VOL 35 NO 40 | OCTOBER 1 – OCTOBER 7, 2016

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA

VOL 35 NO 39

SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2016

FREE

34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Asian American and Pacific Islander voters:

Awakening the sleeping giant for the November election

By Arlene Kiyomi Dennistoun NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

see AAPI on 16

Photo by Arlene Dennistoun/NWAW

In a show of force, about 2,000 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) gathered in Tacoma on Sept. 15 in what was likely the largest unity and civic engagement event held in the nation. To mobilize AAPI voters, the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) brought in busloads from eastern Washington.

The Asian Counseling and Referral Services (ACRS) organized translators to remind the community of the power of their vote in 27 different languages and dialects. Gubernatorial candidates, Gov. Jay Inslee and Bill Bryant, discussed issues in a forum moderated by a long-time political reporter, Robert Mak. Before the summit, Inslee and Bryant provided statements to the Northwest Asian Weekly. Inslee said, “The last four years, I’ve worked hard to build a stronger economy and better future for every Washington family, and I look forward to sharing my record and positive vision for Washington state at the Asian Pacific American Statewide Civic Engagement Summit, put on by the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition.”

Bryant said, “The Asian American and Pacific Islander community is an important part of the fabric that makes Washington special. From the cultural influences that give us our unique identity, to the investments in our API summit-goers filled the Tacoma Dome hall in organized groups to hear translators.

Siren dating app triggers questions and accolades

see SIREN on 13

From left: Susie Lee and Katrina Hess.

GRAND OPENING IN THE ID

Photo by George Liu/NWAW

The rousing end of a chapter for empowerment luncheon series

Photo by Ken Lambert

“When was the last time you experienced joy?”

“What’s a great book to give as a gift?”

“What’s a thing that everyone you know adores, but you just don’t get it?”

These are some of the questions of the

day if you are a subscriber to Siren, a dating app that was awarded App of the Year by GeekWire in 2015.

Siren was the brainchild of Susie Lee, the Chief Executive Officer, and was cofounded and developed with Katrina Hess, who serves as the Chief Operations

See article on page 3.

Back row, from left: Vivian Lee, Sandra Madrid, Claudia Kauffman, Dr. Sheila Edwards Lange, Rosa Melendez, Ellen Ferguson, and Penny Fukui. Front row, from left: Phyllis G. Kenney, Mary Yu, Karen Donohue, and Stella Leong

By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY “We celebrate the end of a chapter, but this is a book. And somebody else has to write the next chapter, and you may be in

■

this room.” Those were the comments from Washington State Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu at the final Women of Color Empowered (WoCE) luncheon on Sept. 16. see WOC on 14

crappy video games There’s a whole industry out there. » see 5

ROSE PAK DIES

ON WHEELS

She was an influential leader in San Francisco. » see 6

Bringing SE Asian flavors to the masses in Seattle. » see 8

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

Photo by Ric Brewer/Bartell Drugs

By Peggy Chapman Northwest Asian Weekly

asianweekly northwest

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34 YEARS

SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2016

■ names in the news

which is not too far from Port Townsend,” Ho said. “I’m looking forward to meeting new friends who share a common interest, and learning a thing or two!”

You can get tickets online at centrum.org, or call the box office at (800) 746-1982. 

Photo from Asian American Bar Association of New York.

Lifetime achievement award for Hayashi

Photo by John Liu/NWAW

Photo by Assunta Ng/NWAW

Chef talks Thai food

Hayashi (right) accepting the LIfetime Achievement Award on Sept. 18.

The Metropolitan Democratic Club of Seattle presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to professional community volunteer, Kiku Hayashi at its Diamond Jubilee celebration on Sept. 18. Born in a Japanese internment camp, Hayashi’s life’s work has led her to the outreach and empowerment of underserved communities. Hayashi holds leadership positions in various organizations including the Japanese American Citizens League and the Food Bank at St. Mary’s. She was also a long-time member of the Northwest Asian Weekly’s Women of Color luncheon. 

Grammy awardwinner to perform in Port Townsend

Daniel Ho

Hawaii native Daniel Ho will play at the Port Townsend Ukulele Festival on Sept. 30.

Ho, who has won six consecutive Grammy awards for his music, called Washington’s Olympic Peninsula one of the most beautiful places on Earth. “It has probably been about 10 years or so since I performed in Port Angeles,

Chef Daks shares Thai cooking techniques.

Chef Nongkran Daks discussed the art of Thai cooking and techniques essential to understanding Thai food, as seen in her bestselling cookbook, Nong’s Thai Kitchen.

The talk, at Seattle’s Kinokuniya store on Sept. 10, was proceeded by a live demonstration in Uwajimaya market, on how to pick a pineapple and carve it.

A native of southern Thailand, Daks’ most popular dish is pad thai, and she proved her mastery when she won Food Network’s Pad Thai Throwdown! challenge against celebrity chef, Bobby Flay.

Daks is the executive chef and owner of the Thai Basil restaurant in Chantilly, Va. 

Obama nominates Indian American woman to be federal judge President Obama nominated Diane Gujarati, 47, to serve on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York on Sept. 13.

“I am confident she will serve the American people with distinction,” said Obama.

Diane Gujarati

Gujarati is currently the deputy chief of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York. She has been an assistant U.S. attorney for 17 years, and worked on a range of criminal prosecutions and appellate matters, including economic, violent, narcotics, trafficking, and exploitation crimes.

If confirmed, Gujarati will be the first Indian American to serve as an Article III federal judge in New York. 

Chinese American wins NY assembly race Yuh-Line Niou won the Democratic primary for the 65th Assembly district in lower Manhattan, beating five other candidates in a crowded field on Sept. 13. In a heavily-Democratic district, she is on her way to become the first Yuh-Line Niou Asian American to represent Chinatown in Manhattan.

“I am humbled to be the first Asian American to represent Chinatown or any part of Manhattan in the state legislature,” Niou said. She cast herself as a reformer — someone who would change Albany after years of corruption. Niou is the former chief of staff to Assemblyman Ron Kim of Queens.

She is 33 and moved to Manhattan six years ago. 

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2016

Photo by George Liu/NWAW

New Bartell Drugs location in ID

CEO Brian Unmacht and Lawrence Pang (behind) walks the aisles.

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY As a big mainstream retail business opened in Chinatown International District (ID), Bartell Drugs seems to do everything right.

The 125-year-old family-owned company celebrated its 65th store’s grand opening in the ID on Sept. 17.

Gifts and discounted prices attracted close to 400 people lining up early in the morning.

Being a good neighbor, Bartell’s CEO Brian Unmacht presented a check of $2,500 to InterIm, an organization that focuses on building low-income housing in the ID. Ironically, InterIm founder, the late Bob Santos, once protested a big business — McDonald’s plan to expand in the ID a decade ago, for fear of gentrification of the

ID neighborhood.

Bartell’s ID store manager is of Asian descent. Jan Caraang is Filipino American and the head pharmacist is of Vietnamese descent. Currently, it has nine fulltime staff members.

Bartell also gave a reception to community businesses, including Seattle Chinese Chamber members and Uwajimaya. In addition to Bartell’s CEO, several upper managers were present to greet guests, including Billy Chow, vice president of pharmacy, and pharmacy district manager, Daiana Huyen.

What’s so special about the ID store?

It is one of the few stores which offers an ice cream

see BARTELL DRUGS on 13

asianweekly northwest

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Remembering Ruth Woo Editor’s Note: This was a speech

by Mika Kurose Rothman at a Sept. 14 gathering at the Wing Luke Museum to remember Ben and Ruth Woo. My earliest memory of Auntie Ruth is as a superhero. When my brother, Mori, and I were little kids, my mom, Ruthann, would often stop by Auntie Ruth’s licensing agency. Many of you who knew Auntie Ruth and my mom may have guessed that these quick stops inevitably became longer “chit chats” — they could talk for hours. And when she made these quick stops, she’d leave me and Mori in the car, with the windows cracked open.

