Toshiko Grace Hasegawa A police cruiser outside the Taishan Association, shortly after an Aug. 5 robbery. Sam ChoHamdi Mohamed By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Zheng Xiaoxian describes himself as “very, very nervous.” The Chinese student in his mid-20s, studying political science at a school in this region, has multiple reasons to worry about the likelihood of war breaking out. As a college student in China, see PELOSI on 11
see ROBBERY on 16 THE INSIDE STORY COMMUNITY NEWS
Hasegawa, Cho voice change for Port of Seattle
By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
VOL 41 NO 34 AUGUST 20 – AUGUST 26, 2022 FREE 40 YEARS YOUR VOICE PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA ■ 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 • f. 206.223.0626 • editor@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com
In this photo released by the Taiwan Legislative Yuan, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, right, and Legislative Yuan Deputy Speaker Tsai Chi-chang arrive for a meeting in Taipei, Taiwan, on Aug. 3. China announced on Aug. 16 that is is imposing visa bans and other sanctions on a number of Taiwanese political figures including Tsai over their promotion of the self-governing island democracy's independence from Beijing.
9 AT THE
insafetyunderscoreRobberiesconcernsCID
The two recent armed robberies in Seattle’s ChinatownInternational District (CID) have alarmed many community members because of their similarities. First, the perpetrators targeted non-English-speaking Asian elderly who gathered to play mahjong as a social pastime in a club and a family association. In both incidents, the gunmen had resorted to violence, hitting the patrons. Secondly, the robberies weren’t committed in the dark when the facilities were empty like past attempts. Most disturbingly, the two incidents occurred 10 days apart. And both organizations’ victims said they were being watched before the attack. “Robbery, robbery,” three gunmen shouted and walked through an unlocked door of Happy Together on Aug. 5 after 7 p.m., a mahjong club on South Weller Street. COVID vaccine clinic at Chinatown library Al ShoheiVanessaYoung,Wong,Ohtani,andKylerMurray MOVIES Maika, Wedding Season, and Darlings 7 & 8 By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
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Leadership within the Port of Seattle changed this past November with the elections of Hamdi Mohamed and Toshiko Grace Hasegawa joining Sam Cho as one of the five commissioners for the port. The majority of the Port’s Commissioners are people of color. With the three voices, the Port of Seattle has become much more diverse as it is one of the central drivers of commerce in the region. The Port of Seattle’s mission is to promote economic opportunities and quality of life in the region by advancing trade, travel, commerce, and job creation in an equitable, accountable, and environmentally responsible manner. There are five Port of Seattle Commissioners that oversee the mission.Cho,who was elected in the fall of 2019 was only 29 years old when he ran for the position. He became the youngest Port of Seattle Commissioner and the only person of color at the time at the Port of Seattle. Cho ran on issues of economy, environmental stability, accountability, transparency, and fighting human trafficking. Elected with 60.8% of the vote, Cho was the first Korean American and youngest see PORT OF SEATTLE on 13
Chinese students worry after Pelosi visit, Taiwanese less so
NAPAWF hires Hasan, Nguyen
Solo exhibition by artist Chin Yuen ArtXchange Gallery in Seattle presents Elevation, a solo exhibition featuring maximalist painter Chin Yuen from Sept. 1–Oct. 22. With vibrant colors and expressive movement, Yuen creates uplifting and dynamic compositions. Contrasting hues, shapes, and textures are layered in dense, undulating patterns, creating abstracted landscapes and sinuous forms that challenge the conventions of composition and balance. Born in Malaysia, Yuen studied in Singapore and England before moving to Canada to pursue her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Vancouver’s Emily Carr University of Art and Design and Master of Fine Arts from the University of Victoria, Canada. She has traveled extensively, including years spent teaching art in Japan and Italy. Yuen’s diverse cultural exposures are an artistic asset that continually inspires and shapes her creative process. For details on the exhibition, go to artxchange.org.
The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) announced two new senior level appointments on Aug. 17, Tashfia Hasan as policy director and Christine Nguyen as policy manager. Yvonne Hsu, NAPAWF’s chief policy and government affairs officer, said, “They will help lead and execute NAPAWF’s policy advocacy goals on a national, state, and local level for reproductive justice, immigrant rights, and economic justice.” Nguyen previously worked in policy with The Fairness Project and United States of Care. She graduated with a Masters of Public Health from George Washington University.“Afterspending years working in organizing and health care policy, I’m excited to join NAPAWF and work towards health access and economic justice for AAPI women and girls,” said Nguyen. Jen Wickens (left) and Amy Kiyota Tashfia Hasan Christine Nguyen
Asian American Co-CEO at Impact Public Schools
Impact Public Schools has named Amy Kiyota as coCEO, along with Jen Wickens. Kiyota is the first CEO in the Washington state charter network of Asian descent. As a founding team member at Impact, Kiyota has been dedicated to Impact’s schools and scholars since the earliest days. Amy was integral to the launch of Impact, set the bar high for operations across the schools, and continues to coach and build teams. A child of immigrants—her father is from Tokyo and her mom grew up in Singapore—one of Kiyota’s key goals for the coming school year is to make sure that all scholars have a sense of belonging at Impact schools. Comic Con in Seattle Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC) is back this weekend at the Washington State Convention Center. The largest pop culture celebration in the Pacific Northwest brings fans, celebrity guests, comic book creators, and cosplayers to Seattle. It’s four days of pure fun for fans of comic books, gaming, and sci-fi. ECCC welcomes all levels of fandom.Organizers say masks are required “throughout all areas of the Thoseshow.”with helmets and cosplay masks are asked to arrive without those items on so organizers can verify you are wearing an approved facial covering. You may wear your helmet/mask after entering, provided that you have an approved face covering on as well. ECCC this year will also feature Pop Asia —described as the place to dance like BLACKPINK, become a Pokémon trainer for a weekend, indulge your curiosity about Japanese culture, or just gush over your new (or old) manga obsession.
2 AUGUST 20 – AUGUST 26, 2022asianweekly northwest 40 YEARS ■ NAMES IN THE NEWS
SEATTLE — Public Health – Seattle & King County is holding a free vaccine clinic on Aug. 25, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the International District/Chinatown Branch of The Seattle Public Library. Moderna vaccines for ages 6 months to 5 years, Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for ages 5 and older, along with first and second doses of vaccines and boosters will be available. Walk-ups are welcome, but you can register ahead of time at prepmod.doh.wa.gov/appointment/en/ reg/3986308129 to ensure your spot. Supplies are limited. Vaccines are provided at no cost, regardless of insurance, citizenship, or immigration status. The branch is located at 713 8th Avenue South in Seattle. COVID vaccine clinic at Chinatown library clinic
3AUGUST 20 – AUGUST 26, 2022YOUR VOICE asianweekly northwest ■ COMMUNITY NEWS
Made from patinated bronze and featuring an intricate design reminiscent of the plant foliage, flowers, and fruits found in the Arboretum, the original Memorial Gates were created in 1976 by internationally renowned Pacific Northwest artist George Tsutakawa (1910–1997). In March 2020, just two days after the pandemic-related closure of the Arboretum’s Visitors Center, the Gates were stolen and cut up for scrap. Though quickly recovered by Seattle Police Department detective Mark Jamieson, they were found to be damaged beyond repair. Shortly after the theft, a number of donors contacted the Arboretum Foundation offering to help to recreate the gates. The Tsutakawa family still had the design blueprints for the gates, and George’s son, sculptor Gerard Tsutakawa—who fabricated the original gates for his father— agreed to rebuild them for the Arboretum.
For more information, visit georgetsutakawa.com.
Tsutakawa Gates returning to the Arboretum
Vaccine
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Courtesy of the estate of George Tsutakawa
The re-fabricated Tsutakawa Memorial Gates will be installed at the Washington Park Arboretum next month. “Stolen and destroyed at the start of the pandemic, the original Memorial Gates were a symbol of endurance and of humanity’s connection to nature,” said Arboretum Foundation Executive Director Jane Stonecipher. “They marked the entrance to the Arboretum for more than 40 years, and their loss was a cultural and artistic tragedy. The story of their refabrication and return is an inspiring one of generosity, resilience, and community— truly a story for our times.” The installation celebration on Sept. 14 will include music, taiko drumming, food trucks, and more.
George Tsutakawa’s legacy runs deep in the fabric of the Pacific Northwest. His work is recognized as a unique merging of Japanese and Puget Sound aesthetic traditions into a unified expression. He is remembered not only for his permanent bronze sculptures, fountains, and dramatic paintings, but also his positive humanistic outlook.
“Gerard Tsutakawa’s faithful interpretation of his father’s design speaks to the importance of generational artistic wealth and encouragement, represented once again at one of our city’s favorite gathering places,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell.
Suu Kyi and her co-defendants have denied all the allegations and their lawyers are expected to file appeals in the coming days, said the legal official, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to release information and feared punishment by the authorities. Other top members of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party and her government have also been arrested and imprisoned, and the authorities have suggested they might dissolve the party before the next election.
