PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA
VOL 40 NO 26 JUNE 26 – JULY 2, 2021
FREE 39 YEARS YOUR VOICE
The pandemic year
Mike Fong reflects on lessons learned and moving forward By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Mike Fong
Equity was a core value in the city’s response to the pandemic and will be a guiding principle in its recovery,
according to Seattle Senior Deputy Mayor Mike Fong. “Ideally, we come out of the pandemic with further recognition of the same kinds of inequities that existed before the pandemic,” said Fong in an interview with Asian Weekly on June 22. “That is how you’re going to see a lot of our strategies, for instance in terms of investment from the federal government, as we focus on a return to the office and the economic recovery.” During the interview, Fong discussed how the city’s values shaped its response to major challenges during the pandemic, strategies for moving forward, and what might have been done better in hindsight. Fong attributed the relative success of the city and the region to a number of factors, including the alignment of top officials in their strategic responses and coordination in relying on scientificbased guidelines. “It was pretty fluid, things were
changing on us by the hour, and we were trying to make sure we were consistent and as aligned as possible,” he said. “From Governor Inslee to Executive Constantine to Mayor Durkan, we stayed in lockstep.” He also said the mayor responded with a pair of interlocking principles. One was to act with urgency, particularly in stepping into areas that the government does not usually enter. The second was the commitment to science. Asked to compare the region’s performance with other states, Fong said anecdotally he had observed varying responses to the pandemic within a single area. “Some of this was due to politics, some was due to underlying philosophical differences,” he said. Seattle and the region’s success, however, was not just government see FONG on 10
THE INSIDE STORY
NAMES IN THE NEWS Puget Sound Energy invests $45K in Maneki 2
PUBLISHER’S BLOG Is Washington ready to reopen on June 30? 5
AT THE MOVIES Wish Dragon 6
ON THE SHELF LGBTQ AAPIs living their complicated lives 7
Andrew Yang concedes, vows to work with next NYC mayor
Andrew Yang
By The Associated Press The votes are in. The polls are closed. But the top contenders may have a long, anxious wait ahead of them for accurate results in New York City’s mayoral primary, the first citywide election to use ranked choice voting. Several candidates in the race to succeed Mayor Bill de Blasio have the potential to make history if elected. The city could get its first female mayor, or its second Black mayor, depending on who comes out on top. Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang, who was far behind in early returns, conceded about two hours after polls closed and vowed to work with the next mayor. But with the debut of the ranked voting see YANG on 12
Former hockey player, Min, appointed to Kraken Youth Program By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY As a boy from Seoul, South Korea, David Min was a competitor. His older brother served as his chief rival growing up. It led him to play hockey and he now will cultivate the next generation of players as a youth coach for the Seattle Kraken’s hockey teams this fall. “It was as simple as me having a
crazy competitive edge,” said Min of his interest in the sport. Min followed his brother who started playing hockey in South Korea. “I just wanted to be cooler and better than him,” Min joked. “For me, it (skating) was always fun,” Min reflected on the most important parts of hockey. “I never thought it was hard.” He recalls that when his brother and mother went to British Columbia to scout places to relocate,
they brought back a bunch of hockey equipment for the boys and Min was sold on the sport. As a 5-year-old, Min flew by himself from South Korea to British Columbia to meet his older brother and his mother, who found a home in their new country. His father was still working in South Korea at that time. see MIN on 11
David Min
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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
JUNE 26 – JULY 2, 2021
■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Doug Baldwin Jr. to speak at Bellevue College commencement
Former Seattle Seahawk Doug Baldwin Jr. will address graduates as the keynote speaker for Bellevue College’s virtual commencement ceremonies that will be streamed online on June 25. Baldwin, whose grandmother is Filipino, graduated from Doug Baldwin Jr. Stanford University with a bachelor’s in Science, Technology and Society before signing with the Seattle Seahawks. Since retiring from the NFL in 2019, Baldwin has steered his focus toward building his company, Vault 89, a vehicle used to serve the community in innovative ways.
Puget Sound Energy invests $45K in Maneki
Maneki owner Jean Nakayama (left) with Andrew Pultorak, Puget Sound Energy lighting specialist.
Puget Sound Energy has selected four small businesses, including Maneki Restaurant, in its Small
Business Energy Makeover Contest to receive free energy efficiency audits and lower their energy usage. The restaurant has twice experienced temporary closures: during World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic. Maneki’s upgrades include a new, more efficient hot water heater, energy-efficient kitchen appliances, LED lighting, and a web-enabled thermostat to monitor and control energy usage.
Christiane Amanpour shares cancer diagnosis with viewers
Lina Khan confirmed as FTC chair Christiane Amanpour
CNN’s chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour told viewers on June 14 that she has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. “I’ve had successful major surgery to remove it, and I’m now undergoing several months of chemotherapy for the very best possible longterm prognosis,” Amanpour said at the beginning of her
daily television program. Amanpour, 63, one of the best-known journalists in the world, is of Iranian descent. She has been off the air for the past four weeks due to the diagnosis.
Yajuan Liu named to UW Bothell Accounting Advisory Board
Lina Khan
Lina Khan was sworn-in on June 15 as chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)—the Senate confirmed Khan in a 69-28 vote. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to protect the public from corporate abuse,” Khan said in a statement. At age 32, Khan is the youngest ever FTC chair and the first person of South Asian descent. She previously worked as an associate professor of law at Columbia Law School, and served as counsel to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law, helping in the investigation of digital markets related to Google, Apple, and other big tech companies.
Yajuan Liu has been appointed to a three-year term on the University of Washington (UW)–Bothell’s Accounting Advisory Board. The board provides strategic thought leadership and community connections to the school’s accounting program, leaders, and faculty. Liu is a Certified Public Accountant and principal of Yajuan Liu Hongxin Wealth & Tax Planning Group. She previously worked as a financial analyst at Microsoft and as a financial advisor to high-net-worth clients at Merrill Lynch. Liu frequently speaks at seminars and hosts “Yajuan Talks About Taxation” on Chinese Radio Seattle — which recognized her in 2016 for her outstanding service to the Chinese community.
JUNE 26 – JULY 2, 2021
YOUR VOICE
asianweekly northwest
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■ COMMUNITY HEALTH
WASHINGTON STATE COVID NEWS, UPDATES, RESOURCES AND SERVICES
If I have been infected with COVID-19, do I still need a vaccine?