It didn’t take long for Auntie Ruth, our superhero, to realize that Mori and I were still in the car, and she flew from her office across the parking lot to rescue us from the backseat. Once inside, Auntie Ruth offered us sembei rice cracker snacks, which we munched on while picking up small tidbits of their conversation. At that age, we didn’t fully understand Auntie Ruth’s role in the community. But we knew that this small lively Nisei, with an infectious laugh, wielded an unknowable amount of power.

Photo by George Liu/NWAW

YOUR VOICE

Mika Kurose Rothman and mom Ruthann

Year after year, Mori and I listened to more chit chats at the licensing agency and joined in on bento lunches at Bush Garden. And we came to fully understand the superhero that was Auntie Ruth. From 9 to 5, she was the owner of a small licensing agency. But during early mornings, coffee breaks, evenings, and weekends, the superhero emerged. She launched political careers, leveraged support for key community projects like the Wing Luke Museum and International Community Health Services (ICHS), advanced civil rights and social justice causes like redress and immigrant see WOO on 13

asianweekly northwest

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SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2016

34 YEARS

■ national news

Alexander Wang partners with Adidas on new unisex collection

By JOCELYN NOVECK Associated Press

Alexander Wang

NEW YORK (AP) — Designer Alexander Wang is, by his own description, a total sneakerhead. He once even designed a whole clothing collection around them, with dresses, tops and handbags emulating his favorite sneaks, like the classic whiteand-green Adidas Stan Smith.

Now, the Taiwanese American fashion designer has taken his sneaker love to a new level, partnering with Adidas for a line of apparel and footwear that seeks, in his words, to “disrupt” the famous Adidas look while still preserving its familiarity. One example: rotating the well-known trefoil logo upside down. Another: “deconstructing” the Adidas sneaker. Also, the entire

collection is unisex: Pants, tops, shoes.

Wang introduced the new line as a surprise finale to his Fashion Week runway show on Sept. 10, in a huge space on a Hudson River pier. After modeling creations from Wang’s own label, models rushed backstage to change into new Adidas garb, while a one-and-a-half minute film teased the new collection.

Then they marched onto the runway, more than 70 of them, all clad in black, as the crowd — which included Madonna and Nicki Minaj — craned their necks and snapped endless photos. It was, Wang said, “the biggest show we’ve ever done.”

In designing the new line, the key challenge was to change up the Adidas look so it feels fresh — but not to the point that it’s unrecognizable, Wang said in an interview.

“It was really about saying, how do we take something and shake it up a little, disrupt it, but at the same time not change it so much where it doesn’t feel right.”

The 32-year-old designer is recognized as one of the most talented and busiest of his generation. He launched his own, eponymous label 11 years ago, at age 21.

Last year, he ended a prestigious three-year stint as creative director at Balenciaga, a job that had him splitting his time between Paris and New York. Since then, he’s been back fulltime at his own label, where he focuses heavily on streetwear — and is a

favorite of the celebrity set.

As for Adidas, it clearly wanted to capitalize on Wang’s edgy and youthful vibe.

“I’ve been a fan for a long time, this connection he has with culture and New York and breaking down boundaries,” said Nic Galway, vice president of design for Adidas Originals, who began exploring a partnership with Wang the day after attending the designer’s 10th anniversary runway show last September.

“What I really love about Alex is that he is a really established part of the fashion world, but he stands for not being elitist,” Galway said in an interview. “He lets people in.”

For Wang, it was a chance to work with a brand he often wore as a child, and especially to work with sneakers.

“I grew up on sneakers,” he said. “It’s a very interesting time obviously for (all) sportswear, the whole market and how people utilize fitness, incorporate it into their daily uniform. So the sneaker is something that I’ve always been very close to. And it’s always been something that’s very hard for us to do in house, to be honest — obviously Adidas has the most innovative resources.”

Wang also showed his own label’s spring collection on Sept. 10, and it was a marked contrast to the all-black Adidas garb: Colorful, whimsical warm-weather

clothes that would have been just right for the beach.

The designer said backstage that he was going for a “liberating, free, surfer attitude and sensibility. Everything was put through the lens of water sports.”

“I’m from California,” he added. “I love the beach; there’s such a kind of laid-back attitude and sensibility that I really wanted to bring into this collection.”

Wang’s after-parties are as famous as his shows. As guests left the runway, they walked into a cavernous space filled with colorful trucks, some dispensing snacks, Slurpees, or stronger beverages. Partiers could take a can of spray paint and decorate a van, if they chose.

The Adidas collaboration — first available on Sept. 11 via popup trucks at three stops in New York City — is yet another effort

by Wang to keep moving forward in an industry that is fast changing. All the recent upheaval in the fashion industry — including a slew of recent departures of designers at top labels — keeps him on his toes, he said.

“In the past, I was used to thinking very long-term and big-picture,” he said. “But now there has to be a different way of thinking and approaching certain subjects.

You have to think faster, roll with the punches. I always want to look forward ... especially in today’s world.” 

SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2016

YOUR VOICE

■ technology

northwest

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

5

The first Korean to fly in space calls Puyallup home

Kusoge

Finding the fun in terrible video games

Editor’s note: This is part 2 of the voyage of Soyeon Yi, the first South Korean in space.

By Tim Gruver NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Most gamers have played at least one bad game in their life. But in Japan, even the worst games, commonly known as “kusoge,” can hold a place in people’s hearts.

Heidi Kemps, writer, interviewer, and connoisseur of Japanese games and game history, hosted “Kusoge! Japan’s Awesomely Awful Crap Videogames” Heidi Kemps at this year’s Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle, also known as PAX West, showing off a collection of “crap” games.

The term “kusoge” is derived from two words: “kuso,” meaning shit, and “ge,” meaning game. Thought to be coined in 2002 by Jun Miura, an illustrator and writer for the Japanese video game magazine Famitsu, kusoge has come to be associated with mediocre games known for their overall poor quality and often unintentional humor.

“Sometimes there is stuff that’s just bad, but there’s something inherently charming about it,” Kemps said. “You know it’s terrible, but there’s still a thing in it that speaks to you on some level, what you would call a guilty pleasure.”

Some of the genre’s earliest examples is the Japanese side-scrolling adventure game for the Nintendo famicom system, “Takeshi’s Challenge,” developed by Japanese comedian, actor, and screenwriter Takeshi Kitano. As a nonsensical series of events, from fighting yakuza gangsters to performing in karaoke clubs, “Takeshi’s Challenge” embodies the offbeat entertainment that kusoge represents.

Some kusoge, like “Last Rebellion”

asianweekly

By Janice Nesamani NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

A star is born

for the Playstation 3, may have comically bad characters, while others may prove impossibly difficult, like “Lost Word of Jenny.” Today, many kusoge have found a cult following for their peculiar mediocrity.

A personal favorite of Kemps’ is “Wakusei Woodstalk: Funky Horror Band,” a role-playing game for the Sega Mega-CD. The game followed a group of six extraterrestrial musicians who preach peace and love through ‘80s pop music.

After being chased off their home planet of Horahora, their ship crash lands on another planet, where a young boy from the nearby village of Funky helps repair the band’s ship and their instruments. “[Wakusei Woodstalk: Funky Horror Band] is a role-playing game that looked like it could have been done on the original NES,” Kemps said. “It looks like crap, it plays like garbage, you can run from almost every fight, and if you know what you’re doing, you can blow through it in about five hours.”

Like many kusoge, “Funky Horror Band” has some charming points, such as its enemies being named after various music puns. More importantly, it was a bad game that still tried to be fun in spite of its own flaws.

