Reckless U-Haul truck driver kills one, injures 9 others

NBC

NYPD stopped the U-Haul truck and arrested the driver.

UPDATED Feb. 14, 2:30 p.m.

The driver of a U-Haul truck that killed one and injured 9 others in Brooklyn, NY has been identified as 62-year old Weng Sor.

One person has died after being hit by a U-Haul truck that also injured nine people, including a police officer, in a "violent rampage" Monday across Brooklyn, New York City police said.

The suspected driver's son said that he has a history of mental illness, according to his son.

"Very frequently he’ll choose to skip out on his medications and do something like this," Stephen Sor, 30, told the Associated Press in an interview outside his Brooklyn home Monday. "This isn’t the first time he’s been arrested. It’s not the first time he’s gone to jail."

"Based on interviews with family members and confirmed when interrogated by NYC Detective Bureau, we believe Mr. Sor was suffering from a mental health crisis at this time. There is no nexus to terrorism," NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig told reporters at a press conference today.

The NYPD said Sor is a resident of Las Vegas where he lives with his mom, but showed up at his ex-wife and son's home in Brooklyn earlier this month.

The NYPD said Sor has eight prior arrests, dating to 2002, including DUI, evading a police officer, battery, and resisting arrest.

Police responded to a report of a man recklessly driving a U-Haul truck in the Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn and striking pedestrians at 10:50 a.m., New York Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell told reporters.

Videos showed the truck plowing down people on a sidewalk, hitting a bicyclist and finally stopped by police near the entrance of the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel and took the driver into custody before noon.

The fatal victim was 44-year-old Ye YiJie. A surveillance video shows Ye's bicycle getting dragged under the speeding U-Haul truck.

"He tried to do his best to provide for the kids. It's one of the reasons why he picked this delivery job because it's so flexible, he can be there when the kids need him," said Ye's cousin Micahel Chen to CBS2's Christina Fan

Family members say Ye was a devoted single father to three teenagers, twin boys and a girl. He often pulled late-night hours, even collecting cans to supplement his income.

At the Tuesday press conference, NYPD said that suspect Weng Sor faces one count of second-degree murder, seven counts of attempted murder and potentially one more for injuring a police officer.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.

Breaking the Silence: How the mental health system fails the AANHPI communities — and how to help

By Grace Galletti
Originally published in the California Health Report

Tony’s symptoms worsened in high school, but his parents refused to let him see a professional. In many Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities, such reluctance to seek mental health care is common. 

A 2007 study by Jennifer Abe-Kim, a psychology professor at Loyola Marymount University, found that less than 9 percent of Asian-Americans sought any type of mental health services compared to nearly 18% of the general population nationwide. A survey released in October by the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) found that 77 percent of Asian Americans with mood disorders reported struggling to talk about their condition compared to 69 percent of white people.

RELATED: Congressional resolution - May 10 as AANHPI Mental Health Day

Tony’s symptoms worsened in high school, but his parents refused to let him see a professional. In many Asian Americans communities, such reluctance to seek mental health care is common. A 2007 study by Jennifer Abe-Kim, a psychology professor at Loyola Marymount University, found that less than 9%t of Asian Americans sought any type of mental health services compared to nearly 18% of the general population nationwide. A survey released in October by the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) found that 77% of Asian Americans with mood disorders reported struggling to talk about their condition compared to 69%of white people.

Stigma attached to mental health

Stigma is one of the main barriers preventing Asian Americans from seeking mental health services, experts said. Julian Chow, professor at UC Berkeley’s School of Social Welfare, said that some Asian cultures believe that mental health problems are the result of wrongdoings in a past life. This leads people to accept mental illness as a hardship they must endure, rather than seek help.

Tony said his family used the word “crazy” as a synonym for inappropriate behavior when he was growing up. It was only when his mental health symptoms became severe and he ran away that his parents finally gave in and sought professional help. He was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

The pandemic was a particularly difficult time for Tony. The isolation and sedentary lifestyle of staying at home put a strain on his mental health and on his relationship with his partner at the time. He was hospitalized twice for suicidal ideation after calling a crisis line.

