VOL 41 NO 38 | SEPTEMBER 17 – SEPTEMBER 23, 2022

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VOL 41 NO 38 SEPTEMBER 17 – SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 FREE 40 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Rally: Politicians betrayed us over new shelter

By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY A man in a dark leather jacket with a bald head and glasses stopped at the edge of Hing Hay Park and was sizing up the more than 100 people sitting in the square or holding signs to protest a new homeless shelter.

“You think if you get rid of them, that you’ll be safe?” he yelled in a loud, booming voice.

Some of the organizers of the rally started to make their way over to him.

“You won’t!” the man yelled. Everyone turned and saw a slight young man in a blazer, holding a sign, saying something to the man.

CISC celebrates 50 years of community service

Photos by Eugene M. Tagawa

A crowd gathered for the rally at Hing Hay Park on Sept. 8.

“F— you!” let loose the man in a heavy, throaty yell, who turned and marched violently off.

Thus were the protesters, which included some as old as 90, young children barely out of kindergarten, residents, business owners, community see RALLY on 16

Protestors hold signs at the rally

Still in the fight JunHong’s Kung Fu Club escapes potential closure

Open house at the Bush Hotel basement in the 1970s

By Kai Curry NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY From a card table on the sidewalk to a nonprofit organization assisting 15,000 immigrants and their families every year, Chinese Information and Service Center (CISC) marks 50 years of service this year. While they have expanded over the decades in response to societal trends, CISC’s core mission of creating opportunities for immigrant community members to succeed has never altered. With passion and expertise, they continue to respond

■

to the needs of multi-generational families in multiple languages, for the betterment of King County at large.

“I was working in Seattle at the Pioneer Square Neighborhood Health Station…and I saw there were many new Chinese immigrants who did not know where to go for check-ups for their illnesses,” recalled John Loo, a CISC founder who now lives in Hong Kong. “And then, there were those who did not know English. They needed others see CISC on 15

JunHong’s Kung Fu Club, a martial arts club founded by master Jeffrey Chon, has been saved from the chopping block.

When the pandemic hit, Chon fell behind on rent. Typically, the club’s summer camps generate a decent amount of revenue, which has sustained the business during the first two years of the pandemic.

But this past July, Chon realized there wouldn’t be enough profit to offset the outstanding rent he owed this coming November.

The club’s staff leapt into action. Khyree Smith, a student-turned-facilitator, tried to introduce several new people to JunHong’s.

Photo provided by Jeffrey Chon

Photo from CISC

By Vivian Nguyen NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

see KUNG FU on 12 Master Jeffrey Chon with his club students.

THE INSIDE STORY

COMMUNITY NEWS  3 Tough and good humored at the top

HEALTH  5 Back-to-School checklists should include COVID vaccinations

PICTORIAL  8 C-ID Night Market

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asianweekly northwest

40 YEARS

SEPTEMBER 17 – SEPTEMBER 23, 2022

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Provided by Friends of Waterfront Seattle

Shigaki is Friends of Waterfront Seattle’s new CEO

Joy Shigaki

Joy Shigaki has been named the new president and CEO of Friends of Waterfront Seattle, the organization announced on Sept. 13 She most recently served as campaign director building the new Presidio Tunnel Tops Park as part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco, a $98 million effort.

“The new Waterfront Park is a tribute to the people, landscapes and traditions that define Seattle,” said Shigaki.

“I am so honored to lead Friends of Waterfront Seattle and help reactivate our city’s shoreline, reenergize downtown Seattle and create a new dynamic, inclusive public place for people to come together and build new connections with each other and our natural environment. It will be a space centered in community, belonging, safety, and joy.”

Shigaki brings fresh momentum to Friends of Waterfront Seattle at an important time for the organization, with park construction well underway, the Campaign for Waterfront Park recently crossing the halfway point of $100 million, and Friends’ programming on Pier 62 hitting record numbers as tourists and locals return downtown.

As a fourth generation Seattleite, Shigaki was raised in and around Seattle’s parks.

She previously served as Capital Campaign Manager of

Wing Luke Museum, creating the first permanent home. 

Narasimhan is new Starbucks CEO

Laxman Narasimhan will become incoming CEO at Starbucks on Oct. 1. He will officially begin his role in April and will then join the company’s board of directors, as well.

Howard Schultz will stay on as interim CEO throughout the transition.

He will remain on StarLaxman Narasimhan bucks’ board.

In the six months before Narasimhan officially takes over, he will spend time with Schultz, other company leaders, employees and customers and become acquainted with the reinvention plan recently laid out by Schultz, who has said the company needs an overhaul.

Narasimhan said in a statement that he is “humbled” to join Starbucks.

“He is a strategic and transformational leader with deep experience in building powerful consumer brands,” Schultz said. “He is the leader we were looking for.”

Narasimhan was previously at Reckitt Benckiser and he held several positions at PepsiCo. 

Senate confirms Natalie Wight as the Oregon U.S. attorney

Natalie Wight

The U.S. Senate confirmed Natalie Wight as Oregon’s U.S. attorney on Sept. 8—formally making her the top federal law enforcement official in the state.

The longtime federal prosecutor has

served as the court-appointed U.S. attorney since June after being nominated by President Joe Biden, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.

Wight graduated from Cleveland High School in Portland. She is the first Black person and the second Asian American person to serve as the district’s U.S. attorney.

Wight graduated from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 2003. She worked as a lawyer for the Federal Bureau of Prisons before becoming a federal prosecutor in California.

In 2012, Wight became an assistant U.S. attorney in Oregon working on both civil and criminal prosecutions.

Wight was selected by the White House from three finalists. 

Okuno named director of Office of Education Ombuds

Gov. Jay Inslee announced on Sept. 6 the appointment of Erin Okuno as director of the Office of Education Ombuds (OEO).

Okuno will replace acting director Yordanos Gebreamlak.

The OEO is crucial to reducing the opportunity gap by supporting families, students, educators, and communities in underErin Okuno standing the public K-12 education system.

Prior to this appointment, Okuno was the executive director of Southeast Seattle Education Coalition since 2014.

“I’ve partnered with OEO staff in the past and I’m excited to join this exceptional team and learn alongside them to better serve communities of color and improve education for our most vulnerable students,” said Okuno.

She holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in public administration from Seattle University.

Her appointment goes into effect on Nov. 1. 

YOUR VOICE

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

SEPTEMBER 17 – SEPTEMBER 23, 2022

asianweekly northwest

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Tough and good humored at the top One on one with SBA's Jennifer Kim

By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Jennifer Kim

Nothing seems to bother Jennifer Kim. The first Asian American woman to lead the national network of 10 regional and 68 district offices of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) doesn’t think the

many interruptions and attentions she faces have anything to do with her identity.

In a recent interview with the Asian Weekly, she said perhaps one of the hardest parts about being in her position was that it was for the first time.

“Oftentimes, you’re the first person that looked like me to do something,” said Kim, whose official title is associate administrator for the Office of Field Operations. “And I think that brings with it some responsibility, but also you have to figure some things out on your own. And you don’t necessarily have a mentor that’s been there before.”

Kim continued, “For a long time this was male dominated, not even talking about the Asian American aspect. In a senior position, you often have to stick up for yourself.”

So, when asked how she dealt with patronizing behavior, she said she didn’t ignore it, but gave the person the benefit of the doubt.

“You know, be creative. My general outlook is to assume the best intentions always for people, and I just focus on what it is that I am trying to do and what it is I am trying to advocate for—and what is the best way to go about that,” she said.

What happened next, however, seemed at the time to almost test her mode of handling such behavior.

Near the end of the interview, someone interrupted what was clearly a media engagement and began talking with her about personal things. Next, when she was asked to pose for a headshot, a flurry of people intervened. One told her to push her hair behind her ears because she looked better that way.

A photographer, though hearing a headshot was

requested, positioned her down a walkway so that her full body appeared, in a skirt, and cajoled and coaxed her with phrases such as, “Come on, I’ve seen you smile better than that.”

But Kim, in a follow-up email said these were “good observations,” but “they did not fall in that category” of the kind of behavior she was talking about.

As an example, she said the photographer said those kinds of things to everyone.

Still, Kim’s openness to questions of all kinds—during the brief interview, she responded to queries that were personal, including about her family, her college thesis, the book, “1984,” Asian American identity, and other more professional ones—makes her personable, disarming, and resilient.

Her job is critical since the SBA distributed $390 billion worth of aid during the pandemic through the COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan program to nearly four million small businesses.

She was in town for a South Korea export fair, during which the federal government is joining with the Port of Seattle and private industry to offer further resources for local companies interested in exporting to that country.

