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VOL 41 NO 6 FEBRUARY 5 – FEBRUARY 11, 2022
FREE 40 YEARS YOUR VOICE
AAPI restaurants suffer and pine for relief The gilt lettering on the window of the restaurant was not enough to save it. It said, “Dine In” and “Take Out” and “Catering” and “Delivery.” And it was written in gold-colored paint that even looked Chinese in style. But when the Northwest Asian Weekly called for an interview, the proprietor said no—she was going out of business. “How is this going to help me?”
Help is what Chinese and other Asian restaurants are looking for in the wake of the Omicron surge. In Washington state, over the five years preceding the pandemic, Chinese and Japanese restaurants had already declined in number by 10%, according to Anthony Anton, CEO of the Washington Hospitality Association, although other Asian cuisine, such as Asian fusion, had grown. see AAPI RESTAURANTS on 18
Photo by Mahlon Meyer
By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Tai Tung owner Harry Chan says take-out dining has helped his restaurant fend off the worst ravages of the Omicron surge.
New home for clinic with mission to improve birth equity JOANNE HARRELL Seattle First Lady
By Kiley Riffell
Y.P. CHAN Principal, Chanden Inc.
My wish for 2022 is that we get past the pandemic and emerge with a dedication to healthy outcomes and disease prevention for all people. I’d love to see this new year be one where “all boats rise”—we see greater prosperity for all, underpinned by a keener sense of hope, a renewed belief in our democratic principles and a commitment to justice across all parts of our nation for every resident.
Tara Lawal is the executive director of RVM, which is a center aimed at improving birth equity. In an interview on the Mirror Stage Podcast, she reveals that the organization has doubled its business since the start of the pandemic, and that the demand, particularly in the BIPOC community, just keeps increasing. “We feel that Covid is increasing fear of the unknown for birthing people, as labor and delivery protocols and procedures are changing rapidly at hospitals, even from week to week,” Lawal said. Having a home birth lets some families take back control over the situation.
Executive Director of the Rainier Valley Midwives Tara Lawal
To stay in shape and get my mind off the pandemic, I hiked (or snow-shoed) with friends most weekends. This year, see LNY QUOTES on 19
A Seattle nonprofit says that fear surrounding the pandemic has doubled the demand for midwifery services. Thanks to new funding, the Rainier Valley Midwives (RVM) say it will finally meet the increasing demand this spring.
LAYERS OF NEED Lawal said the ongoing pandemic has also amplified the need for support services. There are many layers of need that the staff didn’t initially anticipate. “We have had a lot of special needs that have come up through the pandemic so that we need to have social services and mental health services.” This year, the clinic received funding see MIDWIVES on 13
THE INSIDE STORY
LUNAR NEW YEAR Lee, Kirkland artist, designs Lunar New Year calendar 2
■
COMMUNITY NEWS Issaquah’s Barba Higuera receives top literary awards 4
COMMUNITY NEWS Seattle University President Eduardo Peñalver and the politics of loss 7
BUSINESS Serving joy through the power of gourmet box delivery 9
ON THE SHELF AAPIs in show business 10
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40 YEARS
FEBRUARY 5 – FEBRUARY 11, 2022
For the third year running, U.S. Bank has commissioned Kirkland resident and artist Nolen Lee to create the bank’s Lunar New Year calendar. The second oldest of six children, Lee enjoyed drawing, coloring, playing with LEGOs, bead-making, creating figurines with Sculpey, folding origami creations, painting T-shirts—you Nolen Lee name it, he’s tried it. His affinity for art continued into his school years, where he drew characters from the video games he played with friends—from Street Fighter, Mega Man, and X-Men. In high school, he began thinking about what he wanted to do for a living. “I looked at my dad and older brother who were both architects,” Lee said. “I was doing well in math and science and started pursuing civil engineering. I was too scared to submit my art portfolio to an art school.” One night halfway through his studies, his mom called him up and asked him to turn on the local PBS channel. “There was a special on Chuck Jones—the creator of Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner and the Warner
Bros. frog,” Lee said. His parents had brought him up on Looney Tunes and other old cartoons, and the documentary sparked something in him. “I see this guy who’s very blue-collar in my mind, but creates wacky, fun characters and is this amazing storyteller and designer. At the point I was watching it, I thought, that’s what I want to do! I want to get into art and animation.” However, this revelation didn’t propel him out of his engineering program. “I’d promised my parents I would finish, and I was already halfway through. I ended up completing a master’s degree in civil engineering.” Armed with this formidable backup career, Lee took the leap into art. After drawing a set of panda characters and launching his website, called Punching Pandas, he had his work sold at a market in the Wing Luke Museum. The installation was then noticed by an agency U.S. Bank works with on marketing campaigns. For this year’s calendar, Lee explored a different artistic style. “People viewing the calendar might see haphazard brushstrokes up close, but
Credit: U.S. Bank
■ LUNAR NEW YEAR Lee, Kirkland artist, designs Lunar New Year calendar
when you step back and look at the whole image, you see those brushstrokes create a lively image that still retains a lot of detail—like the bakery shot with all the buns, or the June image of the
graduation ceremony.” He also used his lived experience to inspire some images. see LEE on 14
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■ COMMUNITY NEWS
FEBRUARY 5 – FEBRUARY 11, 2022
northwest
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SPD investigates homicide in CID Detectives are investigating after a man was found dead in Kobe Terrace Park. At 2:25 a.m. on Jan. 28, officers on patrol spotted a man lying on the ground at the entrance to the park on South Washington Street. The man was not responsive, so officers began first aid and discovered the victim had gunshot wounds. Seattle Fire Department medics responded and
Photo from SPD
asianweekly
attempted lifesaving measures, but the 34-yearold man was declared dead at the scene. Homicide detectives also responded and will continue the investigation. Anyone with information about this incident can call the violent crimes tip line at (206) 2335000.
SPD responded to the crime scene on Jan. 28
Police investigating two weekend shootings in CID On Jan. 29, at about 6 p.m., a witness flagged an officer down in the Chinatown-International District (CID) and told him someone had been shot at 12th Avenue South and South Jackson Street. Police responded to the scene and found a shell casing and several blood droplets, but
no victim. None of the people in the area claimed to have seen or heard anything, and no suspect description was provided. On Jan. 30 at 12:10 p.m., police responded to a shooting at South Jackson Street and Maynard Avenue South.
Wishing you prosperity in the year of the Tiger. International District
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According to witnesses and evidence later collected at the scene, the suspect fired shots at a victim who fled on foot and was never found.
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■ COMMUNITY NEWS
40 YEARS
Issaquah’s Barba Higuera receives top literary awards By Samantha Pak NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Donna Barba Higuera
A few years ago, Donna Barba Higuera’s youngest daughter came home from middle school, upset about having to square dance in physical education. Her daughter’s horror at having to dance—and with a boy, no less— sparked the idea for Lupe Wong, a young Chinacan/Mexinese (Chinese and Mexican) girl Barba Higuera describes as a stubborn troublemaker and social
justice warrior. She’s also the title character in the Issaquah resident’s 2020 debut middle grade novel, “Lupe Wong Won’t Dance” (Levine Querido, 2020). The book went on to receive a number of awards and honors, including the Pura Belpré Honor Award and the Sid Fleischman Humor Award. At the end of January, Barba Higuera’s latest book, “The Last Cuentista” (Levine Querido, 2021), the story of a 12-yearold girl who is an aspiring storyteller in a world hundreds of years in the future when stories of humanity’s past are being erased, received the Newberry Medal and Pura Belpré Award. Barba Higuera received news of both honors within the span of one weekend. The annual awards are sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association (ALA). According to the ALA website, the Newberry Medal is awarded “to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.” The Pura Belpré Award—co-sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association, and ALA affiliate, REFORMA—is presented to “a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience
in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.” Since the announcement, Barba Higuera’s life has turned into a hurricane of happy chaos. Within a week, hard copies of “The Last Cuentista” began selling out everywhere, from Barnes & Noble to Amazon—a good problem to have, she admits. She’s also received more interview requests than she can handle without assistance. When asked if she imagined receiving these awards when she began writing, Barba Higuera, who still works as an optometrist in Bellevue (although she’s going to start cutting back on her hours as her writing career becomes more demanding), said, “I don’t think any writers imagine any awards at all,” pointing out that there are also amazing books that haven’t received any recognition. Barba Higuera, who has also published a children’s picture book called “El Cucuy is Scared Too!” (Harry N. Abrams, 2021), has always been a writer. Before she began writing seriously, she wrote short stories, often with alternative versions of things she saw as mysterious. She started her first novel in 2011, after taking online writing classes at Bellevue College. For about seven years, she wrote several
“practice” novels before getting an agent and writing “Lupe.” Although she’s been in Washington since 1995—living in Kent before moving to Issaquah about 18 years ago— Barba Higuera, who is half Mexican American and half white, grew up in Taft, California. Back then, it was a predominantly white community and throughout her childhood, there was only one other Latino boy in town. Despite their small number having just one other person with a similar cultural background helped. Being biracial, she understands how it feels to be considered by others as “not enough” of either race. This is something her two daughters—one of whom was adopted from China, and the other is half Chinese American on her father’s side— have had to navigate as well. Barba Higuera works hard to give kids what she didn’t have growing up— representation. But she tries not to be preachy in her writing. Instead, Barba Higuera likes to present situations that will have readers questioning how they would feel or react if they were in her characters’ shoes. Whether it’s kids who haven’t seen see HIGUERA on 14
HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR 2022! I am proud to join Seattle’s Chinese Community in celebrating the Lunar New Year and in ringing in the Year of the Tiger! I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the staff and volunteers of the Northwest Asian Weekly for more than four decades of service to our community. I also commend the staff of its sister publication, the Seattle Chinese Post, which has provided critical news and information to readers since 1982. I encourage all King County residents to join me in celebrating the Lunar New Year, and in recognizing the contributions of these esteemed community institutions.