By JOHNSON LAI ASSOCIATED PRESS TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China announced more military drills around Taiwan as the self-governing island’s president met with members of a new U.S. congressional delegation on Aug. 15, threatening to renew tensions between Beijing and Washington after a similar recent visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi angered China. Pelosi was the highest-level member of the U.S. government to visit Taiwan in 25 years, and her trip prompted nearly two weeks of threatening military exercises by China, which claims the island as its own. In those drills, Beijing fired missiles over the island and into the Taiwan Strait and sent warplanes and navy ships across the waterway’s midline, which has long been a buffer between the sides that split amid civil war in 1949. China accuses the U.S. of encouraging the island’s independence through the sale of weapons and engagement between U.S. politicians and the island’s government. Washington says it does not support independence, has no formal diplomatic ties with the island and maintains that the two sides should settle their dispute peacefully—but it is legally bound to ensure the island can defend itself against any attack. see NEW DRILLS on 12
Myanmar court convicts Suu Kyi on more corruption charges
By GRANT PECK ASSOCIATED PRESS BANGKOK (AP) — A court in military-ruled Myanmar convicted the country’s ousted leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, on more corruption charges on Aug. 15, adding six years to her earlier 11-year prison sentence, a legal official said. The trial was held behind closed doors, with no access for media or the public, and her lawyers were forbidden by a gag order from revealing information about the proceedings.Inthefourcorruption cases decided, Suu Kyi was alleged to have abused her position to rent public land at below market prices and to have built a residence with donations meant for charitable purposes. She received sentences of three years for each of the four counts, but the sentences for three of them will be served concurrently, giving her a total of six more years in prison. She denied all the charges, and her lawyers are expected to Sheappeal.already had been sentenced to 11 years in prison on sedition, corruption and other charges at earlier trials after the military ousted her elected government and detained her in February 2021. Analysts say the numerous charges against her and her allies are an attempt to legitimize the military’s seizure of power while eliminating her from politics before the military holds an election it has promised for next year.
Three Chinese corporate giants leaving NY stock exchange China announces new drills as US delegation visits Taiwan Aung San Suu Kyi
Proposals will be received for KC000616, OWNER ADVISORY, CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND RELATED SERVICES FOR WPTP ELECTRICAL IMPROVEMENTS; by King County Procurement and Payables Section until 12:00 PM on September 19,This2022.contract
By JOE McDONALD AP BUSINESS WRITER BEIJING (AP) — Three state-owned Chinese corporate giants announced on Aug. 12 its plans to remove their shares from the New York Stock Exchange, adding to a growing financial separation between the biggest global economies in the midst of a dispute over scrutiny of company audits. PetroChina Ltd., China Life Insurance Ltd. and China Petroleum & Chemical Co. made no mention of the auditing dispute or U.S.-Chinese tensions over Taiwan, security, technology and human rights.
4 AUGUST 20 – AUGUST 26, 2022 40 YEARSasianweekly northwest ■ WORLD NEWS
The companies, in similarly worded statements issued within 30 minutes of each other, cited the small trading volume of their shares in New York. They said shares still would be traded in Hong Kong, which is open to non-Chinese investors. Washington has warned Chinese companies including Alibaba Group, the world’s biggest e-commerce company, might be forced to leave U.S. stock exchanges if Beijing refuses to allow regulators to see the records of their corporate auditors. American authorities say other governments have agreed to that step, which is required by U.S. law, and China and Hong Kong are the only holdouts. China says talks are making progress but U.S. officials say important issues are unresolved. Americans also are barred under a November 2020 order by then-President Donald Trump from investing in the stocks, bonds and other securities of dozens of companies cited by the Pentagon as possibly supporting China’s military development. The three companies that announced their departure from U.S. markets aren’t on that blacklist.Theannouncement follows moves by Chinese companies that are increasing the role of Hong Kong in connecting them with foreignChina’sinvestors.biggest ride-hailing service, Didi Chuxing, left the New York Stock Exchange on June 10 and joined the Hong Kong exchange. Alibaba announced plans in July to upgrade the status of its Hong Kongtraded shares to make them accessible to mainlandPetroChina,investors.China Life and China Petroleum & Chemical, known as Sinopec, said the securities affected were American depositary shares, or ADS, that represented shares traded in Hong Kong. They said the Hong Kong shares still would be traded. The Chinese securities regulator said their decision to leave the U.S. stock market is “based on their own commercial considerations.” In a brief statement, it promised to “maintain communication” with foreign regulators to “jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises and investors.” PetroChina cited the expense of complying with rules in multiple stock markets.Exchanges in Hong Kong and Shanghai are “strong alternatives” that can “satisfy the company’s fundraising requirements,” the PetroChina announcement said. Private companies including Alibaba have raised billions of dollars on U.S. exchanges because they were largely shut out of the Chinese financial system, which serves state-owned companies. Foreign stock exchanges matter less to state-owned companies. Shares traded in China or Hong Kong usually represent the bulk of their market value. The New York Stock Exchange announced plans in January 2021 to end trading of shares of China’s three main state-owned phone carriers under Trump’s order. The exchange temporarily withdrew the plan but later said the expulsion would go ahead.
The army seized power and detained Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, 2021, the day when her party would have started a second-five year term in office after it won a landslide victory in a November 2020 general election. The army said it acted because there had been massive voting fraud, see SUU KYI on 14
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Salman Rushdie ‘on the road to recovery,’ agent says
By HILLEL ITALIE and CAROLYN THOMPSON ASSOCIATED PRESS MAYVILLE, N.Y. (AP) — Salman Rushdie is “on the road to recovery,” his agent confirmed, two days after the author of “The Satanic Verses” suffered serious injuries in a stabbing at a lecture in New York.The announcement followed news that the lauded writer was removed from a ventilator on Aug. 13 and able to talk. Literary agent Andrew Wylie cautioned that although Rushdie’s “condition is headed in the right direction,” his recovery would be long. Rushdie, 75, suffered a damaged liver and severed nerves in an arm and in an eye that he was likely to lose, Wylie had previously said. “Though his life changing injuries are severe, his usual feisty & defiant sense of humour remains intact,” Rushdie’s son Zafar Rushdie said in a statement that stressed the author remained in critical condition. The family statement also expressed gratitude for the “audience members who bravely leapt to his defence,“ as well as police, doctors and “the outpouring of love and support.” Hadi Matar, 24, of Fairview, New Jersey, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and assault charges in what a prosecutor called “a targeted, unprovoked, preplanned attack” at western New York’s Chautauqua Institution, a nonprofit education and retreat center. The attack was met with global shock and outrage, along with praise for the man who, for more than three decades—including nine years in hiding under the protection of the British government—has weathered death threats and a $3 million bounty on his head over “The Satanic Verses.”“It’san attack against his body, his life and against every value that he stood for,” Henry Reese, 73, told The Associated Press. The cofounder of Pittsburgh’s City of Asylum was on stage with Rushdie and suffered a gash to his forehead, bruising and other minor injuries. They had planned to discuss the need for writers’ safety and freedom of expression.
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Salon shooting suspect indicted for anti-Asian hate crime
DALLAS (AP) — A man accused of shooting three Asian American women at a hair salon was indicted on Aug. 9 on multiple counts, including committing a hate crime. The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office announced the indictment of Jeremy Terrence Smith, 37, for the May 11 shooting at a salon in Dallas’ Koreatown. It alleges Smith entered the salon and fired 13 shots from a .22-caliber rifle, wounding three women and endangering four others. “Smith is alleged to have intentionally selected the complainants because of his bias or prejudice against Asian Americans,” according to the statement. According to a police affidavit, Smith’s girlfriend told police detectives that he had been delusional about Asian Americans since being involved in a car crash two years ago with a man of Asian descent. She said he had been admitted to several mental health facilities because of the delusions.Whenever Smith is around an Asian American, “he begins having delusions that the Asian mob is after him or attempting to harm him,” his girlfriend told police. She said he was fired for “verbally attacking” his boss, who was of Asian descent. The indictment charges Smith with seven counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, each with a hatecrime enhancement. Each count is punishable by from five to 99 years in prison. Smith remains in the Dallas County jail with bonds totaling $700,000. A message to his attorney seeking comment was not immediately returned. Anti-Asian violence has risen sharply in recent years. Last year, six women of Asian descent were among the eight killed in a shooting at massage businesses in and near Atlanta, heightening anger and fear among Asian Americans. And a West Texas man was sentenced to 25 years in prison earlier this month for attacking an Asian family outside a Midland, Texas, department store in 2020 because he thought they were Chinese and therefore responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Authors, activists and government officials cited Rushdie’s bravery and longtime championing of free speech in the face of intimidation. Writer and longtime friend Ian McEwan labeled Rushdie “an inspirational defender of persecuted writers and journalists” and actor-author Kal Penn called him a role model, “especially many of us in the South Asian diaspora.”