Many Asian Americans, however, do not reach out for help when it comes to mental health.

Stigma not only creates shame around mental illness but also a lack of awareness about what resources are available. Pata Suyemoto, 60, a mental health activist and suicide prevention advocate, said she experienced this with her Japanese-American father. When, as a child, she told him she was having suicidal thoughts, he turned away from her, not knowing what to do or say. As an adult, she reflects back on this experience with empathy. She said her dad was not taught how to talk about mental health issues or how to get help.

The toll of racial stereotypes

The surge in anti-Asian hate crimes and attitudes has impacted the mental health of Asian-Americans, including Suyemoto. She said she’s experienced many instances of racism, including a woman leaping off the sidewalk to avoid her while she was walking near her home in Cambridge, Mass. After numerous similar experiences during the pandemic, she remembered feeling scared to leave her house. Other people in her community have shared with her similar stories and fears.

“I had to get a COVID test and I thought: I wonder if this person will be rougher with me because I’m Asian?” Suyemoto said.

The “model minority myth” is another barrier to mental wellbeing for Asian Americans. It creates the illusion that the community doesn’t have problems, said Makhija, and also puts pressure on people to hide their mental illness or not reach out for help.

On top of that, being an immigrant creates added pressure, according to Winston Tseng, associate director of research with Health Research for Action at UC Berkeley. Many people feel they must push themselves to succeed in order to provide for families back home.

FOR HELP: If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or other mental health challenges, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, or contact the Crisis Text hotline by texting “HELLO” to 741741.

Although the NAMI survey and other studies show that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders face more challenges to obtaining mental health services than other populations, not all of their challenges are the same. Some Southeast Asian communities with refugee status, for example, are more likely to have a history of PTSD or substance abuse because of the trauma they’ve endured. Pacific Islanders, on the other hand, may not have access to the health care system at all because they’re more likely to be uninsured than other Asian Americans.

Liu said it’s important to address both the commonalities among Asian Americans and to tailor therapy to an individual’s specific stressors and socioeconomic and cultural background. Training more therapists on how to deliver culturally appropriate therapy would help, she added.

DJ Ida, executive director of the National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association, said the need for culturally aware, bilingual mental health professionals is greater now than ever before.

To get more Asian Americans to seek care, providers need to recognize that some cultures don’t see mental and physical health as separate. She said they also need to think beyond medication and talk therapy, which can sometimes re-traumatize people. Other, more culturally appropriate avenues for addressing mental health difficulties could include gardening or exercising for example.

Suyemoto, who suffers from depression, said her treatment includes medication and therapy, but also Reiki, acupuncture, journaling and activism. She’s glad to have a therapist who takes an interest in how her culture affects her mental health.

For Tony, healing has come from going to church, where he feels welcomed and accepted. He said he recently opened up to the congregation about his mental health struggles and about how he had never felt connected to anyone else. The church members started to pray for him and put their hands on him.

“I started to cry, you know, because for so long I felt so isolated and so disconnected from others and to have (people) actually care enough to put their hands on me and to pray for me in that moment. It was such a powerful and touching moment,” he said.

Although his parents had a hard time accepting his mental health struggles, Tony now speaks highly of them. They worked hard to buy him a house a half mile away from their home, and he visits them often. His relationship with them has improved.

“When I was younger, I thought the pressure from my parents was so strong to succeed that if I didn’t succeed they were going to disown me,” he said. “But in reality, even after I failed and even after my brother had failed in many ways, my parents were still there.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: Stay abreast of additional commentary, news and views from an AAPI perspective by following @DioknoEd on Twitter.

Naomi Osaka shines a light on a taboo topic in the AANHPI communities

Tennis player Naomi Osaka has us talking about mental health.

When one of tennis' best players, Naomi Osaka, dropped out of the French Open, she put a spotlight on what many Asian Americans are experiencing today, inundated with the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and hate.

She put into words what many AAPI would like to express to their co-workers, friends and family, "I need help."