Dow Constantine King County Executive
FEBRUARY 5 – FEBRUARY 11, 2022
Shaquita L. Bell, MD
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FEBRUARY 5 – FEBRUARY 11, 2022
■ LUNAR NEW YEAR
Smooth like butter: Link between Korean American foods, culture
In a packed home kitchen, the sounds of sizzling pajeon (scallion pancake) and the smell of doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) fill the house. Generations of family come barrelling into the kitchen, eagerly awaiting the feast before them. This is the reality for millions of Korean Americans, many of whom are second- or even third-generation immigrants, who come together to bond over the “foods” of their labor. Moreover, with seollal (Korean New Year) upon us, those families will undoubtedly be coming back together once more for festivities and celebratory tteokguk (rice cake soup) for the Lunar New Year. This further begs the question: how does food, such a seemingly ordinary element of life, hold such extraordinary power? “I definitely think there’s a strong link between food and heritage and cultural connection,” Erin Kim, a Korean American living in Seattle, said. “It’s a huge part of Korean culture that keeps me connected … I grew up eating Korean foods at home, and then being away from home, I’m starting to learn how to cook it for myself, and [I’m] realizing that it really is a big part of me.”
Photo by Erin Kim
By Joshua Lee NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Banchan (side dishes), braised short ribs, rice cake and dumpling soup, and kimchi pancake) spread out across a table on Jan. 1 2022 in Seattle, Wash.
Kim, whose mother and father are first- and second-generation Korean Americans, respectively, uses food to deter both hunger and homesickness. While she started out by simply pan frying pork and kimchi, Kim has moved on to larger and more ambitious culinary endeavors. “I have a good bulgogi (seasoned grilled beef) marinade, and I make a giant pot of dakdoritang (braised spicy chicken) for my housemates,” Kim said. “And then we reheat it throughout the week … When I
went home for winter break, [my mom] made kkori gomtang (oxtail soup). I’ve always wanted to try making it, but it takes so long to make.” Nowadays, Korean food (and Asian food in general) has gone worldwide. What was once an almost diasporaexclusive culinary sect in the 20th century has, with the advent of K-pop and K-dramas, exploded into the mainstream. According to “Hallyu 2.0: The New Korean Wave in the Creative Industry,” an article by professor Dal Yong Jin at the
University of Michigan’s International Institute Journal, in the late 2000s to 2010s, the second Korean Wave, called Hallyu 2.0, social media and the rise of smartphones have played a significant role in the popularization of Korean culture in the West. Continuing into the 2020s, Hallyu is experiencing its third wave, according to Sooho Song, an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In their paper, “The Evolution of the Korean Wave: How Is the Third Generation Different from Previous Ones?” published in the Korea Observer, Song notes the immense popularity of groups like BTS, the proliferation of Korean media on Netflix and other western outlets, and the rise of mukbang, where viewers watch others eat, talk, or cook—a trend that began in South Korea. On the social media app TikTok, one of the most popular cooking accounts, with 2.9 million followers as of January 2022, is thekoreanvegan, an author and home cook who preaches the importance of good food and cultural pride. Thekoreanvegan, whose name is Joanne Molinaro, often speaks on the cultural dissonance of growing up as an see KOREAN AMERICAN FOODS on 16
FEBRUARY 5 – FEBRUARY 11, 2022
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■ COMMUNITY NEWS Seattle University President Eduardo Peñalver and the politics of loss When he was a boy, growing up in Puyallup, Eduardo Peñalver’s parents took him to protest the nuclear submarines at Bangor Naval Base following the lead of Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen. Even today, his father still goes to mass every day—he lives directly across from All Saints Church. So when Peñalver went to college at Cornell, he was disappointed to find it was the only Ivy League School without a divinity school. But when he applied for a Rhodes Scholarship—a professor had recommended him—planning to study theology, he almost didn’t get it because the interviewer asked him a question he didn’t know how to answer. “He asked me, ‘What is the hypostatic union?’” said Peñalver, in an interview with Northwest Asian Weekly. “And when I didn’t know, he said, ‘I thought you wanted to study theology.’” Peñalver responded, “Well, I want to study it, it doesn’t mean I know a lot about it.” (The hypostatic union, he would later learn, means the union of the divine and human natures in the one person of Christ.) Thus began a lifelong quest to find a union of a different kind, between religion and law, academics and the legal profession, the present and the past, loss and the recognition that something positive may come of that loss. He got the scholarship. Apparently the interviewer was impressed by his candor, and he went to Oxford to study the philosophy of religion and other related subjects in a school that, up until a few decades earlier, had not admitted Catholics. Later, after attending Yale Law School and achieving clerkships with some of the highest judges in the land, his mother would ask if that was a good thing—was that why he went to law school? “We hadn’t had any lawyers in our immediate family,” he said, although his father was a pediatrician and his mother a school nurse. It wasn’t until much later, when he became a law professor and started writing about the law and the losses it could acknowledge and if not rectify then perhaps justify, that he addressed his family’s loss. His grandmother, attached to the former regime in Cuba, had fled in 1961, two years after the revolution. His father, a student activist, had fled the following year for a different reason. A student in the Franciscan seminary in Havana, he chose to leave after it was shut down after the Bay of Pigs. The policy, for anyone leaving Cuba at the time, was to allow those departing to take only what he or she could carry and one bag, said Peñalver. “Cubans say they arrived in the United States with one hand in front, one hand behind,” he said. All else—land, home, business, property, even the photographs they
Yosef Kalinko / Seattle University
By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Eduardo Peñalver
couldn’t carry—was left behind and ultimately confiscated and nationalized by the state. “So growing up in that house, my grandmother was scarred by the loss,” said Peñalver, who wears a short beard that he held with one hand when he recounted his family’s loss. “Cubans kept track of what they left behind and had this hope of coming back to Cuba and getting it.” It was in law school, however, that he first began to cope with and analyze that loss. His first published paper was about Cuban revolutionary land law—the law which had disenfranchised his parents and grandparents. “My grandmother and father used to have epic political arguments when I was growing up,” he said. With his father, for the first time in the 1990s, he visited the family’s home in Cuba, lost now forever. When his family fled, they left it in the care of a housekeeper who lived in it for many years as her own. Eventually, when the house became too much for her, she swapped it for a smaller apartment and perhaps an illegal payment since selling houses was forbidden under Cuban property law. Thus began Peñalver’s interest in property law and property rights. His first book, “Property Outlaws,” almost seems a justification of the Cuban Revolution, since it argues that people who unlawfully appropriate property in some cases communicate important information about broader problems plaguing society. Today, he says that the book’s argument is most applicable to homelessness. “It went beyond traditional theories of civil disobedience because it included things like non-violent theft, like shoplifting, or the theft of intellectual property, and also squatting, and when I look around, the example that is
most squarely engaged by our book is the homeless encampments around Seattle which are formally illegal but reflect and reveal real imbalances in our housing market,” he said. A Catholic view of property informs his book, which in the end argues that those breaking property law sometimes help to advance the development of law by shedding light on those kinds of imbalances or inefficiencies. Sometimes, the law’s response is to double down on enforcement. But, historically, at times the state has also responded by changing the law. Examples include the Homestead Act of 1862 and the public accommodations provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, said Peñalver. “If you want to summarize the Catholic view of property, it is that there is a right to private property, that the ability to plan and control and invest is part of human flourishing, but that also means that because it is a human right, everyone is entitled to some ownership,” he said. Peñalver, who speaks with a calm intensity, gave the example of a famous Texas economist who advanced a similar view. “He was accused of being a socialist, but he said, ‘I believe in private ownership—in fact, I think it’s so great, everyone should have some.’”