Some kusoge have come to embrace their mediocre reputation. “Death Crimson,” a light gun shooting game, debuted in 2000 for arcade machines and the Sega Dreamcast. Its confusing plot, poor see GAMES on 12

TAITUNG

It was during her last year at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) that the space bug bit Soyeon Yi. “My motivation was never to become South Korea’s first astronaut. I wanted to conduct experiments in space. As an engineer, once you create something, you test it in different environments, under high pressure and temperatures. I would always wonder how something I made would work at home or on the equator or in Antarctica. So to test something in space was a dream come true.”

Yi happened to see an advertisement in the newspaper announcing the possibility of the Korean government starting its own space program to send its first astronaut into space. Soyeon applied and was picked from 36,000 candidates.

The candidates had to undergo several elimination rounds, which were televised much like a reality show. The South Korean government wanted a huge campaign to inspire the young generation and the general public. They opened the door as wide as possible. The criteria? You had to be a Korean citizen, over 19 years old, and believed you were healthy enough to go into space.

“When I reached the top 30 candidates, the organizers called me up to say that they were making the participants’ names and faces public. So, I told my parents and my adviser about it. My mother knew if she said no, it would drive me to pursue the program more zealously. She advised me to complete my PhD first.

Once Yi made it to the Top 10, things changed. “Everybody wanted me to win.

Now, my professor was very happy with my success because every time I was in the news, it reflected well on my school, the lab, and him,” she said.

Soyeon Yi

A new environment

In the final round of the televised competition, Yi learned she had to go to Russia. “That was hard and a huge culture shock. I had never been to Russia. I’m glad I went there because I aced the tests put forth

by Russian instructors and made it to the final two,” she said.

Now, Yi has only the fondest memories from Russia. She recounts feeling invisible in the beginning, but once she began training, it changed. “My colleagues became my brothers and sisters. My instructors became my parents and the older astronauts were like grandparents. In the winter, they would tell me to bundle up and asked me to eat more because they thought I was starving!

Whenever they met me, they asked when I would get married or told me that they wanted to see grandkids soon! They were like family.”

The launch

After a year of training, Yi was launched into space aboard the Soyuz TMA-12 on April 8, 2008. “In one word, it was awesome!

Every kid who reads about Tinkerbell or Peter Pan or watched Superman, Wonder Woman, or Never-Ending Story dreams about flying. When we grow older, we forget

see YI on 15

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SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2016

34 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY calendar SEPT. 22

Legal Consultations with Jeff Liang Hing Hay Coworks, 409B Maynard Ave. S., Seattle 3–5 p.m.

3forfree.eventbrite.com 7th Annual Ethnic Media Candidates Meet and Greet Nagomi Tea House, 519 6th Ave., Suite 200, Seattle 5–7 p.m.

206-334-5200 juliephamnvn@gmail.com Greater Tacoma Peace Prize Annual Laureate Recognition Banquet honoring Theresa Pan Hosley Pacific Lutheran University, 12180 Park Ave. S., Tacoma 5:30 p.m. $40–$350

23 Celebration and remembrance in honor of Robert “Uncle Bob” Santos WaMu Theater, CenturyLink Field 3–6 p.m.

ReWA’s 2016 Annual Gala The Westin Seattle, 1900 5th Ave., Seattle 5:30–9:30 p.m. rewa.salsalabs.org

24 AAJA Seattle Dim Sum Joyale Seafood Restaurant, 900 S. Jackson St. #203, Seattle 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. $10–$15/person

25 Adopt-A-Street Cleanup Seattle’s Chinatown ID 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

28

■ NATION Author Sharon H. Chang discussES her new book, “Raising Mixed Race: Multiracial Asian Children in a Post-Racial World” Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., Level 1, Microsoft Auditorium 7–9 p.m.

206-386-4636

30 Renton Multicultural festival Carco Theatre, 1717 S.E. Maple Valley Hwy., Renton 6–9 p.m. rentonwa.gov/rentonfestival

OCT. 1

Medicare 101 Kin On, Community Room B 12–1 p.m.

Free, RSVP required by 9/21 Register at 206-556-2237, healthyliving@kinon.org

Benefit Bazaar Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church, 3001 24th Ave. S., Seattle 11 a.m.–6 p.m. blaineonline.org

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ACRS Annual Benefit Gala, “A Culinary Journey” The Westin Bellevue 5:30–9 p.m. $175/person acrs.org/gala

GSCCC Seattle Real Estate Development Overview Process Bellevue City Hall 7–9 p.m.

Free for members, $10 to non-members

Influential San Francisco activist Rose Pak dies at 68

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — An influential community activist who turned San Francisco’s AsianAmerican population into a political power in the city has died.

A friend of Rose Pak said she died of natural causes in her home the morning of Sept. 18. She was 68.

A former reporter who covered Chinatown for The San Francisco Chronicle, Pak eventually became an advocate as she became immersed in issues concerning the neighborhood.

As the longtime consultant to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, she helped raise money for her preferred politicians, backed projects that benefit Chinatown’s residents, and helped make the neighborhood a strong player in the city’s political world. In 2011, she started a campaign that led to Ed Lee becoming the city’s first ChineseAmerican mayor.

Lee called her death “a great loss to the city.” 

KING COUNTY NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received for #C01075C16, Bellevue Base O&M Roof Replacement; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 1:30 PM on September 29, 2016. Late bids will not be accepted.

Brief Scope: Removal and replacement of approximately 17,450 gross square feet of roofing

systems.

Estimated contract price: $911,448 Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference / Site Tours: September 21st and 22nd, 2016 at 11am at 1975 – 124th NE Bellevue, Washington 98005 There is a 10% minimum Apprentice Utilization Requirement on this contract.

There is a 5% minimum requirement for King

County Certified Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS) on this contract.

Complete Invitation to Bid Documents, including all project details, specifications, and contact information are available on our web page at: https:// procurement.kingcounty.gov/procurement_ovr/ default.aspx

View the solution on page 14

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

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

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YOUR VOICE

SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2016

asianweekly northwest

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asianweekly northwest

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■ BUSINESS

SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2016

Southeast Asian flavors on the move

■ AT THE MOVIES

34 YEARS

Northwest Film Forum

The Tree Inside

Photo from Seattle Mamak’s Facebook page.

By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Seattle Mamak food truck

By Nina Huang Northwest Asian Weekly Food trucks continue to be popular in Seattle. There are annual festivals, street fairs, and food competitions dedicated to the food truck scene. In fact, the variety of mobile cuisines has grown a lot over the years with some evolving into brick and mortar restaurants.

While the introduction of new foods to Seattle can be challenging, these Southeast

Asian-themed trucks have embraced this unique way of presenting distinctive flavors to the city.

Buddha Bruddah

Buddha Bruddah (buddhabruddah. com/) was opened in December 2014 by Mark Mizer and his wife, Drea, after being inspired by Mizer’s mother, La-Iad Ann Mizer, one of the pioneers in bringing Thai see FOOD on 12

Michelle Kim, screenwriter, codirector, and star of the new dramatic film “The Tree Inside,” is coming to the Local Sightings Film Festival. She grew up in Vancouver, B.C., and is the Michelle Kim daughter of a Korean mother and a Canadian father of English ancestry.

“The neighborhood I lived in was incredibly multicultural and there were several multiracial families who lived on the same street. So being Korean-Canadian was completely normal. I think my early years gave me a strong foundation in being comfortable with having different cultural identities and influences exist inside me.

When I went to the university, the bubble burst, of course, and I quickly realized I was a minority in the vast scheme of things.”

Asked where she drew the line between her heritages, she replied that that was difficult, but she did feel an outsider’s point of view, relative to mainstream culture.

She said that as a result, she can draw from a different experience and comment on the existing mainstream structures in place.

An aspiring author who’s just put the finishing touches on her novel “Running Through Sprinklers,” Kim swears she never set out to become an actor, screenwriter, or director. She did grow up watching many great films, and considers among others, the work of Nora Ephron, Krzysztof Kieslowski, Tim Burton, Mike Leigh, and Quentin Tarantino as heavily influential on her own work. see MOVIES on 12

YOUR VOICE

SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2016

asianweekly northwest

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asianweekly northwest

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34 YEARS

SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2016

OPINION

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG In celebration of Mid-Autumn Festival, Aegis held an open house at its newest facility on Sept. 14.

