Objection to Yuko Kodama’s termination from KCBS

June 25, 2020

Mr. Gary Locke
President
Bellevue College
Bellevue, WA

Dear President Locke,

On behalf of OCA Asian Pacific Advocates of Greater Seattle, we object to the termination of Ms. Yuko Kodama from her position at KCBS. We join the 1,500+ people who are alarmed and dismayed by her dismissal.

Yuko Kodama has been a critical voice for many in the Eastside. As a KCBS reporter, she demonstrated fairness and objectivity on numerous issues of importance, particularly those focusing on social justice. She served as a teacher and mentor to young aspiring journalists. She also contributed to many communities of color through her reportage and volunteer work.

The excuse that this termination is budgetary is clearly untenable. As pointed out by many, KCBS is in the process of hiring – a suspect action if KCBS truly had financial difficulties. Strikingly, even if it were budgetary, we are stunned to learn that even after the larger community offered to raise money to cover Ms. Kodama’s salary, KCBS ignored their request. KCBS’s actions strike us as spiteful more than budgetary.

We are appealing to you as a longtime public servant and community activist to reject Ms. Kodama’s termination and to keep her on staff. In our opinion, it is the correct, appropriate and popular action to take.

Sincerely,
Connie C. So, PhD
Interim President
OCA Asian Pacific Advocates – Greater Seattle