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5AUGUST 20 – AUGUST 26, 2022YOUR VOICE asianweekly northwest ■ NATIONAL NEWS
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6 AUGUST 20 – AUGUST 26, 2022 40 YEARSasianweekly northwest View the solution on page 14 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. AssuntA ng assunta@nwasianweekly.comPublisher John Liu Associate john@nwasianweekly.comPublisher Ruth BAyAng editor@nwasianweekly.comEditor hAn Bui Layout & Web han@nwasianweekly.comEditor 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 editor@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com Account Executives KeLLy LiAo kelly@nwasianweekly.com John Liu john@nwasianweekly.com geoRge hiRA ghira@nwasianweekly.com THRU FEB 19, 2023 EXHIBIT, “WE ARE CHANGING THE TIDE: COMMUNITY POWER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE” The Wing Luke Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle Thu-Sun, 10 a.m.–5 the-tidewingluke.org/we-are-changing-p.m. EUGENIA18AUGWOOOF HISTORIC SEATTLE 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. For zoom link, contact rotaryofseattleid@gmail.com 19 & 20 DADADA ANNUAL ARCHIVAL SALE Chiyo’s Garden 11 a.m.-6 p.m. CIDBIA GRAFFITI PAINT-OUT Hing Hay Park, 423 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle 12:15-2 p.m. Sign up QOnPRquhttps://signup.com/go/at CID20FOOD WALK Seattle’s C-ID 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sign up for a booth: https://bit.ly/3O1tE4g C-ID SUMMER CINEMA RETURNS, MOVIE “VALE NI YALOYALO” Hing Hay Park, 423 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle CID BLOCK PARTY 900 S. King St., Seattle 3-9 cidbp.comp.m. CELEBRATE LITTLE SAIGON 1025 S. King St., Seattle 11 a.m.-4 flsseattle.orgp.m. EHC22ETHNIC HERITAGE COUNCIL ON “PREVENT HARM TO CID FROM TRANSIT PLANNING” Via Zoom 6 Registerp.m. https://bit.ly/3bXgWpRat 25, 26 KIKI FUNNY MAMA’S NIGHT OUT LIVE IN SEATTLE Asian American female comedians, headlined by Crazy Woke Asians founder, Kiki Yeung perform Aug. 25, 7:30 p.m. Unexpected Productions 1428 Post Alley, Seattle Aug. 26, 6:45 p.m. Rendezvous Jewel Box 2505Theater1st Ave, Seattle kikifunnymamasnightout.htmlcrazywokeasians.com/Tickets: A26PANEL DISCUSSION, “THE MEANING OF ICHIRO” Ellis Pavilion, T-Mobile Park 12:10-1:40 p.m. C-ID27SUMMER CINEMA RETURNS, MOVIE “MAIKA: THE GIRL FROM ANOTHER GALAXY” Hing Hay Park Free A PANEL DISCUSSION, “THE IMPACT OF ICHIRO ON BOTH SIDES OF THE PACIFIC” Nisei Veterans Memorial Hall, 1212 S. King St., Seattle 1 p.m. KIKI28FUNNY MAMA’S NIGHT OUT LIVE IN SEATTLE Asian American female comedians, headlined by Crazy Woke Asians founder, Kiki Yeung perform 6 Thep.m.Crocodile, Here-After Comedy Club 2322 2nd Ave, Seattle kikifunnymamasnightout.htmlcrazywokeasians.com/Tickets: CHEF29SHOWCASE 2022 - ASIAN (AAJA)JOURNALISTSAMERICANASSOCIATIONSEATTLE Centilia Cultural Center 1660 S Roberto Maestas Festival St., Seattle 6-8:30 p.m. Early bird rates: $40 for AAJA members; $50 for non members (order by Aug. 19) Normal rates: $45 for AAJA members; $55 for non members (order by Aug. 28) Students: $25 (order by Aug. 28) AFTER30HOUSE TRIVIA Wing Luke Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle 5:30-6:30 p.m. USHACLUB1SEPMEETINGWITHSRINIVASAN, INDIANCLASSICALDANCER 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. For zoom link, contact rotaryofseattleid@gmail.com C-ID10NIGHT MARKET FESTIVAL Seattle’s C-ID 1-9 Signp.m.upto be a https://bit.ly/3zi6qmuvendor, AAPI17HOMETOWN HEROES CELEBRATION Terry’s Kitchen, 5625 119th Ave. S.E., 11:30Bellevuea.m.-2 p.m. Registration cacaseattle.orgat JOIN3-9OCTUSINCAMBODIA TO EXPERIENCE A WEEK-LONG JOURNEY TO THE UNIQUE CAMBODIAN CULTURE maxglobalexp.org ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR BEAUTIFY YOUR HOME with energy efficient new windows! They will increase your home’s value & decrease your energy bills. Replace all or a few! Call now to get your free, no-obligation quote. 866-9444248. DONATE YOUR CAR TO CHARITY. Receive maxi mum value of write off for your taxes. Running or not! All conditions accepted. Free pickup. Call for details, 855-635-4229. ELIMINATE GUTTER CLEANING FOREVER! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-888-360-1582.
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By Long Tran NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY SEATTLE — The Vietnamese-language science fiction children’s film, “Maika: Cô bé đến từ hành tinh khác (Maika: The Girl from Another Galaxy),” returned to the screen at the Seattle Asian American Film Festival (SAAFF) C-ID Summer Cinema Series at Hing Hay Park this month. The C-ID Summer Cinema series is a free event and a neighborhood screening of independent films and live performances for multigenerational and multicultural communities. The series will run every Saturday until Aug. 27, concluding with the screening of director Ham Tran’s film. The Shine Global Children’s Resilience in Film Award nominated-movie chronicles the bereaved young boy, Hung, who lost his mother at a young age but gained a friend in the purple-haired alien by the name of Maika. Loosely adapted from the Czechoslovakian children’s television show, “Spadla z oblako (She Fell from Clouds)” that ran from 1978-1983, the whimsical plot and visual effects of the film make allusions to Steven Spielberg’s 1982 science fiction film “E.T. the ExtraTerrestrial.”
The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, receiving distribution from Well Go USA Entertainment. Fellow Vietnamese American filmmaker Bao Tran, who also had his recent martial arts comedy film “The Paper Tigers” receive distribution from the same label, describes Ham as “one of our vanguards, if you will, of Vietnamese American film.”
Bao highlights the “groundbreaking” prominence of Ham’s work by discussing his 2006 feature historical drama film “Vượt sóng (Journey from the Fall).” The film chronicles the horrors that reeducation camp prisoners and the Vietnamese boat people faced after Sài Gòn was taken over by the National Liberation Front on April 30, 1975, signaling the end of the Việt Nam War. “[The film] put the Vietnamese American community on the map and he continues to do that to this day. I really admire him as a friend and filmmaker.” Besides the theater run of “Bố già (Dad, I’m Sorry)” in 2021, Vietnamese-language films rarely receive a U.S. release. What is notable is that much like its predecessor, “Maika” enjoys strong support from the local Vietnamese American community. Many Seattle residents have come together to rent out theaters and make free tickets available to the public via online RSVP. see MAIKA on 11 to Seattle‘The Girl from Another Galaxy’
7AUGUST 20 – AUGUST 26, 2022 asianweekly northwest YOUR VOICE ■ AT THE MOVIES
8 AUGUST 20 – AUGUST 26, 2022asianweekly northwest 40 YEARS ■ AT THE MOVIES
The first weekend in August saw two South Asian movies released on Netflix: “Wedding Season” and “Darlings.” One, set in the United States, is a romantic comedy about the generation gap and biodata marriages. The other, set in India, is a dark comedy about marital violence that is not very funny. Both feature rising stars, and also old favorites, and it’s nice to see the latter getting more time in the sun. While “Wedding Season” is more enjoyable, “Darlings” is a brave film that doesn’t quite hit the mark. Both are worth a look. “Wedding Season” stars Pallavi Sharda as Asha and Suraj Sharma as Ravi, two modern young people who “fake date” in order to get their Indian parents off their backs during the summer’s long calendar of weddings. The plotline is clichéd but manages to stay fresh and entertaining. Rizwan Manji as Asha’s father is hilarious. You will recognize him from the award-winning TV series Schitt’s Creek, among others. Although he plays the “typical” father who goes along with the overbearing mother until the last second, then swoops in to encourage his daughter to follow her dreams or be herself or what-have-you, all the acting is natural and engaging throughout. I would call “Wedding Season” the first true Hollywood romcom featuring South Asian actors if it wasn’t for the Bollywood dance routine at the finale. Don’t get me wrong, I love the dancing, but I was ready to be impressed if this turned out to be the frontrunner light romantic movie about Indian Americans that, for once, didn’t have one. It did survive the movie without breaking into dance (there was dancing, but nothing outside of what can be found at weddings in any tradition), but the movie makers couldn’t resist adding a full blown routine at the end. Sigh.
■ ON THE SHELF BOOK RECOMMEND
A T I SNO where demons and mixed humandemons are at the top. After hearing rumors of the girl with the golden eyes, royal guards show up in her remote village to take Lei to the king—10 years after her mother was also taken by the guards. As she grudgingly trains to be one of the king’s consorts, Lei ends up falling in love. On top of that, she soon finds herself enmeshed in a plot for justice and revenge that could change everything. I’ll admit, “Girls” wasn’t always easy to read. The way Lei and the rest of the Paper Girls are treated is terrible—and content warning, there are scenes of sexual assault— but I also know these types of situations have existed and still exist now. So it’s important to have stories showing this and giving a voice to those who historically haven’t always been able to speak up. It was also great to see Lei fight back against the system any way
see MOVIES on 12
By Kai Curry NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Revenge
By Samantha Pak NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY IRON WIDOW By Xiran Jay Zhao Penguin Teen, 2021 As war rages on along the Great Wall in Huaxia, boys dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots, to battle the mecha aliens threatening their people. And while the boys are treated as celebrities, the girls—who often die from the mental strain—are disposable. So when 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubinepilot, it’s not to serve the army. It’s to assassinate the male pilot who killed her sister. But revenge happens faster than expected, leaving her unscathed and with the label of Iron Widow—a rare and much-feared and much-silenced type of female who can sacrifice boys to power up the Chrysalises (even though the opposite is, in fact, expected). As a result, Zetian is paired with Li Shimin, the strongest, most controversial male pilot in the army. But Zetian’s not about to give up her power so easily and she’s determined to figure out why the pilot system is so misogynistic and stop more girls from being sacrificed. I love Zetian. In such a patriarchal society, she has the audacity to question everything. The fact that her gender is seemingly valued so little frees her. She has nothing to lose, so she might as well speak her mind—with empowering as well as humorous results. While Zetian may come off as unhinged to some other characters (though not all, and not the ones who truly matter), I couldn’t get enough of her give-no-effs attitude. Her anger and rage are the stuff of dreams for any woman who's ever been made to feel less than because of her gender. And as with many a young adult novel, there’s a potential love triangle. Admittedly, this is not my favorite trope, but I really appreciated Zhao’s approach. Their take on love and relationships was refreshing and will definitely have readers thinking about things differently.