Two-hundred-thirty guests, mostly from the Asian community, attended the festive lunch held on the same day. Aegis specializes in assisted living.

Looming on top of Queen Anne, Aegis at Rodgers Park is a work of art — from the view facing the park, to the interior design that captures a visitor’s attention instantly.

The green setting and Aegis’ quality apartment units provide a comfortable lifestyle for seniors.

Although Aegis caters to the mainstream community, it serves as a mirror for the upcoming Asian Aegis Gardens in Newcastle, opening in fall of 2017.

The Aegis Gardens model was displayed during the open house.

“This is the model for the next Aegis,” said Dwayne Clark, chairman and founder of Aegis Living. Aegis at Rodgers Park cost $60 million to build. Every new site sets the minimum standard for the next one, Clark said, and the bar keeps getting higher and higher.

Aegis Gardens will also cost about $60 million, Clark said, but the units will be bigger. Aegis has already hired a new manager, Michael Lo, for Aegis Gardens. It will be the second Asian assisted living for Aegis.

The first one is in California.

Bird cages

Kitchen

Photos by Rebecca Ip/SCP

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Swimming pool with salted water

Áegis of Queen Anne

From left: Gary Locke, Dwayne Clark, and Michael Lo

At Rodgers

“Aegis Gardens is unique and just like the one at Rodgers, a six-star hotel,” said Gary Locke, former U.S. Ambassador to China, with “a shopping mall (on the lower floor),” including a yoga-tai chi studio, juice bar, salt-water swimming pool, a television and games room, crafts room, hair salon, massage room, and a social club meeting room.

Gardens is connected not only to Chinese culture, but Chinese American history. Located next to a lake and China Creek, Chinese miners used to work there in the 19th century and were chased out eventually. It is fitting to have a Chinese Aegis in a location close to Chinese history, Locke said.

Aegis Gardens give the seniors “a sense of community,” Locke said. It has a large community

hall, childcare center, dance theater, music room and lecture room, and nature-walk way, and families are welcome to cook meals there with their parents so “they don’t feel isolated.”

Another feature that the Gardens will have is the mahjong room, a popular Chinese game.

Feng shui is incorporated throughout the home. Chinese design furniture will be used in many of the

Gardens’ rooms.

At Rodgers, the size of the movie theater surprised me. It is even bigger than the theater at the White House. I wouldn’t be surprised if Aegis Gardens will be showing Chinese and other popular Asian movies.

Clark said that with every senior home Aegis has built, they focus see AEGIS on 13

Asian Americans: Technology & Innovation Friday, Oct. 7, 2016 @ 6 p.m.

China Harbor Restaurant 2040 Westlake Ave N, Seattle

REGISTRATION $75 before September 30. $85 after September 30. $90 walk-ins. $35 students with I.D. $45 student walk-ins.

Sponsorship: contact assunta@nwasianweekly.com To purchase tickets, go to http://visionary.bpt.me, call us at 206-223-0623, or email rsvp@nwasianweekly.com.

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SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2016

YOUR VOICE

northwest

11

OPINION

■ editorial

Let the Pho fly

You’ve probably heard by now of the hubbub caused by Bon Appétit magazine that ticked off Vietnamese and Vietnamese Americans, as well as other Asians.

Its video, originally titled “PSA: This Is How You Should Be Eating Pho” (it has since been changed to “We’re in Love With This Pho”), featured chef Tyler Akin of a restaurant called Stock in Philadelphia.

Akin, who is white, is seen in the video saying that adding Sriracha or hoisin sauce to the broth means you are disrespecting the broth and the chef.

He also shows a chopstick technique — where he twirls the noodles like you would see people do with a fork while eating spaghetti.

The video also claimed, “Pho is the new ramen.”

The backlash on social media came at a rapid-fire pace.

Phil Yu of the Angry Asian Man blog called it, “Columbusing at its finest.”

One Facebook user said, “Using Tyler Akin and his pretentious restaurant ... to try and appropriate how you (we) should be eating pho, is a slap across the face to the Asian American community.”

A few days later, Bon Appétit ran an apology from editor-in-chief Adam Rapoport, who wrote that the magazine had “misrepresented the chef” and that he was not the party at fault. “When it came to this pho video, our words and ideas caused unnecessary pain and anger. As editors, we failed. And for that, we are truly sorry (something we should have said in our first statement).”

Stand-up comedian Jenny Yang breathed new life into the controversy by releasing a video parodying Bon Appétit’s original, titled, “How to Eat PB&J,” by a fictional “Bad Appetite Magazine.”

Yang appears as Sammy Chu, a restaurateur at “Sandwich” in Los Angeles’

asianweekly

Tyler Akin

Chinatown. She declares herself an expert of PB&J, and then prepares a stomach churning sandwich with peanut butter, mayonnaise, and salt. She proclaimed PB&J as the new grilled cheese (a “Pho is the new ramen” jab) and how cutting the crust off the bread offends the chef (like adding hoisin sauce to pho).

Yang explained to KPCC radio why she did it. “When I saw [the original video], I just cringed. Food is so personal for Asian Americans and us immigrants. … And for this guy to be having some kind of authoritative stance on how to eat Pho … ugh … it just triggered something.”

Immigrant foods that were once considered too strong, too spicy, or too smelly by white people are now foodies’ favorites.

To quote Tiffany Ran, a professional cook who has worked in the kitchen of a number of Seattle restaurants, and a regular contributor to Northwest Asian Weekly, “Don’t make my heritage a fad … it has been around longer than you and me. It tells the stories of our past, not the whims of the present.”

And for heaven’s sake, don’t tell us how we should eat our food! It leaves a bad taste in our mouths. 

got a tip? editor@nwasianweekly.com

Notice of Election

International Special Review District Board In accordance with SMC 23.66, as amended

Nomination Deadline: Tuesday, October 11, 2016 Mailing address: Department of Neighborhoods

ATTN: ISRD Coordinator

PO Box 94649

Seattle, WA 98124-4649 Street address: Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue, 4th Floor Nomination forms may be submitted via U.S. Postal Service or hand-delivered no later than the close of business day (5:00 p.m.) on Tuesday, October 11th. Nominees and nominators shall sign the nomination form to provide proof of consent. An original signature from the nominee is required; therefore, nomination forms will not be accepted via email or fax.

Open Positions:  #3 Business Owner, Property Owner, or Employee

 #5 At-Large Eligible persons shall be nominated to one position only. Nominees shall be eligible for the selected position in accordance with criteria of the International Special Review District enabling ordinance, SMC 23.66, as amended.

Election Date: Tuesday, November 15, 2016 Polling Place: Bush Hotel, Hing Hay Co-Works

(409 Maynard Avenue South, entrance off Maynard) Time: 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Voter eligibility is limited to those 18 years or older. There shall be one vote per voter. Voters must meet at least one of these four categories of eligibility: Property Owner, Employee, Business Person, or Resident (as defined by election procedures for the International Special Review District Board authorized by the Director of the Department of Neighborhoods.) There shall be no voting by proxy or absentee ballot. For more information, contact the International Special Review District Board Coordinator at (206) 684-0226 or visit http://seattle.gov/neighborhoods/ preservation/id.htm.

Voter registration is required. A registration list of eligible voters is kept on file in the Department of Neighborhoods and at the Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation Development Authority, Hing Hay Co-Works, located at 409 Maynard Ave. S. It is not necessary for an eligible voter to register every year unless his or her voting category or address changes. Eligible voters may register by filling out a registration form and submitting it to the Department of Neighborhoods at any time of the year except for thirty (30) days prior to the election. Registration forms are available in the Department or in the CIDBIA. On election day, voters will be asked to show one form of the following valid photographic identification: driver’s license, photographic identification card, passport, or permanent resident card, and sign a register. The International Special Review District Board Election Procedures (Amended September 12, 2016) are available upon request.