Peñalver, when asked for a thread that defined his life, said, after some reflection, things had often happened because of serendipity—or accident, even. He went to Cornell without ever visiting. He thought the Rhodes Scholarship was something that was just given out, like a Pulitzer. He was uncertain about his next step while wanting to leave his law firm when the dean of Yale Law School called him and interested him in teaching. He had been looking to return to the Pacific Northwest for 30 years and had given up when he was contacted about the Seattle University presidency opening up and invited to apply. His wife, Sital Kalantry, who was profiled by this newspaper last month, teaches at the law school. “If there’s a theme, it’s a little bit of an accidental career path,” he said. “I’m not a big believer in very linear careers and I always counsel students not to be too strategic if you don’t know where you’re going to be in five years––the key thing is to be enjoying what you’re doing and have it be meaningful to you at every stage, then you never have any regrets about your grand plan not working out.” Mahlon can be contacted at info@nwasianweekly.com.
U P CO M I N G
Classical Concerts at ME A N Y CE NTE R
Wu Han, Philip Setzer & David Finckel · February 16 Dynamic chamber music by trio of esteemed virtuosos
George Li · February 18 Pianist of effortless grace and brilliant technique
TICKETS
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40 YEARS
FEBRUARY 5 – FEBRUARY 11, 2022
■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR FEB 3
CLUB MEETING ABOUT TINY HOMES WITH BARB OLIVER, SOUND FOUNDATIONS NW 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. For Zoom link, contact rotaryofseattleid@gmail.com
12 CHINESE EXPULSION REMEMBRANCE & MARCH FOR THE FUTURE Start at Hing Hay Park Chinatown & march to Seattle’s Waterfront 12-2 p.m. Register: tinyurl.com/
walktoharbor info@ucawa.org CHINESE AMERICAN LEGACY ARTWORK PROJECT PRESENTATION 2 p.m. Via Zoom, Wing Luke Museum’s Zoom webinar account wingluke.org
15 NOW THROUGH FEB. 15
SHORELAKE ARTS LANTERN FESTIVAL ARTWORK DISPLAY Monka Brewing & Uplift Climbing, 17211 15th Ave. NE, Shoreline Lion dance and Kung Fu performance on Feb. 12 at 4 p.m. shorelakearts.org/lantern
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KOREAN AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON’S 31ST ANNUAL BANQUET Via Zoom For more info, please contact kabawabanquet@gmail.com
APDC FEBRUARY MEETING WITH DEPUTY MAYOR KENDEE YAMAGUCHI 8:30 a.m. Pre-registration on Zoom required https://bit.ly/3fR0Xbg sesecwa.org
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17 CLUB MEETING ABOUT ASIAN PACIFIC CULTURAL CENTER WITH FAALUAINA PRITCHARD 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. For Zoom link, contact rotaryofseattleid@gmail.com
SPECIAL EXHIBIT: PICTURES OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066 @ OCTAVE 9 Seattle Symphony Jan 27 at 11 a.m.-1 p.m., 5-7 p.m. Jan 29 at 1-7 p.m. Feb 19, 1-7 p.m. EO9066 ticket holders will receive free entry on the day of their show with their concert ticket Exhibit tickets: $12 Tickets: https://bit.ly/32l2xz8
MUKAI FARM & GARDEN WILL COMMEMORATE THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066 4 p.m. Via Zoom Register at https://tinyurl.com/2h9zybz9 mukaifarmandgarden.com
20 MINH CARRICO WAS LOST AND NOW HAS BEEN FOUND, “KINGS TO KING” 2-3 p.m. Via Zoom Zoom Meeting ID: 716 4280 1111 Passcode: 23x40X minhcarrico.com
■ WORLD NEWS
San Francisco reports Staffers complain of racism, abuse by WHO big increase in antileader in Asia Asian hate crimes By MARIA CHENG AP MEDICAL WRITER Current and former staffers have accused the top director of the World Health Organization in the Western Pacific of racist, unethical and abusive behavior that has undermined the U.N. health agency’s efforts to curb the coronavirus pandemic.
The allegations were laid out in an internal complaint filed in October and again in an email last month, sent by unidentified “concerned WHO staff” to senior leadership and the executive board and obtained by the Associated Press. Two of the authors said more than 30 staffers were involved in writing it, see WHO on 13
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The mayor of San Francisco expressed despair over the increase in reported hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) last year, up an astonishing 567% from the previous year, according to preliminary figures released by the police department on Jan. 25. Mayor London Breed pledged
continued support for the community, saying she suspects actual numbers are much higher because people are reluctant to report to the police. The initial count shows 60 victims in 2021, up from nine in 2020. Half of last year’s victims were allegedly targeted by one man. It would have broken her heart if the see SAN FRANCISCO on 19
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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
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Credit: Savor Seattle Tours
By Nina Huang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Angela Shen
Inspired by her family’s restaurant business, Angela Shen always felt that food had the power to bring people together. Having never visited Seattle before she moved here from the midwest in 2007, Shen was surprised by the incredible diversity and richness of the local food scene. She had the idea to start a food
company that takes people into different restaurants and eateries to allow them to experience and learn about good food. Shen’s parents were from an era when having good food was enough to bring people through their doors. Though that’s not the case anymore, she was just excited to bring hardworking people’s stories to life, and everyone wants to connect with makers behind closed doors, so that’s how she started her business in May 2007, Savor Seattle. Their very first tour, which is the signature two-hour tour of Pike Place Market, was what they launched with. As they grew, the company added gourmet restaurant tours, chocolate indulgence tours, booze and bites tours, and also a three-day, two-night kayaking expedition in the San Juan Islands. The company grew organically and Shen led the one-woman show, leading tours to a team of over 30 individuals for 15 years. During the peak of COVID in March 2020, Shen’s business came to a halt. “Travel and restaurants shut down and our entire business went away overnight, so we quickly pivoted and transitioned into a different model. We
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Credit: Savor Seattle Tours
■ BUSINESS SERVING JOY THROUGH THE POWER OF GOURMET BOX DELIVERY
Pike Place Market - Food & Cultural Tour participants
moved into doing curated food boxes for local delivery and nationwide shipping,” she said. “With food tours, we were always ambassadors for Seattle’s restaurants. Instead of bringing people to these restaurants, we’ll try reversing the flow and bring food to people’s doorsteps. It was an entirely different business model and a crazy adventure during COVID, but it was wildly successful. We were so fortunate because Seattleites are very passionate about social justice and the
local business community,” she explained. “Our message was to help save Seattle’s small businesses and it was tremendous. We wrapped up the COVID year having grown the company two times bigger than our best tourism year, and we contributed over $2 million in direct sales to over 120 food businesses in the greater Seattle area. We also donated over $100,000 to see SHEN on 14
Seattle has over 80 safe disposal kiosks.