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see SHELF on 14
moviesAsianSouth
GIRLS OF PAPER AND FIRE By Natasha Ngan Hodder & Stoughton, 2018 Every year, eight girls are chosen from throughout the kingdom of Ikhara as Paper Girls to serve the king. It’s supposed to be an honor, but in reality, they’re the king’s concubines and it’s demeaning. This year, a ninth girl has been selected.Likethe rest of the girls, Lei comes from the full-human Paper caste, the lowest caste in a society of the angry Asian woman
Double happiness on Netflix in 1
weekend
By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Al Young’s ascension to the top of the drag racing world is unique, especially for a Chinese American with Attentional Deficit Hypersensitivity Disorder (ADHD) and in a sport that is dominated by the blue collar, white Americans. Nevertheless, he is a drag racing hall of famer and still races to this day. Young’s race car is proudly being displayed at the Museum of History and Industry and his story is an example of overcoming stereotypes and finding your strength. Young was not diagnosed with ADHD until he was in his 50s. Growing up in San Francisco as the youngest of three children, Young had trouble keeping still as a youth and had problems in school. His two older sisters were good students, but Young had issues in school and with academics. Young said that he could not read while in school. As a result, in high school, he took industrial arts classes rather than college prep courses as Young did not believe college was in his future. Young chose to go into the industrial arts to his father’s chagrin. “I was put in with blue collar white guys,” Young see YOUNG on 15
The Layup Drill
■ SPORTS
TENNIS STANDOUT SAYS GOODBYE TO UW University of Washington (UW) senior Vanessa Wong said goodbye to the Huskies as the women’s tennis player posted the best year of her college career with the Huskies. She finished her Husky career as the alltime leader in UW singles victories with 112. The Toronto-native earned all Pac12 First Team honors with an 18-5 overall record and 17-4 in dual matches. She ended the season ranked No. 23 nationally and No. 2 in the Northwest Region. She was named the ITA Northwest Region Senior Player of theInYear.anopen letter to UW fans of women’s tennis, Wong reminisced about waking up on dark mornings to head to class with sore legs from the workout the night before and keeping awake during lectures. Wong maintained the term student-athlete as see LAYUP DRILL on 15
Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani at a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins on Aug. 14 in Anaheim, Calif. AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray walks on the field before a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Aug. 12 in Cincinnati. AP Photo/Zach Bolinger
AL YOUNG’s unlikely drag racing career 32,000 spectators attended this 1981 event in Bristol, Tennessee, and Young said he saw only two people of color in the stands.
By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Welcome to another edition of The Layup Drill. In this month’s edition, a Husky says goodbye, Shohei Ohtani continues to be good at baseball, and Kyler Murray gets a new contract with a stipulation.
YoungAlCredit:
Vanessa Wong Credit: University of Washington
9AUGUST 20 – AUGUST 26, 2022 asianweekly northwest YOUR VOICE
Issey Miyake, known for bold sculpted designs, dies at 84
Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake smiles standing among models after the presentation of his “1993/1994 fall/winter ready to wear collection” on March 17, 1993 in Paris, France. Miyake died Aug. 5, 2022, of liver cancer, Miyake Design Office said Tuesday, Aug. 9.
10 AUGUST 20 – AUGUST 26, 2022asianweekly northwest 40 YEARS ■ WORLD NEWS
CirroneauPhoto/LionelAP
By YURI KAGEYAMA ASSOCIATED PRESS TOKYO (AP) — Issey Miyake, who built one of Japan’s biggest fashion brands and was known for his boldly sculpted pleated pieces as well as former Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ black turtlenecks, has died. He was 84. Miyake died on Aug. 5 of liver cancer, Miyake Design Office said. Miyake defined an era in Japan’s modern history, reaching stardom in the 1970s among a generation of designers and artists who reached global fame by defining a Japanese vision that was unique from the West.Miyake’s origami-like pleats transformed usually crass polyester into chic. He also used computer technology in weaving to create apparel. His down-to-earth clothing was meant to celebrate the human body regardless of race, build, size or age. Miyake even detested being called a fashion designer, choosing not to identify with what he saw as a frivolous, trendwatching, conspicuous consumption. Again and again, Miyake returned to his basic concept of starting with a single piece of cloth—be it draped, folded, cut or wrapped. see MIYAKE on 13
Taiwan has been under threat from China for decades, Lin points out, including the shelling of islands controlled by Taiwan in the late 1950s. More recently, in 1995 and 1996, in what was called the Third Strait Crisis, then President Lee Teng-hui defied China’s interdiction on Taiwanese officials visiting the United States and delivered an address at Cornell University, his alma mater. China, first in warning, and then in response, lobbed several missiles in waters off the coast of Taiwan. It may be premature, said Lin, to dub the current threats the Fourth Strait Crisis. But a consensus on the island seems to be that the visit was worth the cost. “Many think that given P.R.C. threats are almost a given, at the very least, the congressional delegation in the U.S. is a rare event that reinforces the U.S.-Taiwan relationship, shows U.S. support for Taiwan to the rest of the world in a very public manner, and also showcases a very ordinary state policy of accepting foreign state dignitaries that is denied to Taiwan but many Taiwanese clearly cherish,” he said in an email. A student from Taiwan studying in this region, who also asked for a pseudonym, seems similarly optimistic but also cautious.“When I was a student in high school, I was a real hot head about Taiwan independence, but now I do see that Taiwan is just a small country, as part of a bigger international picture,” he said via a Skype call.As part of his concern, he watches the U.S. Navy channel. “They say that in the next five to 10 years, China could try to invade Taiwan,” he said. During the recent exercises, a friend of his in the South of the island told him about seeing Taiwanese fighter jets and helicopters passing in the sky, responding to the Chinese drills only miles off the coast.Taiwan is always in something of a state of being caught between larger powers, he said.“But I still hope that something positive for Taiwan comes out of this situation. For instance, there is a discourse developing internationally about China as a bully.”
11AUGUST 20 – AUGUST 26, 2022YOUR VOICE asianweekly northwest PELOSI from 1 he heard anecdotes from his teachers about crazed Chinese leaders. He interned at a Chinese think tank and has an awareness of the messiness of politics. Today, he checks social media constantly and was shocked to see a Chinese official calling for mass sacrifice. Finally, courses in the U.S. have shown him how Chinese were manipulated on a mass level during the Korean War. “What if one of those fighter pilots gets emotional and pulls the trigger?” he says, referring to the Chinese jets that have been flying sorties into Taiwan air space. Zheng, who asked for a pseudonym to speak about a sensitive topic, insists he is speaking about his and his generation’s concerns after the visit of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan earlier this month and not spouting propaganda on behalf of his government. Either way, the signs he points to are the kind that China watchers might be concerned about, too. A map, recently released by the Chinese government, shows the names of shops on every street in Taipei. “It’s so clear, you can even see the green and red traffic lights,” the caption reads. “We’re worried this could be a signal that the government is preparing for war,” saysAnotherZheng.sign he points to is the 120-milelong bridge that China is planning to build from its coast to Taipei. “They wouldn’t say it was ‘in the planning stage’ if they hadn’t made plans to take over the island,” he says. Such sentiments underscore at least some of the aftermath of the visit that prompted Chinese military drills closer to Taiwan than ever in history. The irony, however, is that those who actually face these threats are almost blasé. From the standpoint of many Taiwanese, such threats are part of a longstanding background noise to which they have almost become inured. And even the attitude of someone like Zheng reveals a widening split between the official stance of the Chinese government and the Chinese people.“We are in a period of high tensions between the United States and China, which is concerning to observe,” said James Lin, a historian of Taiwan at the University of Washington currently doing research in Taiwan. “From the Taiwanese perspective, however, most are not concerned, and some even argue the costs of bearing P.R.C. military, economic, and diplomatic retaliation are worth the price.”
Such a distancing from official attitudes among Chinese students in the U.S. is not uncommon, said the first Taiwanese student, who said he has friends among them.“You can see the gradual process of them giving up the idea of going home and wanting to stay here,” he said. Nevertheless, if that is the case with Zheng, his awareness of U.S. intervention is still palpable. “It was a real humiliation to China for Pelosi to visit because she had been a strong critic of China,” he said. “She was not what you would call an ‘old friend’ of China.”
A Chinese J-11 military fighter jet flies above the Taiwan Strait on Aug. 5. China announced more military drills around Taiwan as the self-governing island’s president met with members of a new U.S. congressional delegation on Aug. 15.
GuanHanPhoto/NgAP
MAIKA from 7 Kenneth Nguyen, who is in charge of coordinating screenings of the film in major markets and theater chains like AMC, collaborates with Ham and a team of prominent Vietnamese Americans with expertise in film production, entertainment law, business, and film festival programming under the media company, EAST FILMS. Nguyen affirms that his main creative goal is to “glorify the name and work of all of the trials and efforts of what our people have gone through.”
Outside of his work bringing EAST FILMS productions to more screens, Nguyen is a prolific podcaster who has interviewed many prominent Vietnamese public figures, including filmmakers, actors, scholars, writers, athletes, politicians, community leaders, and a former U.S. Ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Việt Nam on his show, “The Vietnamese with Kenneth Nguyen.”
Nguyen talks about the importance of supporting Vietnamese filmmakers and the need to “create more amplification so we could all walk into an airport in Yugoslavia, in Paris, in New York, and everyone looks at our passport—you’re Vietnamese. And we hold our heads up high, and go ‘yes, we are a fucking amazing group of people.’ We’re not refugees, we’re not zipperheads, we’re not gooks, we’re the Vietnamese, and we’ve arrived.”