■ LETTER Vote yes on Initiative 735 When my grandparents came to this country from China, they came for the dream of a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. They knew there were more opportunities here for them, their children, and their grandchildren.

But we now have a government of the wealthy, by the wealthy, and for the wealthy.

Wealthy special interests are corrupting our electoral system and supporting candidates that will support them in return. More importantly, we have a government that does not represent the diversity of our nation, especially the Asian American community.

As an Asian American, I support Initiative 735 on this November’s ballot as a way to protect our community.

At the county, state, and federal level, whites make up 90 percent of our elected leaders, even though 37 percent of Americans are people of color. There are only 11 Asian Americans in Congress, but there would be 31 if we were represented according to our share of the population!

This inequality happens partly because people with extreme wealth tend to be white, and they can support candidates who look, think, and act like they do. Often, this means they are not prioritizing the needs of people of color.

Then, when people of color do run for office, it’s harder for them to raise the money. This makes it much more difficult for us to win policies that would improve our communities, on issues from immigration to education reform.

Even though we have a vote, we are being stripped of our power.

To fix this, we have to overturn Citizens United v. F.E.C. and other Supreme Court rulings that have allowed unregulated, anonymous money to flood our elections.

Initiative 735 will make Washington the 18th state to go on record telling Congress to overturn Citizens United and to make sure that all donations in elections are regulated and publicly disclosed.

As a public high school teacher, I want my students and my two teenage daughters to have the democracy they deserve — the democracy they THINK they have when they pledge allegiance to the flag every morning.

Please vote “Yes” on Initiative 735 to help your children and grandchildren get the democracy they deserve. Details on the initiative can be found at wamend.org.  — Jonathan Tong Kenmore, WA

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SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2016

FOOD from 8 food to Seattle back in 1982.

It had been a dream of Mark and his mother’s to open another restaurant again after closing several Thai restaurants due to an economic shift in the 1990s. Unfortunately, Ann passed away in December 2013 and never saw her dream come true, but a series of events led to Mark and Drea to making the food truck dream happen and carrying on a part of Ann’s legacy.

“We didn’t want to just be a Thai truck, but we definitely wanted to pay homage to the family history, so there are Thai dishes on our menu,” she said.

Buddha Bruddah’s concept is a mixed plate, taken from the traditional Hawaiian mixed plate or plate lunch. They were inspired by their favorite travel destination and wanted to incorporate “a little bit of the best of everything, all on one plate.”

In fact, all their food is made from scratch and not only has Thai and Hawaiian influences, but also Japanese, Korean, and Chinese.

Their signature chili sauce bar is a fan favorite. Recently, Buddha Bruddah took home the first runner up prize in the Taco Libre competition with their Asian tacos.

Bumbu

One of the newest food trucks to the scene is Bumbu (bumbutruck.com), serving Indonesian dishes like chicken satay with peanut sauce and mie goreng jawa (Javanese stir GAMES from 5 visuals, and tedious gameplay made the game a critical failure, but one of its enemies, a squirrel, has since become a mascot for its developer, Ecole.

To that end, Kemps believed that many kusoge still represent engaging artistic efforts on the part of their creators that many game developers don’t share today.

“I’m almost worried that kusoge as we know it is dying off a little, because a lot of these games are made by fly-by-night entrepreneurs that think they can hop on to the latest console or portable gaming trend,” Kemps said. “They think they can make some quick money off of it and don’t have the talent or the means to make a really good product.”

Kemps believed that kusoge are largely being replaced by

Buddha Bruddah’s char siu pork belly

fried noodles).

Owner Hilda Hilman came to the United States as a student over two decades ago, and realized it was difficult to find an Indonesian restaurant in Seattle.

“When I was homesick and craved food from home, that’s when I started to cook some of my favorite Indonesian dishes,” Hilman said.

“I desperately wanted to introduce Indonesian food to the U.S. Unlike cuisines from other Southeast Asian countries, I was frustrated that Indonesian food was rarely available or known here. That’s what inspired me to start the food truck,” Hilman said.

Due to Indonesia’s diversity, its food carries vibrant and colorful flavors infused by many foreign tastes, using a lot of spices and

shallower experiences developers are treating as commodities, rather than experiments.

“A lot of these companies are just going to the mobile market,” Kemps said. “You just see awful reskins of the same gameplay concepts. “If some kusoge are low effort, these games are zero effort to the point where there is nothing interesting or charming about them and that’s kind of depressing.”

In the meantime, there are still plenty of past and present kusoge for gamers to enjoy.

“The good news is that there are a lot of good retro games out there and there are a lot of bad retro games out there,” Kemps said. “So there’s still plenty of things to look at.”  Tim can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com

34 YEARS herbs. Hilman incorporates these type of flavors in her dishes, which also often include coconut milk and peanut sauces.

“These different flavors are why introducing Indonesian food has become a passion of mine,” she said.

Hilman said that her biggest challenge introducing Indonesian food to new audiences is maintaining the authenticity with the limited access to ingredients that are hard to find or unavailable in the area.

“Jamie Oliver once said, good food is a global thing. There is always something new to learn and to taste. You will never know you like it until you try it,” Hilman encouraged people.

Like Oliver, Hilman is somewhat of a TV celebrity due to her winning appearance on Food Network’s Chopped.

“It was a humbling experience for me to compete with high caliber chefs on a national TV show like Chopped. I didn’t believe it myself when the producer called me! I didn’t think I had the experience or the qualifications to compete on the show. But winning it made me proud that I can bring Indonesian flavors to the surface. And of course, it has helped boost the business,” she explained.

She hopes to open a brick and mortar establishment in the future, but is content with the food truck and reaching more customers in different locations.

Seattle Mamak

Cheang Kit Yoo is the son of the owner

MOVIES from 8 “I still admire how Richard Linklater depicts romantic love so authentically,” Kim elaborated, “and the realism and naturalism captured by the French new wave directors like Agnes Varda and Jean-Luc Godard.”

“The Tree Inside” follows one woman and her lover through the unpredictable and sometimes rocky course of one year, and four seasons. It was filmed over one year. Kim explained that because the film was mainly guided improvisation, “We had to be fine with things changing — and embraced it — but the overall story I intended to tell remained in place.”

She keeps a home base in Canada, but considers South Korea a second home. She’s visiting there soon to attend the Asian Film Market at the Busan Film Festival. She lists her favorite Korean directors as Kim Ki-Duk, Lee Chang-Dong, Hong Sang-Soo, and Park Chan-Wook.

“South Korean films,” she went on, “are dynamic, subversive, sexy, dark, and not afraid to have horrible and sad endings, which I love. There are a lot of female South Korean filmmakers

“The Tree Inside” plays Sept. 24 at 9 p.m., as part of the Local Sightings Film Festival at the Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave., Seattle.

Michelle Kim will be on hand for a Q&A afterward.

For more information, visit localsightings.org/ tickets.

Andrew can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

this newspaper!

Lake View Cemetery

☆西雅圖首創墓園☆

An Independent, NonProfit Association

 Cleaning  Fillings  Extractions

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•陵墓地下室 •骨灰靈位 318 6th Avenue South, Suite 108 •墓碑、紀念碑 •土葬福地 Seattle, WA 98104

1554 15th Ave East (North Capitol Hill)

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206-322-1582

Nina can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

starting to emerge now, and I’m very excited about that because it’s been mainly male-dominated over there.”

Asked about future plans, Kim mentioned that she’s produced a new film from her co-director, Rob Leickner, called “The Lonely Light of Home.”

She is also writing a film in Korean and hopes to have that produced soon. Her novel, which she’s been struggling with for many years, “Running Through Sprinklers,” is scheduled for publication

by Simon & Schuster in 2018.

“The making and editing of this film actually gave me a deeper understanding of story and structure,” she remarked on her novel. “And finally, I finished it.” 