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FEBRUARY 5 – FEBRUARY 11, 2022
■ ON THE SHELF By Samantha Pak NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY By Sarah Kuhn DAW Books, 2021
After years of protecting San Francisco from demons, the adventures of superheroines Aveda Jupiter and Evie Tanaka are now the stuff of legend—so much so that they’re headed to Hollywood to check out the TV
From King County Council Chair District 6
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show that’s been created about them. But with Otherworld activity detected outside of the Bay Area, Aveda has a hard time getting excited about the show. She’s more concerned about the fate of the world, her role in it, and if the demonic threat will ever disappear—especially when it looks like the on-set drama has supernatural elements to it. In this fifth installment of Kuhn’s Heroine Complex series, we see how saving the world on the regular—while also trying to fix all of her friends’ personal issues—has taken its toll on Aveda. As a quintessential Type A, everything has to be done a certain way, but her controlling tendencies are leading Aveda down a path toward burnout (although she’s in denial). Kuhn continues to show readers the inner workings of a superheroine team, because it’s more than just showing up to the scene and throwing a few good punches and kicks. And here, we see how the work can affect a superheroine, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. Remove the supernatural and Aveda can be anyone who is trying to be perfect and “do it all,” reminding many of us that we need to be kinder to ourselves—especially women of color, who tend to downplay their struggles. One thing I really loved about “Hollywood Heroine” was seeing the universe expand. Characters from the series’ previous book are now a part of Team Jupiter/Tanaka. It’s fun seeing Aveda mentoring and
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training the “next generation” and realizing she’s no longer alone in the fight against evil. She has other people to lean on now. And this is key, given her aforementioned Type A tendencies—especially when some of the more pressing conflicts she encounters don’t have anything to do with being a superheroine. By Sarah Echavarre Smith Berkley, 2021 Alia Dunn just landed her dream job. After paying her dues at TV’s top outdoor travel channel, she’s finally able to produce a series highlighting Utah’s national parks—a tribute to her late apong, who first introduced her to the outdoors and sparked her love for travel. It’s all very exciting, until Alia meets her newest crew member—Drew Irons. This is the same Drew who ghosted her after an amazing first date, who is now constantly second-guessing her in front of the whole crew. But eventually, the tension between them turns into something else, which leads to the pair catching major feelings. But when the series host proves to be a nightmare beyond belief, jeopardizing the entire shoot, Alia realizes she’ll have to work with the whole crew—including Drew—to save her show. In addition to the love story between Alia and Drew, “On Location” is the story of a
woman coming into her own. For a long time, Alia has kept her head down and just did as she was told at work. But now that she’s running her own show, she’s learning how to use her voice, not only for herself, but on behalf of her crew. It was great to see Alia grow and gain confidence in herself as the story progressed. I appreciated Smith showing that it wasn’t a straight path and that Alia still has moments of doubt. Smith’s descriptions of the various parks see SHELF on 17
FEBRUARY 5 – FEBRUARY 11, 2022
YOUR VOICE
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■ AT THE MOVIES “Definition Please” movie does not wish to spell “stereotype” By Kai Curry NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY “Definition Please,” now streaming on Netflix, is the feature directorial debut of its leading actress, Sujata Day, who is also the writer of the film. Day plays Monica Chowdry, a 20-something former Scripps Spelling Bee champ, whose life hasn’t gone the way people expected. She lives with her mother, who is convalescing with hyperthyroidism, and she is estranged from her brother, Sonny (Ritesh Rajan), who has just come home to attend their father’s funeral. Day has said she aimed to create roles she wanted to play versus the stereotypical South Asian roles she had been previously offered. I agree the characters aren’t stereotypes, but it is confusing trying to figure out what their “deal” is. Monica is weirdly surly, and I deduced the audience is supposed to think, “Wow, that adorable little spelling bee winner turned into THIS?” She smokes pot, has sex on a first date, and hangs
out with her best friend, Krista (Lalaine), in one of those halfempty, semi-dive, small-town bars that probably the large part of the audience never goes into and yet always seem to feature in movies—maybe screenwriters hang out there? But I digress. None of these things are inherently “bad,” yet could be considered “relatively bad” compared to the spelling bee hero “type,” which would be a goody two-shoes nerd, right? The viewer supposes (hopes!) the background behind Monica’s surliness will be revealed. Is it as simple as missed and dreams gone by? Is it that she should be a post-spelling bee success story, but she’s not? Is it because
she’s “stuck” home taking care of Mom? Why is she so pissed when her brother comes back to help with the funeral? “No one spells out how to grow up” is the film’s catchphrase. It’s true the siblings are struggling with their shared childhoods and how to define themselves now. Add to this that the improvement of their mom, Jaya (Anna Khaja), and her condition depends on her not experiencing any stress. The responsibility for this is put squarely on her children’s shoulders—they must not fight. It’s the biggest possible guilt trip. What, to me, was regular brother-sister banter causes Mom’s blood pressure to rise, so the film spends half its
time exploring how, or if, the kids will get along, and the other half exploring whether Monica will “get a life.” Everyone in the family has misconceptions about what happened back in the day. We are told Sonny has a mental imbalance that causes him to “act out” when he has emotions. He has “gotten better,” which implies maybe he was violent before. This would explain why Monica gets triggered whenever he jokes with her or tries to be the protective older brother. It’s the sad residue of when he was her protective older brother— and took the heat for her with their dad, while Monica shut down in response to her family’s
drama. Throughout the film, she has this—her only—cute habit of spelling out and defining words at key moments. When the movie’s tension is at its highest, she picks the word “bewusstseinslage,” which means a feeling devoid of sensory components. Monica, or Boony, as she is nicknamed, has something holding her back. But the real elephant in the room is mental illness. There is a stereotype in macho Sonny not wanting to admit needing medication or therapy, yet it’s true that, statistically, Asian men are see DEFINITION PLEASE on 16
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asianweekly northwest
FEBRUARY 5 – FEBRUARY 11, 2022
■ COMMUNITY NEWS
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Chinese Expulsion remembrance and march Seattle — On Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, at noon in Hing Hay Park in Chinatown, the Chinese community of Greater Seattle will mark the 136th anniversary of the Seattle Chinese Expulsion of 1886 with a remembrance rally and march. The Seattle riot of 1886 occurred Feb. 6-9, 1886, when an angry mob forced over 300 Chinese to flee their homes. Several were killed. Rising anti-Chinese sentiment, caused by intense labor competition with completion of the railroads and the passing of the Chinese Exclusion Act by the U.S. Congress in 1882, triggered the riot.
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On Jan. 21, 2020, 134 years later, Seattle became the first U.S. city to report a COVID-19 case. Again, Chinese in Seattle came under threat when COVID-19 was called the “China Virus,” and a wave of crime and discrimination against Asians, especially Chinese, surged over the past two years. The rally and march will draw attention to Chinese Expulsion and its modern forms so it will never be repeated with newer generations, regardless of
national origin. It will also celebrate over 150 years of political and cultural contributions Chinese Americans have made to Washington state. This is the third remembrance of the Chinese Expulsion, to honor forebears who were killed and to embrace the future. Elected officials, law enforcement, and community and youth leaders will share their insights and stories about their own experiences. The march comes after remembrances and will proceed to the
waterfront from Hing Hay Park via the Historic Chinatown Gate to the location where, in 1886, Seattle’s Chinese were forced aboard a vessel bound for San Francisco and deportation. The event is organized by more than 20 local Chinese American organizations. All are invited to join this peaceful gathering Additionally, on Feb. 12 at 2 p.m., the Wing Luke Museum is hosting a Zoom webinar on a sculpture that will recognize the expulsion of Chinese from Seattle.
YOUR VOICE
■ ASTROLOGY
FEBRUARY 5 – FEBRUARY 11, 2022
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Predictions and advice for the week of February 5–11, 2022 By Sun Lee Chang Rat—Your work is receiving extra attention this week. Don’t let the increased scrutiny throw you off your game.
Dragon—Weeding through and finding what’s worth keeping can be tedious, but it’ll be worth the effort.
Monkey—If you are working with a group, do check in instead of assuming things are going according to plan.
Ox—A true original, you are reluctant to repeat yourself. Luckily, this will also keep you from becoming too predictable.
Snake—Despite the ups and downs, sticking to your initial plan should eventually prove quite profitable.
Rooster—Does it seem like you are stuck in a rut? You might have to stir the pot a bit to get things moving.
Tiger—Are you feeling a bit hesitant about changing direction? Sometimes you need to take a chance to make progress.
Horse—It is easy for you to pare down to just what is necessary, and this should help you to be quite mobile.
Dog—Make the most of your experience by applying a lesson learned in one area to another.
Rabbit —Going through the logical steps should lead you to the right place, winning raves from others for your efficiency.
Goat—From strength to strength, you are making good choices—keep the trend going by being thoughtful about your next move.
Pig—If most of your terms have been met to your satisfaction, it might be worthwhile to concede a minor point.
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, 2022 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.
