EDITORIAL: Congratulations, Seahawks! From your Chinatown neighbors

After a long afternoon of cheering, these Seahawk fans found sustenance at the Honey Court Seafood Restaurant in the International District. (Photo by George Liu/NWAW)

How about those Seahawks? A win for the team is a win for the city, not only for the fans’ personal pride and joy, but also in revenue for local businesses, especially in downtown. Good.

Seattle also will benefit from a friendly wager between the mayors of Seattle and San Francisco, because Mayor Lee now owes Mayor Murray assistance in raising $10,000 for a local food bank or meal program.

He also has to make a donation of Mitchell’s ice cream and Poco Dolce chocolates to a Seattle food bank. Good.

The 49ers’ loss also means American Legion Cathay Post #186 is now obligated, through another friendly bet, to fly the Seahawks flag in San Francisco’s Chinatown during the week before the Super Bowl. Very good. Imagine how humiliating it would have been to have to fly the 49ers flag in Hing Hay Park for a week — it is unthinkable.

The International District experiences both a bust and boom in business during Seahawks home games, with CenturyLink Field in its back yard. Several Chinatown restaurants have partnered with the stadium’s Community Concessions to offer their special recipes for popular Asian foods for sale at various food booths. That is good (and delicious). But on game day, the streets of Chinatown are practically deserted, and businesses seem empty, though every parking spot is taken. After a big win, however, there is an uptick in business for local restaurants. There are fireworks. Seattle is celebrating. People are happy and hungry. This is good. We are thankful for what the team does for the neighborhood we share, but they could do more by promoting ID businesses, selling more local food at the games, host a Seahawk party in Chinatown! Super Bowl is Feb. 2. Can the Seahawks beat Peyton Manning? We hope so! (end)