With one tweet, Osaka brought more attention to mental health than members of Congress were able to do a month earlier.

On May 10, AAPI Congressmembers Marilyn Strickland, D-WA;  Judy Chu, D-CA; Kai Kahele D-HI, and Doris Matsui, D-CA  introduced the first congressional resolution to recognize May 10th as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Mental Health Day. 

“Ending the stigma surrounding mental health care in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community is long overdue,” said Congresswoman Strickland. “The sickening rise in anti-Asian hate crimes has stressed our community and we need to prioritize the mental health and wellbeing of our friends, loved ones, and elders."

This resolution calls upon Members of Congress to promote national awareness of mental health issues unique to the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community and urges State and local health agencies across the nation to improve the quality and availability of mental health services for this population. 

According to data collected by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), AANHPIs have the lowest help-seeking rate of any racial/ethnic group, with only 23.3% of AANHPI adults with a mental illness receiving treatment in 2019. 

Even though suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, it is the leading cause of death for Asian or Pacific Islander youth ages 15-24. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated these problems as increased racial violence and discrimination against the Asian American community has increased the need for mental health services.

Osaka, who is Black, Asian, and female, may have contended with an even greater sense of vulnerability this past year, in light of the Black Lives Matter protests and the increased violence against Asian Americans. Studies have shown that individuals suffer from vicarious trauma when members of their group are targeted and discriminated against. 

Adding to the difficulty of diagnosing our mental health is the fact that what is considered the norm in Asian American culture frowns upon speaking out, which could exacerbate anxiety and vulnerability. That may explain why Asian Americans are also the least likely racial group to seek and utilize mental health services.

Geoffrey Liu, MD, a psychiatrist in McLean’s Harvard Medical School's Behavioral Health Partial Hospital Program, explained the significance of stigma in the community. “For some Asian Americans,” he said, “there’s a real sense that your value as a person depends on your ability to take care of your family and community.”

Liu continued in his interview , “This way of thinking originated, for East Asians, from an ancient philosophical tradition called Confucianism. Mental illness is seen—and I should emphasize, incorrectly—as taking away a person’s ability to care for others. For that reason, it’s seen as taking away someone’s identity or purpose. It’s the ultimate form of shame.”

Many Asian Americans have fallen for the model minority myth in which they are supposed to seamlessly integrate into their new society. They characterize themselves as intelligent, industrious, and fully in charge of their lives. For many, admitting to “weakness” would be letting down the entire community.

“It’s easy to say that the reason Asian Americans don’t seek care is the way their culture stigmatizes mental illness,” said Liu. “That stance, though, ignores the role we all play in enhancing stigma by allowing dangerous stereotypes, like ‘model minority,’ to persist.”

Osaka's candor about her mental health may have opened the doors to further discussion among AANHPI. Writing in Psychology Today, Dr. Kevin Nadal, says one way AANHPI can counter the stigma associated with mental health is to normalize talking about it. 

"If you can ask your elders about whether they’ve gotten vaccinated, you can ask them about their mental health. When you can ask your kids about their homework, also ask them about their stressors and coping strategies," write Nadal.

The normal greeting of "How are you?" can gain new meaning by following up with, "How are you feeling?"

"Ask loved ones directly about their emotions;" continued Nadal. "Inquire about how their mental health has been throughout the pandemic; even question how they are coping with the traumas of COVID and racial violence.

If high-profile athletes like Osaka can be depressed or anxious, that same feeling or symptom can seep into the lives of ordinary people who are exposed to same stressors encountered by Osaka. We might not have to worry about talking to the press, or how well you play in a tennis match; but we worry about our jobs, the health of our family, paying rent, our exposure to COVID and being hyper aware of the possibility that a racist that may be walking your way, or eyeing you on the subway.

So, yes. We're all vulnerable.

Tennis: Naomi Osaka withdraws from French Open; cites mental health concerns

Naomi Osaka withdraws from French Open

Naomi Osaka decided her mental well-being was more important than any tennis tournament ... more important than -- gasp -- talking to the press.

The world's No. 1-ranked woman tennis player withdrew from the French Open after refusing to take part in press conferences between matches.