SPONSORED CONTENT
Yes, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends anyone who previously had COVID-19 to get the vaccine. Data shows it is uncommon to be re-infected with COVID-19 in the 90 days after you were infected, so you might have some protection (called natural immunity). However, it’s unknown how long natural immunity might last. People who currently have COVID-19 should wait to get vaccinated until they feel better and their isolation period is finished, if possible. People who were recently exposed to COVID-19 should also wait to get the vaccine until after their quarantine period, if they can safely quarantine away from other people. If there is a high risk they could infect others, they may be vaccinated during their quarantine period to prevent spreading the disease.
Can I get the COVID-19 vaccine if I’ve had an allergic reaction to a vaccine in the past?
The vaccine should not be given to people with a known history of severe allergic reaction, such as anaphylaxis, to a previous dose of an mRNA or viral vector vaccine, or to any ingredient of the PfizerBioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson–Janssen
COVID-19 vaccines. People who have had a severe allergic reaction to other vaccines or injectable therapies may still be able to receive the vaccine. However, providers should do a risk assessment and counsel them about potential risks. If the patient decides to get the vaccine, the provider should observe them for 30 minutes to monitor for any immediate reactions. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that providers observe all other patients for at least 15 minutes after receiving the vaccine to monitor for an allergic reaction.
What ingredients are in the vaccines?
You may see some rumors and untrue ingredients listed online or in social media. These are generally myths. The ingredients in the COVID-19 vaccines are pretty typical for vaccines. They contain the active ingredient of mRNA or modified adenovirus along with other ingredients like fat, salts, and sugars that protect the active ingredient, help it work better in the body, and protect the vaccine during storage and
transport. See the Q&A webpage from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for more information about ingredients at https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccineeducation-center/making-vaccines/prevent-covid.
Does the Johnson & Johnson vaccine contain fetal tissue?
The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine was created using the same technology as many other vaccines. It does not contain parts of fetuses or fetal cells. One piece of the vaccine is made in lab-grown copies of cells that originally came from elective abortions that took place over 35 years ago. Since then, the cell lines for these vaccines have been maintained in the lab and no further sources of fetal cells are used to make these vaccines. This might be new information for some people. However, vaccines for chickenpox, rubella, and hepatitis A are made in the same way.
■ COMMUNITY NEWS
Wing Luke gets part of $2.7 B donation
MacKenzie Scott
MacKenzie Scott announced on June 15 that she is giving away $2.7 billion to 286 organizations focused on promoting equity, alleviating poverty, and promoting education and the arts. Seattle’s Wing Luke Museum is one of the beneficiaries of Scott’s latest round of donations—she has given away $8.5 billion since July 2020. Scott, formerly married to
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, ranks No. 22 on Bloomberg’s list of the world’s richest people. She made the gifts with Dan Jewett, a chemistry teacher at Seattle’s Lakeside School, whom she recently married. “The Wing Luke Museum is honored and beyond grateful for the extraordinary donation from MacKenzie Scott and Dan Jewett,” stated a post on the Wing Luke’s Facebook page.
“This donation not only reflects the recognition, affirmation, and investment in the powerful work we do with our community members, but also reflects the trust and confidence in us to determine the best impact of this grant to advance our mission and work.” Other Pacific Northwest organizations that received donations include Renton Technical College, Oregon Arts
and Culture Recovery Program, and the Western States Arts Federation. In her announcement in a blog post on the website Medium, Scott wrote, “Arts and cultural institutions can strengthen communities by transforming spaces, fostering empathy, reflecting community identity, advancing economic mobility, improving academic outcomes, lowering crime rates, and improving mental health, so we evaluated smaller arts organizations creating these benefits with artists and audiences from culturally rich regions and identity groups that donors often overlook.” She added, “We chose to make relatively large gifts to the organizations… both to enable their work, and as a signal of trust and encouragement, to them and to others…. These are people who have spent years successfully advancing humanitarian aims, often without knowing whether there will be any money in their bank accounts in two months.”
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JUNE 26 – JULY 2, 2021
39 YEARS
■ COMMUNITY NEWS
Public webinar examines accessibility disparities By Nicholas Pasion NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The pandemic has amplified accessibility disparities for people living with disabilities. In an effort to correct inequities, the public relations firm DH hosted an online webinar event on June 3, which examined ways to increase accessibility and inclusion for people of all abilities. The free webinar was moderated by four speakers, Eva Larrauri de Leon, John McClure, Sara Cravens, and Tammi Olson, all of whom are associated with the University of Washington (UW)’s Center for Continuing Education in Rehabilitation (CCER). The webinar focused on how to create more accessible spaces for people with disabilities, and encouraged people to adopt behavior and language to support people with disabilities. “Everyone may have different needs and in order to be inclusive, we must be intentional and make this a practice. It benefits all types of learners,” said Larrauri de Leon, the CCER assistant director of programs. She added that the focus of accessibility is making sure a product or event can be accessed by people of all abilities. She said there are two primary types of accessibility: communication and physical. She
explained that by creating accessible communication and physical spaces, by adding things like subtitles to your presentations and ramps or elevators to buildings, people of all abilities will have a more enjoyable and engaging experience. According to an assessment conducted by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Washington State Rehabilitation Council, 908,818 individuals with disabilities live in Washington state, about 13% of the population. Of the total number of people with a disability in Washington, about 4.6% of them are Asian. The assessment also found that of the people in Washington with a disability, the most common disability was an ambulatory disability, which impedes or prevents someone from walking. The next most common disabilities the report found were cognitive difficulty, independent living difficulty, hearing difficulty, vision difficulty, and self-care difficulty. Larrauri de Leon said the saying “Nothing About Us Without Us!” is a call to action for people with disabilities, which encourages them to take control of the narrative and control their voice on the subject. She said by including people with disabilities in conversations about accessibility, the general public can construct a more accessible world. Linda Celemon-Karp, the interim assistant director
and continuing education specialist at the Northwest ADA Center, a center that provides accessibility information, training, and guidance to people in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, said there are ways to change your behavior to better accommodate and respect people with disabilities. Celemon-Karp said that people should retire certain insensitive terms from their everyday language and adopt new ones, like “man with an intellectual disability,” “woman of short stature,” or “man who uses a wheelchair.” She said that they will also “retire the whole idea of normal and able bodied and regular and that would imply that people with disabilities are not normal. “So the very first thing is don’t make assumptions. Don’t make assumptions about someone looking like they’re non-disabled and they actually are disabled,” she said. “And also when you see someone who is clearly disabled, you can recognize that we don’t want to make assumptions about what they can and can’t do.” She said people with disabilities do not live tragic lives, so when talking to a person with a disability, one should maintain the same tone and behavior as if they were talking to anyone else. Celemon-Karp said that see WEBINAR on 11
KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received by the King County Procurement Services Section through the County’s E-Procurement system for the following listed bids. Instructions on how to submit a bid electronically, view any current bid opportunities, express interest, communicate with the Buyer via Message app and/or successfully submit a bid through the E-Procurement system prior, and more are provided on the County’s website: https://kingcounty.gov/procurement/registration King County encourages minority business enterprise participation. King County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its
programs, services, and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. KC000281 OPENS: 07/09/2021 RFP Zone 1 & Zone 3 Emergency Management Coordinator Pre-proposal Conference June 30, 2021 at 1:00 pm via a MS Teams meeting. Conference call +1 425-653-6586 Conf ID: 157 119 528# KC000257 OPENS: 07/22/2021 ITB - Transfer Tickets
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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
YOUR VOICE
■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG
JUNE 26 – JULY 2, 2021
asianweekly northwest
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Photos by Assunta Ng
Ready for reopening?
