On 1/17, Senator Kuderer used words “Chinese Fire Drill” at a committee meeting, and people at the meeting laughed after her remark. 

We are offended. Why have we reacted so strongly?

“Chinese Fire Drill” is a term with racist origin and hence racist overtones. It taps into a stereotype about Chinese meaning something which is chaotic, confused, incompetent that sort of thing.

On 1/20, Senator Kuderer used Senator Rosa Franklin’s story to frame the 1/17 instance as a “teaching moment”. TVW scripts of Senator Kuderer’s remark below:

00:17
Today we are remembering Dr Martin Luther King and some of our members are still on the floor giving speeches to his legacy and I heard a story today on the Senate floor that I had never heard before regarding Senator Rosa Franklin and how there had been a insensitive comment made on the Senate floor that she could have took offense to but rather used it instead as a teaching moment and and acted with grace and and humility and you know I have to say.
00:55
That really hit a nerve with me because I actually want to apologize for an insensitive remark I made in committee last week that a colleague had done the same thing with me had graciously and humbly pointed it out to me and it was quite a teachable moment so I think we’re never too old to learn something new and I just want to know that I will certainly and never to be more mindful in all the confusion that was happening on Friday calling of witnesses it was an attempt to be light hearted but sometimes we don’t say things the way we really intend them to be

I dug out the Senator Rosa Franklin story  (https://lmtribune.com/northwest/yakima-senator-makes-racial-slur-apologizes/article_8040dfbf-99e4-520c-9a53-4966a590f305.html ) … Below was what then Senator Deccio’s apology:

“I grew up as an Italian in a very bigoted neighborhood, where racial epithets were used against me, and I should know better,” Deccio said in a statement he issued Friday. “I realize a slip of the tongue like this is very hurtful to members of the African American community, and for that I am truly sorry.” 

NOTE: There was a call for “formally reprimand Deccio and strip him of his leadership position as chairman of the Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee”, even a call for Deccio’s resignation. 

In comparison to Senator Kuderer’s apology, which apology was more sincere? Senator Rosa Franklin was the offended of racist words, she accepted Deccio’s apology and graciously turned that into a “teaching moment” for the offender. In comparison, if Senator Kuderer, whose words offended us, would issue a similar apology, we, the offended, will be willing to turn the 1/17 instance into a “teaching moment” as well so that we can raise the awareness of racism towards Chinese Americans.

A disclaimer: we do not consider/accept Senator Kuderer’s remark on 1/20 as an apology to Chinese Americans.

The post What History Has Taught Us? appeared first on WA Asians For Equality.

Determined to fight against racism towards Chinese Americans, we appealed to Senate Facilities and Operations Committee today. Below is our appeal:

Dear Senator McCoy and members of Senate Facilities and Operations Committee,


We’d like to appeal the Secretary of the Senate’s determination on our complaint against Senator Kuderer over her racist committee remarks. 

On 1/17/2020, Senator Patty Kuderer used racist words “Chinese Fire Drill’ at a committee meeting. We learned about that incident, and followed the Senate’s procedure and filed a complaint with Secretary of the Senate on 1/20. We wanted Senator Kuderer to “issue an official apology to Chinese Americans”. — A fair request and should be easy to fulfill, right? No. Senator Kuderer refused. Secretary of Senate backed her up. Senator Kuderer gave a light-touch, “a lesson learned” narrative on 1/20 at another committee meeting, not an apology, and it was NOT addressed to Chinese Americans. 

According to a TVW 1/17 video ( https://youtu.be/djq-l2ePAk4?t=45 ), Senator Kuderer was saying “… like a Chinese Fire Drill..” Then people in the room were laughing!!! 

This is how we feel about that … it was like being humiliated in public, while the offender, and bystanders were watching and laughing. We were offended. We were insulted!

Senator Kuderer represents 48th LD, where 23.4% of the constituents are Asians, many of them are Chinese Americans. You’d expect her to know what would offend people in her district – if she truly cares about her constituents.

According to a TVW 1/20 video ( https://youtu.be/2NheX6i6vPU?t=55 ), Kuderer was saying “I actually want to apologize for an insensitive remark I made in committee last week.. (a colleague)  had graciously and humbly pointed out to me,  and it was quite a teachable moment… we are never too old to learn something new. I will certainly endeavor to be more mindful. In all the confusion that was happening on Friday – calling of witnesses – it was an attempt to be light hearted but sometimes, we don’t say things the way we really intend them to be.” 

Unfortunately Senator Kuderer does not seem to get it. This is NOT about whether she learned a lesson, this is about recognizing that she offended a minority community!

Imagining if Senator Kuderer used the N-word, instead of “Chinese Fire Drill”, will Senate Facilities and Operations Committee let her get away with the same narrative on 1/20? 

According to this article (https://www.edmondsbeacon.com/story/2020/01/16/news/complaint-alleging-racist-language-filed-against-lawmaker/22569.html ), Senator Kuderer apparently refused to apologize to us. And this made us even more furious. 

