The International District task force initial meeting was held last week with approximately 20 members in attendance. It was a forum to air emotions affecting the community and also focused on accountability and results regarding public safety. It is the City’s “smallest” task force (with the least amount of members of any other of the […]
Mayor Murray announces $45 million for affordable housing — Includes $9,950,000 for International District/Chinatown
Mayor Ed Murray announced Dec. 9 the City of Seattle’s $45 million investment in affordable housing development through the Office of Housing’s Rental Housing Program. Once completed, 809 apartments will house low-income families, youths, seniors, and single adults, some of whom would otherwise be homeless. The “announcement makes a major contribution to building 20,000 affordable […]
Donnie Chin’s murder triggers new task force — Community members will work directly with City staff on public safety
By Staff Northwest Asian Weekly Mayor Ed Murray announced Dec. 15 the convening of a special task force for the Chinatown/International District (C/ID) neighborhood. Following the murder of long-time community activist Donnie Chin this summer, Mayor Murray reached out to local leaders and called on them to work with City staff and the Seattle Police […]
EDITORIAL: No repeating mistakes — We should provide sanctuary and hope, not internment or rejection
The past few weeks have been a sociological nightmare, testing ideology, devotion to promises, subjection to fear. The unfortunate subject that has been affected and pushed the sensitive political buttons is the issue of the United States allowing in Syrian refugees. After the Paris terrorist attacks, the level of fear has been elevated and paranoia […]
Citizenship Day in Seattle has a turnout
By Joaquin Uy Ethnic Media & Communications Specialist City of Seattle Office of Immigrant & Refugee Affairs Photo by Nate Gowdy The City of Seattle joined U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to commemorate Citizenship Day on Sept. 17 by announcing a new joint citizenship campaign, followed by a naturalization ceremony. Mayor Ed Murray, City […]
More International District violence — Shooting in vicinity of hookah lounge leaves man battling for life
By Jason Cruz Northwest Asian Weekly A man is recovering at Harborview Medical Center after he was shot multiple times in the backseat of a car in the parking lot of a hookah lounge in the International District on August 23rd. Galma Adam Waqo, 21, is being charged with First Degree Attempted Murder for his […]
Family reunification for Filipino “veteranos”
Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and Deputy Mayor Hyeok Kim participated in a community forum about a new federal policy allowing the adult children of Filipino World War II veterans to live and work in the U.S. When the U.S. entered World War II, the Philippines, which at the time was a U.S. Commonwealth, became an […]
Mike Fong is Murray’s new chief of staff — Highest-ranking Chinese American in mayoral staff
By Assunta Ng Northwest Asian Weekly Mike Fong has been appointed as Mayor Ed Murray’s Chief of Staff, who will plan and oversee the daily operations of the mayor’s office. Fong is the first Asian American chief of staff in the City’s history. Born in Spokane, Fong, 38, was Deputy Director of Mayor Ed Murray’s […]
Hookah lounge advocates fight back
By Peggy Chapman Northwest Asian Weekly It was standing room only at Monday afternoon’s Seattle City Council meeting, moderated by Councilmember Tim Burgess. The majority present was there to protest Seattle Mayor Ed Murray’s initiative to ban hookah lounges/bars throughout Seattle. The chamber was filled with loyal customers, lounge owners, community activists, and even health […]
Crackdown on controversial hookah lounges — Questions, and hopefully, answers
By Staff Northwest Asian Weekly There has been community concern about the presence of hookah bars and lounges in the International District and throughout other Seattle neighborhoods recently, due to the shooting of community figurehead Donnie Chin in late July. Seattle Mayor Ed Murray announced August 3 that the “City will step up enforcement against […]