1. There should be more wins from the Seahawks.
It was wonderful to have the Seahawks win last Sunday. Did you know that when the Seahawks lose, it significantly affects Chinatown and the International District (ID)? When the Hawks lost the last two home games at Qwest Field, fans were in no mood to stay and grab a meal from ID restaurants. They just hit the gas pedal and left the area as fast as they could. So Hawks, fight hard again this Saturday.
2. While we’re on the topic of sports, I want the same for the Huskies, and I’d like for the renovation of Husky stadium to go smoothly and for the UW teams to win more titles.
3. How great will it be if the Seattle Storm repeat its championship win?
4. More jobs, jobs, jobs! Big businesses with profits need to start hiring again. Think of it as your duty to help jump start the economy.
5. Corporations have to remember to support Asian organizations and businesses even more, as a way to give back.
6. People need to spend more money on fun. You can make a difference in the economy. Reports have found that Americans are saving a lot more during the past two years — perhaps too much? Indulge yourself and go out to a nice restaurant once in a while. It won’t break the bank.
7. The ID needs to be cleaner and safer.
8. The number of transients and drug addicts in the ID needs to decrease.
9. Empty storefronts and parking sites need renters.
10. It would be great if immigration reform pass. Illegal immigrants who can contribute to America should be able to stay for good.
11. Maybe Seattle needs another deputy mayor.
Since former deputy mayor Phil Fujii left the City of Seattle this year, we have not had a replacement. Will another Asian American take his place?
12. There should be less bickering between the mayor and the city council. It’s time to work together constructively for the city and make everything less about politics. For the love of the city, get more done and fight less.
13. More Asian Americans should run for office, especially Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, and Thai Americans. Asian Americans should look to smaller cities in running for office, too.
14. It’s always heart-warming to watch Asian Americans accomplish a lot. Instead of just interim president, Phyllis Wise could be the first female UW president and first UW president who is a person of color.
15. More people of color should be appointed to positions of power. Jean Hernandez was recently appointed as the president of Edmonds Community College.
16. We need more Asian Americans appointed to corporate boards, not just nonprofit boards.
17. We also need more cooperation between Asian groups. If you examine the Asian community as a whole, you will see that it is sometimes easier for different communities to cooperate than for groups to cooperate within their own community. Within each of the Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean, and Filipino communities there is so much built-in rivalry, gossip, and criticism between the immigrants and American-born. It is very disturbing to see groups stab each other.
If we can develop more positive projects like Celebrate Asia!, people can learn to work together.
18. How about a Miss Asian American pageant?
We’ve never really had a Miss Asian American pageant, except for the one at Snoqualmie Casino last year.
Snoqualmie did it to bring all the contestants together for fun and friendship, and fans were attracted by the casino. The Asian community can do it, too — not so much for the competition, but for the fun and networking.
19. A Mr. Asian American pageant would be cool. If we can do one for women, we can do one for men, right? Why not?
20. Asian Americans, both immigrants and native-born: Don’t just criticize. Do something. Volunteer more or find solutions to the problem.
21. There needs to be more racial harmony.
An unintended racial slur brought the Jewish and Japanese American communities closer together last year. Washington’s ethnic groups can create more joint projects to enhance our understanding and build bridges.
22. Please, fewer funding cuts to nonprofits!
When the state announces its cuts, the first victims are frequently nonprofits and human services. These kinds of cuts are disastrous for the Asian community.
23. Let’s hope Yat Sin Chinese School is saved. The school is at the risk of being foreclosed by the bank. ♦