Moreover, he said that whenever the U.S. has a problem with China, it “plays the Taiwan“Doescard.”theU.S. government really care about the people of Taiwan?” When asked if his generation was concerned about the U.S. using Taiwan as a base for some sort of attack on China, he first clarified what was meant by “attack.” Then he said, “When I was in middle school, I was taught that when you are going to decide how to interact with someone, you should base your thinking on how you’ve been treated by that person in the past.”
Such a sentiment has been common among Taiwanese for some time, according to a Brookings Institute survey released in February with the help of Shelley Rigger, a leading political scientist who studies Taiwan. 63% of respondents had a negative view about China, while only 8% had a positive view. Feelings were stronger among the young. Still, there are signs that opposition to China rises and falls. During the recent presidential elections in 2020, Han Kuo-yu, a candidate espousing stronger ties with China, received almost 40% of the vote, although he was later recalled as mayor of Kaohsiung.Asecond student from Taiwan studying here said that even within his own family, there is “Theredissension.arevarious identity recognitions within my family. Many of us have different political ideologies, but we still love each other. I think it is because, most of the time, we debate for different standpoints, but so long as our daily life is fine, this diverse composition of people living on this island still get along with each other,” said this student, who also asked to remain anonymous.Still,hesaid, the visit by Pelosi gave everyone “a sense of security.” One reason, again, is due to the ongoing threats from China. “For the past 30 plus years in my life, the P.R.C. has always threatened Taiwan by claiming they will never give up using force to ‘unify’ Taiwan,” he said. This second Taiwanese student, however, is also worried about his children, particularly after seeing the war in Ukraine unfold.“Iam constantly worried about my kids and their future. I don’t want Taiwan to be dragged into a physical battlefield (like in Ukraine now),” he said by email. At the same time, he gave voice to a sentiment that China’s soft power has already started to infiltrate Taiwan and threaten its freedoms. “I stand firmly that Taiwan is Taiwan,” this second Taiwanese student said. “I cherish every moment that Taiwan is democratic, and we can enjoy free speech, though the penetration of social media platforms already happens every second.”
Mahlon can be contacted info@nwasianweekly.com.at
Producer Jenni Trang Le and the rest of the crew were not sure their film was a Sundance film and never thought to submit “Maika” anywhere. The veteran producer of 13 feature films, who has worked with Ham since they both attended UCLA, continues to elevate Vietnamese cinema to new heights. Having worked on her fair share of independent films, in addition to major Vietnamese blockbusters, and with Oscar-winner Spike Lee, her recent producing effort proves to be a special passion project. “Out of all the films, [it is] probably my most favorite just because it was so challenging…we loved the kids so much. We were so proud of how it came together in the end.” The film premiered in the KIDS section at the Sundance Film Festival as the first purely Vietnameseproduced feature film, which received a 25-city theatrical run, with screenings in Việt Nam and at film festivals around the world. What is unique about this film is that it is available in a Vietnamese and English version. “The English dub, Ham directed himself. 90% of the voice actors are Vietnamese American…It was really important for us to have representation in that aspect as well.” Although the film’s theatrical run has passed, the next phase of bringing the film to more audiences is to make it available in both languages on streaming platforms. For the time being, the best way to support the film is to go to film festival screenings like those organized by SAAFF. Co-director of the festival Ellison Shieh says that “Maika will actually be the very first Vietnamese-language feature film that we’re sharing at [the] summer series, which is reallyShiehexciting.”notesthat this “imaginative” and “heartwarming” film will “probably be a formative film for a lot of kids in the neighborhood.” Long can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
Surprisingly, Zheng, for all his auguring about war, himself has reservations about China simply absorbing Taiwan. He and others of his generation underwent two “turning points” in their attitude about China and Taiwan. The first was seeing the way the Chinese government handled Hong Kong. The second was when the case of a woman forced to have eight babies while being chained up went viral and caused huge outpourings of anger against the Chinese government by many Chinese, who saw it as a symbol for the decadence and corruption in their system. “When someone told me about that, it made me feel that China could not impose its will on Taiwan,” he said. “At the same time, people in China do have an emotional attachment to Taiwan.”
The movie’s theme seems to be happiness—how do we achieve it? The parents say that “all they want” is their children’s happiness. The children say they are already happy. But are they? Does happiness mean doing what your parents tell you? Asha’s sister, Priya, played by Arianna Afsar, is worried she’ll be the first to mess up a marriage in her family’s long lineage, being that she is marrying a white man (Sean Kleier as Nick) and the marriage was not arranged.Ordoes it mean defying your parents, and not letting them “drown your inner voice?” Asha wants to be “independent” and do everything herself (having the absolute most understanding boss on the planet helps a lot with career success). She and her sister both think that their nontraditional “Western” lifestyles, their partying, or that Priya lives with Nick, is all not “okay” with their parents (who already know). Ravi prefers to be a DJ over the MIT tech startup path everyone wanted for him, and which is how his family portrays him to potential spouses. There is a lot of disagreement on what makes a person happy but, in the film, it comes down to do you lie about yourself (or your parents lie for you) and possibly achieve your dream job/partner? Perhaps you’re not even sure what or who that is? Or do you be yourself (with the same uncertainty)? We know the expected answer, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to do. As for “Darlings,” social media has exploded with men ranting that this movie contains “nothing but man haters.” The title is from the way that some Indian men call women “darlings.” To me, it implied an old-fashioned idea about relationships. “Darlings” follows Badru (Alia Bhatt), as she withstands her husband, Hamza’s (Vijay Verma) abuse, hoping he will change. Badru finally breaks, and takes revenge. This, according to detractors—who I doubt even watched it—make this a man-hating film. I would ask, how much does a person have to love someone to put up with their bad behavior? There’s an old film that this reminded me of, “I Love You to Death,” also a dark comedy—except actually funny. “Darlings” is not funny. I spotted the moments that were supposed to be funny—Badru and her mom have a way of speaking with their eyes, and totally get what each other is saying, but when their mutual friend, Zulfi (Roshan Mathew), tries it, he fails miserably. Etc. To me, it’s classified more as a horror film. How many women “endure” this? The lover who hits you, then coddles you. He is always in your space, trying to control you, but ultimately, he can’t. Badru, who goes through all the stages of an abused person, figures out that she keeps trying to get respect from Hamza, but “the respect is mine. Why am I asking for it?” The mother, played expertly by Shefali Shah, begs her daughter to leave him. Of course Mom wants to kill Hamza—what parent wouldn’t? It’s painful to watch. What should be painful to men is how badly this man behaves. Certain folks can’t stand to see a woman take revenge. As soon as the man is the victim, everything he did beforehand is conveniently forgotten. No one should be a victim of abuse. We should praise “Darlings” for facing hard truths. A film like this was inevitable given the amount of violence against women in India. Both Hamza and Badru are sympathetic characters, if you are a sympathetic person. They seem in love but are blinded by love or anger. He has a “demon” inside of him, he says. It’s not his fault. He drinks. He is abused at work—valid points—but that’s no excuse. “All couples fight,” he tells her. During the movie, Badru’s mother recounts a fable we have all heard, though the characters change. In her version, there is a frog and a scorpion. The scorpion asks the frog for a ride and promises not to sting him, but of course does, and when the frog asks why—we all know the answer—the scorpion says, “because I’m a scorpion. It’s in my nature.” Some people are scorpions. Not all people. And not all men. There are good men in the movie. The entire police force is engaged in stopping violence against women, and frustrated by Badru’s insistence on trying to work it out. If the movie has a fault, it’s that it didn’t get the mix right so yes, it’s possible to misread. Putting a sign at the end that effectively says, “men should watch out when they hurt women” was probably a bad move. There wasn’t enough humor in the movie for that sign to hit right, or to make Badru’s ending as the free woman satisfying. She should have been traumatized, but still moving on. That would have been a real triumph. Kai can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
NEW DRILLS from 4 American and Taiwanese offi cials have accused China of using Pelosi’s visit as a pretext for intimi dating moves, and a senior U.S. of ficial said recently that Washington would continue to deepen its ties with Taiwan in the coming days andTheweeks.latest trip began on Aug. 14 with little notice ahead of time— and drew more ire from China. The delegation was due to leave late the following day. “China will take resolute and strong measures to defend national sovereignty and territorial integ rity,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a daily briefing, after Beijing announced new drills in the seas and skies surrounding Taiwan. “A handful of U.S. politicians, in col lusion with the separatist forces of Taiwan independence, are trying to challenge the one-China princi ple, which is out of their depth and doomed to failure.”
Hezbollah spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment. Lebanon’s top Shiite Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Kabalan vilified Rushdie in a speech without directly endorsing the attack, saying the author was “the cheapest and worst personality to deal with history and heritage by fabricating lies and hypocrisies.”