WHO from 8 and that it reflected the experiences of more than 50 people. The internal complaint and the email describe a “toxic atmosphere” with “a culture of systemic bullying and public ridiculing” at WHO’s Western Pacific headquarters in Manila, led by Dr. Takeshi Kasai, director of a vast region that includes China and his home country of Japan. The AP also has obtained recorded snippets of meetings where Kasai is heard making derogatory remarks about his staff based on nationality. Eleven former or current WHO staffers who worked for Kasai told the AP he frequently used racist language. Staffers, who did not identify themselves to WHO “for fear of retaliation,” said in the email that Kasai’s authoritarian style has led to the departure of more than 55 key staff in the past year and a half, most of whom have not been replaced. This resulted in a lack of understanding and involvement with member countries that “significantly contributed” to a surge of cases in many countries in the region, they said. However, other WHO staffers pointed out that spikes in COVID cases were due to numerous reasons, including countries’ own resources and the timing of their national efforts. In an email to the AP, Kasai denied allegations of racism and unethical behavior. He said that after receiving the email last month, he immediately took steps to communicate with all his staff. “I ask a lot of myself, and our staff,” he said. “This has particularly been the case during the COVID-19 response. But it should not result in people feeling disrespected.” Kasai said he was committed to making changes that would ensure “a positive work environment” for all WHO staff in the region. However, an internal WHO message seen by the AP shows that
in a meeting last month, Kasai ordered all his senior directors and country representatives to “reject” the accusations made in the email and to “totally support“ him. Among the most damning claims is that Kasai made “racist and derogatory remarks to staff of certain nationalities.” The internal complaint filed to WHO alleges that Kasai once aggressively questioned a Filipino staffer during a coronavirus meeting, saying: “How many people in the Pacific have you killed so far and how many more do you want to kill further?” The complaint said he then asked “if she was incapable of delivering good presentations because she was Filipina.” Several WHO officials present when the statements were made confirmed to the AP that the regional director has made numerous racist comments in meetings denigrating people from countries including China, the Philippines and Malaysia. They said the harassed staffers were sometimes driven to tears. The email also said Kasai had blamed the rise in COVID cases in some countries on
their “lack of capacity due to their inferior culture, race and socioeconomic level.” Three WHO staffers who were part of the agency’s coronavirus response team in Asia told the AP Kasai said repeatedly in meetings that the COVID response was hampered by “a lack of sufficiently educated people in the Pacific.” Kasai rejected allegations that he had ever used racist language. “It is true that I have been hard on staff, but I reject the suggestion that I have targeted staff of any particular nationality,” he said. “Racism goes against all of the principles and values I hold dear as a person..I believe deeply and sincerely in WHO’s mission to serve all countries and people.” Kasai is a Japanese doctor who began his career in his country’s public health system before moving to WHO, where he has worked for more than 15 years. He is credited with developing the region’s response to emerging outbreaks after the SARS epidemic in 2003. In the email, staffers accused Kasai of not respecting WHO’s own guidelines in the pandemic through a forced return to the
office and to commute during strict lockdown in Manila. In an internal email to staff from April 1, 2020, he said that three people on the Manila team had COVID but that “we must remain functional..This has meant keeping our country offices and the Regional office open to some level.” Some staffers were concerned that parts of the advice—including car-pooling with other staff and continuing to share desks—could put them at higher risk of catching COVID-19. A WHO scientist who worked on COVID-19 vaccination in Asia told the AP that Kasai shared data with Japan so that the government could decide how to donate doses to its regional neighbors for a political advantage. The staffer, who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation, said Kasai also pressured WHO personnel to prioritize vaccine donations from Japan over the U.N.-backed COVAX effort. In his response to the AP, Kasai disputed that he had ever inappropriately shared information with Japan.
Danielle Munroe / Management Analyst 206-574-1200 / 206-832-3775 01/25/2022
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Subscribe to the Northwest Asian HELP WANTED Viet Wah SuperWeekly market (Seattle) is now hiring for the following part time and full time for just $40 a year or pay online at positions, starting immediately. Full Landscape Term Contract time rolesENTER: include sick leave, vacahttp://www.nwasianweekly.com tion pay, and medical benefits. · Cashier - starting at $18/hour Name___________________________ · SeafoodENTER helperEITHER: – salary DOE PROPOSALS DUE 04/09/2015 · Assistant manager – salary Address _________________________ ENTER EITHER: REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS DOE Apply in store: 1032 S Jackson City ___________________State___ St, Seattle, WA 98104 or at www. KCHA WILL ACCEPT: sealed proposals from qualified, licensed Zip Code ________________________ vietwah.com/careers Landscape contractors for labor and materials to provide landscaping ENTER: For questions, call 206-822-6388 services at King County Housing properties for a period of three (3) Phone __________________________ years. Physician’s office needs a clinical Mail to: NW Asian Weekly 412 Maynard assistant. SCOPE OF WORK: Provide comprehensive landscaping services With fluent English and Cantonese including but not to, mowing, eating,or hardcall edging, line Ave. S.limited Seattle, WAweed 98104 206language. edging, fertilize, pruning, sprinkler repair/replacement along with Three days per week 223-0623 shutdown/startup, debris removal, pest control (exterior), pressure Ph. (206) 623-0733 EMPLOYMENT
Asian restaurants looking for 1 to washing, plant shrubs, trees, groundcover, replace/install bark and 2 good wok chefs without or so gravel, remedial cleanup, and arborist services for residential so English. High pay with benefit FOR SALE apartment buildings, multifamily, and single family properties. The and healthcare. Want to work long Asian restaurant for sale in with our group call 206-502-9942. Seattle area. Landscape service will be expected to provide periodic support from Great business property management offices scattered through King County owner wants to retire and willing Hiring cook in Marysville (exit to sale on a good price. 206including but not limited to Sedro Woolley and Olympia properties. 199) Chinese restaurant. Knowl- 356-5405. All Landscape service requests will expect a response within 48 hours edge of basic English needed. or two (2) business days. Please call (360) 659-0879 for details PRE-BID CONFERENCE: Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at 2:00 P.M. at the KCHA Central Office, Contractors are encouraged to attend; however, attendance is not mandatory. Please check in at the receptionist at 600 Andover Park West, Tukwila 98188
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LEE from 2 “I remember growing up, we’d have a lot of big family dinners,” Lee said. “When trying to figure out what dishes to put in the February image, I drew on the family dinners we had then, with fish or dumplings on the table.”
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a number of local nonprofits,” Shen said. Savor Seattle committed to donating a minimum of $5 for every box sold to benefit a relevant nonprofit. Boxes ranged from $59.99 up to $149.99. When they launched their solidarity box, featuring 11 Black-owned food makers in Washington for the first time, they donated all proceeds from the first 200 boxes and $5 of every subsequent box sold to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) fund. They also relaunched that box with different vendors and donated a total of $14,000 to BLM. For example, they partnered with local chef Eduardo Jordan, Boon Bonna Coffee, Miss Marjorie, Bite Me cookies, Junebug, Atomic Corn, etc. In addition, they featured women-owned makers’ boxes when Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed, and boxes for Hispanic Heritage Month, as well as Asian American Pacific Islander Month. “It helped figure out our place and how we could help in a very difficult year. It felt very authentic to our mission—to serve joy—and we were still doing that especially in dark times. People were excited. We’d get a lot of calls and emails telling us that our weekly deliveries were the thing they looked forward to. That’s how we knew it was a Monday because that’s when the Savor Seattle boxes ar-
rived, and there was a different assortment every week. It felt good to be a part of something that was so positive for people,” she said. Towards the end of 2020, they transitioned their box operations to another local company, Homegrown. Homegrown does a lot of the wholesale delivery work and when Shen started the home delivery business, Savor Seattle transitioned all box operations over to Homegrown. The majority of Shen’s team has now transitioned to Homegrown, while Shen retained the tour side of the business. She ended up working a deal with one of her industry colleagues to operate the tour products and Savor Seattle still runs an annual gourmet kayaking expedition tour business. “It was our way to support our community—fighting for the small businesses we love. It took a lot and it wasn’t what we were known for nor our expertise, but we made it happen,” she added. Shen found out about the Comast RISE grant opportunity through the Intentionalist on social media. With the grant, Shen is in the process of creating a brand new culinary hands-on experience that she’s excited to launch later this year. It hasn’t been finalized yet, but the grant has allowed her to invest in research and development and involves actually making food which is totally new for her. The biggest takeaway from COVID for Shen was learn-
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KCHA is soliciting bids for Cabinetry Materials for commercial and residential apartment properties located in King, Thurston and Skagit Counties. Women and Minority owned companies are strongly encouraged to submit proposals. Proposals are due Tuesday, February 8th, 2021. Proposals are available at kcha.org/business/construction/open or via email January 25, 2022. Contact Danielle Munroe at KCHA (206) 574-1200 or daniellem@kcha.org
my mind. It’s strange how immediate that WHAT’S NEXT PACKET COST: NONE was. When my son was born, it was an “BecomingWEB a dad made me think about SITE INFO: www.kcha.org the values that I had,” Lee said. His oldest instantaneous feeling where everything PROJECT or EMAIL: Al It’sKhalaf; like trying to describe to child is 4 years old. MANAGER and/or PHONEchanged. alk@kcha.org “There is room for silliness, but at the someone a different flavor of ice cream. end of the day, I want a clear vision of You haven’t had it, but it’s amazing—a what I want to use my art for, and what different flavor of love.” Lee will infuse that sensibility into the I don’t want to use it for. As soon as I became a dad, those thoughts came into next evolution of his Punching Pandas
SHEN from 9
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work, which will include a graphic novel and, in line with his PBS inspiration all those years ago, animated shorts. The calendar is available at U.S. Bank branches across the country and is also downloadable at usbank.com/ lunarnewyear.
ing to lean into the community. When they wanted to pivot the business, they had no idea how to do it, but she just started calling people and they leaned in to help. Someone from Tacoma made Savor Seattle-branded pink masks for staff to wear so they could be safe while making deliveries. When the team ran out of paper bags for deliveries, people started bringing their paper bags from home—the community really showed up. “For me, leaning in and staying true to your values is what drives me every day. I realized that it’s about helping the little guy and making a difference,” Shen said. To support the #VeryAsian movement initiated by Korean American journalist Michelle Li, Shen recently launched DOMO Collective, a new online marketplace for foodie jewelry by Asian makers with proceeds benefiting the Very Asian Foundation. Shen’s newest venture aims to uplift, heal, and empower AAPIs around the world while also bringing people of all cultures together to collectively champion inclusiveness. To learn more, visit savorseattletours.com and domocollective.com. Nina can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 8.
