Ruby de Luna
Reporter
About
Ruby de Luna is a reporter with a focus on food and how it intersects with health, communities, and culture. She has also reported on health care and immigrant communities.
Ruby is a transplant from Taipei, Taiwan. She holds a B.A. in communication from Seattle Pacific University. She is proud to be one of the few old-schoolers who can edit tape with a razor blade.
Location: Seattle
Languages: English, Conversational Mandarin, Tagalog
Pronouns: she/her
Professional Affiliations: Member, AAJA
Stories
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Seattle seeks to raise pay and set labor standards for gig workers
After months of stakeholder meetings, the Seattle City Council is introducing a series of policies establishing app-based labor standards. Called “Pay Up” ordinance for gig workers, the legislation sponsored by Councilmembers Lisa Herbold and Andrew Lewis, is aimed at raising pay and providing basic worker protections.
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Diary of a Seattle gig worker: car trouble, drive-thru battles, and no gray area
Delivery services like DoorDash, Grubhub, and Instacart boomed during the pandemic. But drivers for such services say they didn’t benefit from that growth, and that their pay actually decreased. Seattle City Council is drafting legislation to guarantee workers minimum pay and other protections. But critics say the proposal would hurt businesses and consumers who rely on the services.
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Covid started gardening boom. Now new challenges fuel interest
So, you and hundreds of your neighbors started a vegetable garden during Covid lockdown. Two years in, and studies show the hobby is becoming an enduring habit. Now, rising food costs are attracting a new crop of enthusiasts.
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New exhibit explores the history and dangers of 'traveling while Black' in the U.S.
Travel represents freedom, to move without care or concern. But during the Jim Crow era, travel was risky if you were Black. The "Green Book," a guide for African American travelers, helped them navigate toward places and establishments that were welcoming. A Smithsonian Institute exhibit in Tacoma looks at how a humble guidebook became an essential resource for African Americans, allowing them to move for work or to vacation.
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The brave Seattle foodies who opened restaurants during Covid — and flourished
Many Seattle restaurants, including beloved icons like Beth’s Café, Dahlia Lounge, and Tup Tim Thai shuttered during the pandemic. But that hasn’t stopped many more from opening. Meet two restaurant owners who chose to launch new businesses despite uncertain times.
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This Seattle bakery sells vegan treats and funds mutual aid efforts
The pandemic caused many people to do a lot of soul searching… leading some to make life-changing decisions. One Seattle biochemist quit her lab job to follow her baking passion.
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Washington grocery workers 'begging' for more hours as wages don't keep up with bills
Many grocery workers are running out of food at home and aren’t earning enough to make rent, according to a new study.
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How to keep your holiday cheer out of landfills
You can help keep garbage and recycling workers jolly by following these simple tips.
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Noche Buena: Tacoma chef shares her family’s Christmas Eve tradition
Noche Buena is about family gatherings and food for the Filipino community. One Tacoma chef shares her family's Noche Buena traditions.
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This 'little free' bakery gets stocked with 100 homemade treats weekly in Seattle's Magnolia neighborhood
You know those miniature sheds that invite people to swap books? Known as Little Free Libraries, they help bring communities together. These days you can find stands that include food donations, even free art. One Seattle woman uses hers to share treats.