The senator also highlighted leg islation intended to boost political and economic ties with Taiwan, especially in the critical semicon ductor industry. Taiwan is a crucial provider of computer chips for the global economy, including China’s high-tech sectors, and beyond the geopolitical risks of rising tensions in the region, an extended crisis in the Taiwan Strait could have major implications for international sup ply chains at a time when the world is already facing disruptions and uncertainty.Markeyis one of the few mem bers of Congress still serving who voted for the 1979 Taiwan Rela tions Act that ensured continued relations with the island following the switch of U.S. diplomatic rec ognition from Taipei to Beijing. The other members of the delega tion are Republican Rep. Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen, a del egate from American Samoa, and Democrats John Garamendi and Alan Lowenthal from California and Don Beyer from Virginia. China says it wants to use peace ful means to bring Taiwan under its control, but its recent saber rattling has emphasized its threat to take the island by military force. The earlier drills appeared to be a rehearsal of a blockade or attack on Taiwan that would force the cancellation of commercial flights and disrupt shipping to Taiwan’s main ports as well as cargo passing through the Taiwan Strait, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. The exercises prompted Taiwan to put its military on alert, but were met largely with defiance or apathy among the public used to living in China’s shadow. The American “visit at this time is of great significance, because the Chinese military exercise is (in tended) to deter U.S. congressmen from visiting Taiwan,” Lo Chihcheng, the chair of the Taiwan legislature’s Foreign and Nation al Defense Committee, said after meeting with the U.S. lawmakers. “Their visit this time proves that China cannot stop politicians from any country to visit Taiwan, and it also conveys an important message that the American people stand with the Taiwanese people,” Lo said. A senior White House official on Asia policy said that China had used Pelosi’s visit as an excuse to launch an intensified pressure cam paign against Taiwan. “China has overreacted, and its actions continue to be provocative, destabilizing, and unprecedented,” Kurt Campbell, a deputy assistant to U.S. President Joe Biden, said on a call with reporters last week. Campbell said the U.S. would send warships and planes through the Taiwan Strait in the next few weeks and is developing a roadmap for trade talks with Taiwan that he said the U.S. intends to announce in the coming days.
In Tehran, some Iranians interviewed by the AP praised the attack on an author they believe tarnished the Islamic faith, while others worried it would further isolate their country.
A state trooper and a county sheriff’s deputy were assigned to Rushdie’s lecture, and police said the trooper made the arrest. But afterward, some longtime visitors to the bucolic vacation colony questioned why there wasn’t tighter security given the history of threats against Rushdie. On Aug. 12, an AP reporter witnessed the attacker stab or punch Rushdie about 10 or 15 times. Reese, the moderator, told CNN he initially thought the attack was a prank. News about the stabbing has led to renewed interest in “The Satanic Verses,” which topped bestseller lists after the fatwa was issued in 1989. As of Aug. 14, the novel ranked No. 11 on Amazon.com’s list. One of Rushdie’s ex-wives, the author and television host Padma Lakshmi, tweeted that she was “relieved” by Rushdie’s prognosis. “Worried and wordless, can finally exhale,“ she wrote. “Now hoping for swift healing.”
RUSHDIE from 5 silenced—stands for essential, universal ideals,” U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement. “Truth. Courage. Resilience. The ability to share ideas without fear.” Rushdie, who was born in India to a Muslim family and has lived in Britain and the U.S., is known for his surreal and satirical prose, beginning with his Booker Prize-winning 1981 novel “Midnight’s Children,” in which he sharply criticized then-Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Infused with magical realism, 1988’s “The Satanic Verses” drew ire from some Muslims who regarded elements of the novel as blasphemy. They believed Rushdie insulted the Prophet Muhammad by naming a character Mahound, a medieval corruption of “Muhammad.” The character was a prophet in a city called Jahilia, which in Arabic refers to the time before the advent of Islam on the Arabian Peninsula. Another sequence includes prostitutes that share names with some of Muhammad’s nine wives. The novel also implies that Muhammad, not Allah, may have been the Quran’s real author. The book had already been banned and burned in India, Pakistan and elsewhere when Iran’s Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, or edict, calling for Rushdie’s death in 1989. Khomeini died that same year, but the fatwa remains in effect—though Iran, in recent years, hadn’t focused on Rushdie. Iran’s state-run newspaper, Iran Daily, praised the attack as an “implementation of divine decree.” Another hardline newspaper, Kayhan, termed it “divine revenge” that would partially calm the anger of Muslims.
MOVIES from 8
Matar was born in the United States to parents who emigrated from Yaroun in southern Lebanon, village mayor Ali Tehfe told the AP. Flags of the Iran-backed Shia militant group Hezbollah, along with portraits of Hezbollah and Iranian leaders, were visible across Yaroun before journalists visiting were asked to leave.
The new exercises were intended to be “resolute response and sol emn deterrent against collusion and provocation between the U.S. and Taiwan,” the Defense Ministry said earlier.Itwas not clear if the new drills had already started since the minis try gave no details about where and when they would be conducted, in contrast to previous rounds. The U.S. lawmakers, led by Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, met with President Tsai Ing-wen, Foreign Minister Jo seph Wu and legislators, according to the American Institute in Tai wan, Washington’s de facto embas sy on the island. At their meeting, Tsai said her administration was working with allies to ensure stability in the Tai wan Strait and maintain the status quo—a reference to the island’s self-governance, separate from Beijing.“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year has shown the threat that authoritarian nations pose to the global order,“ Tsai said. Markey responded by saying Washington and Taipei had a “mor al obligation to do everything we can to prevent an unnecessary con flict and Taiwan has demonstrated incredible restraint and discretion during challenging times.”
Investigators were trying to determine whether the suspect, born nearly a decade after the novel’s publication, acted alone. A prosecutor alluded to the standing fatwa as a potential motive in arguing against bail. “His resources don’t matter to me. We understand that the agenda that was carried out is something that was adopted and it’s sanctioned by larger groups and organizations well beyond the jurisdictional borders of Chautauqua County,”
12 AUGUST 20 – AUGUST 26, 2022 40 YEARSasianweekly northwest
District Attorney Jason Schmidt said. Schmidt said Matar got an advance pass to the event where the author was speaking and arrived a day early bearing a fake ID. The judge ordered Matar held without bail. Public defender Nathaniel Barone complained that authorities had taken too long to get Matar in front of a judge, leaving him “hooked up to a bench at the state police barracks,” and stressed that Matar had the right to presumed innocence.Barone said after the hearing that Matar has been communicating openly with him and that he would try to learn whether his clinet has psychological or addiction issues.
Hamdi hit the ground running this past January as she developed and sponsored the Career Launch Program for the Port of Seattle. The commission approved the addition of $2 million to the program which increases the program to $4.1 million over the next three years. The program bulbs on work began by the Port in 2020 and is a direct response to the economic crisis in communities most impacted by COVID. The program helps youths, especially those youth of color and from economically distressed zip codes, with internship training opportunities in Portrelated jobs and careers in aviation, construction, green jobs, and maritime. The commissioner highlighted the fact that the maritime and aviation industries are aging and with individuals reaching retirement age, there is a lack of qualified individuals to replace them. The Port of Seattle Commissioners are shaping their budgets for 2023 and one of Hamdi’s projects is to make North SeaTac Park a budget priority. Specifically, she would like to invest in an ecology risk assessment of the space. She is also advocating for shelter and restrooms for transportation drivers, as well as commuter improvement for Seatac airport workers. Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
Predictions and advice for the week of August 20–26, 2022
ASTROLOGY
By Sun Lee Chang Rat—You are not one to let your guard down easily, but some experiences are worth a little Ox—Arevulnerability.you starting to recognize the potential in yourself? Now is the time to answer the call to Tiger—Somethingadventure. that you once took for granted is now very much prized. Give it the care it Rabbit—Yourdeserves. no-nonsense approach, while very simple and direct, is just what is needed in the current situation. Dragon—Do you have the appetite to take on a major new project? It will require considerable effort on the frontend. Snake—Overlapping roles could cause some friction. Minimize conflict by setting out a few ground rules at the start. Horse—Having the correct pieces is only one part of the equation. You must also figure out how to fit them together. Goat—If a colleague’s actions do not line up with their words, then it is in your interest to be on alert.
In light of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, Hasegawa stated that she will work to ensure Port workers have access to health care.
beauty of real people. Although he made clothes that went beyond the mundane, appearing to reach for the spiritual, he made a point to never get pretentious, always approving of the T-shirt-and-jeans look. “Designing is like a living organism in that it pursues what matters for its well-being and continuity,” Miyake once wrote in his book. His office confirmed a private funeral had already been held and other ceremonies will not be held in accordance with Miyake’s wishes. Miyake kept his family life private, and survivors are not known.
PORT OF SEATTLE from 1 port commissioner since the founding of the port in 1911. “There are a lot of barriers to diversity,” Cho said regarding his role at the Port of Seattle. “It takes a lot of hours and doesn’t pay a lot.” “We [the Port of Seattle] discussed diversity internally and externally,” explained Cho. “How to diversify the workforce as representatives of King County.” One of Cho’s goals is to triple the number of minority business contractors at the Port of Seattle. A part of this includes a training and educational component, which requires external communications with those in the community so that they are aware of the opportunities and can bid on the contracts. From a personnel standpoint, Cho points out that there are not enough aviation and maritime maintenance workers for the Port of Seattle and would like to see those filled by qualified, diverse workers. Toshiko Grace Hasegawa came from a family of community activism. As a young girl, growing up on Beacon Hill, her father was a part of the largest truckers’ unions in the country and she learned of the labor movement through him and his co-workers. She also participated in Take Back the Night rallies with her mother. Coming from a working class family, she realized that economic empowerment leads to social justice. She became one of two women of color elected to the Seattle Port“WeCommission.areapart of something much greater than one. If not for the tremendous example of my elders, I would have not had the sense of responsibility or courage to lead,” Hasegawa said of her reason to run for the Port Commissioner position. Hasegawa ran her campaign while she was pregnant with her daughter. “I thrive from routine,” she said of her attention to balance her work and home life. Through her daughter’s eyes, she sees the reasons why she must pay it forward for the best interests of not just her daughter, but all children. “The first half of the year has been dense with orientations and a steep learning curve,” Hasegawa said of her introduction into her position. She has taken the lead on issues related to the environment and labor as co-chair of the Sustainability, Environment, and Climate Committee, as well as the Waterfront and Industrial Lands Committee. “Places like the Duwamish Valley and Beacon Hill have shortened life expectancies,” Hasegawa said of the environmental concerns those areas have and how it has negatively impacted those living there. “These are historically red-line communities where people of color are clustered and have lower average income.” She added, “When you are not at the table, you are on the menu.” This highlights Hasegawa’s support for the need for diversity in offices such as the Port of Seattle. As part of her work, she is looking at cleanup on the Duwamish River and is working on a green corridor for cruise ships in which cruise lines agree to restrict their emissions.