Kim started advocacy work in college at the University of Michigan, where she focused on American History and wrote a thesis about the power of protest music to raise social consciousness. Focusing on musicians such as Woody Guthrie, Charles Mingus, and Bob Dylan, she explored how their music helped integrate American society. see KIM on 12

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asianweekly northwest

SEPTEMBER 17 – SEPTEMBER 23, 2022

40 YEARS

■ WORLD NEWS 24 more Malaysians rescued from Cambodia human traffickers KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s foreign minister brought 24 Malaysians back from Cambodia who were rescued from human traffickers on Sept. 9, out of a total Saifuddin Abdullah of 148 citizens he said have been reported missing in the country.

Saifuddin Abdullah said 65 of the 148 missing Malaysians were rescued and brought home earlier, and 29 others are still at immigration centers in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville and will be sent home when their paperwork and investigations

are completed. Another 30 remain missing, officials said..

The Malaysians, mostly young people, were lured by fake offers of high-paid work in Cambodia and ended up in the hands of human traffickers and were trapped there, he said.

Saifuddin didn’t provide details on how the 24 people who returned were tricked into going to Cambodia or how long they were trapped. The victims, who appeared at a news conference with Saifuddin, were mostly masked and didn’t speak to reporters.

Saifuddin said such job scams are not unique to Cambodia and have been reported

in other places, including South Africa.

About 500 Malaysian companies operate in Cambodia, and 5,000 Malaysians work or do business safely there, he said.

“What is most important is that they are coming back to Malaysia today safe and sound. We do not want to go into the details,” Saifuddin said. “There is no guarantee we can stop it (job scams) but we will try our level best.”

Last month, Taiwan’s government also said 333 of its citizens were stuck in Cambodia after being lured by crime groups promising high wages for tech jobs.

Cambodia’s government said it would launch a nationwide check of all foreigners,

especially those residing or working at hotels, rented properties or casinos, to search for victims of human traffickers.

Cambodian deputy National Police chief Gen. Chhay Sinarith has said authorities in recent years have uncovered numerous illegal online schemes luring workers, and have arrested hundreds of people from mainland China and Taiwan for involvement. Scammers, mainly from China, have used Cambodia as a base for extorting money, Chhay Sinarith said.

The U.N. special rapporteur on Human Rights in Cambodia, Vitit Muntarbhorn, see HUMAN TRAFFICKING on 14

Chinese man trapped aloft in hydrogen balloon for 2 days

Half of Japan governing lawmakers tied to Unification Church

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese state media say a man has been found safe after he spent two days aloft in a hydrogen balloon, traveling about 200 miles, after it became untethered and flew away while he was using it to harvest pine nuts from a tree.

The man, identified only by his surname, Hu, and a partner were collecting pine nuts on Sept. 4 in a forest park in Heilongjiang province in northeastern China when they lost control and the balloon sailed off.

The other person jumped to the ground, and a search was launched for the escaped balloon and Hu. State broadcaster CCTV said rescuers were able to contact the man by cellphone the following morning and instructed him to slowly deflate the balloon to land safely.

It took another day before he reached the

By MARI YAMAGUCHI ASSOCIATED PRESS

ground about 200 miles to the northeast in Fangzheng region, close to the border with Russia.

Hu was in good health, apart from a pain in his lower back, possibly from standing the entire time he was in the air, CCTV said.

An official who gave only his surname, Fu, at the publicity department of the Hailin Forestry Administration Co. confirmed the balloon incident and described Hu as being in his 40s. He said Hu was recovering in a hospital but declined to give further details.

Pine nuts are found inside pine cones and are a frequent ingredient in dishes served in the northeast, formerly known as Manchuria. 

Another US congressional delegation in Taiwan amid tensions TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Another U.S. congressional delegation is visiting Taiwan as tensions with China remain high over its claims to the self-governed island.

A steady stream of U.S. visitors has come to meet with Taiwanese officials since U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited in early August. China in response has stepped up its military harassment of Taiwan, sending warships, warplanes and drones toward the island daily.

Led by Florida Democrat Stephanie Murphy, the delegation met on Sept. 8 with

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, whose administration China has relentlessly sought to deprive of diplomatic recognition and participation in international organizations.

Referring to China’s military threats, Tsai said the delegation’s visit “conveys rock solid support for Taiwan from the U.S. Congress.”

“Taiwan will not bow to pressure or coercion,” Tsai said. “We will defend our democratic institutions and way of life. see TAIWAN on 13

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s governing party said on Sept.

8 that an internal survey found that nearly half of its national lawmakers had ties to the Unification Former Prime Minister Church, in a widShinzo Abe ening controversy that emerged after the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Abe was shot to death during a campaign speech in the western city of Nara in July. The suspect, Tetsuya Yamagami, reportedly told police he killed Abe because of his apparent link to the Unification Church. A letter and social media postings attributed to him said large donations by his mother to the church bankrupted his family and ruined his life.

That led to revelations of widespread ties between the governing Liberal Democratic Party and the South Koreabased church, which experts say urges Japanese followers to make large donations to make amends for their ancestral sins,

including Japan’s past colonialization of the Korean Peninsula.

LDP Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi said in the survey, 179 of the 379 party parliamentarians reported links to the church and related organizations.

The relationships ranged from attending church events to accepting donations and receiving election support. However, Motegi denied there were any ties between the conservative governing party as an organization and the church.

“I take the results of the party survey seriously,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters. “In the future, the party will sever ties to organizations with known social problems and make it a party policy, so we won’t invite suspicion from the public.”

The Unification Church has been accused of inappropriate recruitment and business tactics and of pressuring adherents to make large donations, which the church denies.

Ninety-six of the LDP lawmakers reported attending events organized by the church or its affiliates, while 20 said they had made speeches. Nearly 50 said they paid money at events, while 29 accepted donations. Abe’s younger brother, former Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, and see JAPAN on 14

YOUR VOICE

■ HEALTH

SEPTEMBER 17 – SEPTEMBER 23, 2022

asianweekly northwest

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Back-to-School checklists should include COVID vaccinations

By the We Can Do This COVID-19 Public Education Campaign The new school year is here. In addition to buying pencils and notebooks and putting school clothes in order, getting kids vaccinated against COVID-19 is an essential step for getting back into the classroom. All children 6 months and older are eligible for COVID vaccines, and children ages 5 and older who have already been vaccinated are eligible for a booster for continued protection.

As of Aug. 25, CDC data showed that roughly 30% of children ages 5 through 11 are fully vaccinated, and among them only 4% have received their first booster dose.

To increase vaccine and booster uptake across the country, the We Can Do This COVID-19 Public Education Campaign continues to engage community-based organizations as partners.

“Getting children vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 is an important step in protecting their health and safety in and outside of school while also providing safe measures to other loved ones, especially for Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) families living in multigenerational homes,” said Jeffrey Caballero, MPH, executive director of the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO).

AAPCHO provides education to members and partners through their Community Health Worker (CHW) Workforce Collaborative. Led by Federally

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ones children spend time with.

• Help avoid interruptions to in-person learning. Asymptomatic, vaccinated close contacts may not need to quarantine at home following an exposure to someone with COVID. Getting vaccinated helps students and staff remain safely in school.

• Help prevent extracurriculars, sports, and other activities from getting canceled. Activities like sports, band, and chorus can be safer and more likely to continue uninterrupted if all participants are up to date with COVID vaccines.

• Allow children to keep doing the things they love. Getting vaccinated can keep children from missing out on the fun of childhood—like sleepovers, birthday parties, sporting events and more.

Qualified Health Centers and communitybased organizations, CHW is an initiative aimed at expanding COVID-19 vaccine outreach and driving education initiatives that serve vulnerable AANHPI communities, providing services from health education to interpretation and referrals.

“For families looking to provide vaccines and boosters to their children as they get back to school, but face barriers when it comes to language, or access to proper resources and information, it’s important that we do our best to serve those in the community,” said Caballero.

Parents should know getting their children vaccinated will: • Protect their child. Getting vaccinated can help prevent serious illness and keep children learning in-person for the entire school year. COVID vaccines were developed with safety as a top priority, and side effects are generally mild, if they occur at all.

• Protect the whole family, including vulnerable members of the household.

Getting vaccinated protects children, relatives, and other care providers in the household, as well as other friends and loved

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As children get back to the classroom, they may be exposed to COVID more often. Parents can consider providing their child a comfortable, well-fitting mask to wear for additional protection. Parents should also keep kids home and get them tested if they have symptoms of COVID or have been exposed to someone who tested positive.

Vaccines are available at no cost to everyone aged 6 months or older living in the United States, no matter their immigration or health insurance status.  For more information and to find a vaccine, visit vaccines.gov.