Seattle Symphony Orchestra featured violinist Augustin Hadelich our Conductor Emeritus Ludovic Morlot on June 10.
By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY While I am excited for June 30, the reopening of Washington state, I have some reservations. I can’t help wondering if we are ready. A month ago, I couldn’t wait. I wished reopening was immediate. Now, I have second thoughts because some people have refused to get vaccinated. I doubt if we can ever reach our goal of getting 70%
of our population vaccinated as President Joe Biden has wished. If we reopen, what are the things we should be paying attention to? Should we greet our friends with hugs and handshakes? Are we ready to go to work in the office five days a week? Should we go out to eat as often as we did before the pandemic? Should we attend big and small meetings like I used to? Should I wear my mask even though some places have lifted the mask mandate? Oh,
what should I wear? Casual clothes or fashionable clothes? Should I go to big events like the Seattle Symphony?
The vaccine question
I wrote in my March blog that whenever you want to have lunch with non-family members, you should ask before you get together, “Are you vaccinated?” It was important then and even more relevant now. You spent more than a year to protect yourself from Covid, with
numerous sacrifices and unspeakable hardship. Don’t ruin it in one reckless act. To know that you are sitting across from someone who has been inoculated, it relaxes you so you can fully enjoy the meal. Never assume someone did, unless you ask the question before lunch, and your friend gives you a definite answer. You have the right to know. It’s not embarrassing because we are talking
We want to help you get back on track. COVID Bill Payment Assistance We know this has been a year unlike any other, and right now paying bills can definitely be a challenge. So, PSE is designating $27.7 million in bill payment assistance. Here’s how we can help you: •
Up to $2,500 in additional utility bill payment assistance
•
Extended payment plans up to 18 months
•
Up to $2,500 to forgive past balances for customers who received energy assistance in the past
•
The option to change your energy bill’s due date to help with monthly budgeting
To see if you qualify, go to pse.com/covid
see BLOG on 12
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asianweekly northwest
JUNE 26 – JULY 2, 2021
■ AT THE MOVIES
Wish Dragon
To be or not to be Aladdin By John Liu NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Wish Dragon is a Chinese American animated film directed by Chris Appelhans and produced by Jackie Chan. Is seeing Jackie Chan’s production company a foreshadowing of cool martial arts in the film? Why yes it is! While watching the movie, you will immediately notice many similarities to Disney’s Aladdin. John Cho, the voice of Long, the Wish Dragon, said it best, “You may be thinking, wait a minute. This sounds like another story I know with a genie and a lamp. If the story of a boy who is granted three wishes sounds familiar to you, it should. It was originally a Chinese folktale about a peasant boy from Eastern China who finds a wish-granting genie and falls in love with a princess. Many versions of this story have been told over the years, but none of these versions feature shrimp chips.” What John said is very true, and it definitely made me crave for shrimp chips during the movie. Anyways, give the movie a chance before judging it as an Aladdin copycat. The movie starts out in modern day Shanghai where Din meets Li Na Wang in elementary school, and they quickly become friends. Eventually, they vow to be best friends forever with a pinky swear. Unfortunately, Li Na’s father has decided to move away with Li Na for a better life. Ten years later, Din (Jimmy Wong) is now a college student and still living in a small studio with his mom (Constance Wu). He is now working as a food delivery person, while Li Na has grown into a wealthy supermodel. Din hopes to reconnect with Li Na, but is worried she won’t remember him. One day, while Din is on a food delivery route, he bumps into an old man (Ronny Chieng), who gives Din a teapot. Of course, rubbing the teapot pops out a dragon, Long, who grants his new master three wishes.
The dragon is even amazed at how much the world has changed since he’s been stuck in a teapot for so long. Long has been stuck in the teapot for a thousand years, so he’s anxious for Din to make his three wishes so he can go through the Gates of Paradise in the heavens. Another mystery man also knows about the teapot and hires three goons to retrieve it for him. There’s a short goon (Jimmy O. Yang), tall goon (Bobby Lee), and Pockets (Aaron Yoo), the leader who is a master of kicking. I won’t spoil the rest of the movie. This movie is packed with who’s who of popular Asian American voice actors. I would have loved a live-action film, but I am sure animation is easier to produce during a pandemic. It’s nice to hear Jimmy Wong’s voice as Din again after his short cameos in Mulan. I’m a big fan of Jimmy Wong because he was born in Seattle with his brother Freddie Wong, who has a popular YouTube series Rocket Jump. John Cho as the dragon reminded me of Mushu from Mulan. And to top it off is Constance Wu, who tries to keep Din focused on his studies. Going through the cast list, I could recognize almost all of them so I was excited to see this mov-
ie before I even knew the story. Then there are all the Disney Aladdin “references,” but even Aladdin is based on a version of Arabian Nights. You either love it or you hate it. At least there is enough Chinese culture represented in this movie that it can stand on its own. As I mentioned earlier, shrimp chips make a few appearances. Of course, there has to be mandatory delicious food scenes. Din’s fights with Pockets were always entertaining. There is an especially funny choreographed fight scene during a parade which had me laughing really hard, but I cannot share more since it will spoil the movie! Kids will enjoy this movie, and a great chance for parents to expose them to Chinese culture. With Abominable and Over the Moon, there has been a great selection of Chinese American animated movies in the last two years. Wish Dragon was released in January 2021 in China and grossed $21 million at the box office. It is currently streaming on Netflix. John can be reached at john@nwasianweekly. com.