“Andy McVicar, a senior Senate Democratic communications specialist, said in an email that Kuderer has spoken with an investigator and plans to let the apology she made in committee stand as her statement on the incident. ”

Senator Kuderer might have learned to not say those words in the future so that she would not get herself into trouble again. Yet, she has not learned (or does not care to learn) that those words offended and insulted Chinese Americans. That IS the difference. The apology should not be about her, it should be about the community she offended and insulted.

Secretary of Senate’s answer to our complaint was below… He considers that an apology without even addressing to the ones been offended a “sincere and genuine” apology? We beg to differ!

“We did take your complaint seriously; investigated it; verified Senator Kuderer’s public apology; and spoke with the senator directly.  I’m sorry this doesn’t satisfy you but, as far as I’m concerned, the matter is closed.  You are, of course, welcome to forward the link to her apology to anyone you wish.  From my perspective it was sincere and genuine.
 
– Brad”

Regards,

WA Asians For Equality
American Coalition for Equality

The post Appeal Filed Against the Secretary of the Senate’s Determination appeared first on WA Asians For Equality.

We fought a very tough fight last year to protect a fundamental American principle – Equality for All. Many of us have never imagined ourselves to be at the front and center of the fight. We endured many mistreatment during the fight.

Medias would frame us and take things out of context to attack us, or even made up stories when there was NO story at all. We were treated very badly by many legislators in Olympia (all were Democrats). We could not get appointments with them. Out of our repeatedly requests, Senator Majority Leader, Andy Billig, met us. Yet, he spoke to us in a condescending manner through out the meeting. He even said that he did us a favor meeting us, because we were not from his district! – Really? Senator Billig, as a Senate Majority Leader, we are very sure you meet people out of your districts A LOT! Maybe we should file a Public Records Request to see who visited your office last year?? And of course, Crosscut attacked us and played us. The list goes on and on.

Then, just last week, Senator Patty Kuderer humiliated us. She used racist words “Chinese Fire Drill” at a committee meeting on January 17th. We filed a complaint with Secretary of the Senate on January 20th, and wanted Senator Kuderer to “issue an official apology to Chinese Americans”. Anyone with a sense of fairness would agree that it was a fair request and should be easy to fulfill, right? Not in the mind of Senator Kuderer! Senator Kuderer refused to apologize to Chinese Americans. Secretary of Senate backed her up.

Senator Kuderer offered a light touch, “a lesson learned” statement on 1/20 at a committee meeting, not a real apology, and was not addressed to Chinese Americans. Here is her statement  “I actually want to apologize for an insensitive remark I made in committee last week.. (a colleague)  had graciously and humbly pointed out to me,  and it was quite a teachable moment… we are never too old to learn something new. I will certainly endeavor to be more mindful. In all the confusion that was happening on Friday – calling of witnesses – it was an attempt to be light hearted but sometimes, we don’t say things the way we really intend them to be.” 

No, Senator Kuderer, this is not about you learned a lesson, this is about you insulted and offended us, and you owe us a sincere apology!
Imagining if Senator Kuderer offended other minority groups this way, will she be able to get off the hook so easily? No! Not only Senator Kuderer’s choice of words were racism, the entire handling of our complaint was racism.

Senator Mona Das obviously had similar experience. She made below comment regarding the Democrat caucus on June 27, 2019:

After they close that door, that’s when it gets real. That’s when my 28 colleagues got real. And that’s when I heard hate…that’s when I heard misogyny, and racism, and sexism from people you would not expect. That’s the type of light I want to shine. Now, when there are eight people of color in the Senate Democratic caucus, it was coded language instead – ‘those people.’ They would say things that were coded

Although the Senate investigation claimed “no evidence of racist or sexist remarks”, Seattle Time’s coverage on the investigation told us more than what the investigation reported.

Rather, Das said she meant to convey that a handful of fellow Democrats, whom she did not name, “were purportedly dismissive and disrespectful when members of color raised concerns that specific legislation could disproportionately impact communities of color.”

Our experiences with many Democrat legislators echo what Senator Das, an Indian American, described – her fellow Democrats were dismissive, disrespectful towards us, Chinese Americans.

Senator Das said, during a KUOW interview on July 18th, 2019, that “she doesn’t regret her comments because it’s prompting a broader discussion of race and equity in the Washington state Legislature.”

The fact that Senator Kuderer has yet understood that her racist words insulted, offended our community, and Senate Democrat Caucus is turning a blind eye on this entire issue, suggests that Senate Democrat Caucus has yet be able to address the racism within it.

2020 will be a year that we continue fighting for the Equal Treatment under the Law. No one should endure racism. On the first day of 2020 Chinese New Year, we declare that we will fight for the respect and dignity of Chinese Americans in Washington State.

The post Our New Year’s Resolution – We’ll Fight Against Racism Towards Chinese Americans appeared first on WA Asians For Equality.

Below is the video of Senator Kuderer’s racist comment using “Chinese Fire Drill”

Below is the complaint letter sent to Secretary of Senate and Senate Counsels. We demand Senator Patty Kuderer to issue an official apology to Chinese Americans.