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asianweekly northwest

SEPTEMBER 17 – SEPTEMBER 23, 2022

40 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR 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 p.m. wingluke.org/we-are-changingthe-tide

SEP 15

BETTY LAU AND BRIEN CHOW, TRANSIT ALTERNATIVES TO SAVE THE CID 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

For zoom link, contact rotaryofseattleid@gmail.com

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23 & 24

AAPI HOMETOWN HEROES CELEBRATION Terry’s Kitchen, 5625 119th Ave. S.E., Bellevue 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

Registration at cacaseattle.org

TALK IT UP! INSPIRING ASIAN AMERICANS Theatre Off Jackson, 409 7th Ave S, Seattle 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: click4tix.com/TalkItUp

WING LUKE MUSEUM HOUSE PARTY 2022 Wing Luke Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle 7-11 p.m. wingluke.org/houseparty

21 SEPTEMBER APDC MEETING 8:30-10 a.m.

Via Zoom Register for Zoom link at https://bit.ly/3U4gMOL

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CAMBODIAN CULTURE maxglobalexp.org

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9 A FAMILY-FRIENDLY 5K/10K, “ALASKA AIRLINES DAWG DASH,” SUPPORTS UWAA’S GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND Through UW’s Iconic Seattle Campus 9 a.m.

Register at washington.edu/alumni/ dawgdash

JIMMY O. YANG COMEDY SHOW Moore Theatre, 1932 2nd Ave., Seattle 7 p.m.

Tickets at https://bit.ly/3Kqr6Mw

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OCT 3-9

JOIN US IN CAMBODIA TO EXPERIENCE A WEEK-LONG JOURNEY TO THE UNIQUE

CISC’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY FRIENDSHIP GALA The Westin Bellevue, 600 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue 5:30 p.m. cisc-seattle.ejoinme. org/50thGala

WASHIN KAI PRESENTS, “WHAT IS HAIKU?” UW, Kane Hall 210 7-8:30 p.m.

Register at events.uw.edu/WhatisHaiku

24 PEACETREES VIETNAM’S 27TH ANNIVERSARY VIRTUAL CELEBRATION 6-7 p.m.

Register at peacetreesvietnam.org

29 WALK FOR RECONCILIATION AGAINST RACISM Union Station Tacoma 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

RSVP at info@crpftacoma.org

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids/proposals will be received by the King County Procurement and Payables Section through the County’s E-Procurement Supplier Portal system for the following listed contract opportunities.

E-Procurement Resources on how to submit a bid/proposal electronically, view any current bid opportunities, express interest, communicate with the Contract Specialist via Message app, successfully submit a bid/proposal, and more are provided on the County’s website: https://

kingcounty.gov/procurement/registration.

King County encourages minority business enterprise participation. King County does not discriminate based on disability in its programs, services, and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

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View the solution on page 14

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SEPTEMBER 17 – SEPTEMBER 23, 2022

YOUR VOICE

asianweekly northwest

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT South Korean celebration of ‘Squid Game’ Emmy wins subdued

By KIM TONG-HYUNG- and HYUNG-JIN KIM SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Koreans shared congratulations on social media for the multiple wins by “Squid Game” at the Emmy Awards, but the overall reaction was subdued as the country grows accustomed to its increasingly prominent role in global entertainment.

From K-pop sensations BTS and BLACKPINK to the movie “Parasite” that won four Oscars, South Korean pop culture is now a global phenomenon. While it was big news that “Squid Game” became the first South Korean drama to win an Emmy, many South Koreans weren’t as surprised by such triumphs as in the past.

South Korean social media were flooded with messages after the star of the Netflix drama, Lee Jung-jae, won the award for best male actor in a drama series, and its creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, the award for best drama director on Sept. 12. Both were the first Asians to win in those categories.

Lee Jung-jae, winner of the Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a drama series for "Squid Game," left, and Hwang Donghyuk, winner of the Emmy for outstanding directing for a drama series for "Squid Game," pose in the press room at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

President Yoon Suk Yeol congratulated Lee and Hwang, saying the entire nation was

celebrating their accomplishments in a show that resonated with viewers around the world.

“(We) hope that (you) will continue to be active with your work and appear in good works

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that move hearts around the world,” Yoon said in a message to Lee he shared on Facebook.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon wrote on Facebook that he was proud that South Korean artists are producing work that is “enthusiastically celebrated and emphasized by the whole world.”

Ordinary citizens also wrote congratulatory messages on social media. But some messages were critical of the drama, and the level of elation was much lower than when Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite” became the first nonEnglish-language film to win best picture at the Academy Awards in 2020 and won three other Oscars.

The president at the time, Moon Jae-in, and his advisers began a regular meeting by clapping to celebrate the Oscars, and South Korean media extensively played up the news.

Several hours after the Emmy wins by “Squid Game,” the news was still on the front pages of the internet editions of major South Korean media outlets, but not at see SQUID GAME on 14

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asianweekly northwest

■ PICTORIAL

40 YEARS

SEPTEMBER 17 – SEPTEMBER 23, 2022

C-ID night market CIDBIA held Seattle’s original and most popular Night Market on Saturday, September 10th to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival with live entertainment, music, dance, food, and more.

Photos by Assunta Ng

A man performed tricks   The entrance was decorated with a festive arch of balloons





Dancing was a popular program for young girls at Hing Hay Park  Fun toys for kids and adults

 Samar Cosmetics and perfume vendors. (Partners Na-Moya Lawrence and Debbin Lin)

 Seafood takeout food from Crawfish King

 Exquisite Knots showcases its crafts with knotting plants

SEPTEMBER 17 – SEPTEMBER 23, 2022

YOUR VOICE

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

asianweekly northwest

9

“Talk It Up!” talks and performs Asian positivity

By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY “Talk It Up! Inspiring Asian Americans,” a live talk show, running September 23-24 at the Theatre Off Jackson, features, amongst other attractions, dramatic performers, musicians, comedy, dance troupes, and an Elvis impersonator. But the festive surface does conceal some more serious issues.

Kathy Hsieh, who organized the event through SIS productions, said the show came about largely because “so much of the news media coverage throughout the pandemic created a surge of anti-Asian hate and prejudice.

Sometimes the most powerful way to combat hate and prejudice is for people to see who they perceive as ‘the other’ as human beings. Stories and art are the expression of who we are as human beings, so what better way to share our humanity as Asian Americans, than to share about who we are through the arts.”

Hsieh, a Seattle-based actor, writer, and director, had the original idea for the show, and reached out to the artists. The talk-show format means that some of the acts will chat with the audience, some will perform, and some will play games with audience members for prizes.

“The prizes we have are like what people might find in the talkshow format,” elaborated Hsieh.

“We have gift certificates or merchandise from different Asian American businesses, plus other gifts like food or chocolate.

“So we do encourage people to think of this event like a talk show, but Asian American style, as opposed to a game show which feels like a more competitive format.

One game will be Breaking the Asian Model Minority Myth, where we’ll invite several people from the audience to share a story of how they do not fit the model minority myth and just for participating they’ll get a prize. We’ll be doing some Asian American trivia.”

The lineup

The “Talk It Up!” talents were selected based on having a mix of people who have truly inspirational stories or work to share. They include TV and film star Amy Hill. Also Raymond Sismaet, who had a near-death experience with COVID back in March 2020, before many people in this country even knew much about the virus will demonstrate his virtuoso ukulele talent.

Justin Huertas writes and performs music—he’s fresh off his first musical, “Lizard Boy.” The Model Minority Moms have great tips for mothers trying to juggle see A&E on 13

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asianweekly northwest

40 YEARS

SEPTEMBER 17 – SEPTEMBER 23, 2022

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

What kind of fats are good for you?

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Last Sunday, my friend treated us and his family to dinner at a waterfront restaurant. A bread basket and a plate of thick, triangular butter were placed next to one another on our table.

I thought, “WOW, Butter,” and my mouth was salivating.

There’s something magical about fresh bread with butter. It was irresistible. I hadn’t eaten butter for a few months, and I didn’t realize how much I missed it, so much so that I put a piece of thick butter on the dough without spreading it.

This year, I have intentionally eliminated butter from our kitchen as it is really unhealthy to eat daily. It has too many calories. And if you consume it regularly, it will line your arterial wall and increase your risk of heart disease.

Butter, a natural fat from milk, is better than the hydro-generated vegetable oils such as corn and granola oil, meaning transformed and processed to become solid at room temperature, as I wrote in a 2020 blog.

There are many choices for you to replace butter with healthy oils at home. What are mine?

We eat healthy fats to maintain a healthy brain, as 60% of our brain is made up of fat. This is a record-breaking year for us to buy six kinds of fat for cooking, devouring, and cosmetics use.

