Politics

Will Kamala Harris be the 1st Asian American president?

President Joe Biden dropped out as the Democratic nominee for November's election, saying it is in the "best interest" of his party and the country for him to stand down and focus on his remaining duties. He endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to take his place.

Democratic support and polling performance: A recent AP-NORC poll reveals that six in 10 Democrats favor Harris — the country’s first Asian American vice president — as a potential replacement for Biden. Additionally, it shows that while her favorability is similar to Biden’s, she has lower unfavorable views. About three-quarters of Democrats also hold a positive view of Harris, aligning closely with their views on Biden. Other polls show her performing similarly to Biden in head-to-head matchups against Donald Trump: A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted and released after the attempted assassination of Trump shows both Biden and Harris approximately tied with the former president, though 69% of respondents believe Biden is too old to work in government; a Bendixen & Amandi poll released on July 9 found Harris narrowly beating Trump 42% to 41%.

Campaign efforts and strategic positioning: Harris welcomed Biden's endorsement, saying she intends to "earn and win" her party's nomination. So far, she has highlighted her commitment to key issues such as healthcare and abortion rights. Her speech at the APIAVote Presidential Town Hall in Philadelphia following the launch of “AANHPIs for Biden-Harris” emphasized the administration’s dedication to the AANHPI community. On Thursday, she campaigned in North Carolina as Biden remained home in Delaware to recover from COVID-19.

News

L.A. County Board expansion could create AAPI district

A proposal to expand the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from five to nine members has garnered significant support, with advocates noting that the change could lead to the creation of a special district for the AAPI community. Such a scenario would improve representation and provide better opportunities to address issues of community members.

Diversity and representation: Rep. Judy Chu (D-28) and Rep. Ted Lieu (D-36) highlighted that the expansion could lead to a dedicated AAPI district, reflecting the significant growth and presence of the AAPI community in Los Angeles County. So far, its AAPI population has reached 1.5 million, the largest in any U.S. county. Despite this, no AAPI person has served on the Board of Supervisors since its creation in 1912. Chu and Lieu, along with Supervisors Janice Hahn, Lindsey Horvath and Hilda Solis, stressed the importance of the proposal to ensure that the county’s government truly represents its diverse population.

Other changes and dates to remember: The proposal includes making the county CEO an elected position and establishing an independent ethics commission to enhance transparency and accountability. The supervisors aim to reallocate existing budget resources to fund these changes. The first vote on the draft ordinances is scheduled for July 23, with a final vote on July 30 if approved. The goal is to place these changes on the November ballot for public approval.

Crime

NYC councilwoman arrested for biting NYPD chief

Brooklyn City Councilmember Susan Zhuang, 38, was arrested on Wednesday during a protest against a proposed men's shelter in Bensonhurst. Accused of biting NYPD Chief of Patrol Frank DiGiacomo, she faces multiple charges, including assault, resisting arrest, harassment and obstruction of governmental administration. She appeared in court on Wednesday evening for her arraignment and was released without bail. Seventeen others were also detained but released. 

Zhuang’s accusations: Zhuang claims that Mayor Eric Adams’s office, who defended the shelter as necessary for the community, approved its construction without the proper permits. The protest, driven by fears of increased crime due to the shelter, became chaotic as Zhuang allegedly tried to protect an elderly woman. City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams found the situation disturbing, emphasizing the need for non-violence and respect for city workers. The council awaits further investigation before deciding on disciplinary actions. 

Denying misconduct: Zhuang was greeted by supporters at a community center in Gravesend on Thursday. She denied wrongdoing, attributing the violence to police actions and condemning what she perceives as anti-Asian mistreatment. She stated, “Mistreatment by our NYPD, who I always support, it must be stopped, AAPI hate and Asian hate in any form must end. I was approached from behind, two police officers handcuffed me, one police officer pulled my hair, another officer grabbed my neck...the issue is not unique to myself, as many members in Asian community have been subject to this excessive enforcement and mistreatment by our NYPD.”

News

Pakistani American sculptor’s “satanic” golden statue beheaded in Texas

A controversial statue by artist Shahzia Sikander at the University of Houston was beheaded amid Hurricane Beryl on the morning of July 15. The 18-foot golden statue, titled “Witness,” was originally commissioned to celebrate women and justice but faced criticism for its artistic features, including braided horns and abstract branch-like arms. 

Artist’s statement: Sikander holds the university accountable for failing to protect the artwork and urges them to release surveillance footage of the incident and display the damaged statue uncovered. “This was a violent, hateful and misogynistic act…The despicable narrative should not be cloaked by the hurricane. The act of violence is part of the history of the work and a testament to its power. I have asked the university to remove the tarp and show the violated work. They need to respect the wishes of the artist,” the artist told CNN. 