HIGUERA from 4 their specific culture on the page, the ones who are navigating multiple cultures, or those who are not afraid to speak their minds and take on different battles, she wants her work to speak to readers. And one thing she wants them, and her daughters who are now 18 and 22, to understand is, “Be who you are and the right people will find you and be your friends.” Samantha can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
FEBRUARY 5 – FEBRUARY 11, 2022
YOUR VOICE
The Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce
We wish you Happy New Year in the Year of the Tiger. May you have good health, prosperity and fortune 2022!
The Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce (TGSCCC) is pleased to announce the results of its 2022 election for the Board of Directions and its Officers.
Congratulations to the 2022 Board of Directors: (In alphabetical order-first name)
• Alvin Wong, Retired Banker • Cathy Yang, Microsoft Corporation • Dennis Su, Retired Architect • Felicity Wang, APA Travel • Michele Liang, Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty • Hongguan Xu, Maystar International • Jesse Tam, Mega Pacific Investments Ltd • Lawrence Pang, Pang & Associates • Martha Lee, Ethnic Chamber of Commerce Coalition • Pauline Lau, PFH (USA) LLC • Rick Choi, Trans-Pacific Accounting and Business Consulting, LLC • Shiao-Yen Wu, WPI Real Estate • Van Vong, Marsh Inc • Wesley Tanoto, Core Solutions Group, Inc • Y.P. Chan, Chanden Inc.
The 2022 Officers:
President: Rick Choi, Vice-president: Wesley Tanoto, Secretary: Van Vong, and Treasurer: Martha Lee.
We are looking forward to serve our community when it is safe to do so after the Pandemic.
Please visit our website for activities in 2022: www.seattlechinesechamber.org and/or contact info@seattlechinesechamber.org.
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KOREAN AMERICAN FOODS from 6 Asian American—evidently, a shared experience. The flavors of Korean food, with its distinct sour, spicy, and savory notes, can be a turn-off for unfamiliar palates. “When I was little, I remember just thinking to myself, like, ‘Oh my god, why can’t we have spaghetti for dinner? Why do we have to have these Korean foods that are not what my friends in elementary school [are] eating at lunch or at dinner?’ … [But] as I got older, my relationship with Korean food was a way for me to connect with my mom and culture,” Breanna Humphrey, a Korean American and Ravenna resident, said. On top of that, language, especially in such an Anglocentric world, can serve as a barrier for second- and third-generation immigrants. When you live in a society that values English more than any other, what’s the point of learning your native language, besides novelty? Luckily, food transcends linguistic barriers. “Whenever I go see my family, I am not fluent in Korean, so a lot of what is going on, conversationwise, is totally flying over my head. But when we sit
DEFINITION PLEASE from 11 reluctant to seek help for mental health, and that issue does need spotlighting. Plus, Sonny has legit baggage. He is a loving son and brother who speaks out about how he feels bewusstseinslage that Monica was treated better by their parents than he was bewussteinslage yet his confessions are labeled mental instability rather than “healthy expression of feelings,” or both. Meanwhile Monica keeps her feelings inside, which is toxic. I appreciated the truthfulness of the dichotomy between the brother and sister, as each responded to their childhoods in realistic ways. Growing up is complicated. Unfortunately, to
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FEBRUARY 5 – FEBRUARY 11, 2022 down to eat, it’s like we’re finally all speaking the same language,” Anna Brunner, a Ravenna resident, said. Brunner, whose mother is Korean, travels to Korea to see her family almost every summer. “I think one of my top favorite Korean foods would have to be (cold noodles), because it’s like a summer food in Korea … We just eat a ton of cold noodles whenever we go,” Brunner said. “It’s definitely a comfort food.” When it comes to the fondue pot of Asian American culture, families can create their own traditions. Humphrey and her family have their own take on special occasions, taking parts from Sino-Korean tradition and combining it with American holidays. “Starting when I was around 12, my sister and I were both like, ‘What are some things that you do in Korea for holidays?’” Humphrey said. “Now, every [New Year’s], we all make mandu (dumplings) together from scratch. We’re all really bad at folding the dumplings and everything, so [my mom] has to do most of the work. Also, for American holidays like Thanksgiving, we don’t really cook turkey or the normal holiday spread. Most of the time, we eat Korean food.”
me, Monica was just not likable. She finds it nearly impossible to try to get along with her brother. She snaps at him every time he makes a joke (and he’s funny). She just stares when something intense happens, then backs out. “Sonny always protected you. Maybe it’s time for you to protect him,” says a family friend. Yet the very next opportunity she gets to make nice, she says no and only does so grudgingly, when Jaya forces her to. Can you spell “recalcitrant,” Monica? I don’t think we’re supposed to like Sonny that much more, the way that I did. I think we’re supposed to engage with Monica, but I didn’t. I also don’t think the humor is supposed to fall flat—but it does—and dramatic scenes dud out as
MIDWIVES from 1 to hire a full-time social worker. That person will coordinate efforts to ensure clients have rides to their ultrasound appointments, clean laundry, and healthy meals to eat. Lawal emphasizes that parents continue to need support services after the baby is home. “For people of color, it is the first seven days that we are really worried. That is when those problems really happen.” She added, “What we have figured out is that if we can have more eyes on them that first week, and then we can get at least six different eyes on them that first week, we will know what is happening. Is there an infection brewing? How is breastfeeding going? How are they lactating? How is the baby growing?” CULTURALLY RELEVANT CARE The clinic also hopes to diminish linguistic and cultural barriers to accessing healthcare. For many RVM clients, culturally relevant care means having a home birth, being surrounded by family, and feeling free to speak their native language. Lawal is a native of Seattle, with roots in Hawaii and India. Her parents had nine children and taught her that birth should be family-centered. “Our origin is centered around our family. Our family is our community,” she said. Her mother’s home births, surrounded by family and Polynesian
well. Scenes with the brother and sister together are painfully awkward, not in a good way, when they should be riveting. All in all, I found “Definition Please” boring and had to turn it off multiple times and come back to it before I could get through it. I wanted to know what was going to happen, but just barely. Definition please: “denouement.” In the last 30 minutes, it’s almost interesting. The movie reminded me of “Garden State,” except the characters happen to be South Asian (there are few white people in the film, such as Bee folks or the bratty children who pick on Monica’s tutee). Comments have been made that it’s unusual for a female to be cast in the role
traditions, influenced her decision to cofound RVM. “Hearing and watching my mom tell that story of how she delivered her own baby, as she did it, in her own power and in her glory. That is what stayed with me my whole life.” Lawal wants to make sure that, if it is safe to do so, families can feel supported doing a home birth, but the clinic supports all kinds of births, including hospital births. The midwifery-led clinic partners with physicians and hospitals across Seattle. All services are billed on a sliding scale, regardless of insurance. A FOREVER HOME RVM recently received funding from the Equitable Development Initiative to purchase land to build their forever home. Lawal says the organization chose to stay in the Rainier Valley area because of what they see as a particularly high level of need for quality healthcare. According to the organization, the 98118 zip code has worse healthcare outcomes than in any other part of Seattle. One reason, the staff says, is because families have incomes lower than the federal poverty level, at a higher rate than those living in other parts of Seattle. Lawal says about 75% of their clients are people of color and most are on Medicaid. The new Rainier Valley Health and Birth Center is located at 4704 South Mead Street, just a short distance away from the old location at Othello Station. Not only do they remain close to the
There are also different ways of eating that might not be familiar to an American, Brunner notes. “Knowing to eat galbi (grilled ribs) or something like that with a lettuce wrap and to add gochujang (red chili paste) or kimchi, and how to eat banchan (side dishes) before an entree, that kind of thing.” Food is the gateway to culture, and Korean food has served as the key for these three women to connect to their families and heritage. While there will always be more foods to triumph in the future, the first steps are often the most meaningful—and delicious. “[I’m] taking the step to learn the Korean language, and I guess that’s a part of trying to stay connected to my Korean culture,” Kim said. “But for me, cooking and food is a way that I do it, too. Because language takes so much time, and you have to study it. But I feel like cooking is an everyday thing that we can do to keep the culture alive and keep us connected to it.” Joshua can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
of the directionless post-high school lead, so that’s something. It’s also nice that, while a few clichés are present (“your parents sacrificed so much so you could have a good life and you just take it for granted”), the overbearing father, the Bee itself, they’re not over-done. The movie and the characters live in a convincing space that combines the cultures of the United States and India. I think most filmmakers have good intentions to teach us something. In this case, I don’t think it’s Jaya’s mantra, “the past is the past,” because that’s wishful thinking. Everyone deals with the past inside of us every day. What’s better is that the movie suggests we see layers, not labels. The
families they aim to serve, but the new facility is much larger and they anticipate being able to help even more families. Lawal says the plan is to open the new location in the spring. Until then, they see clients by appointment only and at their homes.