Cosmetics, you ask? I will explain later.

Almond vs. peanut butter

When we were little, my mother used peanut oil. She didn’t know any better. Nor did I. Following my mother, I used peanut oil to cook 40 years ago.

However, study after study found that peanut oil is not as healthy as my current choices. A few months ago, I even dumped my remaining peanut butter into the garbage can.

Although we have no peanut butter allergies, many people do, especially kids. I reexamine my habit of scooping peanut butter

into my mouth once a while.

Since the pandemic, I have reexamined every single one of my habits.

I picked up “peanut” controversies and studied them. Peanuts are not actually nuts, they are legumes. Their shells easily absorb pesticides, according to Dr. Eric Berg on Youtube. A fungal toxin can grow easily on peanuts, he said.

The problem is, how do we know if the peanuts we eat from the jar are free of toxins?

Dr. Steve Gundry, author of Longevity Paradox, said peanuts consist of lectins, which is a form of toxins. If you want to eat peanuts, use a pressure cooker to kill the lectins, Gundry said.

What is a good substitute for peanut butter? My friend suggested almond butter. It is rich in protein, fiber, and other sources of nutrients. It aids in the digestive process, and contains antioxidants, and healthy cholesterol. You don’t need to worry about weight gain with this fat as it is connected with greater satiety and thus, reduces our urge for excessive eating.

However, for those who need to put on weight, you can count on almond butter. It helped my friend’s husband gain back his weight after a stroke. Almond fat is just amazing.

It’s not that I am unaware of the benefits of almond butter. A decade ago, I did try it. But the taste was so weird, I was never able to finish my jar. Lately, I decided to give it another try.

Surprise! Its taste has improved, and now, both my husband and I love it. So I restarted my “scooping” habit with almond

butter, instead of peanut butter, to satisfy my palate.

Sesame seed oil

A few months ago, I accidentally bought a bottle of sesame oil. It’s cheap compared to olive oil. Some studies found it can burn fat. It is full of antioxidants and high in omega fats. That’s not the reason I bought it. When I haven’t eaten something in a while, I start to crave it. Only this time, I have discovered how much I love

the scent of sesame oil. It is refreshing! Just put two drops in your palm, and smell. Since it smells so nourishing, I decided to rub it on my hands and face.

Sesame oil is better than my hand lotion and it’s so much cheaper. It absorbs quickly. I use it as a massage oil on my face, and it smooths out gently. What a discovery! I now massage my face once a week with this plantbased oil, instead of a commercial cream full of chemicals.

Recently, I dip my seafood in sesame oil. My boiled prawns taste yummy, eliminating the need to add soy.

Olive oil

But the better way is to eat more avocados. We are lucky that we love avocados and can never get tired of them. We mix avocados with salads three times a week.

This oil is great for hair and eyes, in addition to its anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also high in potassium. We use avocado oil to cook our eggs in the morning, and also meat and vegetables.

Coconut oil

When my mother had Alzheimer’s, friends recommended that I feed her with two spoonfuls of coconut oil with breakfast. By the time I got the advice, it was a little too late. If it is good for Alzheimer‘s patients, it would also

hair greasy. My husband eats coconut oil every morning with his breakfast. He can afford all the calories, as he needs to put on weight.

So pick the kind of fats which can complement your diet and strengthen your health. What oils agree with your taste buds?

Which oils fit your budget?

You are the boss. Research the different kinds of oil. It’s always fun to experiment on food, especially when you can discover your favorite food.  Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

In my home, I have two kinds of olive oil. One is light olive oil for cooking as extra virgin is not suitable for high-heat cooking. However, extra virgin is delicious for bread, eggs, and bananas. Someone said if you put extra virgin on sweet potatoes, they taste like French fries. Yet, it will be much healthier.

The benefits of extra virgin olive oil are numerous. It has anti-inflammatory properties, it lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, and lowers diabetes risk. It could be a longevity factor for many Europeans who are superagers in their 90s and over 100.

To consume more olive oil, I prepare my vegetables by boiling them first with bone broth and then pouring extra virgin on top after it’s cooked.

Avocados

We also cook with avocado oil.

apply to dementia patients. The fat from coconut oil can reverse memory loss, according to the National Library of Medicine, among Alzheimer’s patients.

I don’t use coconut oil as I didn’t like the fact that it had increased my bad cholesterol after a year. Coconut oil can also improve hair shine and skin.

But I don’t like it on my skin as it tends to make it oily and my

SEPTEMBER 17 – SEPTEMBER 23, 2022

YOUR VOICE

asianweekly northwest

■ WORLD NEWS Okinawa reelects governor opposing heavy US troop presence

By MARI YAMAGUCHI ASSOCIATED PRESS

Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki

TOKYO (AP) — Okinawa’s incumbent governor who opposes an ongoing U.S. Marine base relocation forced by Japan’s central government and calls for a further reduction of American troops on the southern island secured his reelection on Sept.

11 despite concerns of escalating tensions between China and nearby Taiwan.

Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki

and his supporters declared his victory and celebrated with the chants of “banzai” soon after the exit poll results showed he beat two contenders—Atsushi Sakima, backed by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s governing bloc and supports its base relocation plan, and another opposition-backed candidate Mikio Shimoji.

Tamaki, who is backed by opposition parties, won 339,767 votes, or about 51% of the effective votes, over Sakima’s 274,844 votes and Shimoji’s 53,677, according to the final results released by the Okinawa prefecture.

Tamaki’s victory could deepen tensions between Okinawa and the central government.

The plan to move the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from a crowded neighborhood to a less populated area on the island has already been delayed for years.

11

Okinawans call it a new construction rather than a relocation and want the Futenma base closed and removed from the island.

“My commitment to resolve the U.S. military base problem for the future of Okinawa has never been shaken,” Tamaki said. He said he will continue his endeavor to convey Okinawan’s will to the central government.

During the campaign, Tamaki also vowed to do more to improve Okinawa’s economy. Tourism on the semi-tropical island known for its corals, marine life and unique culture was badly hurt by the coronavirus pandemic.

Resentment and frustration run deep in Okinawa because of the heavy U.S. presence and Tokyo’s lack of efforts to see OKINAWA on 13

India and China clear Activists blast needle-free COVID-19 holiday for Philippine dictator’s vaccines birthday

By ANIRUDDHA GHOSAL ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW DELHI (AP) — India and China have cleared a new approach in COVID-19 vaccination—two needle-free options, one a squirt in the nose and the other inhaled through the mouth.

Regulators in India authorized Bharat Biotech’s nasal version on Sept. 6 as an option for people who haven’t yet been vaccinated.

“This step will further strengthen our collective fight against the pandemic,” Indian health minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Twitter.

It’s not clear how well the nasal version works. Bharat didn’t immediately release results of its studies or say how soon the new option will roll out.

CanSino Biologics announced on Sept.

4 that Chinese regulators have approved an inhaled version of the company's injected COVID-19 vaccine to be used as a booster dose. The company pointed to preliminary results of studies suggesting the inhaled version revved up immune protection after one puff. It's not clear if that translated to improved effectiveness, or how soon the inhaled booster will be available.

COVID-19 vaccines today are shots, and they’ve saved millions of lives and continue to offer strong protection against severe illness and death, even as more contagious variants of the coronavirus circulate.

But shot-free versions are being explored as a strategy to improve protection against infection, with particular interest in nasal vaccines designed to fend off the virus right where it enters the body. Nearly a dozen possible candidates are in various stages of testing globally, and CanSino’s is one of two inhaled vaccine candidates being developed, according to the World Health Organization.

India’s nasal vaccine was developed by scientists at Washington University in St. Louis and later licensed to Indian vaccine maker Bharat Biotech. The company conducted two trials, giving two doses of the vaccine to 3,100 previously unvaccinated volunteers and as a booster to around 875 volunteers who had received two shots of other COVID-19 vaccines.

Bharat also is seeking clearance for the nasal spray to be used as a booster for the two-thirds of people in India who’ve already been vaccinated.

Bharat’s nasal spray uses a harmless chimpanzee cold virus to deliver a copy of the coronavirus spike protein to the lining of the nose, training the body to react if it encounters the real virus.

CanSino’s inhaled booster uses a similar harmless human cold virus—it’s the company’s one-dose injected vaccine turned into an aerosolized form. The inhaled vaccine was largely tested as a booster for people who had received another Chinese company's COVID-19 shots.

Ashley St. John, who is an immunologist at the Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore, said scientists are pursuing nasal and inhaled COVID-19 vaccine options because the immune system has specialized tools to protect different sites in our body in slightly different ways.