Thank you for recycling 湖景墓園

 Most insurances accepted  Root canals  Crowns & bridges

of Malay Satay Hut in Bellevue, where Yoo learned most of his cooking. Malay Satay Hut had a location in the International District that closed in 2014.

The Chinese Malaysian-born chef took an interest in cooking because he loved to eat.

Branching out from his father’s restaurant, Yoo hoped to start a food truck at a lower cost, rather than a brick and mortar spot. That’s how Seattle Mamak (seattlefoodtruck.com/ food-trucks/seattle-mamak) came about.

Yoo wants people to know that his food is MSG-free. His signature dishes are the Hainanese chicken and rice, nasi lemak (coconut flavored rice with curry chicken), and chow kuew teow (fried rice noodles).

Similar to Indonesia, Malaysia is a diverse country with a multiethnic, multicultural, and multilingual society. Malaysian cuisine is influenced by Chinese, Indian, Persian, Arabic, and even British cultures due to the country’s history of foreign trade.

If people are skeptical of trying new food, Yoo will try to better understand his customers’ backgrounds in order to ease them into foods or flavors they might already be familiar with.

The next time you’re out and about in the city, be sure to keep an eye out for one of these trucks that are bringing out the unique Southeast Asian flavors. 

Featuring

Traditional SidebySide Monument Properties

206-322-1582

1554 15th Ave East (North Capitol Hill)

SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2016

YOUR VOICE WOO from 3 rights, and continuously opened doors for young people and people of color.

A few things changed as I grew older. I moved up from the backseat of the car to the driver’s seat. Our visits with Auntie Ruth moved from the licensing agency to her comfy living room, and when we hugged, Auntie Ruth’s head met my stomach instead of my shoulder. But Auntie Ruth’s status as a superhero? That never changed.

My mom, Auntie Ruth, and other community aunties like Joan Yoshitomi, Sharon Tomiko Santos, Dolores Sibonga, and Sharon Maeda ushered Mori and me into public service. Admiration for their passion and in awe of their accomplishments inspired us to get involved in politics and community organizing.

Some of you are familiar with the Washington Bus, an organization to which Auntie Ruth donated generously.

When my brother, Mori, was in high school, he was excited by their mission of youth empowerment, and applied for a summer job. That year, Auntie Ruth made her usual donation, but with one caveat: 17-year-old Mori would be hired in a leadership position. Auntie Ruth leveraged her power and influence, not for herself, but to open a door for my brother and many others. Because Auntie Ruth knew

that when young people and people of color are empowered, they energize our politics and make more inclusive policy.

Generations of young people felt the impact of Auntie Ruth’s presence in their lives. She would frequently gather young leaders like Livia Lam, Hyeok Kim, and Tatsuo Nakata, asking them, “How do we build our influence?”

In her booth at the Bush Garden, Auntie Ruth offered them bento lunches and a genuine seat at the table as young professionals. She provided space for authentic engagement and discussion about building political capacity in the AAPI community. These young leaders whom Auntie Ruth mentored got their start with that seat at the table.

Ruth knew the value of cultivating relationships, not only with but amongst the young people that she mentored.

When I was a high school student seeking a political internship, Auntie Ruth sent me to intern with Livia Lam in Senator Maria Cantwell’s Washington, D.C. office. Senate internships weren’t normally given to high school students.

But I got the internship because Auntie Ruth believed in me. During that internship, Livia encouraged me to attend a few Senate committee hearings. By following her advice, I was able to listen to then-Senator Barack Obama speak — it was a moment that later motivated me to join his presidential campaign in 2007. That led to an opportunity to work for President Obama at the White House. Auntie

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Ruth opened the door that led me to the most formative experience of my life.

When we think of superheroes, we envision an unidentified, caped figure who uses their extraordinary powers to benefit those around them.

Auntie Ruth didn’t wear a cape. She wore a mischievous grin and had a contagious giggle as her sidekick. Auntie Ruth’s powers of optimism and generosity were infinite and her energy knew no bounds. With these powers, she busted open doors and pushed seats to the table for young people. In doing so, Auntie Ruth saw something in us that we had not yet realized. That conviction, and those single acts of encouragement, created a foundation within each young person she mentored. A foundation of confidence and passion for our community.

Auntie Ruth was our superhero because she didn’t care about doing well for herself, but dedicated her life to doing good for others. She empowered us to continue the work of building a better future for the community that she loved.

We will remember Auntie Ruth for more than the careers she nurtured or the causes she championed. Her legacy lives on in the doors we open, and the new seats at the table for the next generation of civic leaders and community activists. 

BARTELL DRUGS from 3

SIREN from 1

fountain, hot coffee, and a beer counter. Other stores have only one or the other. There are also all kinds of snacks and food products like milk. It’s more like a 7-11 store combined with a pharmacy.

According to another manager, the ID store has hardwood floors, while many other downtown stores don’t. The ID store is generally smaller than other Bartell branches, and has a vertical layout due to its physical size.

Sam Chan, a partner of Luke’s Pharmacy which up till now, was the only drug store in Chinatown, said there are both positive and negative impacts with Bartell moving in. “Consumers will have choices,” Chan said. “We can’t help people asking for beer and wine. But what we do is not something chain stores can do. We deliver prescriptions to patients when they can’t walk to pick it up. When they travel and need medicine in advance, we help them with that.”

Officer. Siren was most recently awarded as entrepreneur-in-residence at the INC program at the New Museum in New York.

Siren established itself as an alternative to the meat-market feel of traditional dating sites and “swipe-if-you-like-or-dislike” apps by introducing a novel approach. The app provides an option to blur your picture, so a connection can be initiated by response to questions and evolving discussion versus assessing a photo and fill-in-the-blank answers.

“What got me interested in Susie’s idea was that it was a social experiment based on creating a safer online space for women,” Hess stated.

Lee recalled observing a New Year’s Eve that many singles can probably relate to — trying to find a date for the evening. And if not that, frantically trying to find someone to share the New Year’s Eve kiss. It reminded her of the best-pick-answer method that most dating sites emulate with the check-off-thebox formula (Match or OkCupid) or yay-ornay swiping (Tinder).

“It seems you have to prove why you are worthy of dating,” Lee said. She felt that the existing sites emulated the sense of loneliness she remembers from the New Year’s Eve evening.

Lee wondered how that sort of “shopping for humans” formula could be avoided and addressed utilizing her background as a digital artist. How do people really interact and meet, in natural situations when every day does not reflect New Year’s Eve? Hence, her concept for Siren.

Lee’s analogy is a conversation at the dinner table: Questions are asked and answered.

Formal conversation and questions transgress into informal conversation and questions, and when things go well, a deeper conversation and interest evolves, which takes time. On Siren, there are no profiles to review — just an online conversation, propelled by the conversation starter (the question of the day) and the option to “connect” with someone if you are intrigued by the answers.

Siren follows the model of an online community, but also with the specificity that

it is a forum for dating and trying to meet new people (vs. trading information on a “Help” or “How-to” topic). The focus is on evolution versus immediate resolution — working toward an answer versus getting the answer and backtracking. Lee and Hess did a test run of the app with friends and Lee said it was surprisingly popular, enough so that word spread beyond friends, and it evolved by gaining more subscribers.

Lee, whose parents emigrated from Korea and was raised in North Dakota, was originally on the track to becoming a doctor. She attended Yale and Columbia and earned degrees in molecular biophysics, biochemistry, and science education.

Things didn’t quite work out as expected.

Even after all the investment in the degrees, Lee decided what she really wanted was to work with art. (Her younger sister, who was given the nudge to delve into whatever field she desired, ended up being the doctor.)

Although art was not financially rewarding, Lee was lauded in other ways. She was awarded the Stranger Genius Award in 2010 for her video portraits.