She admitted that she has been battling "long bouts of depression" since winning her first Grand Slam at the U.S. Open in 2018.

Being a natural introvert, she has had difficulty speaking to the press since she began winning Grand Slams. In one instance, she excused herself from a press conference because she was "about to cry," she said.

After her victory over Romania's Patricia Maria Tig Sunday at the French Open, she skipped the after-match press conference and was fined $15,000.

On Monday, she issued a long social media post. 

"This isn't a situation I ever imagined or intended when I posted a few days ago," Osaka said in her statement.

"I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris.

"I never wanted to be a distraction and I accept that my timing was not ideal and my message could have been clearer. More importantly I would never trivialize mental health or use the term lightly.

"The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018 and I have had a really hard time coping with that.

"Anyone that knows me knows I'm introverted, and anyone that has seen me at the tournaments will notice that I'm often wearing headphones as that helps dull my social anxiety.

"Though the tennis press has always been kind to me (and I wanna apologize especially to all the cool journalists who I may have hurt), I am not a natural public speaker and get huge waves of anxiety before I speak to the world's media.

"I get really nervous and find it stressful to always try to engage and give you the best answers I can. So here in Paris I was already feeling vulnerable and anxious so I thought it was better to exercise self-care and skip the press conferences.

"I announced it preemptively because I do feel like the rules are quite outdated in parts and I wanted to highlight that. I wrote privately to the tournament apologizing and saying that I would be more than happy to speak with them after the tournament as the Slams are intense.

"I'm gonna take some time away from the court now, but when the time is right I really want to work with the Tour to discuss ways we can make things better for the players, press and fans."

After she didn't show up at the press conference, the French Tennis Federation issued a statement on social media with pictures of other tennis players with the caption, "They understood the assignment."

The statement was deleted after strong criticism of the attempt to humiliate the 23-year old Osaka. The FTF, along with officials from the Australian Open and WImbledon and the World Tennis Association offered solace and wished her well in her recovery.

On top of her reluctance to speak to the media and -- like so many biracial people -- she has struggled with her identity. In 2020, she had to choose between playing for Japan, the land of mother, or the United States, where she was raised and where she lives. She eventually chose to play for Japan.

In 2020, she felt compelled to speak. out about the killings of Blacks by police and vigilantes by wearing the names of the victims on her face mask when she played (and won) the U.S. Open.

Last year into this year, like everyone else, had to observe the medical restrictions caused by the pandemic. And because of her Japanese heritage, contend with the enormous stress caused by the coronavirus, the killings of Blacks by police and the racist attacks against people of Asian descent.

With all that weighing on the mind of the young tennis player's, it is not surprising that Osaka was being affected. 

Mental health stigma affects all ethnicities, cultures, and nationalities, but Asian Americans may be more impacted than most. The National Latino and Asian American Study reported that while 18% of the general U.S. population sought mental health services and resources, only 8.6% of Asian Americans did so.

Other sports figures, including Golden State Warrior Stephen Curry and Seahaks quarterback Russell Wilson sent messages of support.\ to Osaka. 

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova tweeted Monday about Osaka's decision.
"I truly hope she will be ok," Navratilova tweeted. "As athletes we are taught to take care of our body, and perhaps the mental & emotional aspect gets short shrift. This is about more than doing or not doing a press conference."

Asian Americans discuss mental health and wellness during shelter-in-place

By Akemi Tamanaha

ASAM NEWS

Social distancing has worsened symptoms of anxiety and depression for many people throughout the world. How do we take care of our mental health while continuing to stay at home?

On Tuesday (April21), the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies hosted a webinar with Dr. Leana Wen to discuss ways people can take care of their mental health at home. Dr. Wen is an emergency physician, the former president of Planned Parenthood and the former health commissioner of Baltimore, Maryland.

During the webinar, Dr. Wen emphasized the importance of recognizing that “mental health is just as important as physical health.” She said it was important that we reduce the stigma and shame around mental health by discussing it the way we would discuss physical health. This discussion could help others heal.