39 YEARS
YOUR VOICE
■ ON THE SHELF
JUNE 26 – JULY 2, 2021
asianweekly northwest
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BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS By Samantha Pak NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY THE MERMAID, THE WITCH, AND THE SEA By Maggie Tokuda-Hall Candlewick Press, 2020
their destiny, and get to save the people they care about. “Mermaid” also includes characters with different sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions—and with the exception of a few judgmental people, everyone accepts them without blinking an eye. This is the kind of varied, nuanced, and complex representation readers of all ages want and need. ZARA HOSSAIN IS HERE By Sabina Khan Scholastic Fiction, 2021
of immigrants, or young people who are immigrants themselves, their relationships with their parents are often combative and filled with misunderstandings (on both sides). But Zara’s parents are especially understanding and accepting—even at the expense of their place in the local Muslim community. This was especially apparent when it came to Zara’s bisexuality. One of my favorite scenes in the book is when Zara’s parents come to her defense against a particularly gossipy aunty. Representation matters, not only in highlighting stories like Zara’s but also in showing that not all immigrant parents are the same. ON EARTH WE’RE BRIEFLY GORGEOUS By Ocean Vuong Penguin Books, 2019 Even though his mother can’t read, Little Dog is writing her a letter. Written when he is in his late 20s, Little Dog unearths their family’s history from even before he
Living life on the open seas, Flora becomes Florian, sailing under a false flag aboard the Dove. As an orphan-turned-pirate, she’s marauded, stolen, and worse. All in the name of survival. But then she meets Lady Evelyn Hasegawa, a highborn Imperial daughter aboard the Dove, on her way to an arranged marriage. As the two become close and fall in love, Flora begins to really consider her past deeds—especially as the captain and crew are due to show their true colors and enslave their rich passengers. Soon the pair, who have lived by the rules and whims of others, take their fates into their own hands. What follows is a swashbuckling adventure filled with action, magic, mermaids, and more. This is a fun story. Tokuda-Hall’s world building is extensive in a way you know we’ll be visiting this universe again (and according to her website, we will be). While the magical elements are a little more low-key compared to other fantasy stories, we get a different take on mermaids and witchcraft—two genre staples that have been done countless times. Growing up, I loved fantasy stories. Witches, dragons, castles, I was (and am) there. But it was always white kids who got to have these adventures. Tokuda-Hall’s story, featuring a diverse cast of characters with different racial and ethnic backgrounds, including two strong young women of color, is exactly the kind of story my younger self craved. Flora’s (who is Black) and Evelyn’s (whose Imperial background is a mix of Japanese, American, and British cultures) stories are not only about the traumas they’ve endured or the hardships they faced. The teens are complicated, imperfect, in control of
At 17, Zara Hossain is like most teenagers in Texas. She goes to class, has college applications on her mind, and tolerates her best friend’s teasing about possible romantic interests. The Pakistani immigrant also has to deal with Islamophobia from her classmates— but can’t make any waves because her family is still awaiting their green card approval. But one day, Tyler Benson—star football player and Zara’s personal tormentor—takes things too far, leaving a threat on Zara’s locker. After his suspension, he vandalizes Zara’s house with racist graffiti in revenge, which leads to a violent crime that puts Zara, her future, and her family—who moved to the United States for her father’s work—at risk. “Zara Hossain” is a powerful story about a young woman who’s learning how to fight for herself and her loved ones. As Zara navigates her family’s options to stay in the country, readers get a glimpse into how complicated our immigration system is. Even for people who do it the “right” way, not only is it a long and tedious process, their status in this country is so fragile that the slightest misstep could change things. Zara’s story can serve as an eye opener for anyone who has taken their citizenship in the United States for granted. Another thing I appreciated about this story was Zara’s relationship with her parents and how close they are. Oftentimes in stories featuring children
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39 YEARS
JUNE 26 – JULY 2, 2021
■ PROFILE Chef Molly Yeh’s lockdown life full of recipes, baby firsts FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Somewhere between testing beet and carrot juice, blueberries and mint in search of the precise hues for a four-tiered rainbow cake celebrating her daughter’s first birthday in spring 2020, Food Network star Molly Yeh was forced by COVID’s gathering storm clouds to abruptly cancel the party she’d spent six months planning. The food blogger and author of “Molly on the Range’’ had already sketched the tablescape, sent hand-drawn invites incorporating the vegetable theme, and crafted cute marzipan carrots as cake toppers. Since then, the 32-year-old Yeh has balanced the daily frustrations and isolation of quarantine life with the many joyful firsts of her toddler, Bernie. The constant that has held it together is food, or in Yeh’s case, tahini. She’s fond of incorporating her favorite ingredient in original recipes that fuse her Chinese and Jewish heritage. “Food has truly taken on a different meaning, both in starting a family and also in the pandemic,” says Yeh, who lives on a sugar beet farm with her husband and baby near the Minnesota-North Dakota border. The young family never went to a
Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP
By KELLI KENNEDY ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chef Molly Yeh
restaurant and rarely ordered takeout, cooking from scratch and finding delight in Bernie’s milestones, despite monotonous routines and seemingly endless household chores. “There were so many special moments that were happening in this terrible thing around us,” says Yeh, who recently caught up with The Associated Press while in town for the South Beach Wine and Food Festival. “Imagine your first time smelling
and tasting fresh bread, your first time baking cookies.” The kitchen became the source of field trips and experiments. There was a fake vacation to Florence, Italy, where the family pulled out the pasta maker and made homemade pizzas. There was a day trip to the Italian Alps, aka a nearby hill where they sledded on an inflatable unicorn. And blissful spa days were coconut baths with a face mask and book during Bernie’s nap time. Yeh, the star of Food Network’s “Girl Meets Farm’’ show, has been a bright spot in a gloomy year for many viewers, with her infectious smile, recipe mashups (think harissa honey labne, hummus dumplings, kale matzo pizza, and bacon and egg drop soup), and endearing habit of liberally dousing desserts with homemade sprinkles or marzipan. Pretzel challah was among the first recipes that gained traction on her blog “My Name is Yeh.” And she’s delighted to report that her daughter’s art canvas of choice is painting egg wash on a braided loaf. Yeh has experienced a rough pandemic year full of pitfalls and pivots like the rest of us. She shacked up with her in-laws while overseeing a massive home renovation, and started work on a new cookbook, “Where The Eggs Are,” featuring easier, go-to