MIYAKE from 10
Commissioner Hamdi Mohammed became the first Black woman elected to the Port of Seattle Commission and first woman of Somali descent elected to public office in the state of Washington last November. Prior to being elected, she served as the Deputy District Director for U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal. She also worked for King County Executive Dow Constantine. Mohammed decided to run for office after conferring with community members. “When the pandemic hit, I really saw how it was devastating and impacted small businesses and communities of color,” she added, “I wanted to be at the table.” The Commissioner is the only member of the Port Commission that lives near the airport. “I live in the SeaTac area and the only port commissioner that lives in South King County.”
Monkey—Does it seem like you are busy, but not getting much done? Focus on completion rather than just being Rooster—Avoidactive.investing too many resources in any one thing until you are sure that it’s something you Dog—Tiredwant. of the same old thing? Look for a new recipe to try and don’t forget to share the finished Pig—Youproduct. are not one to compromise on comfort, but do think about whether the benefit merits the price tag.
Over the years, he took inspiration from a variety of cultures and societal motifs, as well as everyday items— plastic, rattan, “washi” paper, jute, horsehair, foil, yarn, batik, indigo dyes and wiring. He sometimes evoked images of Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, or collaborated with Japanese painter Tadanori Yokoo in images of monkeys and foliage in vibrant, psychedelic hues. He also collaborated with furniture and interior designer Shiro Kuramata, photographer Irving Penn, choreographer and director Maurice Bejart, pottery maker Lucie Rie and Ballet Frankfurt. In 1992, Miyake was commissioned to design the official Olympic uniform for Lithuania, which had just gained independence from the Soviet Union. Born in Hiroshima in 1938, Miyake was a star as soon as he hit the European runways. His brown top, which combined the Japanese sewn fabric “sashiko” with raw silk knit, was splashed on the cover of the September 1973 issue of Elle magazine. Miyake was also a pioneer in gender roles, asking feminist Fusae Ichikawa in the 1970s—when she was in her 80s—to be his model, sending the message that garments must be comfortable and express the natural
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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.
“As a Black immigrant, the seeds of my success were planted long ago by African American leaders,” Commissioner Hamdi said of the importance of diversity. “I feel a sense of responsibility to meet the needs of the diverse communities within King County.”
13AUGUST 20 – AUGUST 26, 2022YOUR VOICE asianweekly northwest
“Build Your House” is one of those books in which the story is told from multiple points of views, a lot of things happen seemingly separate from each other, and it’s hard to initially tell how anything is connected. After all, what does a mixedrace boy attending a boarding school for the children of French expats, Frenchmen trying to start a business, or employees of one Saigon Spirit Eradication Co. have to do with two young women disappearing? But Kupersmith does a great job of weaving all of their stories together. The characters are complex, multifaceted, and usually have more to them than initially meets the eye. As a reader, it’s always fun to guess how the characters and their paths are connected and exciting when we’re correct—though it’s also always fun to be surprised when the outcome is Kupersmith’sunexpected.storyspans more than 50 years of Vietnamese history—including its final days as a French colony, and just as it was on the brink of the Vietnam War. As someone who didn’t learn much about the history of other countries (or this country, honestly), it was nice to read about life during different points in time in Vietnam, outside of the war (one of the few things I knew about the country, but again, didn’t really learn about). Samantha can be reached info@nwasianweekly.com.at
SHELF from 8 she could and interesting to see how the other females in the story viewed the society. As a longtime lover of the genre, I have read a lot of fantasy and adventure stories. And there are always varying levels of how much the fantasy elements play a role in a story. In “Girls,” the magic is relatively low, so we’re left with a story focused on the plot and characters, which are important in any book, regardless of the genre. Ngan does a great job of giving readers characters to love and hate, as well as characters who we're unsure about or change our minds about— and keeping us turning the pages to see what will happen to Lei next.
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14 AUGUST 20 – AUGUST 26, 2022 40 YEARSasianweekly northwest DONE RITE CARPET CLEANING 206-487-8236 CLASSIFIEDS SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 6. SUU KYI from 4 but independent election observers did not find any major irregularities. The army’s takeover sparked peaceful nationwide street protests that security forces quashed with lethal force, triggering armed resistance that some U.N. experts now characterize as civil war. The military government has been accused of human rights abuses including arbitrary arrests and killings, torture, and military sweeps that include air attacks on civilians and the burning of entire villages. Suu Kyi, 77, has been the face of opposition to military rule in Myanmar for more than three decades. She won the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize while under house arrest. Her five years as its civilian government leader were marked by repression and military dominance even though it was Myanmar’s most democratic period since a 1962 coup. Suu Kyi has been charged with a total of 11 counts under the Anti-Corruption Act, with each count punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine. In the Aug. 15 verdicts, the legal official said Suu Kyi received a three-year prison sentence for building a residence for herself in Naypyitaw, allegedly with money donated for a charitable foundation named after her mother that sheShechaired.received a three-year sentence for allegedly taking advantage of her position to rent property in Yangon, the country’s biggest city, for the same foundation, the official said. The two other cases decided involved parcels of land in Naypyitaw for which she allegedly abused her authority to rent at below market prices for the foundation. She received a sentence of three years for each of those cases. The three cases pertaining to offenses in Naypyitaw are to be served concurrently.Theformer mayor of Naypyitaw, Myo Aung, was a co-defendant in both cases relating to granting permits to rent the land. Ye Min Oo, the former vice mayor, is a co-defendant in one case and Min Thu, a former member of the Naypyitaw Development Committee, in the other. Each received sentences of three years. The government Anti-Corruption Commission, which filed the case, had alleged that the rental fees agreed upon by the Naypyitaw Development Committee were lower than the rate fixed by the Ministry of Planning and Finance, so that the rental agreement deprived the state of revenue it should have received. The European Union’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Josep Borrell Fontelles, called for Suu Kyi’s immediate release. “I condemn the unjust sentence of Aung San Suu Kyi to an additional six years of detention, and call on the regime in (hash) Myanmar to immediately and unconditionally release her, as well as all political prisoners, and respect the will of the people,” he tweeted.
BUILD YOUR HOUSE AROUND MY BODY By Violet Kupersmith Random House, 2021 In Vietnam, two young women go missing. In 1986, the teenage daughter of a Vietnamese family gets lost in a rubber plantation while fleeing her angry father, and things are never the same. In 2011, a young Vietnamese American woman disappears from her new home in Saigon, without a trace. While they disappear decades apart, they are both linked—by past generations, ghosts, and ancestors, and a history of possessed bodies and possessed lands. And they will both get their revenge.
LAYUP DRILL from 9 she graduated this spring with a 3.71 GPA and a bachelor’s degree in Marketing. She is pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration in Information Systems next year. “Playing with the ‘W’ on my chest reignited my passion for tennis and made me fall in love with the sport again,” she wrote. “Over the past years, I have had the chance to compete my heart out and scream at the top of my lungs while playing next to some of my best friends.” She was one of two UW women nominated for NCAA Women of the Year, along with softball player Gabbie Plain. Wong returned to the Huskies for her fifth year in order to help lead UW back to the NCAA Team Championships.