“The advantage with nasal vaccines is that it may get rid of the virus before it has a chance to establish itself in the lungs and replicate,” said Dr. Vineeta Bal, an immunologist and professor at the Indian Institute of Science Education Research in Pune city.

The advantages that vaccines sprayed through the mouth have will depend on the size of individual droplets in the spray, Bal added. Large droplets would train defenses in the mouth and parts of the throat, while smaller droplets are expected to travel deeper and reach the lungs.

It also may be easier to administer a squirt in the nose than a shot, especially in low-income countries, said Dr. Michael Diamond of Washington University in St. Louis, who helped create the vaccine licensed to Bharat.

In October 2021, Russia’s Health Ministry allowed early trials of a nasal form of Sputnik V among 500 volunteers, but the status of those trials and the availability of the vaccine remains unclear.

Vaccination rates in India have dipped in the past months with detected cases plateauing. Around 940 million people, or 67% of the population, have received the first two shots, but only 15% of them have received a third booster shot. 

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Human rights activists in the Philippines rejected President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s move on Sept. 10 to proclaim the birthday of his late father, an ousted dictator, a special holiday in their northern home province.

Marcos Jr., who took office in June after a landslide election victory, authorized the declaration of the non-working public holiday in Ilocos Norte province on Setp.

12 for celebrations marking the 105th birth anniversary of his namesake father.

The dictator was ousted in an armybacked pro-democracy revolt in 1986.

“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the province of Ilocos Norte be given the full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” said the presidential proclamation, which was signed by Marcos Jr.’s executive secretary and posted on Facebook.

Marcos Jr.’s predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, had also authorized the late president’s birthday to be observed as a holiday in Ilocos Norte. But rights activists have been especially alarmed by moves of the new president they suspect are meant to whitewash the image of his father and the Marcos family.

Satur Ocampo, who was arrested as a suspected communist insurgent in the 1970s and tortured under the Marcos dictatorship, criticized in an online news conference Marcos Jr.’s move to glorify his father “when the victims of the dictatorship have not even attained justice despite our campaign, plundered wealth has not been returned and there isn’t even a hint of apology up to now.’’

“We will not allow them to get away with this,’’ he said.

Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana, a former Commission on Human Rights official, said Marcos Jr.’s holiday proclamation was “another step to revise history.’’

Her late father, an opposition politician, was imprisoned after Marcos placed the Philippines under martial law in 1972.

Rights activists announced during the news conference a series of protests on Sept. 21 to mark the 50th anniversary of Marcos’s martial law declaration.

Filipino historian Francis Gealogo said Marcos Jr.’s holiday declaration was in stark contrast to steps taken by other countries to use historical sites associated with dictators as a warning against tyrannical rule. He cited a stone marker outside Adolf Hitler’s birthplace in Austria that promotes democracy, condemns fascism and pays homage to the massive number of his victims.

“What is being celebrated here?”

Gealogo asked. “This is like spitting on history and the memory of the people who had been victimized’’ by the dictatorship.

There was no immediate comment from Marcos Jr. but his key officials have cited his May 9 electoral victory as a reflection of the Filipino people’s trust and confidence in him despite the allegations against his father and his family, which Marcos Jr. had called “lies.’’

Critics say a well-funded social media campaign to burnish the image of the Marcoses has helped the family’s stunning political comeback.

The elder Marcos, his family and cronies were driven to U.S. exile after he was ousted by a 1986 “People Power’’ uprising.

He died in Hawaii in 1989 without admitting any wrongdoing amid allegations of plunder and human rights atrocities. A Hawaii court later found him liable for massive human rights violations and awarded $2 billion from his estate to compensate more than 9,000 Filipinos who filed a lawsuit against him for torture, incarceration, extrajudicial killings and disappearances. 

12

asianweekly northwest

SEPTEMBER 17 – SEPTEMBER 23, 2022

40 YEARS people not only flourish with their personal development, but also their skills, abilities, and even winning tournaments.”

However, despite their best efforts, it became clear that the club wouldn’t make it by November. Chon knew he might be close to throwing in the towel.

KUNG FU from 1 “I wanted to do anything to help keep the business afloat,” said Smith. “It became a question of, ‘How many people can I get through the door as soon as possible?’”

The club

Asking for community help

Photo provided by Jeffrey Chon

Chon, a South Seattle native, got into a lot of trouble growing up. But he credits martial arts with saving and shaping who he was as a young man.

“Fighting taught me to stand on my own,” said Chon. “I learned that I could do hard things and be trusted to do hard things.”

Named after his Chinese name, JunHong, Chon opened his namesake business in 2009.

Originally situated in Beacon Hill, JunHong’s currently calls Seward Park its home. The club offers many martial arts disciplines including Chinese kickboxing, tai chi, and wushu, and currently serves around 40 kids and 20 teens and adults across their programs.

The club’s affordability is a huge appeal to new students.

Keeping classes accessible, said Chon, is central to his club’s mission.

JunHong’s school programs are about a third of the cost—$100 a month—of other similar programming in the area.

Just as important is creating a haven where students from all backgrounds and sexualities can be themselves and feel

Master Jeffrey Chon, left, with students

empowered to learn and grow in his space.

“I get a lot of negative feedback from other teachers and masters for how I run my business,” said Chon.

“But I don’t focus on finances.

Community comes first—kids growing first, and safety first.

This is a safe space to occupy,

and I always put that first before making money.”

Smith has also seen how this mindset has positively impacted students.

“What really made students soar and excel was when we invested in the community,” said Smith.

“That’s when we really saw

But he wouldn’t go down without a fight.

Chon’s partner, Nicole DeFuria, launched a GoFundMe campaign on Aug. 24 to spread the word and ask for donations. A donation goal of $8,000 was set to address the back rent that Chon owed.

Although DeFuria and Chon both shared the campaign online, Chon didn’t expect much response. But his community came through quickly. Within days, they met their first campaign goal.

Moved and encouraged by the response, DeFuria set a second goal of an additional $3,000 to go towards their September rent and to support the club’s staff.

Again, donations flowed in, and they quickly met their extra goal.

As of this writing, their campaign currently has $14,340—more than $3,000 over their original total goal.

The campaign brought an outpouring of love and support from his community both near and far.

Some of the donors were

KIM from 3 “Maybe you’re not a political person, maybe you’re not paying attention to the news, but you like a certain kind of music, and maybe you don’t even know what the musician looks like, but you hear it, and you kind of figure out like, oh, this is a musician of a different race, and that opens your eyes to something, or it means you go to a concert with people that don’t look like you,” she said.

She also referred to a history of Black musicians traveling in the South and refusing to perform at concerts that were not integrated.

“So there’s a whole intersection of music and particularly the civil rights movement,” she said.

During her college years, Kim was president of the Asian American association and led many student initiatives for issues such as environmental justice, affordable higher education, and voter registration.

“There was a lot of organizing around affirmative action policies,” she said. “And working with other groups.”

But the origins of her advocacy go back further.

Kim herself plays a number of instruments, including the violin and the guitar.

And her early experiences, when she attended her mother’s Korean language, culture, and history school for eight years, in addition to mainstream schooling, shaped her.

Her mother, who had immigrated from Korea in the 1970s to go to graduate school, became a professor of education at a number of schools in the Midwest. As Kim was growing up, she was pressed into service to help at the school her mother founded on the side.

“You should have seen how many packets of materials I collated,” she said.

Her father, who was a psychiatrist, also provided role modeling of advocacy.

“This was decades ago, and he had to not only practice psychiatry but advocate for it,” she said.

After college, she continued to organize and advocate, eventually helping to oversee the field organizing programs for the campaigns of U.S. Senator Cory Booker and President Joe Biden.

As the first Asian American woman in her position, she also feels it is essential to set an imprimatur on public service for new immigrants.

“Seeing people in elected office that look like you, the message is, you can do that, too,” she said. “When you

“Maybe you’re not a political person,

maybe you’re not paying attention to

the news, but you like a certain kind of music, and maybe you don’t even know

what the musician looks like, but you hear it, and you kind of figure out like,

oh, this is a musician of a different race,

and that opens your eyes to something, or it means you go to a concert with people that don’t look like you.”

– Jennifer Kim

don’t see yourself represented in an institution, you think it’s not for you. You think either they can’t do anything for you, or your voices don’t matter to it.”

At the same time, it is important not to let the monolithic bloc definition of being an Asian American obscure the singularities of one’s own culture.

“Being an Asian American is a powerful thing, but the important thing to realize is that Asian Americans are diverse in and of themselves, we are not a monolith. There may be some commonalities in the way we experience America and the way people perceive us. However, there is a lot of cultural diversity within the community,” she said.

Nor is it important to neglect the power that cohesion brings.