■ EDUCATION
weekday meals. While these recipes are less fussy, Yeh has never shied away from celebratory and sometimes labor-intensive dishes. She grew up in the kitchen with her mother, making everything from scratch, finding comfort in the rituals and routines—perfect preparation for pandemic life. Early in 2020, as Americans baked their way through the uncertainty, Yeh’s older cake recipes became popular again, including carrot cake with hawaij (a Middle Eastern spice) and tahini caramel frosting; chocolate cake with halva filling and tahini frosting; and mini pumpkin loaf cakes with cream cheese glaze and candied bacon. The new mom admits she struggled when she realized she’s not the fun parent. “It’s become clear that Nick is the fun one, dancing and singing and spinning her up in the air,” she says. But food has fixed that too. “I get to see Bernie’s face when she eats my chicken noodle soup, and I get to fill the house with the smell of mac and cheese when she wakes up from her nap,” she says. Yeh met her husband when they were students at Juilliard, and made her debut at Carnegie Hall as a percussionist at age 17. Her father, John Bruce Yeh, plays clarinet see YEH on 10
Weekly Specials
UW 2021 Awards of Excellence
Prices Valid June 23-29, 2021
Saba Fillet
D Plus
Japanese Pastry Bread Weili Ge
Weichao Yuwen
Anthony Ishisaka
Colleen Fukui-Sketchley
Elizabeth Lee
Lisa Chew
Peter Han
May Heng
Assorted Flavors. 2.82 oz
1.39
The University of Washington (UW) honored this year’s Awards of Excellence recipients on June 13. Among the AAPI recipients were Weili Ge and Weichao Yuwen for the Distinguished Teaching Award; Anthony Ishisaka, Distinguished Teaching Legacy Award; Colleen FukuiSketchley, Distinguished Service Award; Elizabeth Lee, President’s Medalists
5.99 lb
Holy Bee’s Bakery
Matcha Basque Burnt Cheesecake Slice
4.50
Maria Anderson
Cleaned and Ready to Cook. Excellent to Broil or Grill. Previously Frozen
Premium Broccoli Crowns .99 lb
All Natural
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YOUR VOICE
■ COMMUNITY NEWS
JUNE 26 – JULY 2, 2021
asianweekly northwest
9
Seattle extends COVID eviction ban until Sept. 30 SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle is extending the city’s coronavirus moratorium on evictions through Sept. 30. Initially established in March 2020, the moratorium is an attempt by the city to stave off evictions of people who lost jobs because of the pandemic and fell behind on their rent payments. The Seattle Times reports the extension announced on June
18 is the fifth Mayor Jenny Durkan has ordered. Seattle’s moratorium applies to residential, nonprofit and small-business tenants, with small businesses defined as those with 50 or fewer employees. Most evictions are prohibited for those tenants, including evictions for nonpayment of rent, though tenants
remain obligated to pay rent and can accumulate debt. Seattle is requiring landlords to offer payment plans and has banned late charges and interest. Evictions can be sought in dangerous situations. A similar, statewide eviction moratorium is slated to expire June 30. Landlords have objected to extensions
of eviction bans. “Where is the rental assistance? Literally millions of dollars have been allocated to help cover housing costs and no one is getting a dime yet,’’ the Rental Housing Association of Washington and the Washington Multi-family Housing Association said in a joint June 18 statement.
■ WORLD NEWS
Chinese swimmer Sun Yang banned again, misses Tokyo Olympics By GRAHAM DUNBAR
Sun Yang
GENEVA (AP) — China’s most famous swimmer got a second chance to avoid a doping ban and compete at the Tokyo Olympics, and lost. This time, however, Sun Yang’s ban is less likely to end the three-time Olympic champion’s career.
A new panel of judges at the Court of Arbitration for Sport banned the 29-yearold Sun on June 22 for 4 years, 3 months— about half the eight-year sanction handed down after the first trial in 2019. The verdict ended Sun’s hopes of defending his Olympic title in the 200-meter freestyle in Tokyo next month. But the ban was backdated to February 2020, meaning Sun could return for the 2024 Paris Olympics when he would be 32. The judges found Sun “to have acted recklessly” when he refused to let antidoping officials leave his home with a sample of his blood. The formal charges were for refusing to give a sample and tampering with a doping control.Sun denied wrongdoing and his original eightyear ban imposed last year was overturned on appeal to Switzerland’s supreme court,
KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO PROPOSERS Proposals will be received for KC000231, Engineering Services for Airfield Electrical Upgrades - Phase III Project; by King County Procurement and Payables Section until 12:00 PM on July 22, 2021. This contract is funded by the Federal Aviation Administration. There is a 7% minimum requirement for Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises Certified Federal Small Business Enterprise (SBE) firms on this contract. Total Estimated Price for Phase 1: $77,000 Total Estimated Price for all Phases: $202,226 King County, in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d to 2000d-4) and the Regulations, hereby notifies all Proposers that it will affirmatively ensure that any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full and fair opportunity to submit proposals in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award. Prospective proposers can view more details at: https:// kingcounty.gov/procurement/solicitations Contact: Regina Sparano, rsparano@kingcounty.gov, 206-477-4807
which ordered a fresh trial. Federal judges ruled the first guilty verdict was tainted because the chairman of that three-person panel at CAS showed antiChinese bias in social media comments. The retrial was heard by different judges by video over three days last month and fast-tracked ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, which open on July 23. For the retrial, Sun’s Geneva-based legal
team was aided by lawyers who successfully represented Russia’s anti-doping agency and athletes in previous CAS hearings about doping violations. Sun’s case centered on a failed attempt to take blood and urine from the swimmer by a sample collection team who made an unannounced visit to his home in China in see YANG on 11
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FONG from 1 action. There was a necessary partnership with residents, for instance in wearing masks or observing stay-at-home mandates. “In terms of enforcement, there really are limited tools, you really are relying on trust, overall confidence in communication and approaches and essentially, voluntary compliance,” he said. “And the truth of the matter is, the people of Seattle responded in an incredible way.” A testimony to the success of the city is that Seattle has hit the 70% vaccination goal among residents over 12. “All the data indicators show that our state and city really did lead the nation,” he said.
