkey—To optimize your chances for success, take the time to get yourself in the right frame of mind.

Ox—There are a few deadlines coming up, so be sure to track them so you don’t inadvertently miss one.

Snake—Avoid getting too far ahead of yourself in your excitement. It is crucial that you go step by step.

Rooster—Many avenues are opening up for you. Before you move ahead, you must be able to choose one.

Tiger—Although there is risk in putting all your cards on the table, it should help move things forward.

Horse—Your hard work is about to pay off in the form of multiple offers. Be selective about which to follow.

Dog—It is worth maintaining as you go along, since waiting until something goes wrong might be more difficult to fix.

Rabbit—As you find firm footing, don’t be surprised if an opportunity to climb even higher presents itself.

Goat—Running ahead of the pack? Focus on the goal instead of looking back too often, as it could cause a stumble.

Pig—Are you getting discouraged about the impact you are having? Don’t discount the power of one person.

WHAT’S YOUR ANIMAL SIGN? RAT 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 OX 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 TIGER 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 RABBIT 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 DRAGON 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 SNAKE 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 HORSE 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 GOAT 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 MONKEY 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 ROOSTER 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 DOG 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 PIG 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

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

FORENSIC NURSE from 1 For the domestic violence and sexual assault victim, there is a medical response but strangulation may not leave obvious marks and the bill will provide further look into the injuries. Forensic nurse exams prioritize documenting issues related to strangulation. As a part of the bill, data will be collected related to the exam to keep track of those exams that are used to assist in prosecution.

According to the senate bill report, “Strangulation is the most intimate form of partner violence. A person who suffers from nonfatal strangulation is 750 percent more likely to become a homicide victim and these crimes can be hard to prosecute as they mostly happen behind closed doors. There is a need to rely on evidence and the strangulation may not leave any marks to the untrained eye. Medical exams are the best way to hold abusers accountable. In 2018, in King County alone, there were 323 known cases of strangulation, 64 of which were treated in the hospital and only four received a forensic exam because it also involved a sexual assault. This bill is greatly needed, long-term effects of

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strangulation make it harder to be successful in healing, not just physically as victims often suffer from PTSD.” The bill provides a unique perspective on treating domestic violence as a public health issue. The law would allow for the costs of a forensic nurse exam to be paid for by the state. Exams could cost up to $1,400 and had been an obstacle for the prosecutors of abusers. Prior to the bill, forensic exams were offered only to victims of sexual assault. A strangulation survivor would have to pay for the exam out of pocket.

“This bill is so critical in making sure that we have resources for strangulation cases,” said Dhingra. She noted that it was brought to her attention by a victim’s advocate in the prosecutor’s office. “These are wounds that can be invisible,” explained Dhingra.

As a former prosecutor, Dhingra recalled reading reports in which the victim had bruises around their neck, but there could be nothing further to be done unless a forensic exam was performed.

She explained that data is collected in forensic exams to determine whether or not they will follow-up with prosecution. The data will show how many were paid for and how many resulted in criminal charges to be filed.

“I think it’s really important to get a lay of the land and see what the data shows us,” said Dhingra.

“Victims of domestic violence and serial abusers are sometimes unable to afford a forensic examination.”

Senator Nobles stated 68% of survivors from domestic violence have suffered near strangulation.

“Medical examinations are the best ways to hold abusers accountable.” She also noted that photographic evidence does not show internal injuries. As evidence in court, without a forensic exam, the abuser may not be convicted of their crime.

“It is important to have a victim-centered public health response to victims of sexual assault,” said David Martin of the Domestic Violence Unit of the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. With the law, the forensic nurse exam will be available across Washington state.

The bill unanimously passed the house and senate.

It was one of several laws that passed this legislative session which addressed the issue of domestic violence and assault.  Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

12

asianweekly northwest

39 YEARS

MAY 8 – MAY 14, 2021

ANNOUNCING A COMMUNITY LEGACY PROJECT 701 South Jackson Street O.Z. Navigator in partnership with the Mar family have announced a residential project with placemaking qualities at the corner of 7th and South Jackson Street.

HOUSING

APARTMENT

HOMES

3,000

SQ. FT.

STORIES

MIXED-INCOME

245

OF RETAIL S

P

A

C

E

YESLER

* The apartment building will be affordable to households earning $42,000-$55,000 (55%-72% of Area Median Income).

In comparison, many new apartment buildings are 120%-plus of Area Medium Income.

DANNY WOO GARDEN & KOBE TERRACE PARK

S. JACKSON ST.

S. JACKSON ST.

6TH AVE. S.

PIONEER SQUARE

oznavigator.com/701-jackson

S. DEARBORN ST.

8TH AVE. S.

S. KING ST.

S. WELLER ST.

DONNIE CHIN INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S PARK

S. KING ST.

S. KING ST.

S. WELLER ST.

8TH AVE. S.

S. LANE ST.

MAYNARD ALLY

7TH AVE. S. S. WELLER ST.

MAYNARD AVE. S.

6TH AVE. S.

5TH AVE. S.

S. WELLER ST.

S. KING ST.

7TH AVE. S.

6TH AVE. S.

MAYNARD AVE. S.

S. KING ST.

12TH AVE. S.

5TH AVE. S.

S. KING ST.

S. LANE ST.

12TH AVE. S.

HING HAY PARK

For more information and to connect with the O.Z. Navigator please visit:

_nw_asian_weekly_fp_1.indd 1

DOWNTOWN S. JACKSON ST.

10TH AVE. S.

We are looking forward to engaging with our neighbors and interested members of the CID community. For more information please visit our website and send us an email with any questions or suggestions.

We look forward to building momentum in the coming months.

S. JACKSON ST.

10TH AVE. S.

O.Z. NAVIGATOR IS SEEKING COMMUNITY INPUT & FEEDBACK.

S. MAIN ST. MAYNARD AVE. S.

S. MAIN ST.

4TH AVE. S.

The project will include retail and public spaces that connect South Jackson Street to the business core and provide rental housing that is affordable for new and existing members of the neighborhood.

5TH AVE. S.

S. WASHINGTON ST.

S. WELLER ST.

S. LANE ST.

S. DEARBORN ST.

S. DEARBORN ST.

Seventh & South st.

Jackson 4/27/21 3:09 AM