Now, as CEO and co-founder of Siren, she is combining art and merging it with another field that is a new attempt for her — business and commerce. Lee and Hess’s work is unique in that it incorporates artistic and organic notions of how humans naturally interact, but it also involves all the factors that revolve around creating a successful app — technology, development, and commerce. Can art embrace business? Apparently the New Museum thinks it should be explored, based on Siren’s appointment as entrepreneur-inresidence. Siren has not earned profit for Lee and Hess yet, but as a startup, this is expected.

Lee hopes the time with the New Museum will give her the opportunity to introduce Siren to New York and a wider market (currently, Seattle has the most subscribers). It will also help when Siren will be featured on the PBS television show “Start Up” airing later this fall.

“We joke about being startup spouses because our partnership requires making hard decisions and immense trust,” said Hess.

Hess is focused on Siren’s development and design, and handles working out the technical and design glitches. She emigrated from the Philippines when she was 5, moved throughout the United States and Canada 21 times by the time she was 17, and currently lives in Seattle, which she considers home for now. She designed a line of outerwear for bicyclists (Bespoke) in Seattle, and one of her jackets was gifted to Lee, which is how they met.

Has Siren had issues when it comes to being run by women, both Asian Americans? Most negativity was from Silicon Valley, said Lee, where there was resistance to the concept of having the upper hand when choosing to connect with someone on the site. As for being Asian American, Hess said there are some delicate dynamics, especially in regards to being Filipina. “I recently had a conversation with an expert in the Asian market who advised that Susie should be the one to talk to investors in Asia. She does most of our pitches anyway, but that definitely wasn’t the reason for the advice.”

Hess and Lee are currently working on Siren seven days a week, through the glitches and the triumphs.

“Our whole model is about showcasing people’s personalities,” Hess explained.

“During an early beta group, we had a user that just rubbed me the wrong way with their responses to our daily questions. I asked Susie who this person was and she said, ‘You don’t recognize that person?! You actually don’t like them in real life.’ We laughed and highfived since it proved that the model does in fact give you a sense of whether you would get along with someone.”

So do Lee and Hess use Siren? Lee pointed out that because of working full-time on the app, and being an integral part of the app’s development, there is a certain distance that is necessary and required.

“Ben and Jerry probably don’t eat ice cream all the time.” 

AEGIS from 10

Locke said the baby boomers are growing in Washington state. Within the 25-mile radius of Newcastle, there are 92,000 seniors. The Gardens will be close to families, convenient for children and grandkids. Most have busy lives and would like to visit their parents and grandparents without having to drive too far.

Clark said that people can pick their choice

of rooms at the Gardens, with a deposit.

Currently, Aegis has about 2,000 employees and close to 20 facilities. 

Why expand in the ID?

Unmacht said Bartell was looking for a changing neighborhood and robustness. The ID provides great potential. Located at the intersection of 4th and Jackson streets, it is in the hub of mass transit, including the light rail, Sounder, streetcars, and several bus routes, and next to two stadiums. Passengers who need a quick bite, and travelers who need smallsized items before going to the Sea-Tac Airport can hop into Bartell.

So far, Caraang said, “Sandwiches are the best selling items, and we are selling a lot.”

The travel-size section is bigger than many other Bartell store.

Although Bartell is the largest locally-owned company, its growth centers in the Greater Seattle area. It opens two stores a year.  Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

on the details. Art pieces in every corner, a wall of interesting clocks — and anything they can think of to make their clients happy, such as the candy concession counter. Those little things will give them moments of joy like they were as a child, Clark said.

Peggy can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

For more information, go to aegisliving.com.

Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

asianweekly northwest

14

SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2016

WOC from 1 Close to 400 people attended the sold out and lively event at China Harbor restaurant. Yu was a panelist, along with former University of Washington School of Law Assistant Dean Sandra Madrid, former State Sen. Claudia Kauffman, Seattle Central College President Dr. Sheila Edwards Lange. KING 5 anchor Lori Matsukawa emceed the event, and Seattle Deputy Mayor Hyeok Kim gave a warm introduction.

Phyllis G. Kenney, a former member of the Washington House of Representatives and former WoCE honoree, said, “I look out in the audience. And I see a beautiful quilt of many colors.” She said the luncheons over the past 20 years have meant a lot to her. “It is believing the impossible — hold tight to the incredible, and live each day to its fullest potential. You can make a difference in your world, and every single one of you has made a difference in your world and your community, and you have to keep doing this.”

WoCE was the brainchild of community leader and Northwest Asian Weekly publisher Assunta Ng, to recognize the accomplishments of women of color who are trailblazers in their field and for these

women to network and learn from each other. More than 550 women have been honored over the past 20 years.

“Assunta is a force of nature,” said Wing Luke Co-President Ellen Ferguson.

“I have personally been deeply honored and appreciative of her friendship, her leadership, and her work in publishing such an amazing paper.”

Panelists were asked to share an ‘Assunta story.’ A common theme the panelists shared was that it’s hard to say no to Ng. “She does not ask, but tells you what to do.” Edwards Lange called it being “voluntold.”

The room erupted in laughter when Yu said, “I feel like one of those [people] who’s been hustled by Assunta.” Yu continued, “You’re laughing because you agree.”

Yu said she is where she is today (a Supreme Court Justice) because of Ng. Yu said that Ng has one of the keenest noses for politics and was the only voice who supported Yu when she was vying for the Supreme Court appointment. At the time, Gov. Jay Inslee was pressured to appoint someone from Eastern Washington.

Yu said the visibility of women of color has increased like never before. “Women of color have allowed themselves to

34 YEARS

say, ‘I want to be a leader and I want power.’” Yu said it’s really easy to just talk about leadership and mentorship.

She challenged the room to go beyond talk and make a commitment to actively mentor at least one other woman.

“Get involved,” said Madrid. “Join those organizations that make a difference, seek out those individuals who make leadership decisions and make your voice heard. The collective voice is powerful. People of color are powerful.”

Edwards Lange said she hopes to see more women of color in leadership positions. Projecting forward to the next 20 years, she hopes a woman will become the mayor of Seattle or King County executive. “We are fortunate that our deputy mayor [Hyeok Kim] is such a phenomenal woman. But it’s been almost 100 years since Bertha Landes (Seattle’s first female mayor).”

At the end of the luncheon, it was Ng’s turn to address the crowd. The spotlightaverse community leader urged attendees to pass the torch and take the lead. And if there are supposedly no opportunities to do so?

“My dear friends,” said Ng, with humor, “If no one promotes you, promote yourself. Men do that all the time, and they are so good. They are natural at

selling themselves. So don’t be shy. Don’t be afraid. There are times when you should step back, but there are times you should stand up for yourself. I want all of you to stand and shout to yourself and others, Go Girls!”

Ng then led the crowd in a rousing “Go Girls!” cheer, wrapping an event that, for so many, has been life-changing.  Ruth can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

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YOUR VOICE

■ astrology

SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2016

asianweekly northwest

15

Predictions and advice for the week of September 24–30

By Sun Lee Chang Rat — A potential misstep can be avoided.

Remember that even the best advice means nothing if it is not heeded.

Dragon — Is your margin of victory a bit too small for your liking? Look for areas of improvement next time.

Monkey — Be careful about what you sign up for. Although it sounds good in theory, the reality could be quite different.

Ox — In stretching for something just out of reach, you may strain what you already have. Ask yourself if it is worth the extra cost.

Snake — A top down approach isn’t as effective as reading what needs to be done from the bottom going up.

Rooster — Squeezing in too much could be a recipe for trouble. Fit in only what you can reasonably handle for a given period.

Tiger — Whether you are a contender for the biggest prize or not, simply participating has its own rewards.

Horse — Do you keep getting stuck in the same spot? Either find a new route or fix the issue once and for all.

Dog — Although it doesn’t seem like it now, things are going to pick up soon. Enjoy the slower pace while you can.

Rabbit — Are you standing in your own way?

There might be little things that you are doing that could be stalling your progress.

Goat — Are you tired of trying to make things match? Perhaps it is worth giving a more eclectic look a try.