maternal goddess, sweet in her convalescent state, was not innocent in the family trauma (and still isn’t, no spoilers!). The son labeled ADHD, bipolar, or what-have-you—yes, maybe it’s partly that, but he also “acts out” to be seen, or because he learned from his dad, who beat him, how to be aggressive. The not-so-over-achieving spelling bee heroine is a grumpy mcgrumpface, but also an antihero who influences her spelling bee tutoree—whose mom does want her to be a stereotype— to say out loud, “I don’t give a f***.” I applaud that. We can all defy definition. Kai can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
You can learn more about the Rainier Valley Midwives’ mission to improve parent and infant health outcomes on the Mirror Stage podcast. The podcast explores the Pacific Northwest through the stories and experiences of its people and communities. You can find the podcast on Spotify or MirrorStage.org.
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YOUR VOICE SHELF from 10 where Alia and her crew filmed will also have readers wanting to visit Utah and check out the state’s natural beauty. Hiking and being outdoors are still seen as pretty white activities. So it was great to see Alia, who is half Filipina, enjoy it, and be really knowledgeable on these topics, showing readers Asian Americans belong in all spaces.
By Kal Penn Gallery Books, 2021 Kal Penn is probably best known as one of the stars of the Harold and Kumar franchise, as well as his roles on “House” and “Designated Survivor.” But what was his path to get to where he is now? And how (and why) did he go from an actor with a steady and lucrative job on a successful TV show, to being part of former president Barack Obama’s administration? In this memoir, Penn chronicles his journey from a New Jersey boy who just couldn’t figure out math (there’s no story for why the area of a triangle is one-half base times height!), to splitting his time on the set of “House” and campaigning for Obama. Penn shares stories about the racism he faced as an Indian American actor in an industry that is still predominantly white—the “Malibu’s Most Wanted” disaster is particularly horrendous. He doesn’t sugarcoat things and gives readers a glimpse into show business, beyond the glitz and glam. And while his experiences probably wouldn’t surprise some readers, for others, Penn’s horror stories might come as a surprise. In a time when the ongoing pandemic has had people reevaluating their lives and careers, Penn shares what led him to
leave acting for public service and working in the White House’s Office of Public Engagement. He shows readers that it’s ok to have more than one passion and that making big life changes—like changing careers—might be scary, but sometimes, it’s worth the risk. In addition to his career, Penn also shares key moments in his personal life, like when he first met his now fiance, Josh. I particularly enjoyed the stories about their early days of dating (Josh’s beer koozie move on their second date really had me smiling). Whether he’s telling us about the umpteenth time he was asked to do an Indian accent during an audition, or how Josh introduced him to NASCAR, Penn’s conversational tone will have readers feeling like they’re just hanging out with a friend, swapping life stories. Samantha can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
photo contest Organized by Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation & Seattle Chinese Post
Show us how you celebrate Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year opens the door to many photo opportunities. Whether it’s a family gathering, adorable children (and adults!) in traditional costumes, cute pets, or the awesome family cook showing off a delicious meal, we’d love to see the unique ways in which you and your family celebrate Lunar New Year. There will be two categories of prizes: Judges’ Choice awards and People’s Choice Awards (readers vote). The winners will be announced in our Feb. 24 issue. Please submit your photo(s) to james@nwasianweekly.com by Feb. 7 for a chance to win gift certificates to restaurants and grocery stores, and Asian snacks. All entries have to be original photos. Fill out the information below. You may also submit via mail to: Northwest Asian Weekly, 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104. Name: ____________________________________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________________________________ Email: ____________________________________________________________________________ Phone: ____________________________________________________________________________ Describe in one to two sentences what the photo is about. ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________
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AAPI RESTAURANTS from 1 The pandemic hastened their decline massively. Many closed. And just when business was starting to pick up again late last year, a combination of Omicron, debt from earlier years in the pandemic, and an end of government subsidies has catapulted many more into disaster. Sometimes, the extent of the damage has depended purely on outside factors, such as what neighborhood you’re in, according to Mike Fong, regional administrator for Region X of the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA). Decades before the pandemic, Fong’s father’s restaurant in Idaho was initially very successful. But it went out of business in part because the city built a new road in front of the premises that kept business away for a year due to the ongoing construction. “Omicron, while far more disruptive, is like that as an uncontrollable factor,” he said. During Omicron, the patterns have been even more complex. Restaurants that have been able to draw on neighborhood support, such as people walking in for take-out service, have done much better. To some extent, this has depended on how many people are working remotely in the neighborhood and so choose to get their meals there.
Mike Fong
“There’s been an interesting dynamic coming out of the pandemic—because people are staying closer to home, working at home, or not traveling, they are spending more time in their own neighborhoods and spending resources in their community—it highlights the importance of small neighborhood business districts,” said Fong As a result, said Anton, “We have seen a fascinating trend— some neighborhood restaurants have actually done better.” That’s why not all restaurants qualified
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FEBRUARY 5 – FEBRUARY 11, 2022 for relief funds, he added. This also means that the restaurants that are near travel centers or big office buildings—often vacated by the pandemic—have been in more serious trouble, said Anton. The Chinese restaurant in Renton that was about to close down—the owner asked not to be identified—is along a lonely highway in a tiny strip mall with a tobacco shop and other seemingly derelict businesses. Most importantly, it is far from any homes. Since delivery services take 30% off the top, restaurants that have to rely on them, do not always fare well. Those that are in neighborhoods in which patrons can walk in seemingly do better. Take Tai Tung, in the Ch i natow n-I nter nat ional District (ID), the oldest Chinese restaurant in the city. Although dine-in service is down 40% just in the first four weeks of this year, take-out orders are up by 30%. And during a recent lunch hour, none of those “to go” orders were delivered by a third-party delivery service. During an interview with owner Harry Chan, customers walked in and out, waiting to pick up food. Chan knew all of them by name. “Hey, Michael,” he said to one. Another greeted him by name. It also helps that Tai Tung has been around since 1935. Chan can tell you the names of the dishes that new customers order compared to those that the regulars order. New customers order dishes like shrimp egg foo young or honey walnut shrimp. The old customers— those whose families have been coming, in some cases, for five generations—order from the signs on the walls, such as string beans with garlic. The restaurant is also integrated into the community. Chan is quick to point out his special Bruce Lee table, when asked for a tour, where the
action star used to sit. “He would always sit with his back to the wall where he could see the whole room, so no one could sneak up behind him.” But that part of the dining room is empty, despite the colored lights and the plethora of action photos of Lee around the table. Even with a robust and loyal base of customers, the restaurant, like all others in the ID, is struggling with inflation and Omicron. Chan has had to raise prices by 10%. “I can see, I can feel, especially at the beginning of this year, it would be nice if the government would help,” said Chan. Even for restaurants that are doing relatively well, like Tai Tung, another problem can creep up and spell doom. That is: earlier levels of debt from previous years in the pandemic are now coming due. On top of a $5.4 billion drop in revenue for the industry as a whole in the year after the pandemic compared to the year before, the average full-service restaurant in this state built up $160,000 in debt, according to Anton. He gave an example of a Thai restaurant that was just starting to recover at the end of last year. “If you passed them on the street, you’d see the restaurant full of people. They were able to pay their rent for the past six months. But then their landlord demanded they pay their debt from the previous year, and the following Tuesday, you’d see them closed down.” Government relief programs have ended. The Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) ran out of money last year when less than half of qualified restaurants had received some aid. To be qualified, a restauranter must have proof of debt incurred as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to Anton, 3,335 restaurants have closed since the start of the pandemic. “What we’re afraid now is that there’s going to be a further
wave of closures with all the debt coming due,” he said. Anton has been lobbying Congress to “backfill” the RRF, meaning that Congress would apportion more funds to fill the grant requests of all restauranteurs that had applied in the first place. All members of the Washington state congressional delegation are in support. “There is momentum,” he said, referring to information he’s gotten from his national headquarters.