UH’s response: The university confirmed the damage appears intentional and is under investigation. A university spokesperson also stated that they are honoring the artist's request to "leave the sculpture as is without any repairs." In February, a Texas anti-abortion group labeled the statue "satanic" and protested its presence, leading the university to cancel an opening celebration of Sikander's work and a scheduled talk by the artist.

News

Fast-spreading new COVID variant surging in Japan

Health authorities in Japan are on high alert as COVID-19 cases posted a 39% week-on-week surge across the country between July 1 and 7, driven by the highly transmissible KP.3 variant. Okinawa prefecture is the hardest hit, with hospitals reporting an average of nearly 30 infections per day.

New strain: The KP.3 variant, a descendant of the Omicron lineage, is known for its ability to evade immunity, infecting even those who are vaccinated or have previously recovered from COVID-19. Common symptoms of KP.3 infection include high fever, sore throat, loss of smell and taste, headaches and fatigue. Accounting for 90% of new cases, the variant has raised concerns about hospital capacity and the potential impact on essential services.

Stopping the spread: Marking the country's 11th wave of infections, health experts urge continued vigilance and adherence to precautions such as mask-wearing, handwashing and social distancing. While Japan Association of Infectious Diseases President Kazuhiro Tateda noted that “not many of these cases are severe,” he shared that authorities will continue monitoring the variant’s spread and impact in the country.

Entertainment

“Queen of martial arts films” dies at 78

Cheng Pei-pei, one of Asia’s first female action stars, passed away peacefully at her home in San Francisco on July 17 at age 78. Her family revealed that she had been battling corticobasal degeneration, a rare neurodegenerative disease similar to Parkinson's.

Stellar career: Cheng, who began her illustrious career at Hong Kong's Shaw Brothers Studio, is celebrated for her groundbreaking roles in martial arts films such as “Come Drink with Me” (1966) and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (2000). Her career spanned over six decades, marking her final screen appearance as the matchmaker in Disney's live-action adaptation of "Mulan" (2020).

Rich legacy: As a pioneering figure in martial arts cinema, Cheng left behind a rich legacy, with contributions to both Eastern and Western film industries. Her family wrote: “She loved being an actress and knew, even with her hard work, how fortunate she was to have the career she had. Our mom remained humble and approachable, patient and kind, and always generous with her time, eager to help others whenever she could. She will be dearly missed.” Her family requested donations to the Brain Support Network, to support the search for treatments for neurological disorders.

Final Bites

“Ranma 1/2" anime to return with original voices: Classic manga series “Ranma ½” is making a comeback with a brand new anime adaptation directed by Konosuke Uda and animated by MAPPA. The original Japanese voice cast from the 1989 anime series will be reprising their roles, with Kappei Yamaguchi returning as Ranma Saotome and Megumi Hayashibara voicing the female Ranma, alongside Noriko Hidaka as Akane Tendo. Shigeru "Cho" Nagashima will be taking over as Genma Saotome and Akio Otsuka will be replacing Ryusuke Obayashi as Soun Tendo. The series, which unveiled its first trailer last week, will premiere in Japan on October 5, followed by immediate streaming on Netflix.

ESPN's athlete rankings sparks backlash for Pacquiao’s low placement: ESPN's recent ranking of the top 100 athletes since 2000 has sparked controversy among fans for placing Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao at 71st. The list, which reportedly involved over 70,000 votes from its experts and is topped by swimmer Michael Phelps, ranked numerous basketball and American athletes higher than Pacquiao. Despite being the only eight-division world champion in boxing, Pacquiao was placed below his rival Floyd Mayweather, who ranked 25th. Former Philippine Sports Commission chairman Noli Eala called it “absolutely ludicrous” that Pacquiao was placed outside the top 50.

Manny Jacinto reflects on “Top Gun: Maverick” reduced role: “The Acolyte” star Manny Jacinto spoke up about having all his lines cut from “Top Gun: Maverick” in a recent candid interview with GQ. Discussing the reduced screen time for his role as LT Billy “Fritz” Avalone, the Filipino Canadian actor said he did not find it shocking and still considered it “a great experience” to be part of the franchise. "It kind of fuels you because at the end of the day, Tom Cruise is writing stories for Tom Cruise,” he said. “It’s up to us — Asian Americans, people of color — to be that [for ourselves]. We can’t wait for somebody else to do it. If we want bigger stories out there, we have to make them for ourselves.”

Trailblazing Chicago cop dies at 79: Malcolm Woo, a pioneering Chinese American police officer in Chicago, died on July 8 at the age of 79 from heart complications. Joining the force in 1969, Woo was one of the first Chinese Americans to serve in the Chicago Police Department. Known for his ability to blend in during undercover operations, Woo's career spanned various roles, including a decade on Mayor Richard M. Daley’s security detail. He was also a co-founder of the Asian American Law Enforcement Association, a regional organization dedicated to Asian American law enforcement officers. Woo’s legacy includes his dedication to community service, his passion for muscle cars and his instrumental role in rebuilding the Chinese American Museum of Chicago.