Pig — Are you concentrating so hard that you are missing what is going on the periphery? Step back and take in a wider view.

What’s your animal sign?

Rat 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 Ox 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 Tiger 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Rabbit 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 Dragon 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 Snake 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 Horse 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 Goat 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 Monkey 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 Rooster 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005 Dog 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 Pig 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

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

YI from 5 about those dreams and when kids remind us of them, we laugh it off. Then, when you are out in space and floating in microgravity, you are flying,” she said.

Yi never tired of looking out of a window at the earth.

She said, “It’s like looking at the earth on Google Earth or the NASA website, but it’s alive, it’s real. It’s not a picture anymore!”

The International Space Station (ISS) that she was on rotated around the earth every 90 minutes. So she would have to wait to pass over Korea. “Looking at my home, I realized how small it was, compared to Russia or the United States. I was in awe thinking about how I was from a tiny village on this tiny dot in the ocean and I was chosen to go into space. I felt choked up and my eyes filled with tears.”

“As an engineer, I was amazed at how low the probability was for me to be born in South Korea, and could benefit from the education system and space program. When I went to college, I had to write an essay and apply to be admitted.

But to be born among the top 20 countries in the world was like getting admission to an Ivy League university without applying for it.”

Yi came back from space a hero! “I worked with the space agency for six years after returning from space as a science ambassador. I attended and organized a lot of science fairs, events, and space camps. I traveled around universities as an inspirational speaker and sometimes went to companies to motivate employees.” When asked if she felt disconnected from her passion of working in the lab, Yi said she did, but felt it was necessary to encourage awareness of science and technology at the time. “In 2012, I decided to pursue an

MBA at UC Berkeley. I felt it would be a great way to bridge the gap between science and finance. As a scientist myself, I know the intricacies of working in the lab and understand how important funding is. Not a lot of scientists are good with money, but they need it to do their research. Someone with a pure financial background may not effectively understand scientists. I wanted to be the middleman.”

Once in Berkeley, Yi had planned to return to Korea, but then cupid struck. She met her husband and followed her heart to Puyallup, where she is now looking for a full-time career. “I made it in Korea because I was there for 30 years.

I’ve been in Washington for two years now, I need more time, but I believe I can make it here, too.”  Janice can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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34 YEARS

SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2016

AAPI from 1

A variety of voices

Curiously, there was a smattering of young adults in the mostly senior crowd. It turned out the Khmer Student Association of the University of Washington was one of the 80 organizations that sponsored and endorsed the summit. The students who came said they wanted to educate themselves about the issues and candidates, and enjoy the entertainment.

Lonny Dara, 21, has voted since she was 18. She explained how difficult it was for her to get practical voter information. “Imagine how much harder it is for our community’s elders.”

Katherine Eng, 20, echoed Dara’s

Bill Bryant (L) and Gov. Jay Inslee (R) discuss their views in a forum for the APIC democracy summit.

Who will be governor?

Photos by Arlene Dennistoun/NWAW

education and economy, Washington is a great place to live because of our vibrant AAPI community.”

2016 is another crucial election year that could result in restrictions on immigration and social services, as well as make impacts to small businesses, to the state’s thousands of homeless people, and to policies affecting climate change. Statistics on low AAPI voter turnout are staggering when considering AAPIs are the fastest growing racial group in the state and the nation. The Washington State Democracy Initiative issued a 2015 press release stating that only half of eligible AAPIs registered to vote in 2014. And of those registered, a mere 50 percent voted.

The APIC democracy summit hoped to empower and mobilize AAPI voters.

The summit happens once every four to eight years, coinciding with election years. The APIC was formed in 1996 to “counter anti-immigrant provisions in the Welfare Reform Act of 1996,” resulting in the “denial of cash, food, and medical assistance for low-income, elderly, and disabled non-citizens,” according to the APIC’s website. Twenty years later, similar anti-immigrant rhetoric and proposals by political candidates continue to threaten the quality of life for AAPI families.

The ACRS staff helped organize the summit. The communications manager, Hong Chhuor, and civic engagement program manager, Monica Ng, continually scanned the crowd, seemingly unfazed by the noise and clamor, and showed up in the right places at the right time. Ng said while most of the crowd were already registered to vote, they registered about 50 more people and handed out change of language cards, so voters would receive their ballots in their native languages.

New York City.

“We are strong with one voice,” Choe said. According to Choe, because of the AAPI community, this year’s King County ballots and election information will have more Asian language translations. Choe shared her fond memories of thousands of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who attended legislative assembly days.

Elected officials always made time for the community, said Choe, because the community cared enough to come together as one, and are holding elected officials accountable come election time. “But it only matters if we turn out to vote,” warned Choe. “This is an election where every vote counts.”

15-year old Tia Moua, Spokane Hmong Association, dressed in her native clothing, urged the audience to get out and vote.

A translator interprets in Korean during the governor candidate forum.

frustration, and that’s why Eng is closely watching the governor and the secretary of state races. Eng tried to help her family register to vote after they moved and she was extremely frustrated when the secretary of state’s office failed to provide assistance.

Eng said at least one family member’s vote didn’t count because she didn’t register in time. Eng needs to have faith that elections are run fairly and that everyone’s vote will count. Eng and Dara want to learn how the system works, so they can be more helpful and empower the Cambodian community.

Diane Narasaki, executive director of the ACRS and co-chair of the King County chapter of the APIC, stood before the packed room, her expression serene and determined. Narasaki urged the diverse crowd to “use the power of the vote in the November elections.”

Faaluaina “Lua” Pritchard, chair of the Pierce County chapter of the APIC and executive director of the Asian Pacific Cultural Center, emceed the summit. She introduced elected officials, including Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland, who welcomed summit attendees. Rep. Judy Chu, representing California’s 27th District, and the first Chinese American

woman to be elected to Congress, appeared in a video, urging summit goers to get involved, and above all to vote, calling AAPI voters the “sleeping giant in this election.” Pritchard then led a rousing call for AAPI civic engagement. “Our votes build our power to make good things happen for our community and all others!

We are the fastest growing racial group in the nation, and our votes can decide close elections!”

The summit’s keynote speaker, Martha Choe, gazed at the throngs of people of color in the audience and said, “This is a beautiful sight. E Pluribus Unum — for out of the many, one. Today, we are indeed one.

We have a voice that is important and must be heard in our American democracy.”

Choe chaired the White House Initiative for Asian and Pacific Islanders, served as a Seattle City Council member, was chief administrative officer of the Gates Foundation, and is an honorary cochair of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Democracy Initiative. Her parents immigrated to America from South Korea in 1948, eventually became U.S. citizens, and voted in every election. Choe recalled being called names while growing up in

During the candidate for governor forum, summit-goers heard Inslee’s and Bryant’s different views on issues meaningful to AAPI voters.

The first question from the moderator involved carbon emission taxes and climate change. The AAPI community, said Mak, are concerned about climate change — rising seas, severe typhoons in Asia, and impacts to Pacific Northwest industries, such as fishing.

Bryant told voters he believes in climate change and that “humans contribute to it.”

He wants to reduce carbon emissions, but not at the cost of losing middle-class jobs. Inslee also said he believed in climate change and cited to a new rule passed by the Department of Ecology that caps carbon pollution.

Mak’s next question for the candidates was about raising the state minimum wage.

Inslee supported raising it to $13.50, and said, “It’s time to give our families a living wage.” Bryant said he doesn’t support an increase because the economy and cost of living vary in different areas of Washington.

If the minimum wage is raised too quickly based on the cost of living in King County, he fears small towns may end up cutting hours, benefits, or jobs.

Neither candidate would commit to supporting new taxes or fees to fund education, although both candidates agreed they don’t support cuts to social services.

Both candidates talked about growing state revenue to fund education, rather than creating new taxes. Both candidates also supported continuing state social programs when people do not qualify for services under federal programs.  Arlene can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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