“I think part of it is sharing our own stories as much as we can,” Dr. Wen.

She added that people should check in on their loved ones.

“We shouldn’t assume that everyone is fine just because we look fine,” Dr. Wen said.

While social distancing is critical, people should find ways to connect with others.

“I think we need to keep in mind that physical distancing, social distancing should not mean social isolation,” Dr. Wen said.

Many people are communicating with their loved ones through phone calls and video chats. Those options, however, are not available to everyone. Dr. Wen said that communities must ensure they help those who are more vulnerable to social isolation: the elderly who are unfamiliar with technology or groups who don’t have access to technology.

For many, shelter in place orders have disrupted routines that they feel give them direction and purpose. This can contribute to increased feelings of anxiety and depression.

“Prior to Covid-19, it common for me to be on the road 3 weeks out of a month. Since then, self-isolation has definitely been an adjustment,” Tim Wang, founder and principal of an advertising agency called TDW+Co, said in an email to AsAmNews.

Tim Wang is now developing new routines. He jogs, spends more time with his son Elijah and connects with loved ones over the phone. He added that he also is re-learning how to balance his personal and professional life now that he works from home.

“Our world of separating personal from professional no longer holds true in these current times, so it’s understanding how to manage these priorities while understanding those you work with also are going through these same challenges,” he said in an email.

For 16-year-old high school student Taylor Wang, shelter in place meant the disruption of her normal school day. Social distancing has also hindered her ability to work on her non-profit initiative Student Art Spaces, which helps students present their artwork in professional galleries.

“I’m the kind of person who struggles to relax because it feels like my self worth depends on my level of productivity, and quarantine has lowered my capacity to produce work,” Taylor Wang said in an email to AsAmNews. “Sometimes, it’s important to remember that taking time to recharge is just as important as hustling.”

Taylor Wang said she is keeping herself busy by creating to-do lists for her various tasks. She added that she is also trying to stick to some elements of her normal routine before shelter in place.

“I try to maintain a routine — waking up around the same time, eating meals, and keeping up on my work,” she said in an email. “Of course, it’s easier said than done. To me though, keeping myself occupied and productive makes me feel fulfilled during these chaotic times.”

Social distancing has also disrupted the celebration of important milestones, like weddings and graduations. Dr. Wen acknowledged that it is difficult to not be able to celebrate those milestones. She suggested that people “adjust [their] expectations,” knowing that the milestone we have imagined for years is “not going to look like what we envisioned it to be.” She added that it is also important to remember that “what we’re doing is so much bigger than us.”

For Dr. Wen, this means understanding that she won’t be able to introduce her newborn daughter to family members in-person. She says for now she has been introducing her daughter to family members via FaceTime.

Dr. Wen, who gave birth to her daughter as concerns over coronavirus began emerging in the United States, also offered her advice for pregnant or postpartum women. She suggested that women contact their doctors to come up with a plan, knowing that plan could change.

Asian Americans must also cope with an increase in anti-Asian rhetoric and attacks on Asian Americans.

“In the weeks leading up to quarantine, I began to feel more and more self-conscious on my hour-long bus commute to my internship,” Taylor Wang said in an email. “When I coughed, I could feel eyes on me — fellow riders would glare or move away.”

Although leaving the house offers mental health benefits, many Asian Americans are now anxious to leave.

“I’ve heard and seen the fear from my extended family, friends and colleagues—that they even think twice to go out to the grocery store for basic necessities for fear of being targeted,” Tim Wang said in an email.

Taylor Wang said attacks against Asian Americans have reminded her how important it is to stand in solidarity with other communities.

“Seeing all those attacks against Asian Americans on the Internet made me uber-aware of my Chinese-ness in public, but it also drew me to the issue of minority solidarity,” Taylor Wang said in an email to AsAmNews. “Black and brown folks are treated in this suspicious manner every day just for existing. I definitely had to recognize that and check my own privilege as well.”

Dr. Wen stressed that everyone must do their part to “speak the truth.” Leaders and public health officials should continue to emphasize that this virus is not associated with a specific group of people. She added that people must approach those who hold anti-Asian views with “empathy.”