Challenges and equity Responding to calls for police reform, during the pandemic, was a challenge, Fong said. There was no easy solution and yet the administration wanted a sustainable approach. “One of the issues that was very challenging was around the calls to defund the police, the calls for very specific budget reduction thresholds of 50% of the SPD,” he said. “And we just didn’t feel like that was a promise
SHELF from 7 was born—a history rooted in Vietnam. The letter also introduces parts of Little Dog’s life that his mother has never been privy to—including when he explores his sexuality and his relationship with a boy named Trevor when he was young. In his letter, Little Dog recounts moments of his life growing up with a single mother in a country that is not her own. Their relationship is far from perfect as his mother was occasionally abusive, which could be triggering for some, so readers keep this in mind if you
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we could actually keep or make given that it is a very complicated set of issues.” “The conversation now has shifted a little bit, it has given us the opportunity to work on the kinds of reforms that are not just overnight solutions but that with persistence and longer term attention have sustained outcomes,” he said. Another area where the administration focused on equity, he said, was in vaccination rollout. “Our vaccine team never wavered that we were going to center on equity, even in terms of the challenges of how to execute it,” he said. “We weren’t going to let the temptation of the various driving forces for getting the vaccine out quickly and relying on traditional mechanisms influence our core approach. He credited Fire Chief Harold Scoggins with “stepping in to do testing and vaccination, work that isn’t part of their core responsibilities.” The city government had to make a series of tough choices economically that, in the short term, “impacted a lot of people.” “And those decisions were made based on following the best guidance the mayor could get,” he said. These included investment strategies for small businesses, rental assistance, food vouchers, child
support, and other supports to make sure a safety net was in place. Going forward, taking care of the most vulnerable, and “doing everything we can to bring back Seattle’s strong economy,” are efforts the administration is putting in place now, he said. Asked about what the city could have done better, Fong mentioned a series of urgent challenges at the outset of the pandemic that took a certain amount of time to “get footing on.” “We had urgency to do testing, we had urgency to get a better handle on the transmission of Covid, there was an emerging set of challenges coming out of assisted living,” he said. Questions about masking policies emerged from the CDC to the state to the county level. “In hindsight, we could have gotten into alignment sooner,” he said. There were also challenges around equitable vaccine distribution, which had to do with constrained supply from the Trump administration, he said. “But I’m very proud of the work the city did.”
choose to pick up this book. But despite this, it’s clear that Little Dog loves his mother. This raises the question of how to reconcile our love for someone when they are also the source of our pain and trauma. As Vuong demonstrates, there’s no easy answer. If you’re looking for a story with a plot, “On Earth” is very light on this. Admittedly, this made it a little difficult for me to get into the book at first. I kept waiting for something to happen. But what Little Dog’s letter is, is a recollection of moments of his and his family’s life—his upbringing in Hartford, Connecticut as the son of a Vietnamese immigrant.
Vuong gives us an intimate look into a family still dealing with the aftermath of the Vietnam War, decades after the last shots were fired and reminds us that intergenerational trauma is very real. Little Dog’s story shows readers how far reaching the trauma of war and violence is and how it can affect more than just the individual. It’s passed down and can impact an entire family for generations.
Mahlon can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
Samantha can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 4.
YEH from 8 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and was their first Asian American member when he joined in 1977. One of her favorite moments on her show was cooking chicken pot stickers, scallion pancakes with maple syrup slaw and, of course, a sprinkle cake, before performing a Bach invention with the man she calls her biggest musical inspiration. “It’s that same creative, special, joyous feeling that I get making cake and making food for other people that I get from playing music for people that I love,” said Yeh. “If life can be a lot of those moments strung together, that’s a life I want to live.”
YOUR VOICE
■ ASTROLOGY
JUNE 26 – JULY 2, 2021
asianweekly northwest
11
Predictions and advice for the week of June 26–July 2, 2021 By Sun Lee Chang Rat—It’s important to acknowledge that not everyone sees the world as you do—a little empathy goes a long way.
Dragon—Is a tiresome scenario playing out again? Instead of your usual reaction, approach the situation differently.
Monkey—Avoid going to the same source too many times. To the extent possible and reasonable, seek other options.
Ox—Taking the time to shore up your weakest points will help to strengthen your overall position.
Snake—No one has to tell you how to work hard, but relaxation is another matter. Try to get enough rest.
Rooster—Although you feel ready to jump into action, slow down enough to think through all the steps.
Tiger—If you feel strongly about an issue, weigh in early enough so that your wishes can be taken into account.
Horse—You have sought something that is now within your reach. The question for you is whether you still want it.
Dog—While you might not always be the loudest one in the group, your actions often speak volumes.
Rabbit—You are aware of the risk, but choose to focus on the possibilities. There is reason to be optimistic.
Goat—Finding it difficult to enjoy the moment because your attention is elsewhere? Choose to be present.
Pig—An unresolved matter has come to the surface this week. Nip it in the bud before it becomes a bigger issue.
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.
WEBINAR from 4
YANG from 9
if the disability does not come up in conversation then there is no need to mention it. “Doing the uncomfortable thing is part of making those connections with people with disabilities that you might not have made before,” she said. “Because it can be uncomfortable at first, you get used to it.”
September 2018. It turned confrontational after midnight when he questioned the officials’ credentials. It led to Sun’s entourage ordering a security guard to smash the casing of a blood vial with a hammer so that it would not be valid for testing. The World Anti-Doping Agency appealed to CAS when a tribunal appointed by swimming governing body FINA only warned the Olympic champion about his conduct. WADA requested a ban of two-to-eight years for a second doping conviction. Sun served a three-month ban in 2014 imposed by Chinese authorities after testing positive for a stimulant that was banned at the time. The ban was not announced until after it ended.
Nicholas can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com.