Dear Mr. Hendrickson, Ms. Gorrell & Ms. Cantore

We want to file a formal complaint against Senator Patty Kuderder over her racist comment towards Chinese Americans on January 17th during the Senate Housing Stability & Affordability Committee meeting . Below is the link to the TVW video recording.

https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&eventID=2020011134&startStreamAt=5335&autoStartStream=true

At  around 1:29:40, Senator Kuderer used the words “Chinese Fire Drill”, which is a known racist words towards Chinese Americans. There are 23.5% Asian Americans in Senator Kuderer’s 48th District, and many of them are Chinese Americans. Senator Kuderer has the reputation of treating Chinese Americans without respect. What happened on the 17th was not an isolated instance. We request the Senate to investigate and we demand Senator Kuderer to issue an official apology to Chinese Americans.


Regards,


WA Asians For Equality
American Coalition for Equality

The post Joint Complaint Filed Against Senator Patty Kuderer Over Usage of Racist Words appeared first on WA Asians For Equality.

The initial SB 6614 bill digest states “Requires the state treasurer to transfer the sum of two hundred thirteen million dollars on July 1, 2018, and one hundred ninety million dollars on July 1, 2019, from the budget stabilization account (Rainy Day Fund) to the state general fund.” The problem was, in order to tap into the Rainy Day Fund, Democrats would need three-fifths super majority which they did not have.

Democrats creatively out-maneuvered the Rainy Day Fund’s three-fifth majority requirement by amending the original bill.  The final SB 6614 bill digest states “Redirects a certain amount of revenue, generated by the additional state levy, to the education legacy trust account in fiscal year 2019.” Democrats controlled Senate passed the bill on a 25-23 vote. Senator Walsh (R) was excused. Redirecting the money lowered state general fund revenues, as a result reduced the amount of money going into the state’s Rainy Day Fund by more than $700 million! State Treasurer Duane issued a statement “Senate’s Attempt to Divert Funds Sets Dangerous Precedent” and said the move to direct money away from the Rainy Day Fund could negatively impact the state’s bond rating, ability to pay down debt and flexibility to weather economic downturns. He called the move “short-sighted” and urged “the Legislature to not start a terrible precedent of diverting Rainy Day funding”.

In 2007, 68% of Washington voters approved SJR 8206 to amend the state Constitution and “to establish a Budget Stabilization Account (Rainy Day Fund). Each fiscal year, one percent of general state revenues are deposited to the Budget Stabilization Account.” Washington voters also deliberately made the money hard to spend by requiring “withdrawals from the Budget Stabilization Account may be made only by a three-fifths vote of the Legislature.” In 2011, 67% of Washington voters approved another ballot measure, SJR 8206, to amend the state constitution again by requiring “at the end of each fiscal biennium, three quarters of any extraordinary growth in state revenue is transferred to the Budget Stabilization Account. ” Both measures were approved by a majority of voters in every county.

By raiding the Rainy Day Fund without 60% super majority vote. Senator Patty Kuderer ignored the will of a strong majority of Washington voters. Kuderer betrayed voters’ trust, and she now wants voters of 48^th LD to trust her for another term? The answer is NO. Vote Patty Kuderer out!

The post Senator Patty Kuderer Raided our State Rainy Day Fund on Sunny Day appeared first on WA Asians For Equality.

Although the Bank of North Dakota is generally a well-run institution now, even its President and CEO, Eric Hardmeyer, advised against starting a state-owned bank in his article on New York Times. In Mr. Hardmeyer’s own words “Today, the bank receives many calls from people interested in starting a state-owned bank, and our response is consistent. We do not advocate the use of this model elsewhere.”

Mr. Hardmeyer said in his article “the Bank of North Dakota is successful because we are partners with North Dakota’s financial institutions, not competitors. However, according to the bill report of SB 5464, “The state bank would compete with private banks on a wide array of services that are offered and available by private banks, without having to pay taxes.” In other words, Senator Kuderer’s state bank would do exactly the opposite of what Bank of North Dakota has done!

Furthermore, when the government owns the banks, lending decisions become increasingly driven by politics, rather than economics. A 2002 paper from a Northwestern University economist found that areas with stronger political parties get lower interest rates from public banks.

The state is on the hook to guarantee all deposits in the state bank. When the first American public bank, the Vermont State Bank, failed after only six year’s operation in 1812, it costed the citizens of Vermont the equivalent of almost $3 billion in today’s dollars. Are Washingtonians ready for this kind of risk?

Update: A recent Bloomberg Businessweek article pointed out that startup costs of a public bank could be in billions. The Businessweek article said “The anticipated startup costs have derailed past attempts to found public banks. Massachusetts abandoned a proposal for one in 2011 after an analysis pegged the required capital at $3.6 billion. The chief legislative analyst for the L.A. City Council issued a report in February saying the costs there could be “exorbitant.” ” . On Nov. 6, voters in Los Angeles will be voting on a public bank. We will update readers on the result when it comes out.

Update: L.A. voters rejected measure to create public bank with  57.81% votes.

The post 48th LD Sen. Patty Kuderer’s State Bank is a Terrible Idea appeared first on WA Asians For Equality.