Thunder Valley Raceways in Bristol, Tennessee in 1981. Young won the first day of eliminations, but lost on the second day. not experience outright racism at races, but there were times when he was the only person of color at the track. “I get ribbed (made fun of) a lot because of the stereotype that Asians can’t drive,” joked Al Young. But Young has proven to be a champion drag racer, breaking the mold that Asians can drive. He recalls one time that he and his friend, who is Black, were the only two drag racers of color at a race in Bristol, Tennessee.“32,000 spectators attended the event and we only saw two people of color in the stands.” Young stated that they came over to the pits to shake their hands.“Auto racing is a sport for the rich,” explained Young. However, sponsorship deals and Young’s passion for cars helped Young make do on the racing circuit as a source of help with auto parts, supplies, and more. The key sponsor for Young was Seattle-based BardahlYoungoil.has racked up the prizes and awards over the years, including being the American Hot Rod Association World Champion and the National Hot Rod Association Division Champion. He was inducted into the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Hall of Fame for the Northwest Division in 2018. The NHRA has an overall fan base of over 78 million, according to Young, and is the largest motorsports sanctioning body in the world. In addition to racing, Young maintains a kung fu practice which helps with his ADHD. He has been taking part in the martial art for 49 years and is the oldest member of the Seattle Kung Fu club in the International District. Young donated his car, which he won at the World Championships, to MOHAI in 2007. It was recently returned to the main floor of the museum after being in storage for 9 years. The Dodge Challenger will be on display through the Spring of 2023. He holds the distinction of being the first and thus far the only Asian American World Champion in all of Motorsports. “Hopefully this will change,” saidYoungYoung.still spends his weekends at the race track as he continues to actively race. So far this year, he’s been in 12 separate events in two different classes of races. He is currently in 7th place in his division out of 140 racers. Jason can be reached info@nwasianweekly.com.at
15AUGUST 20 – AUGUST 26, 2022 asianweekly northwest YOUR VOICE YOUNG from 9 recalled about his instruction in industrial arts classes. “I really liked building engines,” he said of working on automobiles. The concentration on working on cars helped with his ADHD. His mother understood and encouraged him to build model cars and airplanes as an outlet for his enthusiasm. In fact, Young secretly purchased an old car for $25 and hid it around the corner from his house. He would tool around with it without the knowledge of his parents. His father, a Stanford alumni and officer in the military, was worried about Young’s future and feared that his son would either drop out of school or not graduate. Young’s father offered him a compromise if he finished high school. “If you stay in school, I’ll get you an apprenticeship,” Young recalled. He was able to work at an auto repair shop where he learned the craft. At 16, Young confessed to racing on the streets of San Francisco until he was 19. Street racing, of course, is illegal. After the apprenticeship, Young left his home in San Francisco and found a community college in Longview, Washington. He felt the need to leave so that he could attempt to focus. While at community college, he discovered that he was able to read while walking around the block. He went on longer walks to do more reading. As he discovered the ability to walk and read, his academics started to getYoungbetter. did well enough that he was accepted to go to school at the University of Washington (UW). He majored in English Literature and received a Bachelor of Arts in 1968 and a master’s from the UW in English Literature in 1972. He went on to be a teacher in the Seattle Public School system for 37 years and founded one of the first Alternative schools in Seattle in 1973. Young taught a variety of subjects in school, including auto shop. In the class, he actually showed students the basics of drag racing.Although he had raced illegally in San Francisco, Young had his first legal race when he was 27. “My first legally sanctioned drag race was in 1973 at Seattle International Raceways, [now known as Pacific Raceway].” Being the only Chinese American on the track, he decided to lean into his ethnicity and painted a Chinese Lion on his car. Young noted that he did
OHTANI LEAVING ANGELS? The Anaheim Angels have not had a good year. After a winning streak earlier this spring, the team has plummeted despite having Mike Trout and Shoei Ohtani in the lineup. Now, Trout is on the injured list and out indefinitely leaving Ohtani as the only star making plays for the team. Once again, Ohtani was picked to play in Major League Baseball’s All Star Game and once again picked as both pitcher and hitter. This year, however, he chose not to pitch in the game. Rather, he focused on just being a designated hitter this time around for the game that was held at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Ohtani faced Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw as the first batter in the game. In a brief interview prior to the at-bat, Ohtani said he was going to swing at the first pitch. In fact, Ohtani did swing and lined a single into center field. While Ohtani remains a key player for the Angels, there are rumors that the team was listening to trade offers about the Japanese-born superstar. Ohtani has one year left on his contract with the Angels and would be a free agent after next year. The thinking behind trading Ohtani is that the Angels are still not a competitive team with him and sending him out for good baseball prospects would be a cost-cutting move by the team. Ohtani, 29, is making $5.5 million this season but will be looking for much more when he becomes a free agent. As the trade deadline passed in early August, Ohtani remained with the Angels, but there is still speculation that he may be moved sometime this winter. Rumors persist that the Mariners, who were one of the last teams in on acquiring Ohtani from Japan before signing with Anaheim, may still be interested.
KYLER MURRAY SIGNS NEW CONTRACT WITH CONTROVERSIAL CLAUSE
YoungAlCredit:
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray signed a five-year, $230.5 million contract extension to stay in Arizona. $160 million of the contract is guaranteed. The signing came after some questioning of Murray’s mindset after he deleted team-related photos from his personal Instagram account this past February. He restored the pictures after several weeks, but it was inferred it was related to his pending contract situation. This past July, Murray signed the contract but it came with a clause which required Murray to complete at least four hours of independent study each week during each playing season during the term of the contract. The contract also included definitions of independent study, which noted that he could not be involved in activities such as watching television or playing video games while studying. The clause was criticized once it was disclosed to the media as a sign that the Cardinals were concerned about Murray’s study habits. Murray does have a twitch channel where he plays video games and interacts with fans. But the clause was unique due to the specific nature of the study requirements and the need to place independent study in the contract. The Cardinals rescinded the clause after Murray called criticism of his worth ethic “disrespectful.” Murray, whose mother is Korean, made him the secondhighest paid quarterback in the NFL behind the Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers. Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
Another time, Ms. Ho, 89, was with two other women outside the association to get in to play mahjong. She and her friends, who came separately, were robbed.“An unmasked gunman walked down from [South Jackson Street] and pointed a gun at us. I was so scared. I just gave him my whole purse. It had $600, my identification card, other I.D. including my vaccination card, apartment key, and other items which I don’t even remember.”
A group of police officers and Community Service Officers led a tour for their new program, “Before the Badge,” which introduced potential and new police officers to different communities in Seattle. Officer Jing Wu, whose beat is in Chinatown, led the tour in CID on Aug. Business10.check is what Wu called it. “We visit different businesses in the CID. It’s part of our engagement program.” Wu and other officers talked about the history, needs, challenges, interesting features including yummy food, geographical layout, and differences from Chinatown to Little Saigon.
Tanya Woo Police interview witnesses outside Happy Together after a robbery on July 27.
Nora Chan Officer Jing Wu introduced SPD members to businesses on South Weller.
“Chinese people should report all the crimes. But they have a language issue.” Lin also said we shouldn’t buy stolen goods as it would encourage suspects to steal and rob. Cameras should be installed at each business, she said, so they have evidence to show to police when crimes do occur. If the cameras are privately-owned by individual businesses, there wouldn’t be privacy issues. Some cameras have facial recognition features, she said. Lin is working on funding for cameras and also language resources for the Chinese community. While mahjong is permitted in many Asian countries, it is considered a form of gambling in Washington state. Assunta can be reached assunta@nwasianweekly.com.at SPD outreachcommunity
“We can’t blame the police all the time,” said Chong Wah Benevolent Association leader Mei-Jui Lin. “The community should work together. When you play mahjong, you should use chips, not cash” so as not to attract robberies.
16 AUGUST 20 – AUGUST 26, 2022asianweekly northwest 40 YEARS ROBBERY from 1 “At first, those old men who didn’t speak English didn’t know it was a robbery, they were still playing (mahjong),” said a female customer who helped out at the club. “The [suspects] shouted at him (the owner) and asked for money. I said, ‘You already got the money from the mahjong table.” A gunman hit the owner and some of the elderly. “The elderly were beaten close to the brink of uncon sciousness,” accord ing to Tanya Woo on a CID Community Watch page. The suspects were familiar with mahjong tables and had tiny pockets for chips or money. The victims did not resist, according to the owner and the female customer. This was the second time Happy Together was robbed. It was also robbed last September. The owner said the loss was small. But a source, who talked to a Seattle police detective familiar with the club’s robbery, said the loss was $30,000, tallying the total amount robbed.Aneighbor told the club owner afterwards that the suspects had been watching them for three days. How did the suspects get in the club? “One old guy who hadn’t visited us for a while, walked in without closing the door,” said the woman. The club has since installed double doors, and a large camera inside the club to see who’s outside. Seattle police confirmed to the Northwest Asian Weekly that one suspect has been arrested in case. On Aug. 5, a second robbery took place at the Washington State Taishan Association, a family association on South Jackson Street, close to 1 p.m. The two organizations were only about 500 feet apart from each other. The loss at the association is estimated to be over $10,000, according to its former president, Ken Chen. “Three gunmen robbed 20-plus elderly at gunpoint, grabbing cash and jewelry worn by victims.” Two sources said the number was much larger, about 50-60. Chen said it was unusual that the robbers struck in daylight. On Aug. 5, the association had just opened its door. The association members come and go all the time. “We only lock it after 5 p.m. We are at a corner location. So, it’s easier for someone to hide in the corner watching us, and we can’t see them from inside.”
Yun Ehi Wu, who played chess at Tai Shan that day, told the Northwest Asian Weekly that the three armed robbers had shown their ruthlessness by first knocking their chairs on the floor. “They came in when the door was opened for one patron. They locked the door. Then, they threw the chairs down on the floor. They slapped several men hard for not giving them enough money or if they were too slow.” He himself was hit for not giving money fast enough. ”One man who was playing cards, 87, was hit over 12 times. The last round he was kicked, slapped, and hit with a gun on his head. He fell on the floor, and blood was coming up through his ear,” said Wu. “I saw him the other day, his ear was still bruised black.”
The association has been a frequent target this year, but none of the robberies were reported to police. Chen said the association was also robbed a month ago, but didn’t file a police report. A member in charge of cleaning the place was robbed after cleaning up at 8 p.m. “After he cleaned up, he walked out and tried to lock the door,” said Chen. “The robber pushed him inside and took over $100 from him. I told him to file a police report. He wasn’t hurt and he didn‘t want to contact the police.”
Crime scene outside Happy Together on July 27.
Nora Chan, founder of Seniors-in-Ac tion Foundation, said two other se niors got robbed, one female car rying $900 and another $7,000 outside the asso ciation. None of these cases were reported.Whatdid these club and association robberies have in common? Police took surveillance videos from both sites. A source said that these suspects robbed several places in the city. The witnesses for both organizations said the suspects were Black males and some of them were masked. The three robbers at Taishan were all unmasked, said Wu, they were there for half an hour until they heard a police siren outside.“They thought it was out to get them.” The police car was not there to arrest them, it just happened to pass by for another emergency. “After this incident, we don’t feel safe anymore,” said Chen. “This had never happened to us before in the past eight years we were here—robbery in bright daylight. We don’t know what we should do to protect ourselves.” Chen said the association plans to close for a month to discuss how to better protect themselves.”Perhaps, the community can get together to discuss how we can improve public safety. What should be our next step? We have to work together. We can’t rely on the police.”