Sen. Maria Cantwell
Sen. Maria Cantwell last March spoke on the Senate floor, urging passage of the American Rescue Plan Act, which included the RRF. She highlighted the closure of thousands of restaurants nationally and in this state. On Jan. 25, she held a round table with Anton and restaurant owners to raise awareness and gather feedback. “We want to take today’s information and go back to Washington, D.C. and fight even harder to get a second round,” said Cantwell. She cited surveys taken by the National Restaurant Association that showed conditions are worse for restaurants than they were three months ago. Asked specifically about Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)-owned restaurants, Cantwell responded
in an email, “Our local AAPI-owned businesses are integral to communities across Washington, both as employers and part of the vibrant cultural fabric of our state. We must ensure that AAPI-owned restaurants receive the support they need to make it through the pandemic. That’s why I am fighting for a second round of restaurant revitalization funding.” Any relief cannot come a moment too soon. During a recent lunch hour in the ID, a few patrons walked in and out of restaurants with bags. But in Renton, and places like it, where restaurants run by AAPI owners are not only struggling, but are shutting down, it may already be too late. Fong is planning to hold a number of round table discussions with AAPI community leaders, both in the ID and on the Eastside. Later in the month, he will hold one in Spokane, and next month in Portland, with more to follow. His goal—to raise awareness of the many types of services and funding the SBA has to offer, as well as receiving feedback about what the community needs. “We want to meet people where they are,” he said. Fong would perhaps find some aspects of the scene in Renton familiar, as the restaurant there faces extinction. Inside, glistening in the darkness, red and gold talismans hang suspended in the air above the cashier’s desk to bring good luck. But the luck has run out. One problem—the purpose of the SBA is to administer federal funds. It cannot generate them. “We’re eager to support America’s small businesses, and if more resources come our way to support restaurant relief, we would be ready to execute,” said Fong. Mahlon can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
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YOUR VOICE LNY QUOTES from 1 the places I hiked and visited included Annette Lake, Hex Mountain, Sugarloaf Mountain and Mount Erie, Lake Easton State Park, Blue Mountain, Kendall Peak Lake, Oyster Dome, Bandera Mountain/Mason Lake, Thunder Knob Trail/Ross Dam/Diablo Lake Overlook, Ebey’s Landing, Twin Peaks, Mailbox Peak, Wallace Lake/ Falls, Kachess Ridge, Rattlesnake Ledge and East Peak, Easton Ridge, Twin Lakes, Rattlesnake Dance Ridge and Umtanum Peak Canyon, Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area and Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility, Snow Lake/Gem Lake, Gold Creek Pond, and Amabilis Mountain. In addition, I went with 10 friends on a five-day long hiking trip to Central Oregon in May, visiting Dog Mountain (in Washington), John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Park, Cover Palisades, and Smith Rock. My hopes for 2022 are: • Covid-19 would become an endemic, allowing people to go back to relatively normal lives • U.S. and Chinese leaders have the wisdom to work together, instead of more instability and confrontation, for the good of both nations and the world • On the personal front, I wish for continuing personal growth, love for each other, and staying healthy for all family members PHYLLIS CAMPBELL Chairman of the Pacific Northwest, JPMorgan Chase
As we welcome in the Lunar New Year, may it be a year filled
with hope, optimism, and new beginnings offering endless opportunities. Happy Year of the Tiger!
SOO ING-MOODY Mayor of Twisp
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BETTIE LUKE
ROSS ISHIKAWA Artist and co-illustrator of “We Hereby Refuse: Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration”
While there certainly have been recent challenges, I still am hopeful for the coming year. After years of weekend toil, two side projects are reaching their conclusion: a graphic novel I was illustrating was published, and a large construction project I was building wraps up this spring. So I see 2022 as a year enjoying the fruits of these labors, and being able to devote more time reconnecting with family and friends. Our son graduates from high school this year and we are hopeful that he will be able to carry out his plan to spend a year in Japan. He is hoping to explore his roots and hone the language skills he learned in Seattle’s wonderful bilingual school program. These hopes depend on this pandemic transitioning to an endemic, which brings up a more global hope for 2022. We’ve all had a tough couple of years with high stress and uncertainty. But I see change brewing, with people pushing reset buttons everywhere, rethinking their priorities, changing their pace, and looking for genuine and new solutions to old problems of an ossified status quo. I’m not sure when these changes will manifest, but as a Year of the Tiger baby myself, this year seems as good a time as any.
SAN FRANCISCO from 8 grandmother who raised her had been attacked “in the way that we see so many of our seniors of the AAPI community being attacked,” Breed said at a news conference. “But that did not happen. Because as a community we protected one another. And that’s what we have to do now more than ever.” Hateful attacks against the AAPI community surged nationally during the pandemic, fueled in part by then-President Donald Trump’s calling COVID-19 a derogatory nickname that insulted China. In San Francisco and elsewhere, video clips of Asian Americans being attacked and robbed on public streets alarmed the community so much that frightened seniors stayed home. Most recently, former San Francisco Bay Area resident Michelle Go died in New York City after a mentally disturbed man pushed her in front of a subway. Officials there say there is no indication the man was motivated by racial bias, but AAPIs are still rattled. San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said at the Jan. 25 news conference they have expanded the crime tip line to include more languages and are sharing safety tips for Lunar New Year celebrations. But he also acknowledged his department is only part of a criminal justice system that includes prosecution and judges.
The past couple of years of a prolonged pandemic have understandably been challenging times for most everyone. What has kept me grounded is the recognition that, pandemic or not, life has always been full of uncertainty. As such, this time of our lives has not changed my belief in the amazing beauty of life and our role in it. In my life, I’ve been humbled at various times, by the reality that as individual humans, we can only do our active part to strive (ideally, to the best of our ability for the common good) to promote positive outcomes, while respecting that in the end, we must succumb to and respect the other forces in motion. This is not always a bad thing. My hope for 2022 is that as a society, in our communities, we individually and actively put effort into pursuing positive outcomes that bring joy to ourselves and those around us; while continuously maintaining the gratitude in our hearts for the simple opportunity and ability to contribute to making our world a better place. For all, I wish for great joy in simply being! Happy 2022! DR. WEI FANG Physician at Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno, California For healthcare workers like me, I’m expecting this year, like the past two years, to be hard. But healthcare is what I believe I was put on this Earth to do, and I’m
looking forward to keepfighting this pandemic. My biggest hope for this new year is for all of us to finally learn from our mistakes and from each other to really tackle COVID-19 and our increasingly politically divided climate. STATE REP. MY-LINH THAI
Happy Lunar New Year! Chúc Mừng Năm Mới - Nhà Nhà An Vui! I am so happy to be in a community that celebrates the Lunar New Year. This is the fourth time we have celebrated this happy occasion at the legislature and it is a good reminder that our Asian communities are resilient, strong, and courageous. We persevere and we have endured so much. I am proud to see us stand united against everything that has challenged us in the last year. I wish everyone health, happiness, and prosperity in the Year of the Tiger.
We need to use the skills and talents we already have—to take action and do something that makes for a better world for our family and community. EDDIE AND ELLEN ABELLERA
Happy Lunar New Year! Welcome the new morning with a new spirit, a smile on your face, love in your heart, and good thoughts in your mind!
KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO PROPOSERS Proposals will be received for KC000419, WORK ORDER CIVIL & STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR SOLID WASTE DIVISION; by King County Procurement and Payables Section until 12:00 PM on 02/24/2022. This contract includes development and submittal of an Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) Innovation Plan. The ESJ Innovation Plan details the approach, strategies, and actionable steps that will be taken to maximize the participation of Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
and Women Business Enterprise (WBE) firms. Both MBE and WBE firms must be certified by the State of Washington Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises. Total Estimated Price: $1,000,000 (each) King County intends to award two contracts from this RFP. Prospective proposers can view more details at: https://kingcounty.gov/ procurement/solicitations Contact: John Kim, johkim@ kingcounty.gov, 206.263.5825
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