Asian Americans can also lift one another up by highlighting all the good Asian Americans have been doing for their communities during the pandemic.

“We can highlight so many of the Asian Americans serving the needs of all our communities, by being our first responders, being our essential workforce, serving on the frontlines as our healthcare workers, caretakers and researchers, small business owners keeping their doors open to serve their local community, warehouse and delivery workers, and so many more,” Tim Wang said.

Tim Wang said he feels thankful for all the people on the frontlines working to keep everyone safe.

Police: Murder-suicide ruled for family of four

Chandrasekhar and Lavanya Sunkara.

ASAM NEWS

Authorities said Monday (June 17) that the family of four found dead from gunshot wounds at their home in West Des Moines, Iowa were victims of a murder-suicide.

The victims have been identified as Chandrasekhar Sunkara, 44, and Lavanya Sunkara, 41, along with their two sons, a 10-year-old and a 15-year-old.

Police have previously said they were confident there was no threat to the community, but they didn’t explain why.

West Des Moines Police said in a statement Tuesday: “Forensic autopsies were conducted June 16th. The State Medical Examiner’s Office has determined the causes of death for all four family members to be gunshot wounds. The manners of death for Lavanya Sunkara and the two boys are homicide. The manner of death for Chandrasekhar Sunkara is suicide.”

The Des Moines Register reported that other family members, two adult relatives and two children, were staying with the Sunkaras as guests. One of the survivors ran outside after discovering the bodies to seek help. A neighbor called 911.

In-laws told the Deccan Chronicle that depression may be the cause for the shooting.

According to the family, Chandrasekhar Sunkara had been depressed due to the ill-health of his elder son.

“Chandu could have consulted a psychiatrist in case of acute depression; the family should have intervened in case if they knew about his psychological condition,” a relative said.

The boys were “really bright children, really heads down,” said Shrikar Somayajula, a co-owner of and partner in A Grade Ahead, an after school educational program attended by the boys. “The family was a very friendly family, so it’s really painful.”

Somayajula added that the star students represented the school in national scholastic competitions and “wanted to go to one of the elite Ivy League colleges.”

Chandrasekhar Sunkara worked in IT for the Iowa Department of Public Safety, according to KCCI.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the Sunkaras,” said the DPS in a statement.

Views From the Edge contributed to this report.

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Cesar Sayoc pleads 'guilty' to 65 felonies including 16 mail bombs

CESAR SAYOC

A fanatical supporter of Donald Trump has pleaded guilty to 65 felonies that include mailing improvised explosive devices to prominent Democrats and a media outlet that he considered anti-Trump.

Cesar Altieri Sayoc, the Filipino American exotic dancer and deejay, issued his plea Thursday (March 21) in a Manhattan federal court.

“Cesar Sayoc has admitted to acts of domestic terrorism that are repulsive to all Americans who cherish a society built on respectful and non-violent political discourse, no matter how strongly held one’s views,” said Assistant Attorney General John C.  Demers. “Our democracy will simply not survive if our political discourse includes sending bombs to those we disagree with.

Among the 57-year old Sayoc's felonies are the 16 crude pipe bombs sent via the U.S. Postal Service to prominent individuals -- all of them Democrats -- and news outlet CNN.

In alphabetical order, Sayoc’s intended victims were former Vice President Joseph Biden, Senator Cory Booker, former CIA Director John Brennan, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, CNN, Robert De Niro, Senator Kamala Harris, former Attorney General Eric Holder, former President Barack Obama, billionaire George Soros, tech giant Thomas Steyer, and Rep. Maxine Walters. 

Between Oct. 22 and Nov. 2, 2018, the FBI and the U.S. Postal Service recovered all of the 16 IEDs mailed by Sayoc. All of them had failed to explode.

Sayoc, who was born in Brooklyn but had lived in Florida for more than 30 years, had long struggled with mental illness, said Ronald S. Lowy, a family lawyer. He suggested psychological issues were behind his actions.