“Asian Americans are one of the fastest growing ethnic groups (THE fastest group in the last decade), and we would not have the political power we have today without coming together,” she wrote.

Kim was not averse to spending time talking about how the Asian American movement was born, both in academic protests, and on the fields of labor in California and other places, and how it became intertwined with the civil rights movement and Black power—a topic fairly widely known in this community.

previous students who trained under Chon, but who have since moved away yet continue to promote his school. Other donors included people on the USA team—of which Chon serves as coach—who donated and also shared the campaign online.

Rounding out the donations were Chon’s local community, comprised of club families and neighborhood allies.

“The community really came in clutch, and I’m so thankful and appreciative of that,” said Chon.

A second chance

With the financial burden lifted, Chon’s excited for what’s to come.

The club sent seven students to try out for the USA National team.

Each student made the team, and they’ll head to the Worlds competition next year. He’s also looking forward to updating the school’s facilities including new mats and a punching bag.

“I feel a lot of confidence,” said Chon about the positive response from his donation campaign.

“This whole experience has been really validating to me — that everyone believes in and supports this place and what we do.”  For more information, junhongkungfu.com.

visit

Vivian Nguyen can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

Among others, she mentioned a Japanese American civil rights activist, Yuri Kochiyama, a follower of Malcolm X, who was beside him when he was assassinated.

Even though the interview was barely 30 minutes, and more than half of it took place in a crowded lobby with throngs of people talking and cavorting nearby, her leadership style seemed at times to show through.

When asked if she would take one more question when the time was almost up, she graciously agreed.

But then, the reporter stumbled for a few moments, trying to frame a question, and finally gave up, saying, “It’s the last question, would you think of any question you’d like to answer?”

In response, Kim sounded almost like a cajoling sister (she has a younger and an older brother).

“You’re the reporter, you think of a question,” she said good naturedly.

Finally, she suggested sending a follow-up email.

When asked, in the email, further questions about Asian American identity, she answered them, and then seemed to fall into mentoring mode again.

“Regarding the topic of Asian American history,” she wrote. “Not sure if you have a particular beat at the Northwest Asian Weekly, but I would recommend that someone in your line of work do some reading up on Asian American history. Helen Zia, Ronald Takaki, and Erika Lee all have good books.”  Mahlon can be contacted at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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SEPTEMBER 17 – SEPTEMBER 23, 2022

YOUR VOICE

■ ASTROLOGY

asianweekly northwest

13

Predictions and advice for the week of September 17–September 23, 2022

By Sun Lee Chang Dragon—To your credit, you have made the first step. However, it is crucial that you complete the necessary follow up.

Monkey—It’s taken a lot for you to reach this point.

The only place to go is onward and upward from here.

Ox—If you are trying to make significant progress, then assertiveness should push things along quicker.

Snake—Something that has long been dormant has awoken within you. Use this newfound insight to your benefit.

Rooster—Are you unsure of two very different paths to follow? Favor the one that is most likely to benefit you.

Tiger—You must decide between two conflicting priorities. It is advisable to choose the route of least regret.

Horse—The tide is finally turning your way and, assuming you are ready, should take you in the desired direction.

Dog—While excitement has its place, you would far prefer the solace of what you are familiar with.

Rabbit—Increase your chances of success by being proactive rather than waiting for something good to happen to you.

Goat—Something you meant to go back to is beckoning you now. There’s no time like the present to resolve loose ends.

Pig—Avoid making a rash move in the heat of the moment. Wait until things settle a bit before proceeding.

Rat—Before you dive into a new project, take the time to ensure you have what you need to finish it.

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.

see TAIWAN from 4 Taiwan will not back down.”

Murphy replied that Congress “should advocate for greater Taiwanese participation in international organizations.”

“Taiwan has shown itself to be a responsible member of the international community, especially in public health issues, and it deserves to participate in international fora when appropriate,” she said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China “strongly rejects and deplores” the congressional visit, saying it violates the U.S. commitment to the “oneChina policy” that forbids formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

“We will continue to take strong measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Mao said at a daily briefing.

Under the U.S. system of separation of powers, the executive branch of government has no legal right to prevent members of Congress from visiting Taiwan. China has repeatedly refused to recognize that principle.

Mao also cautioned Japan not to allow a Taiwanese government official to attend an official funeral for exPrime Minister Shinzo Abe. China strongly protested after Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te paid his respects at

OKINAWA from 11 negotiate with Washington over how to balance the burden of hosting U.S. troops between mainland Japan and the southern island group.

Okinawa, where one of the bloodiest battles in World War II was fought, was under American occupation until it returned to Japan’s control in 1972. Today, a majority of the 50,000 U.S. troops based in Japan under a bilateral security pact and 70% of U.S. military facilities are still in Okinawa, which accounts for only 0.6% of Japanese land.

Because of the U.S. bases, Okinawa struggled with noise, pollution, accidents and crime related to American troops, Tamaki said.

Japan’s government has in recent years shifted the nation’s defense posture to southwestern Japan, Okinawa and its remote islands and is pushing to significantly bolster Japan’s military

Ab’s Tokyo residence following his assassination in July.

“Japan should ... not provide the Taiwan independence force any platforms for political manipulation,” Mao said.

Throughout his political career, Abe was a strong supporter of Taiwan, a Japanese colony for 50 years until the end of World War II which maintains close political, economic and social ties with Japan.

Murphy, who was born in Ho Chi Minh City to Vietnamese parents, is among lawmakers who introduced a bill that would allow the U.S. to lend weapons to support Taiwan, similar to a bill that was passed to lend weapons to Ukraine. Last week, the Biden administration approved a $1 billion arms sale to Taiwan.

Murphy also said deepening economic relations with Taiwan was “one of the most important things Congress can do right now,” particularly by pushing for a “high-quality free trade agreement” between the sides. Negotiations are underway between the Biden and Tsai administrations on a trade pact.

The other American lawmakers visiting are Hawaii Democrat Kaiali’i Kahele and Republicans Scott Franklin of Florida, Joe Wilson of South Carolina, Andy Barr of Kentucky, Darrell Issa of California, Claudia Tenney of New York, and Kat Cammack of Florida.

Pelosi was the highest-level member of the U.S. government to visit Taiwan in 25 years. China responded

capability and budget over the next five to 10 years, citing growing threats from China, North Korea and Russia.

Many in Okinawa are worried about the growing deployment of Japanese missile defenses and amphibious capabilities on outer islands that are close to geopolitical hot spots like Taiwan, the self-ruled island that China claims as its own and has threatened to use force to annex it if necessary. Okinawan people fear that they will be the first to be embroiled in a conflict over Taiwan.

The Futenma base relocation plan was developed after the 1995 rape of a Okinawan schoolgirl, in which three U.S. servicemen were convicted. The case reignited local opposition to the U.S. bases. The relocation has been delayed for years due to Okinawa’s resistance as well as environmental and structural issues in the Henoko area, where the new base in supposed to be set up. 

by holding extended military exercises that included firing missiles over the island and sending ships across the midline of the Taiwan Strait, which was long a buffer between the two sides. Some of the missiles landed in Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

China sees high-level foreign visits to the island as interference in its affairs and de facto recognition of Taiwanese sovereignty. China’s recent military drills were seen by some as a rehearsal of future military action against the island, which U.S. military leaders say could come within the next few years.

In Beijing on Sept. 7, Mao said China’s opposition to defense cooperation between Washington and Taipei is “consistent and clear.”

“We will resolutely respond to acts that undermine China’s sovereignty and security and interfere in our internal affairs,” Mao told reporters at a daily briefing, without giving details.

Following Pelosi’s trip, a U.S. senator and another congressional delegation visited Taiwan, as well as officials from Japan and Palau. Governors from Arizona and Indiana made visits with a focus on semiconductors, an industry which Taiwanese companies dominate. 

A&E from 9 career, family and the weight of the Model Minority Myth. Dr. Anu Taranath offers life tips for anyone traveling to other countries. Writer/ performer/activist Susan Lieu, is best known for her theatrical solo show “140 Lbs: How Beauty Killed My Mother.”

Tony Colinares will strut and swivel through his Elvis tribute. Maritess Zurbano combines stage magic with hypnotism. Dare To Dance, a local organization, celebrates a wide diversity of people who want to dance. They also helped reach out to other dance ensembles, bringing in Eurasia Ensemble and the MMDC Dance Company.

Comedian Cindy Su starred recently in “Kiki Funny Mama's Night Out,” backed

by SIS Productions.

As for the venue, Hsieh explained, “The Theatre Off Jackson is a lovely theater space right in the heart of Seattle’s

Chinatown/International District. SIS Productions has often done projects to attract people to the CID, so that when they attend our event they might support some of the local businesses, and just be reminded that the neighborhood is here.”

