By Assunta Ng
Northwest Asian Weekly
From left: Duk Li Dim Sum co-owner Kim Luo, Mayor McGinn, and Kim’s husband and co-owner, Tony Wu (Photo by Joyce Pisanont)
When Thao Tran complained that Northwest Asian Weekly had not given Mayor Mike McGinn good press after the 2009 election, I told the mayor what Tran said.
McGinn’s response was, “Cover me as is.”
I have complied.
On Sept. 1, I blogged about his unexpected short departure at the ethnic/community press roundtable. However, McGinn quickly made it up to the Asian community last week.
On Sept. 15, he spent the morning talking to business district representatives from all over the city at the Duk Li Dim Sum Restaurant in Chinatown/International District.
Later, McGinn’s office canceled an evening hearing at the ID Community Center on plans for the streetcar to ride through the ID because I requested it through his staff member, Aaron Pickus. It conflicted with the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA)’s dinner, which was to be held nearby.
Some community leaders thought the mayor’s office was insensitive in scheduling a meeting at the same time as the OCA dinner. “If Obama can change his schedule, McGinn can, too,” said one community leader. Obama rescheduled his speech to accommodate a recent Republican presidential debate.
Was it possible that the mayor’s staff didn’t know? My approach is this: state the problem and see how the other party responds. Using threats is not my style.
Pickus acknowledged my e-mail. Within 24 hours, the meeting was rescheduled.
So mayor, well done last week! (end)