Sayoc's mental state made him a prime target for someone like Donald Trump whose rhetoric of hate and racism gave him a sense of purpose and drove him to the extreme right. At the time of his arrest, Sayoc had been living in his van which was plastered with pro-Trump flyers and had an image of Hillary Clinton in a cross-hairs.

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Cesar Sayoc attended a rally for Donald Trump

It appears Sayoc had an identity problem. Various media reports have painted a picture of a deeply troubled man

Sayoc's mental state made him a prime target for someone like Donald Trump whose rhetoric of hate and racism gave him a sense of purpose and drove him to the extreme right.

He mother was of Italian descent and is a resident of Florida. Sayoc had lived with her of and on. He berated her for being a Democrat and after arguments about his inability to have and maintain a full-time job, kicked him out her condominium in 2015. 

His father was an immigrant from the Philippines but apparently abandoned his family when Sayoc was still a young boy.

Sayoc claimed to be a member of the Seminole Nation but the tribe says they have no record of him as a member. 

Lowy told media at a press conference that he believed estrangement from his family caused his client's mental condition to deteriorate.

“If you want to know about causation,” the attorney said, “there are three reasons.

"Number one: He was isolated from his family. Number two: He hated his mother for being a Democrat—this is a nice way to get back at her, don’t you think? And the third: He heard a voice calling his name, saying that there’s a war happening, that the Democrats are the enemy, that the media is the enemy, and that you (Sayoc) are my soldiers.”

“For five days in November 2018, Cesar Sayoc reigned terror across the country, sending high-ranking officials and former elected leaders explosive packages through the mail,” said U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman. “Thankfully no one was hurt by these dangerous devices, but his actions left an air of fear and divisiveness in their wake. Sayoc has taken responsibility for his crimes, and will soon be sentenced to significant time in prison.”

Sayoc is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Rakoff on Sept. 12, 2019.

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Mental health needs being ignored, say NY Asian Americans

CHIRLENE MACRAY

ASAM NEWS

New York City’s first lady, Chirlene Macray, is accused of ignoring the mental health needs of Asian Americans.
Macray runs the city’s Thrive Mental Health Initiative. She launched the program in 2015 with a pledge of serving underrepresented communities. The Post reports there are only three mental health clinics in the city and each has a waiting list of one month. Yet none are funded by Thrive, according to the New York Post.

“We feel like we’re in a room where we’re screaming and no one’s hearing us,” Joo Han, deputy director of the Asian American Federation, said to The Post.

Macray has not been present in meetings between Thrive and members of the Federation.

Han says his community is falling victim to the model minority myth.

According to the Center for American Progress, 7.7 million Asian Americans report poor mental health status. That’s 37 percent of Asian American adults.

Among ethnic groups, Asian Americans have the highest rate of suicide.

Asian Americans are three times less likely to seek mental health treatment than Whites.

A Thrive spokeswoman says the program is seeking new ways to engage different communities, including Asian Americans.

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Mother smothers her children before hanging herself

ASAM NEWS

Police in San Jose, Calif.  have brought in a Vietnamese translator in the murder-suicide of a mother and her two children, reports ABC7.

The mother reportedly lost her job at a nail salon this summer and the father also was not working, according to neighbors who talked to the media. They also said the mom suffocated the children before hanging herself.

The family has not been identified, but police say the children are 4 and 7-years old. The Mercury News reported the family is Vietnamese.

"Today is a very difficult day for Lietz Elementary and the Union School District,” school superintendent Denise Coleman told the Mercury News.

“We are taking immediate steps now to provide support to our teachers, staff and parents. Students are being informed, based on the information we have, in grade-level-appropriate ways as guided by on-site crisis counselors. We have also directed additional teaching and support staff to the school.”

"I think it's been tough on all the residents, especially the other chldren who were good friends with with the two little boys," neighbor Maria Flores told KRON-TV

Wendy Vejar, another neighbor, said the father came home to the gruesome discovery.

"He couldn’t explain to me,” Vejar said to ABC7. “He kept saying, ‘Help me. Help me. My boys are dead.'”

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