Asked about future installments of the show, Hsieh mused that if the pandemic taught us anything, it should be to “live in the moment because anything can change.” But she won’t rule out future installments of the “Talk It Up” in-themoment blend.  “Talk It Up! Inspiring Asian Americans,” runs September 23-24 at the Theater Off Jackson. For showtimes, ticket prices, and other information, visit celebr8women.wordpress.com/events-2/ talk-it-up-inspiring-asian-americans.

Andrew can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

14

asianweekly northwest

SEPTEMBER 17 – SEPTEMBER 23, 2022

40 YEARS

CLASSIFIEDS

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former Economy and Industry Minister Koichi Hagiuda were among 17 who accepted church followers as election campaign volunteers.

Abe, a conservative nationalist who was one of Japan’s most influential politicians, recorded a video message last year for the Universal Peace Federation, a church-affiliated group, in which he praised federation co-founder Hak Ja Han Moon, who also heads the Unification Church, for her efforts in promoting tradition-

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al family values.

Opposition lawmakers criticized the survey for having excluded Abe because he is deceased. The survey also did not include LDP lawmakers in local assemblies, where church followers are also active in influencing policies, critics say.

The Unification Church was founded in South Korea in 1954 and came to Japan a decade later. It has built close ties with LDP lawmakers over shared interests in conservative causes, including opposing Communism. Abe’’s grandfather, former Prime Minis-

HUMAN TRAFFICKING from 4 said after a visit to Phnom Penh last month that people from various Asian countries have been lured into taking jobs in Cambodia but found themselves trapped in virtual slavery and often forced to participate in scams targeting people over the internet.

SQUID GAME from 7 the top, which was dominated by domestic politics.

“People are getting used to (major awards),” film critic Kim See-moo said. “Bong Joon-ho took home four Oscars for ‘Parasite,’ another one of our actors won an Oscar for ‘Minari’ and then Park Chan-wook won best director at Cannes (for ‘Decision to Leave’). South Koreans no longer think there are any entry barriers for these awards, and they think anyone has a shot at winning if they put in the hard work.”

Kim noted that South Koreans are less familiar with the Emmys than the Oscars, partly because Korean dramas previously didn’t have a large presence in the United States.

“South Korean TV dramas have been huge in Asia for years, especially in markets where people share similar emotional sentiments with South Koreans,” Kim said.

ter Nobusuke Kishi, helped found the church’s political unit in Tokyo in 1968.

Kishida, despite a Cabinet shuffle in August in which he purged seven ministers with acknowledged church links, including Kishi, ended up with more in his new Cabinet.

Support for Kishida’s government has tumbled in recent media surveys, apparently because of party members’ church links and plans for a rare state funeral for Abe. A family funeral for Abe was held in July at a Tokyo temple, but

Kishida wants to hold a state funeral on Sept. 27 at the Budokan martial arts arena with about 6,000 invited guests. The only other state funeral for a former prime minister in recent decades was for Shigeru Yoshida in 1967.

It was criticized as having been decided undemocratically and an inappropriate use of taxpayers’ money.

Critics say Kishida’s decision to hold a state funeral for Abe is an attempt to please lawmakers belonging to Abe’s former faction within the governing party to maintain party unity and but-

The scam networks, which often have links to transnational organized crime, are set up in countries with weak law enforcement, attracting educated young workers with promises of high earnings. The workers are then subject to isolation and the threat of violence unless they succeed in cheating victims reached by phone into transferring payments into overseas bank accounts.

“‘Squid Game’ became a broader global hit because it tackled the intense global issue that is inequality, but also took a refreshing approach by telling that story through a brutal and deadly competition of children’s games.”

“As a Korean, I’m very proud of (the drama),” Choi Hyun Sik, a 32-year-old office worker, told The Associated Press. “I once again came to realize how popular ‘Squid Game’ was.” ”(Lee) made an award speech in English but at the end he spoke in Korean and highlighted his fans and people in South Korea, so I was really touched by that,” said Jeong Ye-won, a 22-year-old university student.

Squid Game is a brutal survival drama about desperate adults competing in deadly children’s games for a chance to escape debt. In the drama, Lee stars as the show’s protagonist, Seong Gi-hun, a laid-off autoworker coping with a messy divorce and struggling with constant business failures and gambling problems. 

tress Kishida’s own grip on power. He has said Abe deserves a state funeral as the longest-serving post-World War II leader and for his diplomatic and economic achievements.

Kishida’s government initially put the funeral cost at 250 million yen ($1.7 million) but recently said it will require at least 1.4 billion yen ($9.7 million) more for security, transportation and hospitality for foreign dignitaries and other guests. Some say the cost could further increase. 

Vitit said human trafficking victims exist in a “living hell,” subject to torture and risking death if they try to escape from detention in their closely guarded workplaces. He said Cambodia needs to implement stronger countermeasures and receive deeper international cooperation and support. 

SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 6.

YOUR VOICE

SEPTEMBER 17 – SEPTEMBER 23, 2022

to help them to read letters and fill in forms in order to apply for welfare. Some did not even know they could have welfare.

Therefore, we printed flyers announcing 人 人服務社, and started in a small capacity, with only volunteers.”

“For CISC to serve the communities for 50 years is beyond my wildest expectations,” said Liana Fong, one of those first volunteers in 1972, who saluted the “deep dedication and vision” it has taken “to grow CISC to reach this significant milestone.” As Fong, who now lives in New York shared, a group of high school and college students recognized a need for an organization “rooted in the community.”

“At the start, I would counsel old uncles and aunties, and could understand 台山話, or even speak it a little,” Loo remembered.

“Over time, I was glad to be able to walk the streets in Chinatown, to greet everybody, and know their names.” He added, “It is a great joy to see that CISC can grow so big…the 50th anniversary is certainly a moment to be cherished, a triumph.”

Photo from CISC

CISC from 1

Early volunteers from University of Washington in 1970s

CISC Executive Director Michael Itti in CISC’s classroom in 2018

Mary Hsu

Mary Hsu, president of CISC’s Board of Directors for the past 22 years, described the “serve the people” mentality of the 1960s and 1970s. “When John Loo initiated among our student group the idea of forming a service organization in Seattle Chinatown, some of us immediately responded with enthusiasm and active involvement,” saidd Fong. At first, CISC’s focus was senior citizens. As their caseload grew, CISC adopted the holistic approach they use today.

“When a grandparent comes in and says, ‘I need access to Medicare. Help me understand my options so I can make an informed decision,’ we’ll have a conversation with them and then we’ll also ask questions to understand their family and their experiences,” explained Michael Itti, CISC’s executive director. “They might say…‘My grandchild is about to enter preschool,’ and we’ll say, ‘We have a preschool program at Yesler Community Center.”

CISC’s “no wrong door policy” has led them to be a trusted organization in King County. “Anybody that comes through our doors, we try to help them out,” said Itti. “If we know of a partner organization, we’ll make a referral…We don’t want to turn anybody away and say sorry, you came to the wrong place.”

CISC responds to community needs as it

happens. During the pandemic, seniors experienced debilitating solitude due to lockdowns. On the eastside, CISC formed a program for Russian, and now Ukrainian, seniors to gather. In partnership with the City of Bellevue and Amazon, they were able to expand to two days per week and offer iPads to participants.

“Seniors, when they can’t speak the language…feel isolated and lonely and they love getting together and hanging out and talking to other people,” said CISC’s Program and Clinical Director Hueiling Chan.

Chan and Hsu are “lifers” (Chan has been at CISC for 33 years), yet this type of professional is hard to come by. CISC expects that one of its biggest issues for the next 50 years will be recruitment and retention. The niche they seek—someone with rigorous credentials who is bicultural and bilingual—is a challenge, as is cost of living.

“Our goal is to provide living wages for all of our team members who are providing such vital services,” Itti said. “They are so passionate about serving our community, but we want to make sure that they are able to thrive themselves…the heart and soul of our agency are the people that are serving the community.”

The Northwest Asian Weekly asked Itti, Hsu, and Chan what impresses them most at CISC. “What I get is inspiration from the staff.

We have such dedicated and loyal staff who really care…You run into a lot of agencies where people are just bureaucrats and here, the staff goes out of their way because they

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feel that connection, they are part of the community they serve,” said Hsu. For Chan, it’s “the difference we can make, the impact on people’s lives. It could be very small, or it could be something really huge.”

“I like to know that I’m helping other people,” said Hueiling Chan Itti, whose presence is ubiquitous around King County, as CISC has grown from helping individuals to helping the entire community, with efforts to increase voting and census participation, or stop anti-Asian hate. Itti cited “trailblazers” who inspired him, such as Ruth Wu and Uncle Bob. “I’ve been really influenced by our community leaders…and I want to try to do my best to support the community as

asianweekly northwest

15

well.”