MIN from 1 Not knowing English, Min had no way of communicating with the outside world in his new home except through hockey. “I didn’t know how to speak, I didn’t know how to read, but I did know how to play hockey.” Time on the ice helped him navigate the new culture that was so different from where he grew up. When he was 7, he could tell that people liked him when they gave him fist-bumps on the ice. This was common ground as he continued to learn English and encouraged him to get better. While living in Canada, he did not go to school in B.C. but went to the golf course, the hockey rink, and he watched SpongeBob at home. Through the outside world, he learned English through sports. When Min’s family moved to the United States, he moved to Bellevue, Washington where he enrolled in the second grade. In testing his English, his school asked if he took an English as a Second Language Program, since he was proficient in the language. But he said that he learned it from hockey. While in Bellevue, he played hockey with Sno-King Amateur Hockey on the Eastside. After he retired from competitive hockey, he returned to coach there the last 4 years. He went to Eastgate Elementary School, Tilliculm Middle School, and Newport High School. In his junior year in high school, he left home and went to Valencia, California to play for a club team. Min didn’t have resources as a kid to find opportunities to play with hockey clubs. Fortunately, he was approached by individuals and received help from his older brother. He was offered a chance to play hockey
WADA welcomed the latest CAS ruling, noting that its concerns about FINA’s inconsistent interpretation of anti-doping rules were upheld again. Sun’s eight-year ban had been imposed after a rare CAS hearing held in open court and streamed live online. That was requested by the athlete and lasted more than 10 hours in November 2019 at a special court session in Montreux, Switzerland. A change this year to FINA’s rules in anti-doping cases meant the eight-year ban for a second offense could be reduced. The amendment “represents a newly flexible approach,” the court said. The 6-foot-7 Sun was the first Chinese swimmer to win Olympic gold, at the 2012 London Games, and has long been a polarizing figure in the pool. Rivals branded him a cheater at the 2016
in 8th grade at a prep school that would require him to move away from home. But Min wanted to wait. When he moved to Valencia, he lived with a host family. Hockey is not a cheap sport for those that want to play. There is a lot of equipment that a player must have and Min’s family experienced financial challenges, which made paying for things a burden. “I recalled two years in a row, my mom sat me down before hockey season started and asked, ‘Do you really want to play?’” The question was due to the family’s limited resources and the financial burden the sport would put on them. “I could sense and feel the struggle.” Min stated that some hockey clubs and teams have ‘slush funds’ or scholarships to help people who could not afford equipment. He recalls that at Sno-King, he was able to play for free due to receiving a scholarship. As he got older, he was more empathetic about the money issues and his parents realized that he had a passion for the sport. “I think they knew that any financial obstacles that I was presented with, I proved to them that I overcame them and became stronger.” He added, “I think they were willing to take the risk.” Min played in Valencia, then went on to Banff Hockey Academy in Alberta, Canada. From there, he went to Iowa, where he won the national North American Tier III League with the North Iowa Bulls. “They were unbelievable opportunities,” Min said of his time playing. As one of the few Asian individuals on the ice, he has received his share of racist remarks. “As I was younger, it was much more ice cream cones and rainbows,” Min said of his junior hockey time. “[B] ut when you get older, it’s just not on the ice, but off the
Rio de Janeiro Olympics, and two competitors refused to stand with him on medal podiums at the 2019 world championships, where he competed despite the pending appeal brought by WADA. Sun won a total of 11 gold medals in five straight world championships from 2011 to 2019, at each freestyle distance from 200 to 1,500. FINA officials have been criticized during Sun’s career for protecting the sport’s biggest star in a key commercial market. After winning Olympic gold in Rio in a hostile atmosphere, Sun was hugged poolside by Cornel Marculescu, the long-time FINA executive director who retired in March. FINA issued a brief statement on June 22 that it “acknowledges” the CAS ruling, which was not yet published in detail.
ice, like at school you start to hear stuff.” “You tend to stick out when you don’t look like everyone else,” Min said. “Unfortunately, when it happens on the ice, you feel it a little more. I’m sure that there are many others that face it more frequently and to a higher degree. I was fortunate that I was not one of those. But it wasn’t all great.” Min said that the Seattle area has already had a presence of hockey and maybe it catered toward those that were familiar with the sport or had a familial presence. He noted before the NHL, the rinks were full and the programs grew large. With the Kraken, it will expand even more. “I never thought the opportunity would be in front of my face,” he said of his position with the Kraken. “At the time, I was planning to move to Finland.” Min was accepted to a school for coaching hockey and wanted to further his education in coaching. However, he received a phone call from the Kraken and he jumped at the chance to be a part of its Youth Development Team. His responsibility is to build the grassroots program and make the sport accessible to all. He will be working with the NHL ‘Learn to Play’ Programs and 8U, 10U, and 12U age groups that will participate in the Metropolitan Hockey League. He will be teaching adult clinics as well. The programs will take place at the Northgate Kraken Training Facility. For more information, visit nhl.com/kraken/community/ youth-hockey. Jason Cruz can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
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asianweekly northwest
YANG from 1 system and a mountain of absentee ballots still at least a week away from being counted, it could be July before a winner emerges in the Democratic contest. As results trickled in, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, a former police captain who co-founded a leadership group for Black officers, was in a tight race with former city sanitation commissioner Kathryn Garcia and former de Blasio administration lawyer Maya Wiley. “This has been an amazing journey,” Adams told reporters after voting in Brooklyn, emotionally recounting how his path into both law enforcement and politics began at age 15, when he was beaten by police officers. “A little boy, laying on the floor of the 103rd Precinct, assaulted by cops, now could become the mayor to be in charge of that same police department.” In the Republican primary, Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa defeated businessman Fernando Mateo. Ranked choice voting wasn’t a factor because there were only two candidates in the race. But in the Democratic contest, the initial picture could be misleading. After polls closed at 9 p.m., New York
BLOG from 5 about life and death. If your friend hasn’t, you should say, “You are not ready to eat out. Get the vaccine. It will help yourself, your family, and the community.”
Put hugs on hold
Brazil and Italy are countries that had high infection and death rates during Covid. I understand why, as I was in Brazil in December 2019, and in Italy five times. These countries and their respective cultures embrace hugging not only between men and women, and women and women, but between men and men. I have seen Brazilians hug each other even when they meet each other for the first time. Maybe the pandemic will change their cultural habits now. We exhibit our warmth through our body language. It releases endorphins when we hug someone we like. That’s exactly how Covid spreads, through human contact. After being locked down for 15 months, we yearn for human connection and touch. But for everyone’s sake, don’t. Wait for a couple more months, even if the other party has been fully vaccinated. Replace your hugs and handshakes with elbow and shoe bumps for the time being. I tend to forget sometimes, and offer my hand. If you have done that, please wash your hands afterwards. Better do the right things than to be sorry later.