During the course of discussion of 50 years of community endeavor, stories come up. It could be a story about CISC’s cultivation of self-advocacy in the Asian community where people are not used to speaking up, or weren’t able to, as they often come from countries where civic engagement is banned.

“I was so proud when we were able to have a group of parents invited to the Seattle Public School Board retreat to share their experience,” Chan shared. “These were parents who, a few years ago, refused to go to parent-teacher conferences,” and yet with CISC’s support, now “they were brave enough to say ‘Okay, I’m going to testify.’”

It might be a young girl, now in college, who returns to CISC to give back, continuing the legacy of the first volunteers.

“It’s really rewarding because they have become the best champions of all the services,” said Chan. For Itti, it’s the pleasure of walking the hallways and seeing staff and community members interacting.

It’s hearing the rumble of kids’ feet as they arrive for CISC’s after-school activities.

“We’re so grateful for the community who have been with us for decades,” Itti said. “Thinking about the impact we’ve made over the last couple of years with the pandemic, even vital services, we’re grateful to have this agency here. If you look at any decade, there’s always been ways that we’ve responded to community needs…It’s incredible to see the journey that we’ve been on.”  For information on CISC’s 50th anniversary gala, go to cisc-seattle.ejoinme.org/50thGala.

Kai can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

16

asianweekly northwest

40 YEARS

SEPTEMBER 17 – SEPTEMBER 23, 2022

leaders, and nearly every demographic from the Chinatown-International District (CID), reminded that it was not simply another new homeless shelter they were opposing in their neighborhood.

It was, rather, an overarching atmosphere of hate and racism that has fueled nearly constant violence against them.

“It’s not that we’re anti-homeless,” said Matt Chan, a community advocate and one of the speakers. “It’s about government malfeasance.”

While speakers hurled imprecations at the government for leading them on then abandoning them, longtime residents of the neighborhood told of casual and near-daily acts of violence they and their children encounter.

From the front of the crowd, holding a microphone, Chan said, “Politicians show up for photo ops, but then when we really need them, they’re nowhere to be seen.”

In the rear of the crowd, standing on the steps of Hing Hay Park, Sharon Yu, 51, was listening. After a few moments, she told the Asian Weekly, “Yesterday, a man spit in the face of my daughter.”

Her daughter, who is 7, was standing in the doorway of their building waiting for a friend to take the family to a park.

“He spit at her right here,” she said, pointing to the corner of her eye. The man also yelled something that was garbled, but Yu, who came running out from behind the door with her son, couldn’t make it out. Now pointing to another Chinese woman in her 30s, Yu added, “She was also spat upon in her face.”

She added, urgently, “You must write this down to let the government know that we are hurting.”

The rally was organized by multiple community groups and was held on Sept. 8 from 5-6:30 pm. It was intended to oppose the opening of a new, expanded homeless shelter at 1000-1050 Sixth Avenue South, 831 Seattle Boulevard, and 831 Airport Way South, the site of the current Salvation Army shelter, with adjoining land providing housing and a site for RVs. Community groups are outraged that the shelter was announced without community input.

“The mega helter never had a public hearing!” said Mei-Jui Lin, president of the Chong Wa Benevolent Association, another speaker. “When I worked for the King County Council, there always had to be a public hearing for any development.”

Four hours before the rally started, organizers met with local officials. According to the organizers, the officials said they had, in fact, reached out to 12 people in the CID prior to deciding on the shelter.

Organizers also said that officials might hire a contractor without a competitive bidding process. It was not immediately clear if this would decrease quality, safety, oversight, and ramp up the speed of opening.

At the rally, speakers referred to the callousness of local officials in choosing to dump more unhoused people in the neighborhood, which is already home to multiple shelters, and, as a result, a draw for those that prey on the homeless. Crime and violence in the last few years has skyrocketed.

“How dare you schedule a homeless shelter in our neighborhood!” shouted Bettie Luke, sister of former Washington state assistant attorney general Wing Luke. “There are empty lots and empty buildings in white neighborhoods—and the fact that you do not schedule there, is absolutely flat out racist!”

Another CID resident, also sitting in the back of the crowd, nodded her head and said, “This is how we think.”

This resident gave her name as Li, said she was 80, and originally from Guangdong. She spent 20 years washing dishes at a restaurant in the neighborhood before retiring on a little over $800 a month. With gray hair tied back

Photo by Eugene M. Tagawa

RALLY from 1

Various community members show their opposition to the proposed shelter

in a ponytail, she talked of having a gold chain, a personal investment, ripped right off the neck.

“Why doesn’t the government find a farm somewhere where they can send these people to do healthy labor while they rehabilitate, maybe that would be better for them,” she speculated.

When asked why the government should support her, through Social Security, and not support the homeless, Li responded, “We follow the law. I don’t destroy things or threaten people’s safety. We don’t cause damage or do drugs.”

From the front, Luke continued, “To you, government officials, I say, you use one disenfranchised group and hurt the other in the aftermath! I want you to schedule this in your own backyard!”

Members of the two community night patrols, which have been walking the streets after dark for years, and handing out food and water in the encampments, say it is the drug dealers, gangs, and other criminals that take advantage of the unhoused that are the primary threat and will be drawn in greater numbers by the new shelter, which will bring the number of beds there to 500.

“They are not only a danger to us, but will be a danger to themselves,” said Luke, speaking through a microphone at the rally.

Anger at elected officials was also shown in signs.

Gary Lee, a volunteer with the Seattle Chinatown Block Watch, held a sign with a picture of King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, who represents District 8, with McDermott’s face in the middle of a red circle with a diagonal red line running through it.

Others held signs that said, “It’s racist,” referring to the decision to place the new, expanded shelter in the CID without community input.

The director of the King County Department of Community and Human Services, Leo Flor, has said that the drastic state of homelessness in the county, with 6,000 people sleeping in the open every night, requires bold action. Flor has also said the agency has set up shelters around the region.

“We know there’s a need,” said Nora Chan, founder of Seniors in Action Foundation, another speaker. “We are not against homelessness, but crime is on the rise and it never stops.”

Community activists say the CID is already home to five shelters (at the rally, Chan said there were 10 in the larger vicinity). And they say the CID is already suffering from centuries of marginalization, including the worst air in the city, from relentless transportation projects, such as I-5, that cuts through the district.

Over a little more than a century, the community has been forced to move to new locations three times.

“First, Chinatown was on the waterfront, then Pioneer Square, and now we have landed here. This is our home. It’s going to be

here forever,” said Lin. More recently, during the height of the pandemic, when police were fighting with protesters, looters and rioters seemed to be funneled into the CID and damaged building fronts and attacked residents.

“Now they’re going to dump another shelter in the CID,” said Faye Hong, a community leader, in an interview. “It’s ridiculous.”

For older residents, it feels like the end.

Asked what would happen if she had to move from the low-income housing where she lives, Li said she would not be able to plan for it.

“It feels like we don’t have tomorrow,” she said.

A 90-year-old community member, speaking at the rally, said there are thousands of seniors like herself living in the community.

There are other reasons why community members are fearful. Rumors reflect even worse scenarios.

Esther Chan, a real estate agent who joined the rally, said that violent gangs from

Everett were planning to move down to the area once the new shelter opens. She said she learned about the gangs from the police after her son had some of his belongings stolen by them. “Don’t even go near them,” the police told her.

She was walking, along with Li, and several other older women in the rear of a crowd that massed at the front and scattered out in twos and threes down the street as organizer Tanya Woo, at the end of the rally, led the marchers to view the site of the future shelter.

The crowd boiled at the front like a mass of clouds as it came up to the fencing and closed-off street where an encampment lies.

Gei Chan, another organizer, brought up the rear, making sure Li and another older woman, with a walker, could safely cross Dearborn Street to get a sight of the territory.

“It’s going to stretch from that side of the fence, covering all these blocks, to there,” said another organizer, pointing out a large swathe of land as large as a train station.

Then something frightening happened.

The crowd dissipated. The final marchers straggled away behind their signs. And the street was empty.

This reporter stayed and struck up a conversation with a pleasant and friendly homeless man.

That was not the problem.

As the homeless man departed, and this reporter was putting away his notebook, he looked up to see two large men looming towards him. One of them, though not the same bald man who had yelled at the rally earlier, in appearance was similar. He had a shaven or bald head, was wearing some kind of leather jacket, and was scowling as if he wanted to kill someone.

This reporter left quickly.  Mahlon can be contacted at info@nwasianweekly.com.