Seattle Symphony Orchestra’s gradual approach
39 YEARS
JUNE 26 – JULY 2, 2021
What irritated me most about the pandemic was not being able to attend live concerts. I don’t miss theaters, sporting events, or outdoor festivals. I missed going to Conductor Ludovic Seattle Symphony Morlot Orchestra (SSO) concerts at Benaroya Hall. Two weeks ago, I went. It was a treat
City’s Board of Elections began releasing results of votes cast in person, but that initial picture will only include data on who candidates ranked as their first choice. The ranked choice system, approved for use in New York City primaries and special elections by referendum in 2019, allowed voters to rank up to five candidates on their ballot. Vote tabulation is then done in computerized rounds, with the person in last place getting eliminated each round, and ballots cast for that person getting redistributed to the surviving candidates based on voter rankings. That process continues until only two candidates are left. The one with the most votes wins. It won’t be until June 29 that the Board of Elections performs a tally of those votes using the new system. It won’t include any absentee ballots in its analysis until July 6, making any count before then potentially unreliable. More than 87,000 absentee ballots had been received by the city as of June 21, with more expected to arrive in the mail over the next few days. On June 23, AAPI Victory Fund released a statement congratulating Yang on his well-fought campaign and rebuking mainstream media for positioning candidate
to see SSO musicians and conductor Ludovic Morlot. From a seating capacity of 2,500, their first event was limited only to staff (less than 30 people), the second event had 150 people, and the third concert I attended in mid-June had 220 people. The roll call box was completely eliminated. You got e-tickets or emails. There were 26 musicians on stage, less than the full orchestra size of 40+ members. Their seating arrangement adhered to social distancing guidelines, sitting wide apart from one another. Every side row seated only two people, while the center row seated two to four people allowing for social distancing, and leaving as many as 20 seats empty. Despite the hall’s emptiness, the emcee (violinist) asked the audience to applaud as much as we could. “We need it,” he said. And we did, delivering a thunderous applause and two standing ovations for a smashing program after every performance. There were no paper programs to hand out. You could check the online program before you go. The emailed tickets instructed the requirement of temperature checks and being vaccinated. The ushers checked each attendee’s temperature, but no proof of vaccination. SSO was being cautious by testing out the number of audience members, even though it was allowed to seat up to 50%. I was comfortable watching the whole program without any uneasiness. Everything was carefully thought out and arranged. SSO probably lost money on the program. But the argument is, it is better to have the musicians back to work than staying home, and bringing a live audience back is a milestone. When the musicians rose from their chairs to acknowledge the applause, there was not one musician who didn’t carry a smile. It’s been a while for the audience and the performers to feel delight and satisfaction during the atrocious pandemic. It was a magical moment of triumph for all of us to spell loud and clear, “We will not kowtow to Covid.”
What to wear?
My closet is packed with some nice clothes. But I don’t care to wear them now. The pandemic has changed me. I would rather spend time on what really matters in life. Right now, dressing to impress serves no purpose. I am not going anywhere or meeting big shots. For the past months, I have enjoyed wearing jeans. And I am not worried that
Yang as a token “foreigner.” AAPI Victory Fund President Varun Nikore said in a statement, “Although his race didn’t amount to a victory, Yang gave the AAPI community a platform on which to elevate pervasive issues that remain increasingly relevant in the minds and hearts of AAPI people across the country. “But, in addition to renewed hope, Yang’s campaign also shed light on the insidious ways in which mainstream media feeds the misinformation, hatred and, ultimately violence our community experiences.” The statement continued, “Andrew Yang is a New Yorker. He was raised in New York, educated at American schools, he raised his two boys here and built his companies here. To assert anything different is offensive, harmful and outright dangerous… AAPI’s are still underrepresented in our American politics. This race showed exactly why. The AAPI Victory Fund will redouble our efforts to ensure an equitable society where everybody has the freedom and opportunity to succeed.” Ruth Bayang contributed to this report.
Weekly has done just that in the last 15 months.
Back to school
people might say I am a slob. It takes a lot of time to dress attractively, as it requires effort to match accessories, such as jewelry, shoes, and a purse. Presently, time is too valuable to spend on choosing clothes. Fortunately, most places I venture out to these days are parks, waterfronts, and forests. And casual pants are perfect. However, if wearing stylish clothes brings you pleasure, go shopping for the reopening. A hot summer is approaching. You need some bright and trendy outfits. It will support our economy. That’s a good thing, too.
Back to work
Remote work is one of the merits of COVID. It doesn’t only benefit employees, but employers, too. One hospital recently terminated its downtown office lease and all employees are now working at home. Guess how much money it saves? $2 million. Most big companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have learned that remote work makes employees happier, especially for those who have family responsibilities. Amazon was not thrilled about remote work at first, and tried to push for employees to come back. It has reconsidered its policy since then, and required employees to work in-office only two days a week, instead of five. Google asks its employees to work in the office three days a week. Some smaller companies might not desire remote work due to lack of collaboration and supervision on their employees. The pandemic has pushed us to be more flexible with employees’ specific needs. The Northwest Asian
I have a different view on going back to the classroom. Reflecting on my college years, I relished those classroom experiences, as well as after-class social interactions. My chats with my classmates at the University of Washington HUB (student union building) and the libraries for our study groups were fun and memorable. Some of those guest speakers on campus were magnificent, such as Gloria Steinem and Bella Abzug. It won’t be the same to hear them through Zoom. The energy and dialogue in the room were empowering. During the past year, I was not enthused with Zoom talks, no matter how good the speaker was. I confess that I hate Zoom meetings. Too intense and too much rigid sitting. I never felt quite right being in them. So students, if you are vaccinated, push for face-to-face classes in your school. It’s an education you will never get from books and being online.
Don’t rush it
I miss all my friends, businesses, community, and close friends. The tendency for us now is to make lunch and dinner dates with those people in July that we have been postponing during the pandemic. We need to remember that the pandemic is not over yet. Only 68% (45.3% have at least 1 dose) of the U.S. population, and 70% of Seattleites have been inoculated. That’s great news. There is still a chance for those who have been vaccinated to get COVID-19, with asymptomatic or minor symptoms. We have to be careful to protect ourselves and your friends, too. Don’t overbook. Do it slowly. Try it out once a week with only a small group of friends in July, and then increase it in August. There is no hurry to get back to your pre-pandemic social calendar. Enjoy your summer! Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.